“After six years at ESPN and 18 years at the Associated Press, I have gone independent to continue to do what I have been doing for the bulk of my adult life — providing NBA and international basketball news, commentary and in-depth analysis, giving my readers links to the best basketball articles out there each day, while also allowing for the voices of the visitors to this site to reach a broad, worldwide audience”.
This is the description that the same Chris Sheridan gives of himself and his work on his website, Sheridanhoops.com.
With its decades of experience, Sheridan represents one of the best sports analysts of America: in recent years, he has told the biggest feats, victories and defeats of the greatest basketball players of the league, not to mention the exclusive revelations, such as the recent return of LeBron James to Cleveland (Sheridan was indeed the first to launch the news).
In an exclusive interview with NbaPassion.com, we asked him a few questions, such as the future of Kevin Durant or the rebuilding plans of New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. Sheridan also spoke of the Golden State Warriors outlook and the Cleveland Cavaliers situation, revealing some interesting anecdote of his career. We thank him for the availability and wish you a good read.
Chris Sheridan.
You follow the NBA for so long. What has changed now than in the past? There have been changes only at the level of the game, or in other ways like the fans, the atmosphere during games and characters that are part of the league?
“There have been so many changes, but probably the biggest one if the lack of physicality in the game. When I started covering the NBA in the early 90s, the games were much more physical, fights were not uncommon, and point guards did not dominate the games so much because defenders were allowed to hold them off with a hand check. But after the brawl at the Palace, everything changed. You NEVER see fights anymore, and there are many, many more fouls called for what used to be regular contact. The atmosphere for fans during the game has changed, too. Now, the timeout entertainment (T-shirt tosses, dance teams, etc.) make going to an NBA game more of a show. People used to come for the basketball, and the basketball only. But these days, in some arenas, it is common to hear the loudest cheers and screams during a timeout when they bring out one of these monster-sized t-shirt guns. It is kind of sad, actually”.
Do you remember any particular anecdote related to the NBA with which you have had to do during your career?
“One of my fondest memories was seeing Michael Jordan sneak up behind Karl Malone in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and steal the ball, after which he dribbled downcourt and hit his famous final shot for the Bulls over Bryopn Russell of the Jazz. I was sitting center court, second row, and had a perfect view of the play. It remains etched in my brain”.
How would you rate the performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers? Kevin Love was a guessed acquisition? How would you rate the performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers? Kevin Love was a acquisition guessed? What is the future of coach David Blatt? In your opinion is likely to be sacked despite the reassurances of the franchise?
“I think expectations for the Cavs were placed too high in the preseason. Everyone expected them to win 60 games, and that was just unrealistic given that they had so many new pieces and parts, from two of the three stars to the new coach. I think David Blatt has had trouble getting people to like him. His personality can sometimes come off as abrasive and too scholarly, and there has never been anyone like him in the NBA. He will be OK. He always wins. Kevin Love has to get accustomed to playing he way Chris Bosh played in Miami, and that is a huge change for him after being the No. 1 option at all times during his years in Minnesota. The Cavs are a work in progress. We cannot judge them, or Blatt, until the playoffs are over”.
How to proceed the process of rebuilding of the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers? They will return competitive within a short time? The Free Agency 2015 can help this process?
“One big problem for both of those teams is that many of the best free agents seem prepared to stay with their current teams. That includes Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge, and to a lesser degree Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo. It is very, very hard to rebuild quickly through free agency. Miami was able to do it in 2010, but no one has done it since. And both the Knicks and the Lakers are hurt by the fact that they have traded away so many future No. 1 draft picks. But if one of them gets Jahlil Okafor of Suke with the No. 1 pick in the draft, that will be a huge building block”.
What is the potential of the Golden State Warriors? What Coach Steve Kerr brought more to this team?
“Coach Kerr has brought levity — a light-hearted attitude that his players love. He is not too intense, but he is still smart, and he plays to his team’s strengths. With the way they are killing opponents, it would not surprise me at all to see them playing for the championship in June. They are a legitimate powerhouse”.
What do you think of the Oklahoma City Thunder? The engagement of Brook Lopez can help? Kevin Durant in the future can leave OKC?
“I think Kevin Durant will leave in 2016 unless they win a championship before then. So they have two years to have the type of success that will convince him to stay. They have the best one-two punch in the NBA in Westbrook and Durant, and I like the Dion Waiters trade. Also, Steven Adams is becoming a very good center very quickly. I don’t think they need Brook Lopez. Despit their record, they are a Top 4 team that can beat anybody in a seven-game series”.
Per NBA Passion,
Olivio Daniele Maggio (@daniele_maggio on Twitter)
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