Jun 26, 2012

2012 NBA Mock Draft - Imagining the Bobcats Pull a Bobcats and Draft Andre Drummond

I truly do not believe that the Bobcats are going to take Andre Drummond second, but I'm going to rock with it because A) It's the Bobcats B) It's MJ C) He's going to be drafted higher than he deserves and D) He's a legit 5, which Charlotte could definitely use. With all of that said, here's my two-round Mock Draft, with explanations for the first round. Enjoy!

NBA DRAFT 2012 - Big Board - Version 1.0
1. Hornets - Anthony Davis - F/C - UK - National Player of the Year, NCAA Champion, clear cut first pick for sure. AD has been said to be so good that he'll make any team a 50+ win team. We'll see.
2. Bobcats - Andre Drummond - C - UConn - Grown ass man, at least physically. Lots of talent, but lots of work to put in to get the most out of said talent, and my best bet to bust. Thomas Robinson's most likely the pick here, but I'm giving MJ a chance to pull an MJ move with this pick, assuming they keep it.
3. Wizards - Bradley Beal - SG - UF - You don't often see the best shooter in a draft go this high, but Beal has a stroke like few others in this draft. Good size, good head on his shoulders, unselfish scorer, and the perfect backcourt mate for John Wall.
4. Cavs - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - SF - UK - It's a no-brainer for the Cavs to go with a 3 here, forunately they'll have their choice of MKG, Jeremy Lamb, and Harrison Barnes. They should take Kidd-Gilchrist who's a very efficient scorer with a high hoops IQ. Guys a straight ball player.
5. Kings - Thomas Robinson - SF/PF - KU - Can't see Robinson on the board past this pick. Slightly undersized four, underskilled three, still a double-double machine in college with an unmatched motor.
6. Blazers - Damian Lillard - PG - Weber St - Before blowing away scouts at pre-draft workouts, Lillard had a prolific scoring season in the Big Sky, and can score/run an offense impressively enough to serve as a solid point guard in the NBA.
7. Warriors - Harrison Barnes - SF - UNC - Potential top pick last season if he came out. Very talented scorer, pretty well-rounded, has to learn to depend more on slashing than staying content on the perimeter.
8. Raptors - Dion Waiters - SG - Syracuse - No matter what I try to say about him, I just don't see Waiters as a lottery pick. I hear Toronto loves him, and he's a do-it-all combo guard, but with Demar Derozan do they really need another two guard who doesn't necessarily excel in any aspect?
9. Pistons - John Henson - PF/C - UNC - Rebounder/shot-blocker who will compliment Greg Monroe perfectly. Doesn't look to be involved in the offense, but is athletic enough to be an asset on the break.
10. Hornets - Jeremy Lamb - SG/SF - UConn - May have been more impressive as a Freshman than as a sophomore, but similarities to Rudy Gay just begin with UConn connection. Prolific scoring, do-it-all wing with star potential.
11. Blazers - Tyler Zeller - C - UNC - The Blazers need size, and Zeller will be a great value pick for someone that needs a big body, as he's relentless on the glass and has shown the ability to finish with both hands in the paint. He'll contribute from day one, as long as he stays healthy.
12. Bucks - Perry Jones - F/C - Baylor - The enigma of this draft, Jones shows flashes of brilliance, but also disappears almost from time to time. There are question marks about his drive, but his skillset combined with his size should have him off the board before the end of the lottery.
13. Suns - Austin Rivers - SG - Duke - Rivers showed that he is truly a 2 in his one year at Duke, but could be similar to a Tyreke Evans in the NBA with his ball-handling abilities and superior knack for scoring the ball. The Suns are going to need guard help, with or without Nash, and Rivers will be that.
14. Rockets - Meyers Leonard - C - Illinois - As legit of a 7-footer as there is in this draft, Leonard doesn't exactly have much of a skill-set, but he's quick and strong and will be able to rebound, block shots, and make for 6 efficient fouls out-of-the gate.
15. Sixers - Jared Sullinger - PF - OSU - NBA scouts may not love his build, but his skill-set cannot be overlooked. Great touch from the floor, on top of knowing how to score near the basket. Biggest knock is he plays below the rim...and there are legitimate questions about his back. Good-bye Elton Brand, hello...
16. Rockets - Terrence Jones - SF/PF - Kentucky - If he's still on the board, I'd have to think the Rockets would snatch him up. He's a solid post and perimeter defender, and can score from anywhere.
17. Mavericks - Royce White - SF/PF - Iowa State - White is a smart plater who literally can do a little bit of everything. He's a monster on the boards, with a silk shooting touch, not to mention some decent handle and court vision. If he doesn't go the pick before, he won't last much longer.
18. T'Wolves - Moe Harkless - SF - St. Johns - Was very impressive at pre-draft combine and workouts due to off-the-charts athleticism and proficiency in getting to and finishing at the rim. Probably won't be on the board this late.
19. Magic - Kendall Marshall - PG - UNC - Somebody is going to get a terrific floor general with Marshall. While he doesn't do much else, his court vision and high IQ will keep him in the league for a while.
20. Nuggets - Arnett Moultrie - C - Mississippi St - Moultrie's that guy with size and athleticism that make him a lock for the first round. His size and skill (more of a perimeter player) will fit in well with the go-go Nugs, but don't go expecting a back-to-the-basket type of big anytime in his career.
21. Celtics - Terrence Ross - SF - Washington - This is the pick I'm destined to be wrong on. Ross is much higher regarded than I'm giving him credit for, and with great athleticism, consistent outside shooting, and blanketing defense, he's an absolute stud.
22. Celtics - Fab Melo - C - Syracuse - Solid value pick considering he has the body to play the 5 in the NBA immediately. Will need help developing on both ends, but will be a good rebuilding chip for Doc.
23. Hawks - Quincy Miller - SF - Baylor - This is a steal. Miller is one of the most skilled players in this draft, and although the Hawks need help up front, are they really going to take Andrew Nicholson?
24. Cavs - Jeff Taylor - SG - Vanderbilt - For a team like the Cavs, value has to be the pick here. Taylor can handle the ball, is a good shooter, and can penetrate. He'll provide a nice scoring spark off the bench.
25. Grizzlies - Tony Wroten - PG - Washington - Wroten took the PAC-12 by storm as a freshman and will be able to provide combo guard help for the Grizzlies who may not bring back O.J. Mayo. Very good at getting to the basket, and will only bulk up and become a more composed point guard.
26. Pacers - Andrew Nicholson - PF - St. Bonaventure - Picture Roy Hibbert a few inches shorter. Nicholson has shown a variety of ways to score the basketball, but NEEDS to bulk up to be a difference maker in the league.
27. Heat - Festus Ezeli - C - Vanderbilt - Very good defender who will see the ball on the offensive end less than I will. Good fit for a Heat team who will most likely look for veteran guard help through free agency.
28. Thunder - Doron Lamb - SG - Kentucky - This may be a reach, but Lamb has played in big games, has hit big shots, and will give the Thunder another weapon on the perimeter. There isn't a good enough big at this point in the draft, so score, score, score should be OKC's mindset.
29. Bulls - Draymond Green - PF - Michigan St. - The Bulls aren't going to replace Derrick Rose with the 29th pick in the draft, so a guy like Draymond Green will add toughness and interior help to a team that could loose both Omer Asik and Taj Gibson (and most likely the White Mamba too).
30. Warriors - Marquis Teague - PG - Kentucky - Stephen Curry isn't always healthy, and Teague's quite a value pick at the end of the first round. Having led a high power offense, Action Jackson should love having the ball in this guys hands, preferably off the bench though.

