NBA Award Season Comes Early!

Hot damn it's been a crazy month since the last time I broke out my trusty quill and paper. Let's see, me and the lady finished a season of Narcos, have been really getting into using the Instant Pot....oh yeah and the whole damn world came to a screeching halt! So given that the NBA decided to suspend the season, and rightfully so, I guess I'll go ahead and do my awards for the season now because I am in need of content and I frankly need the damn distraction.

Rookie of the Year:

Ja Morant, PG- Memphis

I was wild tempted to make this a tie and also have Zion Williamson as the co-rookie of the year. However I can't let the amazing start Zion got off to negate the work that Morant has done all season. For one just the sample size of the two can not be ignored. Zion played 19 games this season, Ja played 59 games. In the 59 games he averaged 17.6 points, with 3.5 rebounds and almost 7 assists a night. Zion was no slouch, averaging 23.6 points and 7 rebounds but the Grizzlies being in playoff contention and the entire season worth of work gives him the edge.

Sixth Man of the Year:

Dennis Schroeder, G- Oklahoma City

So basically this year the choice came down to Schroeder and Lou Williams who basically has taken the Jamal Crawford spot as "well of course he's sixth man of the year." Schroeder has been an integral part of a rebuilding Thunder squad that would have made the playoffs. He has finally found a groove as the spark on the bench averaging 19 points a game, 4 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game. And this isn't a "I'm tired of voting for Lou Will" vote either. He has scored more, has more rebounds, and a higher 3 point percentage. Truly a worthy winner.

Coach of the Year:

Nick Nurse- Toronto Raptors

Sit your ass down Drake

This year the coach of the year has to be Nick Nurse. While Budenholzer from Milwaukee and Spoelstra from Miami most certainly deserve a few votes, the job Nurse has done keeping the Raptors afloat after losing Kawahi Leonard and then dealing with a spate of injuries has shown that last season was no fluke and going forward the Raptors are going to be in great hands. 

Most Improved:

Brandon Ingram, F- New Orleans

Since coming over from the Lakers and the preseason injury to Zion Williamson, no one on the Pelicans has stepped his game up more than Ingram. The skinny superstar from Duke increased his points per game by over six points a night, has added one more rebound and one more assist per night to the stat line as well. The biggest jump has been going from a 32% three point shooter to almost 40%. Simply put he is living up to the draft position now that he is on a team to maximize his talents.

Best Move of the Year:

The Anthony Davis Trade

Speaking of Ingram, the move of the year has to be the trade of Anthony Davis to the Lakers for pretty much the entire young core of the  Lake Show.  And this is the rarest of rare cases where there is no loser to the trade. Now that's not to say the Pelicans got equal value, talent wise for Davis as I mean that was gonna be impossible. But in terms of team building?

Jack pot. Getting Lonzo Ball who is an amazing passer and finds Zion basically from any spot on the floor, the solid Josh Hart coming off the bench and the above mention most improved player Brandon Ingram.

Most Valuable Player:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, F - Milwaukee

The runaway choice for MVP has got to be Giannis. Simply put he was the best player on the best team and improved his numbers in some very impressive ways. He is scoring 2 more points a game, getting one more rebound and he's doing this in 2 less minutes a night.

Nothing but respect for my MVP

So despite what James Harden says, averaging 29 points, 13 rebounds, leading the league in PER and becoming a credible threat from the 3 point line as a 7 foot monstar are all ridiculous and definitely worthy of being the Chocolate Puma's choice for MVP.

Alrighty folks I suppose that this will be the last basketball related post for a while, I mean at least until the NBA Draft talks speed up. So come back to this, enjoy it, breathe it in. 

Until next time ya'll be easy.

Black History Month Is Cancelled!

You know what, Black History Month is cancelled. This entire month I have been hyped as I always am in February for my fellow chocolate folks to get the shine and praise we deserve all year. But this year? You people have gone too god damn far!  Yeah that's right. Don't believe me? Allow me to run down the ways in which the universe won't let me be happy.

*Cancellation of High Noon

Anyone who reads this or listens to the Chocolate Puma Podcast (Find it wherever you subscribe to your podcasts!) knows that I am a huge fan of the work Bomani Jones does at ESPN. He speaks for a largely unrepresented segment of sports fans. 

Yet this week, on the day his co-host's wife had their first child no less, it was announced that High Noon was cancelled. It was refreshing to see two guys who, like myself use stats to make sports arguments, yet still had the skill to handle things such as the death of Kobe Bryant with the respect and nuance. Instead look forward to the show getting replaced by some dudebro who will yell about guys needing to shut and play ball instead of having the deep conversations that sports is capable of having but we don't because people can't seem to handle that.

*Deontay Wilder getting KNOCKED OUT

I mentioned this on the podcast this week, but come on Wilder. You had me out here, touting the Bronze Bomber. He was gonna, in the year of our Lord 2020, go out there and put a performance on for the ancestors. 

This is so dope, and he lost so bad.

Then he walked to the ring in this bad ass black, sparkling, costume that made it looked like he just stepped out of My Hero Academia or some shit and I knew it was about to go DOWN. And it went down alright. A thorough ass kicking by someone who I had previously, loudly, and let go to the notes...ah yes incorrectly characterized as overrated. As I previously stated in the podcast, no one is gonna be mad if you lose to a 6'9 gypsy who is fast as hell but you can't get thoroughly out classed and then blame the loss on the costume you voluntarily wore to the ring. 

