THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
PAGE 7
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THE DAILY DEBATE
Who had the best trade deadline day in the NBA?
Griffin Hughes
@Griffin]Hughes
PORTLAND
TRAIL BLAZERS
At the beginning of NBA deadline day, the Portland Trail Blazers sat in first place in their division and in good position to make the playoffs as a top-four seed. But in a Western Conference home to the best team in the NBA, the defending champion and the reigning MVP, it was clear the Blazers needed to make moves. They became one of the biggest buyers in the NBA. As a result, they came out of deadline day with the most improved roster of any top team in the league.
The Portland front office quickly identified the need for a solid on-ball defender and additional three-point shooting. With Robin Lopez turning into one of the more powerful rim protectors in the league, a lockdown on-ball defender on the perimeter could move the Blazers into the top four in the NBA in points allowed.
They also spotted the need for an energy guy, someone
screen plasma TV for the price of a clock radio. The most valuable asset they gave up was a protected 2016 first rounder. By giving away a pick next year, the Blazers could plan this year's draft around that missed
who could come off the bench and score nine quick points, to give an injection to an offense that averages just over 102 points per game.
"THE PORTLAND FRONT OFFICE QUICKLY IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR A SOLID ON-BALL DEFENDER AND ADDITIONAL THREE-POINT SHOOTING."
The guy they needed was Arron Affalo, and Affalo was the guy they got.
pick. They probably would have used that pick on an Afflalo-type player anyway. Instead, they got a veteran who knows the game and can draft for talent in a deep class. The most valuable player they gave up was former Kansas star Thomas Robinson, who they replaced with the Nuggets' Alonzo Gee.
Affalalo came from a college system where defense was key, and his footwork and vision defending on the perimeter are top-class. At the beginning of his career in the NBA, he played for George Karl, who turned him into one of the fiercest and most athletic defenders in the country. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds, he can defend three positions on the perimeter. He also scores nearly 15 points per game and shoots 34 percent from beyond the arc.
At the end of the day, of all the teams who were active on deadline day, the Blazers came out of it with the most improved squad and became a serious title contender in the span of a few hours.
But the most important piece of the deal: the low cost. The Blazers front office essentially bought a flat
OKLAHOMA CITY
THUNDER
Edited by Kayla Schartz
Nick Couzin
@ncouz
If there were one winner in this year's NBA trade deadline it would definitely be the Oklahoma City Thunder. Why were they winners? Well, they got rid of who didn't want to be there, as well as acquiring top-notch talent to make a long-lasting playoff run.
Oklahoma City currently
win and win now. They are certainly a franchise capable of winning a championship. They have two superstars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. While the Thunder can't go wrong with either of those two, this trade deadline improved the team as a whole.
In this deadline, they acquired a huge shooting presence from long range in Steve Novak. Novak has averaged 43 percent from three and 44 percent from the field in his career, playing for six different
[THE THUNDER] ACQUIRED A HIGH-PERCENTAGE SHOOTER IN NOVAK AND A BIG MAN REBOUNDER IN KANTER."
teams in his nine years in the NBA. The Thunder also landed a big presence down low in Enes Kanter, who can rebound and play defense. Kanter averaged 7.5 rebounds per game last season and 13 rebounds per game this season for the Utah Jazz.
sits in eighth place in the West and was ninth just a week ago. They bypassed the Phoenix Suns, who traded brothers Goran and Zoran Dragic, as well as dising out young guard Isaiah Thomas and center Miles Plumlee. It's clear they're looking toward the future with those deals, but the Thunder are the exact opposite. They want to
The Thunder acquired these two savvy veterans
and got rid of some players demanding to leave the team. Guard Reggie Jackson has wanted out of Oklahoma City for a while, and the Thunder was able to ship him out as he wanted. Baggage and negativity out, positivity in. Kendrick Perkins' buyout made room for a transition from an older Perkins to a younger and improving Kanter. The Thunder could prove to be a force down the road in a tough Western Conference that has recently seen Golden State dominate and lead the pack. The Thunder could remain a topic of discussion. They finally have a healthy Durant back, after missing the better part of the first half of the season. With his assist buddy Westbrook alongside him, they will be a tough combination to deal with.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won this NBA trade deadline. They acquired a high-percentage shooter in Novak and a big man rebounder in Kanter. They have stocked up for the playoffs and should make a run for the No.1 seed's money this June.
