The Bruins are Back

Accuse me of hyperbole, being a homer, whatever your choice of words, you’re probably right.  But I’m not wrong when I say the UCLA Bruins basketball program is back in a big way.  Weeks after a Sports Illustrated article came out exposing the seedy underbelly of the Ben Howland era, somehow the Bruins shook off the PR nightmare to land the best recruiting class in the country.

It used to be that getting a great recruiting class meant good things were coming in 2-3 years.  These days in college hoops the best players depart for the NBA as soon as possible, meaning many times the best players in the country are freshman.  And UCLA brought in a slew of “diaper dandies” culminating on Monday with the signing of big man Tony Parker. 

Parker joins other top recruits Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson, and Jordan Adams giving UCLA 4 of the top 40 rated freshman in this year’s crop.  Muhammad is the true gem of the class, rated as either the number 1 or 2 high school player in the country depending on whether you believe more in rivals.com or ESPN’s rankings.

Either way Muhammad brings athleticism, skill, and most importantly, creativity on offense.  He has the ability to take over the scoring load by himself.  Howland’s teams have historically been predictable and sluggish offensively, and Muhammad is the rare wing scorer that can take a game on his shoulders even if the offensive system is sputtering.

Anderson is the other true blue chip recruit in this class, though Adams and Parker should both compete for heavy amounts of playing time right away.  Along with Muhammad, Anderson was considered at least a top 5 player in the nation.

If Muhammad is the slasher and scorer, Anderson is the table setter.  A silky if methodical athlete, Anderson is a 6’7” point-forward with elite court vision and passing skills, not to mention a good mid-range offensive game, rare amongst today’s young players.

These fab freshmen would be enough by themselves to elevate UCLA back to the NCAA tournament and even greater heights it would seem, though they won’t be filling up a bare cupboard.  Still remaining on the Bruins roster is the talented but forever out of shape Josh Smith- a behemoth of a man for the college game.  If his conditioning ever matches up with his ability he can dominate college basketball. 

The brothers Travis and David Wear proved to be solid post players that should improve in their second year with the school after transferring from North Carolina.  With the Freshman Parker, Smith, and the Wears UCLA will possess a rare amount of size and versatility in the post that should make them a nightmare to matchup with. 

Then slide over to the wing where Muhammad should be an instant star, and will be accompanied there by the talented guard/forward Tyler Lamb.  Anderson will likely play a lot of point guard, and perhaps Norman Powell will be able to build on his decent freshman campaign of a year ago to provide depth at the guard position.  Adams will also slide between guard and forward providing great athleticism and scoring punch. 

What success is really going to boil down to in Westwood is Coaching and expectations.  Given the talent on this team there’s no reason to think they aren’t capable of making a run at the elite 8 and maybe even beyond.  We’ve seen the importance of freshmen in changing the landscape of college hoops and maybe UCLA has enough young talent to continue that trend.  But after all the dysfunction that has plagued this program over the past 2-3 years, can we as fans really expect this team to reach its potential?

That’s where the coaching comes in.  At one point Howland seemed to be one of the truly elite coaches in America.  He made Pittsburgh into a power, and then swiftly rebuilt UCLA into a juggernaut that reached 3 consecutive final fours producing NBA stars (and a slew of other solid NBA players) like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love along the way.  

You would think that type of success would buy a little leeway and some more time to get things right when they go astray.  But the expectations at UCLA are always sky high, and things certainly have veered off course recently. 

Howland’s recruiting haul is both a blessing and a curse.  It should, if things go according to plan and potential, once again restore the luster to the Bruins program.  If, however, UCLA underachieves it could cost the man that so recently restored Bruin Pride his job in Westwood.  

The Sneaky Lakers?

Is it possible for the Los Angeles Lakers to fly under the radar?  In the dramatic sense no.  Andrew Bynum’s behavior, Kobe’s latest injury, the Pau Gasol trade drama where all headline stories at some point this season, but to what end?  These stories were more empty calories, fun for the sports world to snack on, but not really substantive issues as it relates to whether this team can win a championship.  In the respect that the Lakers are a legitimate threat to win another title, yes they can and are flying under the radar.

