tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10258985803691493512015-10-08T10:29:12.208-07:00Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]Blogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-75672369668334688182014-05-26T15:25:00.001-07:002015-10-07T22:47:10.793-07:00

Below are links to a project I have been working on for the last year or so to teach myself the 2011 NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The last time I really studied for something like this was the California Bar Exam, so I tried a similar approach by going through the CBA itself and making flashcards of the relevant information. The format is standard flashcard stuff.  Each card has a

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-77958299385345896022013-07-03T14:22:00.002-07:002013-07-03T14:22:17.765-07:00

Most if not all of my writing will be over at Hoopsworld.com now, but I'll continue to post the links here as a way to keep all of it in one place, and to potentially increase Hoopsworld's traffic by 0.0001%. My latest post examines potential bargain free agents in the mode of Nate Rob or Danny Green, and I also get into free agency and the draft in my first chat.

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-72054494438399593412013-06-28T08:14:00.001-07:002013-06-28T08:14:20.120-07:00

Your writer is now the newest contributor at Hoopsworld.com.  Here is my first piece, which looks at Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert, and Nerlens Noel as 3 steals from the draft as well as a few additional thoughts. 

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-27472067172277669322013-06-17T18:35:00.002-07:002013-06-21T18:09:43.766-07:00

The Adidas Eurocamp is annually a gold mine of information about European prospects and the European game in general. One of my goals was to talk with as many European scouts and NBA personnel as possible to learn more about Bulls draftee Nikola Mirotic. After a number of informative conversations, I then lucked into seeing him in person last Friday, as my post-Eurocamp vacation to Barcelona

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-34875202692185824452013-06-11T12:14:00.001-07:002013-06-13T10:39:38.088-07:00

Another Adidas Eurocamp is in the books. Despite the relative dearth of prospects compared to last year, this year's event was no less fun to cover. The camp as a whole has been ably covered by others whose opinions I greatly respect, so this post will be limited to players on whom my opinion differs from the mainstream or whom I have not seen covered as much elsewhere. Alex Robinson

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-59055614440073808392013-06-08T15:23:00.000-07:002013-06-08T15:34:00.082-07:00

The 2013 Eurocamp began with a whimper, as hopes for a prospect-laden camp were quickly dashed upon arrival at La Ghirada. Within minutes, we learned that Rudy Gobert was laid up with food poisoning, Australian 1995-born Dante Exum would be sitting out with a foot injury, and Livio Jean-Charles was not on the roster despite earlier reports the he would play.* *I have heard nothing to

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-13381596959061735832013-06-01T12:44:00.003-07:002013-06-01T12:44:48.337-07:00

I've been posting over at ESPN TrueHoop Network Indiana Pacers 8 Points 9 Seconds throughout the conference finals.  My last two posts examined the Pacers' dominant offensive rebounding in Game 4 and the Heat's improved defense and rebounding in Game 5.

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-21342126760058919862013-05-27T23:30:00.003-07:002013-05-27T23:30:32.802-07:00

After my post on the Pacers pick and roll in Game 2, Jared Wade of 8 Points 9 Seconds was kind enough to allow a Bulls fan to guest post on the same topic for Game 3.  In stark contrast to Game 2, the Heat absolutely throttled the Pacers pick and roll game. Here's the link.

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-23599405154685874892013-05-25T02:22:00.004-07:002013-05-25T12:20:30.659-07:00

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Indiana Pacers’ Game 2 upset of the Miami Heat was the ease with which Indiana scored against Miami’s defense.  The Pacers gashed the Heat for 97 points on 86 possessions.*  That offensive efficiency of 112.8 against Miami’s ostensibly vaunted defense would have led the league by two points during the regular season. *Per John Schumann of NBA.com. Only

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-58470565155247420642013-05-16T01:03:00.002-07:002013-05-16T10:04:52.785-07:00

Finally this season has come to what many would term a merciful end for the Chicago Bulls.  While this was a trying season, I will have many fond memories from it.  Foremost is the March 27 win against the Miami Heat, where a Bulls team missing Joakim Noah and playing a hobbled Taj Gibson broke the Heat’s amazing 27-game winning streak.  While it was not quite the 1985 Miami Dolphins

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-24159868231930930102013-05-11T03:00:00.002-07:002013-05-11T14:56:12.220-07:00

It was a sad night for fans of the underdog, as the upstart Bulls lost what was likely their last chance to keep their series against the Heat interesting.  The key stretch in the game started at the 4:14 mark of the 4th quarter.  Carlos Boozer had just made 1 of 2 free throws* to bring the Bulls within 2.  The Heat would reel off 14 points in their next 6 possessions, with only one of the

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-75190500930721272422013-05-07T20:36:00.001-07:002013-05-22T14:24:12.468-07:00

If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that if Dick Stockton and Chris Webber are announcing Game 1 of a series one should never turn off the TV until it’s over.*  Last night the San Antonio Spurs accomplished almost as great a comeback on the Golden State Warriors as the Game 4 stunner the Chicago Bulls pulled on the Brooklyn Nets.  Oftentimes, such a comeback is deemed a

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-50301487833201766722013-04-28T14:06:00.003-07:002013-04-28T14:06:59.862-07:00

Saturday afternoon, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that guard Russell Westbrook will miss the remainder of the playoffs after injuring his knee in a collision with Rockets guard Patrick Beverley.  The collision occured as Westbrook had just crossed halfcourt, and was clearly heading toward the bench with the intention of calling a timeout.  NBA players will often head towards the