Edited by Kayla Schartz
Ellis lifts Kansas over TCU with electrifying performance
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
With 6:47 left to play in the game, sophomore guard Frank Mason III found junior forward Perry Ellis cutting to the rim for a massive one-handed alley-oop jam that drew an and-one. Ellis converted the free throw, giving Kansas a 14-point lead. On the next play, Ellis poked the ball free on defense and threw down another one-handed slam.
"Perry! Perry! Perry!" shouted the Allen Fieldhouse crowd on Kansas' next offensive possession. This was a much-needed moment for Ellis after five days of thinking about what could have been against West Virginia. Days removed from being called "soft" and "not clutch," Ellis had 16,300 people gasping every time he touched the ball.
Ellis led Kansas to an 81-72 victory against TCU on Saturday afternoon, posting 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field. Ellis pulled down seven boards and recorded two assists as well.
"I didn't want to let the last game affect me or my teammates," Ellis said. "I wanted to come out here, play strong and give it my all."
"It was important for him to come out and have a big game" coach Bill Self said. "I thought he played very well."
Ellis has had an incredibly up-and-down career at Kansas. A single game after cementing himself in Kansas' record books, recording his 1,000th career point in a Jayhawk uniform, Ellis missed an open layup to win the game against West Virginia. Just as Ellis seems to be winning over the hearts of fans and showing what his worth can be to this team, a strong bounce off an unfriendly rim can change everything.
Ellis came into his freshman year with a lot of expectations, but struggled to find his way early in his career, as many freshmen do. Ellis really caught fire during the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments of his freshman year. His late-season success rose expectations even more heading into his sophomore season. A quiet demeanor had fans doubting Ellis' leadership skills.
"My teammates, family and coach are always picking me up," Ellis said. "I have a strong support system."
Kansas fans expect Ellis junior season to be the year he takes over and cements himself as the veteran leader of this team. Ellis has had an impressive season, averaging 13.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting, but his play has left something to be desired.
The second half proved to be a stage for Ellis to continue to put on a show. Ellis put up 15 points in the half and didn't miss an attempt from the lane. With 3:16 to go, Ellis scored his final points of the night off an easy lay-up in the lane.
PERRY ELLIS Junior forward
"My teammates, family and coach are always picking me up. I have a strong support system."
With two minutes to play, Ellis dove after a loose ball and. went flying into a center-court media table. Ellis was unable to save the ball for Kansas, but showed the confidence and energy he was bringing to the floor.
Ellis has had the ability to put the past behind him all season. After a performance like this, it would do Ellis good to keep his momentum going and finish the season running.
Ellis showed exactly what all the hype over the past three years has been about during his most impressive outing of the season. The junior from Wichita was automatic in the second half Saturday, converting on his first six attempts from the field.
"He's really good," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. "We tried to do as good of a job as we could against him, but he going to play for money some day."
"He was very efficient," Self said. "I think this was the most easy shots he's gotten all season."
Edited by Samantha Darling
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Junior guard Perry Ellis drives to the basket in Kansas' win against TCU on Saturday, Feb. 21. Ellis led the team in scoring with 23 points.
Mind Lecture Series Department of Psychology, University of Kansas
Why talking to your car can drive you to distraction
Free & open to the public
Alderson Auditorium Kansas Union University.of Kansas
Dr. David Strayer, Professor Cognition and Neural Science University of Utah
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