No, they are not the prohibitive favorites to win a ring, or even favorite’s period.  Their bench is thinner than Tony Kornheiser’s hair, and not quite as entertaining to watch.  They still lack overall athleticism, they don’t have great outside shooters, and Mike Brown despite piloting the team to the West’s three seed doesn’t seem to have the respect of many in Laker nation. 

Still, when looking at LA’s roster, how many teams can really compare to their talent level?  Andrew Bynum may have been the best center in the league before Dwight Howard was lost for the season with a back injury, and certainly Bynum is now the most dominant center in the league.  He continues to grow and get stronger seemingly by the quarter.  Over the last ten games, most of which Kobe missed with an injury Bynum has posted averages of 23 points and 12 rebounds (he’s at 19 and 12 over the course of the season).  Complement Bynum with the most skilled post-up player in the league, Pau Gasol, and the Lakers have the preeminent duo of big men in the league. 

Typically, when you combine 2 of the best 5 big men in the game, with a guard that is the league’s leading scorer, and will end his career as a consensus top ten player of all time you have a pretty good formula.  Yet the Lakers weren’t complete until a couple of things happened. 

The first vital change was the addition of Ramon Sessions at point guard, and the subsequent jettisoning of father time Derek Fisher.  Sessions is not a super-star, but at 25 years old he is one of the quickest players in the league and has tremendous open court speed.  He brings an ability to slice into the lane and create opportunities for the rest of the team, an element the Lakers have been lacking for years.

 

Sessions is not a great defender, but he at least has the speed to stay with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Tony Parker, and Ty Lawson.  He also will make the opposing point guard work on defense, whereas Fisher was nothing more than a spot up shooter.  Sessions has averaged 13 points and 6 assists with the Lakers, more than double the production D-Fish chipped in.

The other important development for LA was the addition by subtraction that occurred when Kobe went out with a shin injury.  With Bryant sidelined LA went 5-2, Bynum and Gasol became the focal points that many Laker fans have been screaming for them to be even with a healthy Bryant, and Ron Artest had his best offensive stretch as a Laker.  Artest has poured in 15 points per game over the last ten contests, more than double his season average.  He seems to be in better shape, more confident, and more willing to take smaller defenders into the post and use his strength to get to the bucket.

 

Add the improved play of Matt Barnes, the steady play of Steve Blake, and the little bit of run that Devin Ebanks received in Bryant’s absence, and the Lakers showed they are more than just the Mamba and two big men.

In fact, the Lakers will only have a shot to win a championship if Bryant was taking close notes of what he saw from the sideline these past two weeks.  Kobe is having his worst shooting season percentage wise since his rookie campaign, despite the fact that he leads the league in scoring.  Kobe will always take a lot of shots, but he has to be smart enough, and check his ego enough to realize that Bynum (shooting 56%) and Gasol (shooting 50%) need to get more attempts. 

Once a team that looked old, slow, injury prone, and lacking any depth now seems to be growing increasingly formidable.  What other team can boast three players that might all be the best in the league at their respective position?  The Heat might be close in that respect, but Sessions and Artest aren’t the dead weight that rounds out the Heat starting five; in fact both are above average NBA players. 

The final piece to the possible puzzle for a Lakers championship is the fact that every other contender in the league has major flaws. 

The Heat lack depth, and rely on a mega-star whose talent is matched only by his own sense of self-doubt in clutch situations. 

The Bulls again look to be a great defensive team that will struggle to score and will increasingly rely on the terrific but overburdened and banged up Derrick Rose. 

The Celtics have gotten hot lately, but will struggle against bigger teams, Rajon Rondo doesn’t have to be guarded from 15 feet and out, and they will have to beat the Bulls and the Heat to make the Finals.

The Pacers just aren’t ready to beat the big boys, but their regular season success at least merits their mention in the contender discussion.

On the Western side of things the top teams similarly possess conspicuous flaws.  The Thunder has virtually no inside scoring.  Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are impressive post defenders, but relying on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to make enough jump shots to win a championship is not an easy formula.

The Spurs did this act last year, having a wonderful regular season and then disappearing in the playoffs.  Tony Parker is a super-star, but Ginobli has lost a step, and Duncan has lost a step and a half. 

The Clippers are incredibly impressive athletically, and the Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan lob city trio is as fun as NBA basketball gets, but this team lacks wing scoring, great depth, and playoff experience. 

The Grizzlies are everybody’s chic pick right now, but I don’t see enough in the way of a true go to guy to carry them through four best of seven series. 

So no, the Lakers aren’t the favorites, but I don’t know that there is a team that you can point to this year as one that “should” win if they stay healthy and play their best ball.  We could be in for the best, most competitive playoffs in years, just don’t be surprised if the Purple and Gold sneak their way to yet another championship.  

The Tragedy of Yao Ming

Short Career for a Tall Man

Remember when we just couldn’t wait to see what this Chinese import could do on American soil?  What this seemingly endless mass of limbs and length that had an unimaginable array of skills for such a gargantuan human being was capable of?  And yet, at the age of 30, it seems we have forgotten about Yao Ming before he ever really got started.  With the recent announcement that he will retire, I can’t help but feel cheated over what could have been a Hall of Fame career.

Ming’s rookie year gave us a taste of his capabilities and also his potential pitfalls.  He averaged an impressive 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in just 29 minutes of play.  Unfortunately when one is a foot and a half larger than the average man walking the streets, injuries are common, and Yao missed ten games due to various ailments.

Yet Yao rebounded with a sophomore season that left us all thinking, “We have an heir apparent to Shaquille O’Neal.  And not just that, we have a player who can battle Shaq while he’s still in his prime!”  In the ’03-’04 campaign Yao played every single regular season game and posted 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.  We got just what we wanted to see: big statistical leaps and a full, healthy season.

He followed his second year with a statistically similar third year, and at that point we all just knew, if nothing else, we had a perennial All-Star who could stay on the court.  (He played 80 games in year three).

Then came Yao’s fourth year and he really started to produce.  22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks every night.  These were Tim Duncan numbers…until he got injured and missed the final twenty-five games of the regular season.

We weren’t worried.  The man just played two full healthy seasons; this is just an aberration injury.

The following year at age 26, Yao snatched our attention and became, for a time, the best center in the league, perhaps even the leading MVP candidate, netting 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.  Everything was coming together.  Unstoppable, Ming was too large for most anyone to guard and too skilled for anyone big enough for the task.  Then, tragically, it happened again; Yao got injured.  After playing the best forty-eight games of his career, Yao missed the rest of the season to injury.

Now doubt creeps in.  Was it really possible for a man seven and a half feet tall and over 300 pounds to play 82 basketball games every year and continue into the playoffs?  The sheer thought seems ludicrous, and yet Yao had baited us with such skill and a few fully healthy years, we were all bought up in Yao Ming stock.

The 2008-2009 season signaled a return to prominence of sorts for the unlucky giant.  He played 77 regular season games and put up good numbers—20 points, 10 boards—but was then injured in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, an injury that would not only cost Yao the rest of the postseason, but the entire following season as well.  And ultimately this injury, which seemed relatively minor at the time, would essentially signal the end of the road for Yao.

After a full year off to rehab and rest his various ailments, namely issues with his feet, we thought perhaps Yao would be ready to attack this past season with a clean bill of health, and a strict minutes regiment imposed by the Houston coaching staff to lessen the strain.  Playing less than twenty minutes a night, the thought was that the Rockets could manage Yao’s health and allow him to work his body back into top form.  This plan lasted just five games until Ming re-injured his foot and was once again done for the year, and subsequently, for his career.

In the last four years Yao played 185 regular season games out of a possible 328.

The really sad thing is this wasn’t a Greg Oden situation where the guy really never got on the court and never put up solid numbers.  Yao had proven that when healthy he could be one of the single most dominant forces in the NBA.  In a league deprived of quality centers, Yao could have had the most substantial positional advantage in basketball for the bulk of his career.

Instead we are left with nothing but a list of questions.  How good could this guy have been?   He’s only 30; does he really have to retire?  Is it possible for a man his size to have a long and healthy career?  Would a healthy Yao have changed NBA history, altered the course of who would be crowned champion each year?

This is what we are left to ponder, an unfortunate array of what-ifs about one of the most humble, talented, and entertaining players we’ve seen in the past decade.  It’s a common theme in sports, huge talents that just can’t stay healthy: Bo Jackson, Brandon Roy, Bob Sanders, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, and the list goes on.

As common as this theme is, it never gets any easier to accept.  We can’t get away from what could have been.  We tend to see sports as a controlled universe where things can be predicted, projected, and expected.  But sports, just like life, are fluid.  There are bumps in the road, unexpected twists, surprising highs, and disappointing lows.

Yao is just another case in the dumb luck of sports.  Some guys play their whole careers without a serious injury; others like Ming can hardly muster a full season.  Fair isn’t a part of life, and it’s not a part of sports, but it’s a damn shame when you lose out on seeing a talent like Ming tap his mammoth potential.

--from @AdamHocking

(image from flickr.com)

NBA Top-10: Reader Response Time

The list in its entirety:

Preface

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Magic Johnson
7. Larry Bird
8. Shaquille O'Neal
9. Tim Duncan
10. Elgin Baylor

What do you think?  Where did we go wrong?  What did we do right?  Who's too high?  Who's too low?  Who did we miss out on?  Who should be on the list but isn't?

Speak up!  Be heard!  Comment!

NBA Top-10: Adam's Parting Shot

I think in part I’m guilty as much of compiling a list of players that I really like as I am of compiling the best ten players of all-time.  I’m quite comfortable only with the placement of Michael Jordan at the top of my list.  Other than that, I think Bill Russell based on winning, Wilt Chamberlain based on stats, Magic Johnson based on how he made his teams better, Kobe Bryant based on his eerie similarity to Jordan, and Larry Bird because of his all-around game and success in a such a tough era, they all have an argument for the second spot.

In his prime, I may have taken Shaquille O'Neal to build my team around ahead of anyone on my Top-10.  Tim Duncan is the least sexy name on the list, but his production, winning, and his lack of superstar help demand his placement here.  Elgin Baylor, I admit, was a provocative pick, especially considering that Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Hakeem Olajuwon had to be left off.  Still, the statistical argument can easily be made for Baylor, and I feel that he is an oft-forgotten superstar in an NBA history full of stars.

Really, the phrase “an argument can be made” is the point of this list.  It’s meant to make people argue and create cases for certain players.  Some may argue Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the 3rd-best center on this list, that he was more of a stat compiler than a dominant player.  Some will say Kobe piggy-backed Shaq to his first three titles.  Others will argue Shaq never won another title as the best player on his own team once he left Kobe.  A case could also be made the Bill Russell was a winner because of the magnificent talent around him and because of the low level of competition that characterized his era.

The only argument I really can’t respect is one against Jordan as the best all-time.  Yes, Scottie Pippen was a great player, but no other player on this list was the absolute alpha-dog for six championship teams, all while compiling arguably the best statistics of any player ever.  Jordan was also seemingly always at his best when the games mattered most, with countless memories and moments that will stick with all of us NBA fans forever.  His will, matched with his talent, complemented by his theatrics, make him the undisputed best player of all time.

--from @AdamHocking

NBA Top-10: #2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and #1 Michael Jordan

2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

A soft spoken giant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the opposite of the fierce and intimidating Michael Jordan, but his play was just as dominant.  Jabbar actually invented a move, the sky-hook, and at 7’4” it may have been the single most unstoppable move in NBA history.

Also longevity, while sometimes overrated, is important.  If a player continually has an impact for his teams over an extended period of time, it helps their legacy.  Kareem played twenty NBA seasons; that’s important.

Now let’s journey on to Jabbar’s astounding statistics.  He had a three year stretch in which he averaged an unreal 33 points and 16 rebounds per game.  For his career he put up 24.6 points, 11 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks a night.  His averages could have been higher, but like many all-time greats, Jabbar continued to play as his abilities declined.  Though he didn’t have the same numbers his last three years in the league, he was still a proficient player.

Jabbar has the 3rd-most rebounds in NBA history, played the 2nd-most games, has the 10th-highest field goal percentage of anyone all-time, and recorded seventy 40-point games and ten 50-point games.

In terms of awards, Jabbar was the 1970 Rookie of the Year, won six NBA championships, a record six MVP awards, two Finals MVPs, had a record nineteen All-Star selections, made the most field goals ever, played the most minutes ever, and is the all-time NBA leader in points scored with 38,387.  He’s also 34th all-time in assists, an astonishing feat for a center.

Kareem was consistently great for eighteen years of his 20-year career and was the best player in the league in basically a third of the seasons he played.  A champion, a consummate team player, and a stat compiling phenomenon, Kareem was an unstoppable force on the floor.

#2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1) Michael Jordan

Nobody in the history of the league had the mix of fierce competitiveness, stupefying talent, and the mental fortitude to perform every single night he stepped on the court as Michael Jordan.  Jordan was one of the very best defenders of his time, was the most dominant offensive player, and owned the clutch moments unlike any player who has ever played.  Without his hiatus to play baseball, Jordan could very conceivably have won eight-straight championships.  That’s something only Bill Russell’s Celtics could compare to, and that came in an era with much less competition, fewer games, and in a less evolved sport.

I saw Jordan in person one time—in Minnesota against a bad Timberwolves team—during the Bulls’ second three-peat era.  Despite the fact that the home team Wolves were a lottery-bound, awful team, the arena was packed.  Though Jordan didn’t even play that well, he still finished with 30 points.  Yet the arena buzzed the whole game just because “His Airness” was in the building.  Years later when I went to see the Lakers play another bad Wolves team, the energy was nowhere the same despite Kobe Bryant being in the house.  The arena wasn’t full, and eyes weren’t glued to the court, watching for an all-time great moment.  Jordan was just different, and maybe that’s the most eloquent way I can state why he tops my list.

Watching Jordan’s highlights gets me emotional because I know I will never see another man play the way he did.  It was literally divine to see the way he controlled the pulse of a game with so many other talented players on the floor.

As a rookie Jordan averaged 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, totals that rank right there with LeBron James’ best seasons.  From 1986-1992 his scoring averages per game were: 37.1, 35, 32.5, 33.6, 31.5, 30.1, and 32.6.  Kobe Bryant has averaged 30 points in a season three times; Jordan has done it eight times.  In the playoffs Jordan’s career scoring average went from 30 points to 33 a game.  He also came back at age 39 and played two seasons for the Wizards, averaging 23 points in his first year and 20 points in his second.

In addition to his six rings, Jordan won five MVP Awards, six Finals MVPs, the 1985 Rookie of the Year Award, the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Award, two Olympic gold medals, two Slam Dunk Contests, and was selected to fourteen All-Star Games, eleven All-NBA Teams, and nine All-Defensive Teams.  The ten-time scoring champion also led the league in steals and minutes played three times each.

Simply, Jordan just won.  It took him a few years to figure out the NBA, but then it was all over.  He was at his best in the Finals, dominating Magic’s Lakers, controlling Barkley’s Suns, hitting six three-pointers in one half against the Blazers, and of course, making the iconic jump shot to beat the Jazz, his last shot in his last game with the Bulls.

I’ve watched Kobe Bryant closer than any other player, and I can’t rattle of a list of his greatest moments like I can with MJ.  Kobe has given me five rings, multiple amazing shots, buzzer beaters, and great statistics, but he has not given me the, “I can’t believe this is happening.  You couldn’t even write this,” moments that Jordan did.

Kobe could be beat.  Even in his prime with a good team, he could be defeated.  When Jordan had adequate help, you just couldn’t beat him.  The game was his; it literally belonged to him.  Anything anybody did, Jordan could do better, and he did it in the biggest moments time after time.  He made the Finals six times and won six rings.  Once Jordan could smell it, he ate it, and he didn’t leave table scraps for anyone else.

#1 Michael Jordan

--from @AdamHocking

(first image, second image)

NBA Top-10: #4 Wilt Chamberlain and #3 Bill Russell

4) Wilt Chamberlain

I struggled with where to rank Wilt the Stilt more than I did with any other player on this list.  For all his unbelievable statistical dominance he has only two career championships.  Not that winning two rings is a failure, but considering how dominant Wilt was, two titles don’t feel like enough.  It’s also hard to get past the extent to which Bill Russell’s Celtics dominated Wilt throughout the years, even when Chamberlain was flanked by Elgin Baylor and Jerry West.  Ultimately though, I couldn’t ignore the preposterous statistics Chamberlain posted throughout his career.

For his career Chamberlain averaged 30 points and 23 rebounds per game.  No player at any time has approached numbers that dominant for a single season, much less a career.  Plus, Wilt also averaged 50 points over an entire year.  After receiving criticism for shooting too often, Chamberlain changed his game entirely and once led the league in assists just because he felt like it.  No other player ever has made such a dramatic and successful alteration to his game.   MJ never became the league’s best rebounder, Shaq never figured out free-throws, and Dennis Rodman never became a big-time scorer.

Wilt played in thirteen All-Star games, won four MVPs, one Finals MVP, and was the league’s 7-time scoring champion.  He led the league in rebounding 11 out of his 13 seasons, and the two seasons he didn’t, he finished second.  In terms of field goal percentage, he was first in the league nine times.  Though blocks weren’t recorded in his era, you can bet Chamberlain always would have been among the league’s leaders in that category as well.

Wilt was a supernatural force.  His statistics seem impossible; nobody has ever or will ever approach what he did.  I don’t know what his relative lack of success winning championships says specifically about him, but it’s hard for me to blame a guy who averaged 23 points and 25 rebounds throughout his playoff career for not winning more rings.

#4 Wilt Chamberlain

3) Bill Russell

I know it was a different era with less teams and a less evolved game, but Bill Russell was the first player to truly understand how to be the best player and the best leader on his team.  That’s something Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Dominique Wilkins, LeBron James (thus far) and other great players never fully figured out.  Additionally, he may have been the best defensive player of all-time and perhaps the best rebounder, though in his era many more shots were taken than in today’s game, meaning more opportunities for rebounds.

15 points per game is not an overwhelming scoring average, and it might have you confused as to why he’s this high on the list.  Well, let me hit you with some other numbers.  23 rebounds per game was his career average; he made twelve All-Star games; and he won eleven championships, two of which came as a player/coach.  Yes, he played and coached simultaneously.  Not only was Russell busy battling Wilt on the floor, he was also thinking about substitutions, when to use timeouts, and how to play matchups favorably.

Russell claimed five MVP awards, was in the top-5 league-wide in field goal percentage four times, was in the top-4 in rebounding thirteen times, and was (according to new advanced stats) the most impactful defender in the league thirteen times.

Though Russell wasn’t going to take over the game scoring the ball, he owned the glass, owned the lane, and owned rival phenom Wilt Chamberlain.  Russell was the greatest defender, winner, and statistically the second-best rebounder of all-time.  Good enough for number 3 on this list?  I think so.

#3 Bill Russell

--from @AdamHocking

(first image, second image)

Live Blogging the 2011 NBA Draft

5:08 PM: Adam here!  This will be a foray into the unknown for me, live blogging.  But Ric Bucher is on my TV, the draft ticker is in the lower left corner of ESPN's screen, and it's time to get wild.  Eric and I felt that live blogging was the only way to adequately cover all the moving parts that we expect in this year's draft, so I will attempt to stay on top of all the  night's developments in real time.

-Oh my gosh, we have a trade.  Details to come, but first Stuart Scott needs to drop a few "booyahs" and other silly catch phrases...holla at a playa when you see him in the streets!!

5:19 PM: Okay, we've got a three-team trade between the Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, and Charlotte Bobcats.  I know what your thinking, "Aren't the Bobcats an arena league football team?"  Here are the details:

Bucks Trade: John Salmons, Corey Maggette, and the 10th overall pick in this draft

Bucks Get: Stephen Jackson, Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston, and the 19th pick in the draft


Kings Trade: Udrih and the 7th overall pick

Kings Get: Salmons and the 10th overall pick


Bobcats Trade: Jackson, Livingston, and the 19th overall pick

Bobcats Get: Maggette and the 7th overall pick

The Bucks get the best player in this trade, Stephen Jackson, and get out from under long contracts to Salmons and Maggette.  Milwaukee wants to compete right now, and this move will likely help them do that.  Udrih is a solid backup point guard as well, and Livingston is good if you like horrific YouTube clips of knee injuries.  Brandon Jennings, Jackson, and Andrew Bogut is a solid Big Three in the East.

The Kings get a decent veteran scorer in Salmons and move back just three spots in a draft where there is little difference after the first 3-4 picks.

After trading Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline last season, the Bobcats lose their best remaining player in Jackson.  They are going for the fire-sale approach, and I can't blame them.  They need to tear this operation down and start over.  Shedding salary and getting the 7th pick is a good start to the rebuilding process.

5:27 PM: Stephen Jackson's reportedly upset at the prospect of moving to Milwaukee. Why? He's just moving from an Eastern time zone that's close to some big cities and has an average temperature of 42 degrees in January to a place where winter lasts seven months, below zero temps are common, and there's nothing to do.  So, what's your beef Stephen?

5:47 PM: Sorry for the absence, had to rummage through my fridge for the ultimate prize: an Old Milwaukee Light, the official beer of making me dumber as I live blog.

-What in the hell was that sappy crap ESPN?  An open letter from the fans about how the NFL lockout is going to effect them?  We have a talent-deficient NBA draft to be discussing.

-Dick Vitale wants Shane Battier to go first in this draft, but since he can't, he'll settle for another Dukie, Kyrie Irving.

5:54: The New NBA collective bargaining agreement needs to include a mid-level exception for the veteran guy who never plays but embarrasses himself dancing at the championship parade.

6:01 PM: Taye Diggs narrating the draft intro, could he be any more dramatic?  And what is this awful music?  I know, I sound like an 80-year-old man.  Enes Kanter looks like a tall geometry teacher.

6:03 PM: Where the hell is Mel Kiper.  Is he hiding behind Jay Bilas?  What?  He's not here?  So I'm going to have to listen to Bilas be all articulate and coherent all night?  I don't like this at all!  Give me a bad hair piece and some transition lenses, then maybe I call you a draft guru, Bilas.

6:08 PM: I’m really glad for the Cavs, able to net the 1st and 4th picks in the draft (albeit a weak one) the year after “The Decision” devastated the entire state of Ohio.
 

An interesting, amusing, and not very surprising side note: the Cavs original pick is the 4^th selection.  The only reason Cleveland has the top pick is because the Clippers sent their first round pick and Baron Davis to Cleveland in return for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon near last season’s trade deadline.  The Clippers finished the season with the 6th-worst record in the league, meaning there was just a 2.8% chance that the pick they traded would end up being the number one overall choice.
 

Only the Clippers could trade away the best player in the deal, Davis, and their first pick, and subsequently, against all probability, have that pick turn into the first overall selection.  How this happened can only be chalked up to pure Clippers karma.  They are destined to suck forever.  By the way, when is Blake Griffin gonna be a Laker?
 

6:13 PM: Small ESPN feature of Jimmer Fredette, dressed like a golfer trying to pull off late 20's jazz look, finishing with an abysmal drum solo.  Let's hope his NBA career is a little better than this inauspicious start.

6:17 PM: The irrational fan in me just wants the Lakers to make a trade.  I don't care who it is, just give me something to overreact too.

6:20 PM: Jimmer thinks he can go third.  I'll let you come up with your own jokes on that one.

Kurt Rambis to be fired after the draft...  So David Kahn is just keeping him around to make fun of until tonight is over?  That's why the Wolves are the best in the biz.

Rachel Nichols' awful red hair blends into the Knicks logo background; she's almost invisible.

Why is every prospect playing the drums after they introduce themselves?

6:28: 2 minutes from launch, I will give 5 points to any analyst that compares a white player to a black player or vice-versa.  I bet I won't be handing out many points.

David Stern Clearly hates New Jersey.  Oh wait, that's not Stern.  That's his robot doppelganger.