Second Round
31. Bobcats - Will Barton - SF - Memphis
32. Wizards - Khris Middleton - SF - Texas A&M
33. Cavs - Evan Fournier - SF - France
34. Cavs - Miles Plumlee - PF/C - Duke
35. Warriors - Bernard James - C - Florida State
36. Kings - John Jenkins - SG - Vanderbilt
37. Raptors - Darius Miller - SF - Kentucky
38. Nuggets - Kim English - SG - Missouri
39. Pistons - Jae Crowder - SF - Marquette
40. Blazers - Jared Cunningham - SG - Oregon St.
41. Blazers - Mike Scott - PF - Virginia
42. Bucks - Tyshawn Taylor - PG - Kansas
43. Hawks - Darius Johnson-Odom - PG/SG - Marquette
44. Pistons - William Buford - SG - Ohio St
45. Sixers - Kevin Jones - SF/PF - West Virginia
46. Hornets - Tu Holloway - PG/Xavier
47. Jazz - Jordan Taylor - PG - Wisconsin
48. Knicks - Scott Machado - PG - Iona
49. Magic - Hollis Thompson - SG - Georgetown
50. Nuggets - Drew Gordon - PF - New Mexico
51. Celtics - J'Covan Brown - SG - Texas
52. Warriors - JaMychal Green - SF - Alabama
53. Clippers - Kostas Papanikolaou - SF - Greece
54. Sixers - Kyle O'Quinn - PF - Norfolk St
55. Mavericks - Orlando Johnson - SG - UC Santa Barbara
56. Raptors - Quincy Acy - PF - Baylor
57. Nets - Kris Joseph - SF - Syracuse
58. Wolves - Henry Sims - C - Georgetown
59. Spurs - Tomas Santoransky - PG/SG - Czech Republic
60. Lakers - Kevin Murphy - SG - Tennessee Tech

Jun 18, 2012

The Big 3: Saving the NBA One Day at a Time

There's a rumor circulating that this off-season we could see Deron Williams, Eric Gordon, and Dwight Howard end up playing together next year. According to some rumor mill, the Hornets might be looking to move the number one pick (Anthony Davis), Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jason Smith for Howard, and will have enough room to re-sign Gordon, and bring in Williams on top of that. Already seeing a profit from the Chris Paul deal, this rumor could mean such incredible things for the NBA if it's true.

The only problem is it isn't true. The other problem on top of that, is that you didn't have a problem with those three players joining forces to play together, so why do you have a problem with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh playing together, in their second finals in as many seasons, on the cusp of winning their first (of not one, not two...) championship?

As crappy of an example as I used (they're the top potentially available players this off-season), isn't it good for the NBA to see good players who aren't winning alone team up to win together? Even if deep down inside you're hating the Heat and their Big 3, that sure isn't what the ratings say. The Heat/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals drew the highest preliminary rating for an NBA playoff game on cable since records started being kept in 2003! And don't tell me it's because of the "historied" Celtics, they weren't drawing ratings like this when they were beating up on LeBron's Cavs a couple of years ago.

The Finals ratings so far have been even better, being the highest they've been since 2004. Whether it's because you love to hate the Heat, or you're just compelled by them, it's inarguable that Miami's Big Three, and everyone else's for that matter, joining forces is GREAT for the league. You could make the argument that the Celtics formed their own Big 3 (Pierce, Garnett, Allen, duh) first and that teams have been trying to emulate that formula, but it seems since LBJ, Wade, and Bosh joined forces it's become what every team's trying to do, or what the NBA is trying to portray their teams as having.

The Knicks went out and signed Amar'e Stoudemire, first they paired him with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and that was a Big 3, then they amnestied Billups to sign Tyson Chandler, which became it's very own Big 3. Stoudemire and Melo go down and Jeremy Lin wins seven-straight games and it's Lin, Melo, STAT...until Lin goes down again and Chandler reassumes his spot.

The Thunder have their Big 3 (Harden, Westbrook, Durant), so do the Spurs (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan), the Lakers (Gasol, Bynum, Kobe), people even still talk about the Celtics Big 3 when you can argue Rajon Rondo's been the teams best player for the last three seasons.

The ratings are higher than ever for the NBA, and part of it is because the Heat, and other teams stacked with several all-star caliber players, turned the league into must watch television. Whether you have to tune in to see them lose, or you appreciate their defense, maybe you actually appreciate watching the best player in the league on a nightly basis, you're watching, and truth be told, you're loving what you're seeing.

Even if it's not Miami, even if it's the Knicks and the Bulls, or the Mavs and the Thunder, or the Lakers and the Grizzlies, you're intrigued because these good teams are piecing together talent, and stringing together high-profile players through free agency and trades because they have to keep up with the Heat.