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-46150074756352726402013-04-27T19:54:00.002-07:002013-04-28T11:54:41.832-07:00

At the 3:18 mark of the 4th quarter in Game 4 of their first round series, the Brooklyn Nets led the Chicago Bulls 109-95.  Over the next 6 possessions, the Bulls would need to play perfect basketball.  They did, scoring 14 points while holding the Nets scoreless to tie the game at 109 with 55 seconds remaining.*  Here is how it happened. *Quick and dirty math: If one makes the rough

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-8981318487189431392013-03-05T16:35:00.000-08:002013-03-06T23:10:52.144-08:00

The Sloan Sports Analytics Conference is invariably a great place to exercise one's basketball brain, and this year's conference was no exception.   Kevin Pelton got the conversation started before the conference was even underway with his outstanding article addressing his 10 biggest questions for basketball analytics going forward.  All of Pelton's choices were extremely worthy nominees (far be

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-11113354858519556832013-02-26T18:03:00.000-08:002013-03-04T01:42:45.756-08:00

With their recent trade of Patrick Patterson and Marcus Morris, the Houston Rockets left themselves with nothing in the way of experienced candidates to start at the power forward position.  The two most likely candidates going forward are rookies, namely 2011 20th overall pick Donatas Motiejunas (Age 22) and the booty from their deadline dealing, 2012 5th overall pick Thomas Robinson (Age 21).  

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-58551673664595682062013-01-27T18:49:00.003-08:002013-01-29T15:56:10.986-08:00

Edit:  Looks like Rob Mahoney at the Point Forward beat me to a lot of these points.  Stupid day job! Much digital ink has been spilled of late on All-Star “snubs.”  These opinions run the gamut from extolling the fairness of this year’s selections to lamenting the injustice that Jamal Crawford did not make the team.  All-Star reserves are chosen by the coaches, and perhaps unsurprisingly

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-88084932063563798432013-01-16T00:56:00.002-08:002013-01-16T01:11:02.284-08:00

Rare is the game that is more enjoyable to watch already knowing the result, but that was certainly the case for last night’s Hawks/Bulls tilt at the United Center.  Since I’m based on the West Coast and don’t leave my day job until 7, my normal M.O. for Bulls home games is to record and watch when I get home.  But this time, a rote check of Twitter revealed the halftime score: 48-20!  As

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-35610418486254115572012-12-12T11:33:00.001-08:002012-12-12T11:33:07.667-08:00

Coaches are far too eager to do this when trailing When a team trails by four or more with less than 30 seconds left, everything changes in a basketball game.  The trailing team can no longer delude itself; it is certain to lose unless it completely changes tactics.  The comeback playbook is pretty well-established.  On defense, intentionally foul as quickly as possible to get the ball back.

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-52900380177306377102012-07-23T01:00:00.001-07:002012-07-23T01:22:54.701-07:00

Team USA’s 86-80 victory over Argentina was the second unsatisfying effort in four outings by the Americans.  While the game was not as close as the final score indicated, Team USA certainly has work to do to improve.Kobe Bryant Needs to Stop Shooting.As I wrote the other day, being forced to root for Kobe Bryant is rather loathsome when he insists on shooting like he’s playing for the 2006

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-47981816490919437312012-07-20T01:17:00.002-07:002013-03-04T02:27:17.817-08:00

Gar Forman’s quote that the Bulls’ offseason moves would be guided by basketball reasons rather than financial reasons has been mocked quite a bit in the Bullosphere over the last few days.  The team has let bench stalwarts Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, and C.J. Watson go to replace them with minimum contracts and a $5 million trade exception for Korver.  It also appears likely that the team will

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-49697036435959530492012-07-18T00:21:00.002-07:002012-07-18T00:21:36.813-07:00

The talk of the ballosphere is New York’s surprising refusal to match Houston’s “poison pill” restricted free agent offer sheet for Jeremy Lin due to luxury tax concerns. John Hollinger noted how little sense the Knicks’ sudden fiscal responsibility makes given their recent profligate ways.  In particular, Hollinger focused on the Knicks’ recent acquisitions of Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-15090458517218609662012-07-16T01:39:00.001-07:002012-07-16T12:43:48.455-07:00

I flipped on NBA TV this afternoon for a little basketball fix, having recorded the Charlotte/Cleveland game in hopes of seeing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Dion Waiters in action.  Eight minutes into the first quarter, it was 10-4 Cleveland and the announcers had revealed that MKG was sidelined with a mild knee injury.  While Charlotte was perhaps the worst team in NBA history last season, one

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-16734832148280074992012-06-28T00:37:00.001-07:002013-02-01T10:55:16.014-08:00

The consensus among NBA draft pundits seems to be that Connecticut Center Andre Drummond is one of the highest risk (and highest reward) players in the draft. However, I would posit that Drummond's physical profile actually gives him one of the higher floors in this draft. By all accounts, Drummond is pretty much a once in every 3 or 4 years prospect athletically. He has an enormous 7'6"

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025898580369149351.post-23430293718747636052012-06-13T17:41:00.001-07:002012-07-16T12:49:39.042-07:00

In the Day 1 recap I noted that the camp defied European stereotypes with the physicality and defensive intensity the campers exhibited.  However, this year's participants also defied stereotypes in a less desirable way: None of them could shoot.  In the 15 team games played by the campers (18 games total were played but 3 games were against AIS and the French and Russian U-20 teams), they

Nate Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821568243228244615[email protected]0