#PSBSportsChop: Russell Westbrook Is Mr. NBA Pop Culture – January 27, 2016

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

It is well documented that Russell Westbrook is one of the premier basketball players walking the Earth right now. His unique combination of elite athleticism, basketball skill, and off-court style sets him apart from his peers. Westbrook has always been known to play the game at a different pace than those around him. In high school, he went from being lightly recruited to averaging 25 points a night as a senior, which led to him landing a scholarship to UCLA. After coming off the bench as a freshman in Westwood, Westbrook became a starter as a sophomore and shot his way up the NBA Draft Boards, being chosen fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He’s backed up the selection since putting on the Oklahoma City Thunder uniform with four NBA All-Star game appearances. Westbrook’s ability to fill the stat sheet in multiple categories on a nightly basis speaks both to his polished skill set and willingness to do whatever is needed for his team to win.

***Through January 15th, the dynamic playmaker is averaging 24.4 points, 9.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds per contest and through fan voting was named a starter in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game for the Western Conference.

Westbrook’s in-game performance and post-game style has landed him on magazine covers, lead roles in commercials and deals with major brands worldwide. Because of that, adults and children on basketball courts all across the globe are emulating the 2015 NBA All-Star MVP’s on-floor play. Off of the hardwood, his fashion sense has sparked another wave of sorts. NBA players and fans alike are wearing True Religion, the clothing line that Westbrook is a creative campaign manager for. Couple that with his own line of Westbrook Frames and you can argue that he is undoubtedly one of the league’s marquee stars in the ever-growing world of Pop Culture. Westbrook’s reach even landed him a national advertisement campaign with Mountain Dew Kickstart, this year, with two ad campaigns that have been well placed everywhere the NBA faithful look. NBA Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan’s brand has even taken note of Westbrook’s play, subsequently signing him as a member of Team Jordan, resulting in him being chosen as the signature athlete for the Jordan XXX debut earlier this month. The shoe will hit retail shelves on February 12th.

My collabo with @Naturel and DEW comes out on 10.13.15. Follow @MountainDew for the big reveal. #DoTheDEW

A photo posted by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) on

THE BREAKDOWN: For as well as Stephen Curry has played during the 2015 calendar year, Westbrook has kept himself in the 2016 MVP voting discussion with his play this season. With the 2016 Olympics around the corner, expect Westbrook to be in the mix for the U.S. Senior National Team. His play is in line with Curry, Chris Paul, and Kyrie Irving. Bringing home the gold medal would only enhance Westbrook’s growing popularity.

As long as he remains amongst the NBA’s elite on-floor performers, Westbrook has the potential to be the league’s go-to guy in the world of fashion and Pop Culture. I’ve watched basketball games in 12 states during the month of December and seen hundreds of players wearing his Jordan compression tights. They’re also rocking True Religion jeans and various colors of his frames as spectators at local games and national club season tournaments too.

Westbrook is leading the trend of athletes who naturally transition into fashion models. He has the look, the build and the stage to influence trends worldwide. He’s got a blend of charisma coupled with a willingness to push the envelope fashion-wise that I haven’t seen in my 14 years covering the sport. Keep an eye on his game (and fashion) as he leads the Thunder into the 2016 postseason and perhaps the franchise’s first NBA Championship.

#whynot snag a pair of the @westbrookframes Silver Series from @jackthreads? #donthateonthebrodie

A photo posted by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) on

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

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#PSBSportsChop – Should David Blatt Have Been Fired – January 22, 2016

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

The Cleveland Cavaliers fired their coach, David Blatt, on Friday and immediately inked assistant Tyronn Lue to a three-year deal worth a reported 9.5 million dollars. A source close to the situation informed me this time a year ago that Lue taking over was a distinct possibility as Blatt struggled to mesh with LeBron James. The question is should Blatt have been fired? The Cavaliers did make the NBA Finals last year without All-Star Kevin Love while starting point guard Kyrie Irving was banged up all season not playing again after Game One of the Finals.

Blatt was a combined 83 and 40 in his 18 months as the head coach including an Eastern Conference best 30-11 record to date during the 2015-16 season. Record notwithstanding, Blatt never seemed to have the full respect of James and the rest of the Cavaliers. That lack of respect was evident in last year’s Finals as James repeatedly waved off calls from the sideline choosing to go in a different direction from what Blatt was calling. In that way, the vibe reminded me of when Mike Brown was at the helm. The Cavs management has put the franchise in the hands of the King and unlike in Miami, there isn’t a Pat Riley in the front office who can talk to James from a place of “been there, done that.”

