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Go, Man, Go! is a 1954 sports film directed by James Wong Howe, starring Dane Clark, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Patricia Breslin, The Harlem Globetrotters and Slim Gaillard.
Clark plays Abe Saperstein, the organizer of the Globetrotters. Poitier’s character is Inman Jackson, the team’s showboating center. Breslin plays Sylvia Saperstein, the love interest, and Abe’s daughter. Gaillard plays himself.
The film tracks the Globetrotters from humble beginnings through a triumph over a major-league basketball team, as they struggle to overcome racial discrimination.
Actual Harlem Globetrotter players portray the team in basketball action throughout the picture. The friendship between Saperstein and Jackson, and their wives, is an important storyline. – Wikipedia
When it comes to discussions about whoās the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan and LeBron James usually come up, at least among a certain generation of basketball fans.
But thereās another guy who some might say also needs to be included in that debate, and thatās none other than Kobe Bryant.
The retired hoops star sat down with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on āAll The Smokeā podcast, where Jordanās name came up.
Barnes mentioned that Bryant once said that he āwanted to sit at the table with MJ,ā in terms of getting six championship rings like he did.
Kobe left the NBA with five rings, the last time being in 2010 when the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Boston Celtics in seven games.
āOh, it pissed me off,ā said Bryant around the 27:50 mark about falling one ring short of Jordan. āBut things are what they are. You push for a goal. My original goal was to try to win eight.ā
āYou push for it and you try to do the best you can,ā he added. āAt the end of the day, you can be comfortable with the results and where they landed and where they ended up.ā
Elsewhere in the interview, Bryant said he and Jordan are far different from each other, because the retired Chicago Bulls star would compete at everything and anything, while Bryant said heās the opposite.
āI only compete with things that I really am good at,ā he explained.
The former shooting guard also talked about a conversation that he and Jordan had about the 1991 Bulls taking on the 2003 Lakers, since both had powerhouse squads in those years.
āHeāll talk basketball all day long. āWhat wouldāve happened if my ā91 against your ā03?’ā Bryant said Jordan asked. āWhat he started the conversation, [was like] well, āI wouldāve destroyed you.’ā
āI just said, āListen, remember who you talking to,’ā Bryant continued. āAnd he just started laughing and said, āIām just messing with you.ā And then we just kind of moved on.ā
We all knew Ja Morant could play at Murray State, when we saw the guard lead the Racers to a first-round upset of Marquette in the 2019 NCAA tournament with a triple-double.
But now, nearly halfway through his first NBA season, we know the Memphis Grizzlies rookie can play ā¦ AND heās not afraid of anyone in the league at the age of 20.
Seriously: did you see what he did on Tuesday night? The shocking Grizzlies ā the eighth seed in the West at the moment at 19-22 ā won their sixth straight by taking down James Harden and the Houston Rockets. And Morant (a team-high 26 points while missing just ONE field goal, eight dimes and three shots from distance) dismantled the Rockets by doing stuff like this:
Look at how he broke down Harden and shot from three when the defense gave him room ā as social media pointed out, Morant had something NSFW to say after one of those shots:
Morant doesnāt take a ton of threes ā about 2.3 per game ā but he hits them at a 40.7 percent clip when he does shoot. So hereās what that clip tells me: heās overflowing with confidence. Clearly, the Rockets know he prefers to slash, and that there are critics out there worried that he canāt shoot in an NBA world where guards like him need to shoot well:
āThe doubters said I couldnāt shoot. Iām proving them wrong.ā@JaMorant hit two big time 3-pointers against Harden who dared him to shoot. pic.twitter.com/WnU0OxVZ8T
I should say heās also proven his basketball IQ is high, which helps:
Watch the awareness from Ja Morant here in P&R. Rockets bringing Capela up a little higher on the floor. Two on the ball, Harden rotates to take away the roll. Engages the defense, reads it and fires a skip to the corner for an open 3. pic.twitter.com/n3Iwi7OYyA
There are other reasons the Grizzlies are shocking the world. Jaren Jackson Jr. is taking another step forward a year after being the fourth overall pick in 2019. Dillon Brooks learned how to hit from distance and is taking more threes. Brandon Clarke is every bit the sleeper everyone thought he would be out of Gonzaga. Jonas Valanciunas is still Jonas Valanciunas.
But itās Ja ā heās fast becoming one of those NBA players you refer to by a single name ā whoās tying them all together and bringing the confidence that makes him one of the must-watch players in the entire league.
Should Memphis try to bring Andre Iguodala back into the fold for a playoff push?
Last July,Ā Golden State WarriorsĀ small forwardĀ Andre IguodalaĀ was traded to theĀ Memphis Grizzlies. Just two months later and the Grizzlies and Iguodala reached a mutual agreement that effectively let the former Finals MVP part ways with the team.
And while Iguodala is still on the Grizzlies roster, the veteran swingman has yet to appear in a game for Memphis and as of now, doesnāt look like heās going to unless he is traded. Iguodala was vocally less than happy when he learned he was traded to Memphis since the thought was the Grizzlies were rebuilding, and the 15-year veteran was searching for another championship or at least to play on a playoff team.
Yet, fast forward three months into the season and the Grizzlies are in the midst of their first six-game win streak since 2016 and currently, 19-22, sit as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
With a salary of over $17 million dollars this season, Memphis ā highest-paid player isnāt playing for the team. It isnāt a guarantee that the Grizzlies can keep up this level of success and sneak into the playoffs in a tough Western Conference. Regardless, with young stars such as Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis has built itself a solid core and one that could probably use more veteran presence.
At the same time, whether itās recency bias or not, the Grizzlies are playing great basketball. The team chemistry is great and people are excited about Memphis basketball for the first time in a while. Morant is almost guaranteed the Rookie of the Year award by now and the team can score with the best of them.
Adding back a player like Iguodala, while beneficial in many ways, would likely take away from the development of the many young prospects that Memphis has on the roster. Often times, the best way to improve is to get experience and with one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, the Grizzlies are demonstrating that.
And while the Grizzlies could very well sneak into the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, itāll likely be as the seventh or eighth seed. The Grizzlies are one of the best up-and-coming teams in the league but that doesnāt mean theyāre contenders.
If Iguodala is serious about winning another championship, he should still try to push his way out of Memphis. The team is doing just fine without him and while he is still a great role player in the league, at 35 years old, Iggy simply isnāt what he used to be.
I donāt think it would necessarily hurt the Grizzlies if Iguodala came back and played for the team. In fact, I think his veteran leadership would really help a young team.
But, it seems thatās not what Iguodala wants and the Grizzlies should lean into the youth movement they have going right now because itās clearly working.
Did you know that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has been a fan of the Warriors for years?
During his Wednesday morning press conference, Shanahan was asked if he has picked up anything in particular from observing Golden State.
“I just have always been a fan of them, even before I got here,”Ā he told reporters.Ā “Just watching how they play. I remember saying in Atlanta that I wanted our receiver group to be similar to the Warriors to where, ‘Who knows who the starter is.’Ā
“They all play. Andre Iguodala. I think he wasn’t the starter and then he was the conference finals or whatever it’s called — the NBA championship — MVP. The seven games that mattered at the end (laughter). You think of stuff like that.
“You just got guys who seem really not to care how it gets done. They all just go out there and ball and see where the weakness in the defense is and wherever that ends up, that guy shoots. And that’s a lot how I see offense.”
It’s called the “NBA Finals” coach. The “NBA Finals.”
Good luck in the “game of championship NFC” this Sunday against the Packers of Green Bay! (just having some fun …)
As for Iguodala — in 2014-15, he came off the bench during all 77 of his regular season appearances, and the Warriors’ first 18 playoff games. But he started Games 4 through 6 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the Dubs captured their first championship in 40 years.
Iguodala averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals against the Cavs, while shooting 52 percent overall and 40 percent from deep. He was named NBA Finals MVP.
Steph Curry wasnāt Finals MVP in 2015 (Andre Iguodala was a very worthy winner). But just watch this clip so you donāt forget why the Warriors were getting wide open shots… pic.twitter.com/yGepgfLQfW
Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston almost always made the right pass at the right time. They just kept the offense moving and flowing = Klay 3 pic.twitter.com/ZiEZPSuMHp
It’s unclear where the soon-to-be 36-year-old will end up in the coming weeks, but hopefully he gets the opportunity to make some big plays throughout the 2020 playoffs.
The Trae Young Foundation’s $10,000 contribution to RIP Medical Debt will allow that organization to purchase and forgive $1,059,186.39 in outstanding medical expenses for 570 people, according to a news release.
āGiving back to this community is extremely important to me,” Young said in a statement. “I hope these families can find a bit of relief knowing that their bills have been taken care of as we enter the New Year.ā
Wednesday, Young praised the people who helped the plan come together, ending his tweet with a capital A (for Atlanta) a heart emoji and the hashtag #MakeADifference.
Blessed to have such a Great Team around me to help me make this happen!!
The second-year guard from Oklahoma ranks fourth in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points per game. He’s also fifth in the league in assists per game at 8.4.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is nearing his NBA debut ā possibly, even this week ā but in the meantime, heās been stuck watching the action from the bench.
Apparently, that can get pretty dull.
While I wouldnāt blame any regular person for nodding off out of boredom when forced to watch a January game between the Pistons and Pelicans, a regular person doesnāt play for one of those teams. Zion, however, does.
As the Pistons and Pelicans were playing a close game in the fourth quarter on Monday, the broadcast zoomed in on Williamson seated on the bench. And it certainly looked like the Pelicans rookie was battling those heavy eyelids, trying not to fall asleep.
The best part had to be that the Pelicans were in a close game. Theoretically, that should have been compelling. The Pelicans ended up winning, 117-110.
Come Sunday afternoon, the Warriors should receive considerable relief from the despair that has plagued their offense during a frustrating six-game losing streak.
