[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Ira Winderman: Don't count out Pistons
Despite Chicago's offseason moves, Detroit is still the better playoff team.
Caught in a summer daze before Wednesday's official signing rage:
Despite all the talk to the contrary, the Pistons are not dead yet.
Even with Ben Wallace's free-agent shift to Chicago, Detroit remains the better team, especially in regard to playoff prospects.
Winderman is the anti-Dan LeBatard. That means he is not insane. [The Philadelphia Inquirer]
On the NBA: Conventional wisdom can be foolhardy
By David Aldridge
Conventional wisdom is conventional for a reason: It's easy. Doesn't require any deep thinking. Often, it's correct, but many times, it's just lazy.
We try very hard around here not to just blithely accept the CW, whether it's about politics, movies or sports. And in our neck of the woods, the first week of free agency offers the opportunity to either accept the NBACW being thrown around, or see things differently.
We always believe in differently.
I like Aldridge. Why is it that Philly has more quality columnists than Detroit? Our columnists only cover the local re: The NBA. Some of these other heads actually look at the league from a broader view... [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
INSIDE THE NBA
Early big deals are mostly mistakes
By SEKOU SMITH
Sure, it's a tad early to analyze the NBA's free agency period — signings and trades don't become official until Wednesday.
Sekou Smith is the only thing good about the Atlanta Hawks. Well, Sekou and Zaza Pachulia. [The Charlotte Observer]
Lowe learns ins, outs of college recruiting
Talent evaluation at college level is vastly different from NBA
by KEN TYSIAC
INDIANAPOLIS - The former point guard in the red golf shirt sat alone at the bottom of the bleachers Thursday as highly regarded high school prospects whizzed past.
Other coaches engaged in playful banter at the Nike All-America Camp, but new N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe mostly watched, intently and silently. This is Lowe's first chance to evaluate talent as the Wolfpack's coach, and it's clear he doesn't want to miss anything.
Sidney Lowe. Wherefore art thou, hallway coach?
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
Thy schemes are so unchanging.
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
Thy schemes are so unchanging.
Not only mean when Ben was here
But also when 'tis down and drear.
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
Thy schemes are so unchanging.
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
You fill all quotes with cliche.
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
You stalk Eli with tenacity.
At Summer League, you stand so tall,
Affording minutes to one and all.
Oh hallway coach, oh hallway coach,
You fill all quotes with cliche