As James plays into his prime years, the goal is no longer the NBA Finals. For the 31-year-old, it’s bringing the NBA World Championship back to Cleveland or bust. With that said, the oft-injured Irving suiting up throughout the postseason and whether Love can defend the pick-and-roll will be more critical than who stands up the duration of the game. However, if Lue makes the Cavs core more comfortable down the stretch of the season then there is something to be said for that. Time will tell if Lue can lead this embattled group to the only thing that will make this season a success: LeBron James third NBA Championship.

Keil Moore’s Take: Today might prove that being an NBA General Manager is much safer place to be than being an NBA head coach. Cleveland’s GM, David Griffin, made multiple moves last year that appeared to be in line with building a title team but the league is changing with the Warriors leading the way. By signing multiple seven footers, Griffin’s moves didn’t account for that. They are paying top dollar for a post in Tristan Thompson who is playing 18-20 minutes a game right now. As our team member Jonathan Hemingway likes to point out, there are personnel issues including the fact that the Cavs probably should be playing Lebron at the power forward position a lot more. I’m interested to see how this plays out through June.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

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#ProSportsChop: Decade of the Point Guard – October 22, 2015

Every NBA generation gives us a wealth of depth at a certain position. In the 1990‘s, it was the Shooting Guard’s that ruled the league. Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Steve Smith and the list can go on and on. In the 2000’s, it was the Power Forward position that ruled the Association. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudemire were just a few of the great Power Forwards of the generation.

By: Keil Moore @KeilMoorePSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

This decade is all about Point Guard play. Right now, the position is without a doubt he deepest in the NBA and here is a look at the top five playing the position to date.

Here is my list of the Fab Five right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

MOORE: While one could make an argument for Chris Paul here. Curry is on top of the Basketball world right now. League MVP, NBA Championship and even his daughter has ridden the “Curry Wave” to stardom. With Curry’s recent success, it is hard to not give him the top spot.
More on Riley Curry

CLAY: What a run over the past two years for Steph. From a 5 year, $55 million extension guard to the future starting point guard for the US National Team and NBA MVP.
SIDENOTE: Riley Curry is the cutest kid in the game since Chris Paul’s son made “the Blake Face.”

2) Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

MOORE: Paul is the definition of the point guard position. Pass first, lead second, pressure the basketball, and score when needed. In my humble opinion, there isn’t a better point guard in basketball. There also might not be a better leader in basketball.

CLAY: He’s successfully made the Clippers the primary team inside Staples Center which also plays host to the Lakers. That said, if Paul plans on winning a title in LA he has to find a way to be more impactful than Curry and the guy below him again this season.

3) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

MOORE: Westbrook was phenomenal last season. He put up video game numbers almost all season long. That said, Westbrook’s health issues keep him out of consideration for the top two spots here.

CLAY: What Westbrook did sans Kevin Durant last season was phenomenal and deserves praise. From the national Mountain Dew Kickstart campaign to the Jordan Brand signature lifestyle shoe, marketers and fans nationwide have taken notice.

4) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

MOORE: Irving might be the most creative ball handler in the NBA right now. He is a dynamic athlete and brings flair to the point guard position. Like Westbrook, his health is also an issue. The best example of this is the 2015 NBA Finals.

CLAY: Irving could miss a chunk of time early in the season recovering from the season-ending knee injury Keil alluded to above. That said, Irving is the premier point guard in the Eastern Conference though I feel like John Wall is on his heels.

5) John Wall, Washington Wizards

MOORE: Clay’s favorite team, Atlanta Hawks, lucked out last season when Wall hurt his hand during the series against them. A healthy Wall might have propelled the Wizards into the Eastern Conference Finals. Wall is as explosive as any guard on this list and in my opinion Wall has been the victim of some tough USA Basketball National Team cuts.

CLAY: Wall is playing great basketball. He’s come a long way since his days of shooting less than 10 percent from beyond the arc during his rookie season.
SIDENOTE: Even though he’s on the verge of being an established veteran, I’d be remiss if I forgot to mention Jeff Teague. He’s easy to overlook in a league full of top shelf guards but Teague did lead the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Who Is Next?

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers – I am buying his stock. He showed himself as an excellent passer and a confident young player. Plus having Kobe Bryant as a mentor is always a nice way to start off a career.

Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic – In Orlando, Payton has a chance to grow alongside of the best young players in the league. He has to improve as a shooter but everything else is there.

Dante Exum, Utah Jazz – Exum is out this year due to an ACL tear. My extensive NBA League Pass research showed that while Exum struggled shooting the ball last year. He became a reliable starting point guard for Utah towards the end of the season. I’m “ALL IN” on Exum.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

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