Whether Miami accumulated its players through the draft, trades, free agency, it doesn't make a difference in a league where every team is playing with the same salary cap. In fact, it's almost more impressive to me that these guys wanted to win so badly (at least LeBron and Bosh) that they took a pay-cut (and a lime-light cut) to play together.

People always talk about how arrogant, how cocky, how Hollywood they are, what's Hollywood about sacrificing personal accolades to accomplish team success? Is LeBron really that bad of a person for leaving a team that he gave seven unbelievable seasons to without getting any legitimate personnel help? Bosh made the playoffs twice in seven seasons with Toronto, you knew he was out. And D-Wade, good for you, you did a better job than any other team with cap space playing the role of recruiter, and bringing your already championship-winning team the best player of our generation and a Bosh.

Personally, I would have liked to have seen LeBron win a championship without having to team with two other Olympic caliber players. Even if it wasn't with the Knicks, the last thing I wanted to see was him go to another team with BOTH Wade and Bosh. But he did, and you know what, they haven't exactly taken the league by storm like the 1995-96 Bulls. They are, however, one of the better teams in a pretty competitive league the last couple of seasons, and have worked as hard as any team to get as far as they've gotten, especially since they're a very, very thin roster after you get past the aforementioned Big 3.

I get that LeBron went from good to evil when he embarrassed the city of Cleveland on national television and chose the "easy" way out, he should rot in hell, I know. His unmatched arrogance (he's actually the first athlete to have an ego) combined with his overrated skill-set and lack of clutch play make him as easy of a player to root against as I've ever seen.

Either that or his unmatched intensity on both ends of the court, combined with some players who won't leave their games at home in big spots, makes the NBA the most exciting it's been since Michael Jordan was on his quest for his first ring. He absolutely choked last season in the finals, we saw, but right now he's outplaying the league's scoring champ on both ends, and doing everything he can to win a ring for not just himself, but his teammates. Just face it, you hate the Heat and say they're bad for basketball, but really, you're still salty that LeBron chose to be a better teammate than be a savior for a team. To me this is just unacceptable from basketball fans and journalists alike.

We saw seven years of LeBron trying to be a martyr, and as good as it was because it fully displayed how incredible he was playing with a bunch of zeroes, it's better now to see him bringing it on a bigger stage, with someone who could play Pippen to his Jordan. We may get upset when he has a bad night and Wade picks up his slack, but that's what makes this sport great.

Look around the league; if Durant's not winning games for OKC, Westbrook or Harden are. If it's not Pierce and Garnett, it's Rondo. The Spurs get a huge night out of Parker and 10 points or less even out of Duncan, and they can afford to do it because they're a team helping each other out. Why aren't LeBron or the rest of the Heat entitled to this luxury known as teammates?

While I know you're going to keep rooting against them, I also know you're going to be tuning in. So all I can say is, enjoy this, because one day when you get over LeBron spurning you, your team, or whatever dream you had in mind for the two highly anticipated years leading up to his decision, you'll be thankful that LeBron and his Big 3 teammates made the NBA as exciting as it's been in a number of years. Whether they're taking on Durant, Westbrook and Harden, or by some chance Williams, Gordon and Howard, these superstar match-ups and superstar rivalries make for better basketball.

Thank you Miami, and if you win, I sure as hell aren't mad at you.

Jun 14, 2012

We Talkin'...Bout Hockey

But not really. I just saw on SportsCenter that Bruins Goalie Tim Thomas's agent confirmed reports from a couple of weeks ago that Thomas was going to be sitting out the up-coming NHL season to "spend time reconnecting with family, friends, and faith." While I'm sure Boston is flipping a shit right now, I just wanted to add my two cents to what a majority of people will call a "selfish" "immature" "unprofessional" move.

Sure, at the age of 38, if you don't feel like playing maybe you should retire so you're not putting your team in a tough spot where they have an important position to fill without you. Imagine how pissed you would be if you were told that your Con Smythe,  two-time Veniza Trophy winning, 4-time All-Star, unquestionable best player, randomly decided to take a year off.

