Page 36 - Sports Illustrated Kids (October 2018)

&*+&% ")1& 0 went down,
averaging

Win the East 5.7 assists in
Crucial Class: HEALTH The Celtics entered (but lose the Finals) the postseason.
With Hayward
last season feeling very optimistic. Then returning, there
ATLANTIC into the first game, newly acquired Luckily, coach Brad Stevens
and Irving
came opening night. Five minutes
could be some real
SF Gordon Hayward broke his
battles for playing time.
ankle and was lost for the season.
Then All-Star PG Kyrie Irving went
is almost as good at juggling
down in April with a knee injury.
Still, Boston rode its young stars to
up plays (and no one is
a spot in the Eastern Conference lineups as he is at drawing
better at that than the Boy
EAST his scoring from 13.9 ppg in the Wonder). The C’s are the
finals. SF Jayson Tatum upped
team to beat in the East if
regular season to 18.5 in the
they stay healthy. And
playoffs. G-F Jaylen Brown went
from 14.5 to 18.0. And PG Terry maybe even if they don’t.
Rozier filled in beautifully after Irving &- ) ## ) A-

+&)&%+&/ -1,/0 ' # #' "/0 % . 0&)"DGB<DL )&&"#0% G>ML

Crucial Class: CHEMISTRY Crucial Class: Crucial Class: Crucial Class:
Last year was a familiar story STATISTICS DRAMA BUSINESS
for the Raptors. A great No team It seems like MANAGEMENT In 2013
regular season—they won has embraced there’s always the Nets made one of the
a franchise-record analytics more drama in worst trades in history,
59 games—was than the 76ers. New York City, and giving up three first-round
followed by a quick Former GM Sam the past few years picks for aging stars Kevin
playoff exit. (The Hinkie went all-in on have been no Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Cavaliers swept advanced stats and exception. Since As a result, Brooklyn
Toronto in the data, which led to the summer has had a terrible
second round.) The a strategy known as of 2017, the time trying to
Raptors decided the Process. In short, Knicks have reload
to shake things up. the Process involved said goodbye to its
First they fired coach losing as many games their president roster.
Dwane Casey and as possible and (Phil Jackson), But new
replaced him with acquiring high draft coach (Jeff general MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES (HAYWARD); GREG NELSON (LOWRY); DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (EMBIID); ISSAC BALDIZON/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (PORZINGIS); PAUL BERESWILL/GETTY IMAGES (DINWIDDIE)
Nick Nurse. Then picks such as Hornacek), and manager
they broke up C Joel biggest star (PF Carmelo Sean Marks has
their All-Star Embiid Anthony). New coach shown that he’s
backcourt of and G-F Lose the David Fizdale is one of the willing to be patient
PG Kyle Ben East finals most respected bosses in and build around
Lowry Simmons. the game, and Anthony’s young players like
and SG Now Hinkie departure allowed the team PG Spencer
DeMar DeRozan. is gone. And to commit to building around Dinwiddie, a
Toronto traded DeRozan while the front office is still PF Kristaps Porzingis. 2014 second-
to San Antonio for SF Kawhi heavy into analytics, the The Unicorn will miss the round pick
Leonard, who didn’t seem Sixers’ current plan doesn’t first few months of the who became
too excited about the move. involve losing. Embiid was an season as he recovers from a dependable
If Leonard is happy and the All-Star and Simmons was a knee injury. Expectations starter last
team adapts to Nurse, the Rookie of the Year last season aren’t high in New York, but year. As long as Marks can
Raptors will be dangerous. as Philly won 52 games. No that’s just what the young avoid the allure of making
If not, it will be another matter how you analyze it, Knicks need to grow: a the kind of quick-fix deal
short postseason. this team will be good for stress-free environment. that sent Brooklyn into a
&- ) ## ) B a long time. &- ) ## ) C tailspin, the Nets’ future
&- ) ## ) B+ looks bright.
&- ) ## ) C

38 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS