Satiating my summer season basketball appetite, I had the fortune of covering adidas Nations, an yearly grassroots basketball camp that gathers in the LA area, for SB Nation this past weekend. Although there was a surplus of prep and university talent on hand from the United States and all in excess of the planet Evgeni Nabokov Jersey, I had been passing by a quantity of NBA Scout badgewearers when I realized there was a half-decent shot there'd be a Sixers scout right here as well.

A cursory look down at the handsomely embossed briefcase of the tall gentleman to my left proved me proper. This was Mike VandeGarde, an Austin, TX primarily based school scout for the Sixers for above a decade and former Illinois State star massive man. On introducing myself and preparing for the "OH GOD LIBERTY BALLERS GET AWAY" pepper spray that happily never ever came, Mike and I talked Sixers, Salt Lick BBQ, and more Sixers for about 45 minutes while watching two tournament video games in front of us.

Mike could not have been any a lot more helpful and ready to reply the flurry of concerns that was snowing out of my mouth ad infinitum. I'll inform you what I can tell you.

-- There's a good deal up in the air at the second, as you know. But what is not being talked about as much as INTERN COACH is Sam Hinkie's lack of an assistant GM and whether or not or not he'll carry in his own new group of scouts http://www.sjsharksproshop.com/10-antti-niemi-jersey. Less than two months away from education camp and, as VandeGarde explained to me: "Sam's got a good deal on his plate, but scouting is as essential as ever." In the meantime, VandeGarde was just back from scouting in Prague and adidas Nations was "an opportunity to see substantial school youngsters you in no way get to see." But he and I watched the university guys as the prep prospects played more down the gym -- "These are the guys that matter appropriate now. These guys are coming out subsequent yr and we require to know every little thing we can about them."

An Oral Pre-History of the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers, Featuring Derrick Coleman and Plenty and Tons of Dropping

O'Connor digs deep into the offseason for this one.
 

-- There is a lot you can say about the Sixers organizational state of disarray considering that Allen Iverson and four guys from your community misplaced to the Lakers in 2001. What you can't say is that they have not drafted properly. 10 of their final eleven first round picks (minus Rodney Carney) have been reputable rotation players.

VandeGarde attributes that achievement to the stability and trust the Sixers scouting division has with every single other Sharks Jersey. Under guys like Courtney Witte, Tony DiLeo (as properly as his brother Frank), and Jordan Cohn, there is been a great deal of collective agreement in excess of the previous decade. And when you consider that only two of people eleven gamers had been picked in the Top 10 -- Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner -- it gets to be instantly evident how the Sixers have ran on the 8th-seed treadmill for so long. If you will not string with each other a couple of best picks and strike gold, it truly is practically not possible to move one particular way or the other when you are drafting reliable guys.

That's one thing the team is aware of.

-- Obtaining been in the War Room for a extended while Sharks Shop, VandeGarde has keen insight into the Sixers imagined method. "You search for guys that could modify the franchise for the better. We're looking to draft young guys with super large upside."

-- In accordance to VandeGarde, everyone was excited and on board with the Bynum trade, even though he was pushing genuinely tough to hold onto one particular of Moe Harkless or Nikola Vucevic, both of whom he is really high on. "But taking into consideration what took place with Bynum, we're in a wonderful scenario as a franchise."

-- The two players above the previous few many years that have created his jaw drop the most... will shock you. And you may believe I am creating it up because of how closely it displays my very own ideas. You will just have to take my word for it -- Andre Drummond and Anthony Bennett.

-- He's optimistic about Evan Turner turning out to be a solid NBA player. The notion that a new program could support unlock a handful of elements of his game is a single he believes in. Emphasized how very good of a rebounder he is for his place.

-- I asked him about the distinct lack of Euro draftees more than the previous decade or so and he stated it was not really a conscious decision. "We have Euro scouts we believe in, and we have had Euro guys on the board, it just didn't function out." Had Michael Carter-Williams not fallen to them, there had been a variety of foreign prospective customers they had been searching at for that spot.

-- Getting been based mostly out of Texas although Hinkie was in Houston, Mike and Sam had a romantic relationship prior to Sam's hiring here. "Sam's constantly played items closed to the chest." That certainly tracks. Mike loved the James Harden trade and lamented that, had items gone a various way, the Sixers could have been in a place to obtain Harden themselves.

-- VandeGarde's super higher on Nerlens Noel, echoing Sam's sentiments about rim protectors currently being at a premium. It's been a extended time considering that a large guy as athletic Noel has been with the Sixers http://www.sjsharksproshop.com/23-ryane-clowe-jersey. As soon as Noel will get his knee appropriate, he is enthusiastic about all the blocking and dunking which is to come. Believes that other teams have been frightened off by the knee and which is why they passed. Also: "Sometimes teams get locked into a guy they fell in enjoy with and that's how other guys begin to slip." Appears like that was the case for the McLemore and McCollum picks.

"Taking into consideration what took place with Bynum, we're in a excellent situation as a franchise." -Mike VandeGarde, Sixers university scout
 

-- Relating to the jump shot of a specific MCW: "There is hope for everybody in terms of a jumper. His rotation and his form are okay. Look at what Iguodala has become -- he had much worse rotation coming into the league. With time, consistency, hard work, and work ethic, there is undoubtedly hope for his shot." They also looked back at his high college tape and noticed that he shot well enough to feel his is far from a misplaced cause.

Total, I got the sense from Mike that although there's nevertheless a lot of operate to be completed, the organization is on the correct track. "But it truly is not like you have a 10-year contract. You gotta make very good selections each day." And that's what it really is eventually about -- whether or not you are a scout or a GM, one particular selection can set you back a great deal of years. The Sixers have had a couple of of individuals in the last decade. With the new regime hell-bent on taking its time to make the ideal options and two very likely lottery picks in their pocket, the potential is vivid certainly.

We talked for a even though, so there is naturally things I left out. But if you have concerns, I will try to solution the ones I can.

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MONTREAL &mdash Daniel Alfredsson has tormented the Canadiens considering that he started his Ottawa Senators occupation in 1995 http://www.canadiensfanstoreonline.com/maxim-lapierre-jersey, but he has never ever faced Montreal in the playoffs.

The forty-12 months-old Alfredsson will last but not least get that chance Thursday evening when the Senators and Canadiens face off in the postseason for the initial time in Game 1 of the very first-round matchup.

"It truly is going to be a fantastic series since of the cities being so shut to each and every other," Alfredsson explained Wednesday. "Ottawa is a pretty new franchise compared to Montreal.

"Before we had the staff, individuals were both Toronto or Montreal fans, so we have a great deal of Montreal followers in Ottawa and we're converting them one stage at a time. Winning this series would most likely go a extended way to helping that."

A prolonged, tight series of 1-goal video games is expected from the two rapid-skating teams.

With eight players with at least 10 objectives in the 48-game normal season, the Canadiens bring much more scoring depth and one of the NHL's leading electrical power plays. Ottawa counters with the league's greatest penalty-killing unit http://www.canadiensfanstoreonline.com/carey-price-jersey, thorough defensive play and a great deal more dimension on the back finish.

And they have Alfredsson Carey Price Jersey, who has amassed 103 points in 85 job video games towards the Canadiens.

"He's very good and really smart on the ice," explained Montreal forward Michael Ryder, whose line with Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta will probably shadow the Senators captain. "But I think if we play the way we can and get into the offensive zone and use that to our advantage, we'll be fine.

"But you've received to watch him when he's out there."

There has in no way been a heated rivalry between the clubs, largely because they hadn't met in the postseason since Ottawa joined the NHL as an growth crew in the 1992-93 season - when the Canadiens won the final of their record 24 Stanley Cup titles.

That is probably to adjust now.

"The two teams are searching at doing no matter what it takes to win games," Alfredsson explained. "Typically, in a playoff series, incidents occur and rivalries get developed simply because of it.

"I don't think we're hunting to produce a rivalry. We're looking to win a series, and the rivalry will come with that."

Carey Value was possessing a dominant season till he and the Canadiens fell apart for a two-week stretch in April http://www.canadiensfanstoreonline.com, but the goalie rebounded with two decent outings in the ultimate week. In his final postseason physical appearance in 2011, he excelled in a 7-game, initial-round matchup towards eventual Cup winner Boston.

Ottawa will counter with Craig Anderson, who posted a stellar 1.69 targets-towards regular and .941 save percentage this season but missed twenty games because of an damage.

Another matchup to watch is the play of each and every team's youthful, hotshot defensemen: P.K. Subban for Montreal and 2012 Norris trophy winner Erik Karlsson for the Senators.

Subban was second in crew scoring with 38 factors Canadiens Jersey. Karlsson very likely would have had a lot more amazing numbers had he not sustained a deep skate lower on his left Achilles tendon on Feb. 13. He returned for the final 3 games of the regular season.

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There have to be something about that fourth seed the Pittsburgh Penguins find comforting. For the second straight postseason, the Penguins will enter the playoffs in that spot, and so far so great.Last 12 months, they won the Cup after a dramatic Game 7 in Detroit. This yr, the Penguins appeared to amble really a bit during the typical season and there has been a definite sense of not very being engaged."We know we have been a small inconsistent with it, so which is really our challenge," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma explained on the eve of the playoffs. "Are we pleased with our mindset? No, not totally. Do we know how we require to perform? Yes. We have not gotten to the consistency we know we're going to require." Right after winning their very first 4 publish-Olympic games, the Penguins did not win much more than two in a row following that and failed to win the Atlantic Division.The Senators, meanwhile, established themselves as 1 of the streakiest teams in the NHL http://www.pittsburghpenguinsfanstore.com/authentic-matt-cooke-jersey. They did handle to string together a franchise-greatest 11-game winning streak prior to the Olympic break and an additional six-game run late in the season. Ottawa is also 21-2-2 when top soon after the initial time period and 4-20-two when trailing soon after one. There appears to be no middle ground for the Senators, and the outcome of this series will depend on regardless of whether "Excellent Ottawa" or "Poor Ottawa" shows up.
one. The golden kid: All discussions about the Penguins start and finish with their captain, Sidney Crosby, he of the golden objective in the Olympics and the engine that drives the Pittsburgh machine. Crosby has continued to improve the offensive part of his game, collecting two targets on the final day of the normal season to tie Steven Stamkos for the Rocket Richard Trophy with 51 goals, marking the first time he's hit the 50-aim plateau.Search for Crosby to support elevate the Pens' team game, a game that has been pretty iffy of late, through his very own degree of perform. The challenge for the Senators will be in attempting to restrict the injury Crosby inflicts on them. Appear for Anton Volchenkov, who has blocked much more shots over the past 5 many years than any NHL player Jaromir Jagr Jersey, and Chris Phillips to draw the assignment of attempting to maintain Crosby off the puck and stop him from scoring the in-tight ambitions that have now become portion of his repertoire. Great luck.2. Wither Geno? One of the major motives there is a compelling situation to be created for Crosby to win the Hart Trophy is his sidekick and defending NHL scoring champ Evgeni Malkin has had an off season. Hampered by injuries and illness, Malkin has played in only 66 games and collected 73 factors. When he has played, specifically later on in the season, he is been fairly excellent.It goes without having saying that a wholesome Malkin makes the Penguins that significantly far more formidable. He also tends to make them more difficult to defend 5-on-5 due to the fact the Sens will have to select how to stop two dynamic centers. It also can make the Penguins' 19th-ranked energy perform exponentially more hazardous operating the puck from the half wall. If, even so, Malkin's wonky foot, and so forth., hold him from being at peak efficiency, it gives the Sens a fighting chance.3. M.A.S.H., déjà vu: When these two teams met in the playoffs two seasons in the past (this is the third time in 4 playoff many years the two teams will meet), the Senators had a variety of injuries to best players, which includes captain Daniel Alfredsson. Quickly-forward to this spring and it's déjà vu. The Sens will be with no prime-4 defenseman Filip Kuba, who is out for at least three more weeks following undergoing back surgical procedure. His absence will put more strain on Andy Sutton, Chris Phillips, Volchenkov and promising rookie defender Erik Karlsson.The Senators will also be with out enigmatic forward Alexei Kovalev, who suffered a torn MCL last week and is accomplished for the season Evgeni Malkin Jersey. The Senators will also be watching the perform of Milan Michalek, who anchors the team's 2nd line and returned to the lineup for the final two normal-season video games following missing the earlier nine contests with a knee injury.four. Stage-up man? We all know Alfredsson is going to deliver it each night. It's just who he is. But if the Senators are going to have a likelihood in this series, they need to have center Jason Spezza to consider a giant phase forward in terms of his leadership and postseason manufacturing. Individuals forget he led the NHL in assists (15) and points (22) when the Senators marched to the Stanley Cup finals in 2007, but Spezza had a miserable series against Anaheim. He began the season scoring twice in his initial 25 video games, but hit his stride in the 2nd half to finish the season with 23 goals and 57 factors in 60 video games. He will likely begin the playoffs lining up with Alfredsson and youngster Peter Regin. It truly is statement time for Spezza.5. The boys behind the bench: Bylsma and Ottawa coach Cory Clouston signify the new trend in NHL coaching hires, taking cerebral bench bosses who cut their teeth in the minors and offering them a shot in the bigs. Bylsma proved to be a sort of anti-Michel Therrien when he took more than in February 2009 and showed terrific coaching acumen throughout the playoffs, juggling his line combinations to excellent effect.This season, he acknowledged his staff has not been where it demands to be, and the challenge for him is to find that proverbial switch this week. He said he is talked to individuals linked to other NHL dynasties, as effectively as teams in other sports activities making an attempt to repeat as champions."We know what it implies to go via that in the playoffs, but that degree has to happen for your team and for your players and your staff game, for folks," Bylsma said. "So that urgency level is going to come. The question is, are we going to be a staff that can draw upon our past, get to that degree, and have good results going forward in the playoffs."As for Clouston Chris Kunitz Jersey, he has proved himself to be a coach who can get a good deal out of minor and he will now have to replicate that against the defending Stanley Cup champs.
• The Penguins' large three versus the Senators' blue-line corps and rookie netminder Brian Elliott: No group, other than Detroit in the 2008 Cup finals, has had an answer for Crosby, Malkin and Jordan Staal in the playoffs. The capacity to move them off the puck and get away time and area in the defensive zone is essential to the Senators' possibilities and the Penguins' potential to replicate their accomplishment. With both teams icing evenly matched power-play and penalty-killing units, 5-on-five perform will be critical.
• Ottawa: Spezza has had 14 factors in his previous eight games, such as 5 multipoint games. Michalek, the pivotal portion of a deal that sent Dany Heatley to San Jose prior to the season, has just 1 purpose in his previous nine games.• Pittsburgh: A single of two additions to the Penguins' roster at the trade deadline, Jordan Leopold has 7 points in his previous nine games, such as four goals, a single of which was the overtime winner Sunday towards the New York Islanders. The other newcomer, Alexei Ponikarovsky, is pointless in his past 4 games and was suspended for the Penguins' ultimate two regular-season video games for a boarding hit on the Islanders' Josh Bailey http://www.pittsburghpenguinsfanstore.com/authentic-james-neal-jersey.
• If there is 1 staff we feel can just flip on a playoff switch, it's the Penguins. The team's encounter and strength down the middle will be also considerably for the inconsistent Senators and Elliott to handle. Penguins in six video games.Scott Burnside covers the NHL for ESPN.com.