For one, theyāre playing the Grizzlies, whose 112.4 defensive rating is 27th in a 30-team league. Memphis is where NBA teams go to pad their scoring stats.
In addition, guard DāAngelo Russell, who has missed the last six games, is expected to play. Heās the Warriorsā leading scorer (23.2 points per game) and most proficient closer on a team that averaged 99.5 points, on 42 percent shooting, over the last six games.
D-Loās return is the most convenient way to defibrillate this comatose offense.
But if the D-Lo who takes the court at FedEx Forum is the D-Lo that weāve seen most of this season, there is a steep price for the Warriors to pay.
Russellās defense tends to range from half-hearted to indifferent to utterly negligent, which makes him as capable of sabotaging the defense as he is of fortifying the offense.
In the 29 games since coach Steve Kerr expressed undiluted disappointment in his teamās defense — their 117.0 rating was dead last at the time — the Warriors steadily became respectable. Theyāve moved up 10 spots, to No. 20 (111.8).
Hereās the truly revealing part: Over the six games that Russell has missed since Dec. 28, the Warriors are, gulp, ninth in defensive rating (106.0). While D-Lo was observing from the bench, always in stylish attire, they fixed their defense.
The latest proof came Friday night in Los Angeles, where the Warriors limited the Clippers, who this season have entered the fourth quarter with at least 100 points on nine occasions, to a mere 73 through three quarters. The Warriors took a 10-point into the final quarter but couldnāt hang on.
The defense that held through the first 36 minutes was not up to the task of containing LA stars Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell over the final 12.
The Warriorsā offense, however, betrayed them the entire game. Though Omari Spellman responded to his first start as a Warrior with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4 of 8 from deep, his teammates were 31 of 84 (36.9 percent) overall and 4 of 31 (12.9 percent) from distance.
āThey overwhelmed us,ā Kerr said of the fourth quarter, when the Warriors were outscored 36-17. āThey played a great quarter and got downhill. Kawhi and Lou Williams both got going. Harrell got going. We just couldnāt put the ball in the basket.ā
Which brings us back to Russell, who was sitting on the bench, at times flanked by disabled teammates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. D-Lo has scored at least 30 points in eight games this season, with a high of 52. The man can get buckets with the best of them.
The man can give buckets, too. With the worst of them.
Back in October, as the Warriors were wrapping up the preseason and preparing for the opener, Draymond Green, who knows a bit about defense, responded to question about D-Loās defensive ability with a low-key dart.
āWatching him in practice yesterday, I told him, āOh you showed me you can defend. I didn’t know you could. So that’s the expectation now,āā Green said.
“It’s interesting because you just never know what’s been asked of someone. You can easily judge a situation and say, āOh man, he hasn’t really defended much,ā or, āHe’s not that good on the defensive end.ā But if he’s never been asked to defend, it’s kind of hard to make that judgment.
āObviously, we’re going to ask him to defend. Yesterday, he was asked to defend, and he showed that he can. I told him that’ll be the expectation moving forward. Sorry, buddy, you showed it.”
Now, 40 games into the season, Draymond still is waiting to see defense at the level he believes Russell is capable of playing. The coaching staff also is searching for it. Those who evaluated Russell during his first four NBA seasons are skeptical that it will come.
Until it does, if ever it does, the Warriors donāt have much of a choice. They will have to live with D-Loās defense if they want his offense.
They surely need it — at least until Curry and Thompson are ready for re-entry.
If you missed the Perkins-Durant feud, the current ESPN analyst sparked a dialogue by saying that Russell Westbrook is unquestionably the best player to have worn a Thunder jersey. When Durant chimed in, Perkins ripped him for going to the Warriors in āthe weakest move in NBA history,ā and questioned the legitimacy of Durantās two rings.
Gilbert Arenas came to Durantās defense with an entire dissertation about why Durant was correct in leaving, why RINGZ culture is toxic and a whole bunch of typos. Yes, I read the entire thing. Yes, my eyes do hurt.
Gilbert Arenas has got something to say about this whole Kendrick Perkins-Kevin Durant Twitter squabble. I agree with him. pic.twitter.com/wNMFmma7LZ
Matt Barnes also came to Durantās defense as well, saying that everyone was entitled to their opinion but no one can deny Durantās greatness.
people may not like the decision KD made to join the Warriors, youāre entitled to your opinion. When I say keep it real, I mean separate how you feel about KD āthe personāfrom KD the āplayerā You canāt deny is talent! You may not like him but itās one of the greatest to ever play
Somehow, Perkins is cooking up a lot of beef this season. I, for one, am enjoying it. Donāt know if itās him being on TV or if he was always just like this.
Either way, keep this party going big guy.
UPDATE: Perkins responded to all of the criticism on The Jump on Friday.
"He could've picked up the phone and called me if he had a problem with what I said about Russ, but he wanted to make that about him, in my opinion."
Shaquille O’Neal responds to a meme pitting him and Kobe Bryant against LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a 2-on-2 game, reveals why he knows Stevie Wonder is not really blind and teases his fourth annual Shaq’s Fun House Super Bowl party.
