Syracuse, N.Y. — Some quick takes on Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim’s NBA chances, the Mets sending Max Scherzer to Hartford instead of Syracuse and the #TampaCuse Lightning losing the Stanley Cup as soon as I scout out the best fireworks spots just past state lines.
Boeheim ballers
Syracuse forward Jimmy Boeheim drives against Lafayette's Chris Rubayo (44) during an NCAA college basketball game, as Syracuse guard Buddy Boeheim moves out of the way during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Syracuse, N.Y. Both Buddy and Jimmy will play for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Summer League.AP
I wrote last week that Syracuse basketball needed a win in the NBA draft. A five-year drought of first-round picks and a total of two draft picks in that time frame is thin for a program with SU’s reputation.
I stand by that take now that the 2022 NBA Draft has come and gone without a player selected out of Syracuse, but there’s more than one way to prove SU provides a path to the pros.
The Boeheim brothers have been reunited by former Syracuse assistant Troy Weaver, who is now GM of the Detroit Pistons. One could call it “DeeeTROYt” basketball.
Rob Murphy, Detroit’s assistant general manager and the president of the team’s G-League franchise, also coached at Syracuse from 2004 to 2011.
Buddy signed a two-way deal with the Pistons shortly after the conclusion of Thursday night’s NBA draft. Jimmy will play with his brother on Detroit’s NBA Summer League squad.
Buddy’s best hope is to ride his sharpshooting skills that led the ACC in scoring at 19.2 points per game last year and piled up 88 3-pointers to the Motor City Cruise of the G-League and fight to get noticed from there.
“We believe his shooting skill is NBA level,” Murphy told syracuse.com’s Mike Waters. “We believe he can become an elite shooter at this level.”
Buddy’s odds to stick in the league are better than the ones presented to Lloyd Christmas in his “you’re telling me there’s a chance” response in courting Mary Swanson, but they are still long.
It would make for a heck of a story if Buddy, Jimmy or Cole Swider, who was signed by the Lakers, can make it to the NBA via the free agency path.
Syracuse still needs to get back to the business of having names called out by the Commissioner on draft night.
No Scherzer in Syracuse?
New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)AP
The New York Mets have managed to stay in first place in the Nationak League East without the services of aces Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom.
Scherzer is working his way back to the Mets’ rotation in the minors with some rehab starts while he shakes off an oblique injury, but that shamefully will not be a path that comes through Syracuse.
Scherzer will make another start for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday night in Hartford, Connecticut.
One has to wonder why Scherzer couldn’t have made that start in Syracuse, just in time for the start of a six-game home stand at NBT Bank Stadium.
Scherzer’s start would have been a nice reward for the Syracuse Mets and a fan base that has shown fierce loyalty to an organization that has barely earned it.
A Scherzer rehab start would have packed the North Side and given the Syracuse Mets, who are barely out of the basement in the International League, a needed baseball boost.
“I want to get out there so bad,” Scherzer said last week. “I want to be in the big leagues, not be a Rumble Pony”
At least you would have been a Met here in Syracuse, Max.
Oh well.
Enjoy Taco Tuesday instead of a Scherzer start, Mets fans.
Lightning lose but are not losers
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat reacts after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
The Tampa Bay Lightning had to hand over the Stanley Cup after holding on to the greatest trophy in sports for two years, falling to the Colorado Avalanche in six games on Sunday night.
The Lightning gave the Avalanche a heck of a fight in what clinched one of the greatest Stanley Cup Playoffs in recent memory, but Colorado had more in the tank.
“We just ran out of gas,” Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said.
The Lightning, with a big assist from many recent Syracuse Crunch alums including Pat Maroon, Ondrei Palat, Alex Killorn, Riley Nash, Anthony Cirelli, Ross Colton and Erik Cernak, insist this is not the end of its run.
“It’s not like we lost to some powder puff,” Cooper said. “That’s a baller hockey team over there. The playoff streak ended. But it’s not the end of our run.”
“Who says we’re done?” star Steven Stamkos said. “This core is here. We’ve battled. We’ve been through everything you can think of, and, for the most part, we’ve found a way to come out on top.”
It was staggering to see the Lightning two wins away from a third-straight Stanley Cup considering the injuries it faced.
Cooper said Sunday night if it were the regular season, half of the Syracuse Crunch roster would have been called up to Tampa by now.
“When the injury report comes out, you’re going to be shocked,” Maroon said. “I’m just so proud of these guys for what these guys have done the last three years. We made a hell of a run. We just fell short.”
Contact Brent Axe: Email | Twitter
MORE SYRACUSE SPORTS COVERAGE
Axe: Syracuse basketball is overdue for an NBA draft win
New York Mets’ Max Scherzer will make a second minor-league start, but not in Syracuse
Syracuse’s Jimmy Boeheim will play for Detroit Pistons in NBA summer league
2022 ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Syracuse will play at Illinois