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The Los Angeles Kings traded goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward Matt Frattin, goaltender Ben Scrivens and a 2nd-round draft selection, the group announced Sunday.Cross Checks BlogScott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun write about all factors occurring in the NHL. Cross ChecksBernier served as Jonathan Quick's backup with the Kings over the past four seasons soon after currently being Los Angeles' very first-round variety in 2006. He played in 62 career regular-season games with the Kings as properly as one particular playoff game and had a 29-20-six record, a .912 save percentage, a 2.36 targets-towards-typical and 6 shutouts.The 24-year-outdated Bernier began just 14 video games this season as a backup to Swift, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last season and signed a 10-yr, $58 million contract extension. Bernier played properly this season in spite of the constrained taking part in time, posting a 9-3-1 record with a ambitions-towards common of one.88 and a conserve percentage of .922.Bernier has been searching for far more taking part in time, and the Kings have been seeking to deal their talented backup goalie, who is eligible for restricted cost-free agency this summer season Wayne Gretzky Jersey."Naturally I am really fired up," Bernier informed ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. "Going to Toronto I consider is a great challenge Mike Richards Jersey. It really is fantastic. They've acquired a truly good younger group, and hopefully I can fit in and have some success with them Anze Kopitar Jersey."Kings common manager Dean Lombardi promised Bernier following the season that he would make his best hard work to trade the goaltender so that he would have a much better chance at enjoying video games."I was really happy -- Dean is a guy of his word," Bernier advised ESPN.com. "I felt he would preserve it, and he did. All the teams in the mix had been wonderful teams, but I have to tell you I am so pleased that it truly is Toronto."Frattin played in 25 normal-season games with Toronto, scored 7 ambitions, like three game-winners, and 13 points. For the duration of the playoffs, he played in six video games and recorded two assists.Scrivens played in twenty games with the Maple Leafs final season and posted a 7-9- record, two shutouts, a 2.69 ambitions-towards-typical and a http://www.teamkingsstore.com/jonathan-quick-jersey.915 save percentage. He did not seem in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs.The 2nd-round draft assortment acquired by the Kings will be in 2014 or 2015 http://www.teamkingsstore.com, which is Toronto's option.ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun contributed to this report.

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