Blog post #7

        In Trevor Martin's documentary titled "Schooled: The Price of College Sports", he expresses that college athletes are treated unfairly by the NCAA and should not be exploited the way they are without pay. The author first argues with examples of the wrongdoings of the NCAA towards student athletes, he then adds to the argument with clips or stories of conflicts with the rule, and to conclude he addresses the audience with  sources like interviews with past college athletes who had no money to provide for themselves. His purpose is to persuade the audience that consumerism and things like that are hurting college athletes and are against the rules. He seems to have an audience of future student athletes in mind to show the cautions of becoming a student athlete.

        An example of how the NCAA has treated students unfairly is when a UCLA basketball player was put into a video game where he was not notified or paid for it. It was encouraged that being a student athlete could interfere with a student's education. Like when UNC running back Devin Ramsey was suspended for getting help from his tutor on an essay because of NCAA violation. Martin portrays that the NCAA's rules should either be changed or at least revised.

Westbrook's streak comes to an end in Chicago

        On Thursday, March 5th the Oklahoma City Thunder traveled to Chicago to take on the Bulls. Prior to this game, Thunder point-guard Russel Westbrook had recorded four straight triple-doubles. The first player to accomplish this since the legendary Michael Jordan who got seven straight. Although he may not of got a triple-double, Russel still managed to put up 43 points, along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. With the absence of Thunder star and reigning MVP Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook has worked himself into an MVP candidate himself. Although he had a prime-time performance, it did not cut it against Chicago.

         Now for the game. This game could not be decided until the very last seconds. Westbrook, who obviously had an amazing game, but it was the Thunder's power forward that made a huge impact as well. Serge Ibaka, a defensive force in the league recorded 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists. The Bulls were without star Derrick Rose and first time all-star Jimmy Butler. Russel put up 19 in the third quarter taking the Thunder into the final 12 minutes with a 79-72 lead. with 1:07 left to play, Oklahoma City had a 4 point lead. On the last crucial drive for Chicago they were down 2 with little time. E'twaun Moore hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to take the game despite Westbrooks performance.

Celtics Blow Lead and Fall to Steph Curry and the Warriors

        Isaiah Thomas' 20 points wasn't enough to hold a 26 point lead midway through the second quarter against Steph Curry and a surging Warriors team. After a mediocre second half, the C's defensive breakdown cost them the game last Sunday, March 1st. At the TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics fall 106-101.                                                                                                                                       The Celtics are without scoring and rebounding leader Jared Sullinger for the rest of the season who was arguably their best player. Point guard Isaiah Thomas who was acquired from the Suns at the trade deadline has quickly became the Celtics premier scorer. The Warriors, arguably the best team in the league, with MVP candidate Stephen Curry were more than the Green could handle.             

         "This was a fun challenge for us," Coach Steve Kerr said. "If we lost, it wouldn't have been the end of the world. But we were down and we came back. I was happy we showed good poise."

         This quote is from Warriors' first year head coach Steve Kerr. Although it seemed like Kerr did not care too much about the game, it must be great to see his team fight that hard in a game that might not be all that important. 

        So how did this game even play out? The Celtics had a hot start in the first half of play with a three-point barrage. At one point leading by 26 points. By halftime, the lead had been cut to 16. "Twenty-whatever we were up in the first half felt like three to me," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "And 16 at halftime feels like two against those guys. They just come back so fast."

        Brad Stevens had no intentions of letting the Warriors come back at all. This game however, was not decided until the final seconds. With 10.5 seconds left to play, with a score of 104-101, the Celtics only chance was a three pointer. Off the Tyler Zeller pick, Isaiah Thomas seemed to have a clear look at the hoop. Thomas is also an excellent three-point shooter so the Celtics were not in such a bad position. Unfortunately, the shot rolled out, Curry grabbed the rebound, and hit the game clinching free throws. 

        Curry led his team with 37 points, which was a game high. Thomas led the Celtics with 20 coming off the bench. He is the first Celtic to get 19 or more points off the bench for four games in a row since the legendary Kevin McHale in 1989-1990. Jae Crowder also had a great game and swiped a career high 17 rebounds. However, the result was the Warriors second best comeback in 15 seasons.