*Gayle King, Snoop Dogg, Kobe and Oprah

I'm gonna keep this rant short. The main point is Gayle King deserved none of the vitriol she received for asking Lisa Leslie in a heavily edited clip about Kobe Bryant's rape case. None. She isn't, nor is Oprah out to get black men out the paint. I have seen so many, "well what about Harvey Weinstein" ass deflections in the last month it's ridiculous. There have been numerous articles, documentaries and people speaking out on Weinstein so just because some ashy ass dude with questionable spelling hasn't heard of it, is not indicative of a massive conspiracy against black men. The criminal in this case is Harvey Weinstein, blaming the women he knew is fucking stupid. And Snoop? Yeah what better way to honor the fallen Kobe, who in the last few years was an outspoken advocate for women in sports than to disrespect a journalist and call her a "dog faced bitch" for asking a question about a significant event in the man's life. Good job Calvin. 

*Trump and his "Blacks."

And now the shit cherry on the sundae that inspired this whole damn post. Earlier today I saw a post about an unscheduled event at the White House. Like a moron, I said well let me click on this and get pissed off. And pissed off I was! I saw ya'll president sitting there with all the blacks he could find. There was a who's who of coonery!

I wanna call all these people something that would make my mama mad.

There was Candace Owens, Diamond and Silk and a whole gaggle of pastors who have been on his books from the get go. A few called him the best president since....that's right Lincoln! Because when you think black people you think Lincoln. Some of these jackwagons even had the unmitigated gall to call that tangerine hued ass clown "the first black president." Despite the face we had a black man in office for 8 whole ass years! Then to top it off, he has these charlatans, these con artists of blackness all pray for him and he sits there, smugly looking in the camera as if to say, "these are my blacks." 

So we got that going for us. You know what, I'm gonna take March and make that Black History Month II: Electric Boogalo. That's right I'm Columbus-ing the next month! We gonna keep doing this shit till we got it right! 

Your move America. 

Episode 26: Black Historrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

In which I wrap up another Black History Month with some lows but also some dizzying highs! Tried to stay on topic but I'll admit I did rant a little. My bad! 

Episode 25: "What's Love?"

In which your boy recounts the initial meeting of Mrs. Puma and tops it all off with a classic tale of romance that I grew up on. It's all love and positive vibes this week baby! 

Episode 24: Revenge Season, Friend Season

In which I give more thoughts of a negative manner to the vindictive commander in chief, think back about how I miss the old Kanye, straight from the go Kanye, Chop up the soul Kanye, set on his goals Kanye, and end with a little tribute to my friend. 

NBA Midseason Spectacular!

We are a little past the midway point in the NBA season and I know that you all have been clamoring to get my opinion on the goings on of the season, so without further ado, I give you my picks and unsolicited opinions on how the NBA season has gone so far.

Weirdest Story That I Am Here For:
The Memphis Grizzlies VS Andre Iguodala
So I get both sides of this beef. I would totally understand why a veteran who was a solid contributor on a championship level team would not want to toil on a rebuilding team. I also understand why a team of professionals would not take too kindly to the insinuation being that they are so bad they aren't worthy of this vet's time.

With a young core featuring Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Dillon Brooks, the Grizzlies most certainly are a team worth keeping an eye on and with this chip on their shoulder in the coming years they could be very dangerous.  

Most Valuable Player:
Giannis Antetokounmpo

In a runaway, the most valuable player has been the Greek Freak. There has been no slump as Giannis is the best player on the best team in the East. He is on pace to be the first player since Wilt Damn Chamberlain to average 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. Sports Illustrated said it best, "They’re playing like a superteam with only one superstar. Rewarding anybody else but Antetokounmpo is foolish."

Coach of the Year:
Eric Spoelstra

Coach Spo has never gotten the shine he deserved. During the title years the teams were seemed to be coached by LeBron and Spo was just there. So coming into this season the expectations were playoff team and that's about it. Adding Jimmy Butler, and basically reshuffling some young players into unfamiliar roles Spo has his guys in 4th place in the East, even rising as high as second. He has helped Bam Adebayo flourish into an all star, unlocked Duncan Robinson, and helped Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn develop at a rapid rate. 

Rookie of the Year:
Ja Morant

Coming into the season there was no doubt that Zion Williamson would be the likely rookie of the year. A knee injury wiped out that as a possibility and Ja as he has done since bursting on the national stage has exceeded all expectations. Always a fantastic finisher, he has shown himself to be a more adept 3 point shooter than any of us gave him credit for. Also he has shown himself to be a leader as shown in his on the court poise and off the court support of Iguodala even going so far as to verbally take it to Steph Curry.

Sixth Man of the Year (Not Named Lou Williams):
Dennis Schroeder

Schroeder has always been somewhat of an enigma, but this season as the top guy on the second unit for the Thunder I think he has found his role. He is averaging 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on a team that is 10 games over .500 and is vastly outperforming expectations for the team. The most amazing thing has been how well he fits no matter who his back court mate is. Paired with Shai Gilgeous Alexander the Thunder outscore teams by 9.5 points per 100 possessions, pair him with Chris Paul and that number explodes to 16.5 per 100 possessions.

Breakout Player:
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander

When the Thunder decided to trade away Paul George and go complete rebuild I imagine getting a player like Shai in return was a must. In his first season starting he is showing why he was drafted 11th overall. He is averaging 19.5 points per game to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. And with his size and length he has been an equal terror on the defensive side averaging over a steal per game. For me it was a no brainer.

Well folks there we have it. I look forward to weeping uncontrollably during the All Star game when Kobe Bryant tributes begin then again when Vince Carter retires at the end of the season as he has been in the league more than half of my life and I am slowly marching to the point of oh god how old am I?!?! Enjoy this montage of young VC doing work!

Episode 23: And I'm Black Ya'll!

In which I get worked up talking about the Clementine Coward of Pennsylvania Ave. Also even in the glow of the year of the Black Quarterback coming to a successful end I still find time to lament the lack of black coaches in the NFL.