Now imagine if you were 38-years old, and spent a little more than 60% of your professional career floundering around, from company-to-company, knowing you were incredibly talented but not getting the right chance to showcase your capabilities. What if you finally were given that one opportunity, made the most of it, achieved success in every way possible that you had never imagined, and woke up one day feeling like you had neglected everything that was important to you in pursuit of your job?

Sure, to most of us, career success is priority number one. It's the foundation for a lot of us. We chase it, and chase it and usually are never happy with the success we have because we're seeking something greater, something we grew up dreaming of. Tim Thomas sort of achieved that success after years of struggling. After four years of extremely competitive college hockey at the University of Vermont, Thomas bounced from the NHL, to the ECHL, to the IHL, to Finland, to the AHL, not to mention from city-to-city in America throughout those journey years.

After joining the pro-ranks in 1997, Thomas didn't play in more than 30 NHL games until the 2005-06 season. In 2006-07 he played 66 games, the next season he had his first of four (out of the next five) All-Star seasons. By the next season he had won his first Veniza (Best Goaltender) Trophy, and just a few seasons later he and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, and the equivalent of the Stanley Cup MVP (sorry, this website isn't fluent in Hockey).

So what if at 38 he feels like taking a year off? So what if it's a year of his prime (some peak later in life)? So what if he's going to take a year off from his $5 million contract? Is that really your concern? Is it more important to you that a man who plays a sport for a living - it's not like he's saving lives - works a physically and mentally draining job instead of pursuing the meaning of happiness by reconnecting with what he values in life?

Not everyone has the same set of values, which is what leads me to questioning who the selfish and immature person in this equation really is. I'm not saying that I wouldn't be pissed if Carmelo Anthony or Darrelle Revis actually decided to sit a year out, oh wait, Revis may sit a year out, because the $5+ million he's due next season isn't enough for him to play. We support most football players who want to sit out because they don't feel a contract that they've signed is fair anymore, but we get all over a 38-year old man, who disregards the money, and just says he wants a short break from his job so he can spend time with his family. Right.

I don't remember Andy Pettitte being criticized, same for Roger Clemens, heck even Michael Jordan wasn't ostracized for leaving the league that he was the reigning 3-time MVP of. But we're going to get all over Tim Thomas, who actually said something humble, something you don't frequently here a professional athlete say.

Raise your hand if you know someone that took a year off after college. Now raise your hand if you know someone who took a year off during college. How about a semester.  Was it ok for them to make that decision? Did you judge them at all for making that decision, or did you say to yourself "it's their life, they can do whatever they feel is right, but I have to focus on me and what I think is right."

We all follow what we think to be the best paths for our lives. Most times that's driven by money, sometimes it's driven by other people, and sometimes it's driven around a certain plan, but it's always based on what we think is right. Whether it was not giving up on pursuing his dream, playing as much hockey wherever and whenever he could, or skipping out on going to the White House as a political statement after the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, Tim Thomas has always done what he felt was right. At this point in his life, Tim Thomas is doing what he thinks is right.

Too often we get all over athletes like they're not real people. We hold them to standards that we should hold our important decision-makers and world leaders to. When they don't meet our expectations they're somehow less than us. LeBron James is averaging 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists this season in the playoffs. The only other people to put up those stat lines in as many playoff games are Oscar Robertson and...LeBron James. But it's not good enough because he's not hitting game-winning shots on a nightly basis. Until LeBron does what YOU want him to do, he won't be as great as he really is, and that's sad.

Tim Thomas has been playing hockey all of his life. He's had his ups, and he's definitely had his downs. Why isn't he entitled to a year off? If someone you knew was sick of their job, and had the means to take some time off, wouldn't you want them to do what would make them happiest? I don't totally sympathize for Thomas, but I do think that we should all be able to do what we want with our lives.

If he doesn't play next season then he's the one that's going to miss a paycheck. He's the one that's going to lose a year off of his physically limited career. He's the one that's going to have to watch the games and deal with the guilt of leaving his teammates. And he's the one that's going to have to take the criticism from people who value his job more than he apparently does. At least he'll be spending his time pursuing his priorities, and living a life that he values.

Hats off to him.