1st Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, Point Guard, Duke

Irving left Duke after playing just 11 games, but I guess the Cavs' last top overall pick didn't even go to college.  Irving is not the athlete that Derrick Rose, John Wall, or Russell Westbrook are, but he's a smarter player coming in.  A really good shooter with good athleticism and very good quickness, Irving sees the floor well, and I think he's a very good but not great player in the NBA.  Think three or four All-Star appearances but not an all-time great.  A fine start and good foundation for a Cleveland team that needs tons of help.

2nd Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, Forward, Arizona

Well, now the Wolves have three undersized power forwards.  Either Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, or Williams has to be moved.  I would bet that Williams gets traded at some point soon, just my guess.  Williams is a really talented player, and I see him as a power forward as long as he plays alongside a long center.  He's a good scorer, a good athlete for the four position with lots of ways to score.  He can post, slash, and shoot from outside.  He'll score in this league, and can be an All-Star.  Let's just wait and see what happens in terms of trades...

6:52 PM After these top two picks things get really unpredictable.

3rd Pick, Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, Forward/Center from Turkey

The main reason I believe in Kanter is because John Calipari recruited him hard.  Everyone that gets recruited by Calipari can play in the NBA.  Kanter is 6'11" and 260 pounds, has inside-outside skill, and is a strong player,s ready to contribute right now on the NBA level.  Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap, Derrick Favors, and Kanter create a bit of a cluster in the post.

4th Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson, Forward, Texas

Did Van Gundy just call Anderson Varejao "talented?"  Anyway, I digress.  Our first real surprise of the draft, a lot of people thought this would be another Euro pick.  Thompson has a huge wingspan, is a big-time athlete, but I don't think he's a future star for one second.  He'll get plenty of time to play on the Cavs talent depleted roster, but I don't love this pick.  It seems like they drafted another JJ Hickson.

Could the post-pick interviews be any more awkward?  "Hey, you can't shoot a jumper.  Has that changed?"  Then flash to a shot of the player's mom beaming.

5th Pick, Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas, Center from Lithuania

And the Raptors select...another Euro big man to put alongside the disappointing Andrea Bargnani.  Jonas has a buyout issue, so he probably won't be in the NBA next year.  Plan on a Rubio-like entrance 2-3 years from now.  Valanciunas is just 19 and has a wide skill set, but how many times have we heard that about Euro big men before?  I don't like this pick at all, another soft big man that can't help right away.  Jonas direct quote, "I have not so strong body."  Great sign.

6th Pick, Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, Forward, Czech Republic

Didn't he just get picked?  Oh, it's another Euro big man.  Vesely is an elite athlete and will fit well with John Wall and JaVale McGee.   Just 21, Vesely has been a pro overseas for a long time.  Solid pick, Vesely will play right away and has very high potential.  He's been dubbed the European Blake Griffin, but he can't speak English.

7th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats (via Kings): Bismack Biyombo, Forward/Center, Congo

Were any of these players born in America?  I don't mind this pick, but Brandon Knight is still on the board, and the Cats could use a point guard.  Biyombo is a freak athlete who's incredibly strong and attacks the boards.  He has no offensive game, but comparisons to Ben Wallace are valid.  Just 18 years old, he has enormous potential and can play eight years before just entering his prime.

-All these international players being taken shows you that teams don't believe the college crop of players is very good at all. They'd rather wait on guys with big potential than get average talents who might contribute sooner.

-Jimmer, Jimmer, Jimmer c'mon pick him

8th Pick, Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight, Guard, Kentucky

Love the pick.  The Pistons need help everywhere, and this is a steal.  He could have gone 3rd but slid to 8th.  Knight is a good shooter with solid court vision, but like Irving is not the insane athlete we've seen in past years.  He's just a good overall player and has an excellent jump shot.

-The Old Milwaukee is kicking into high gear.  In a beer draft, I'd take it in the mid-first round: immediate contributor, not a huge upside, but you know what you're getting.

9th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker, Guard, UConn

Some guys just know how to score, and Kemba does.  He's a good athlete, pretty strong, quick, and has a good shot though it needs more work.  He's a leader, and I think he can play point guard in this league if he learns how to pass first and look at scoring second.  Biyombo and Walker are a nice new foundation for the Cats.

10th Pick, Sacramento Kings (Via Milwaukee): Tim Tebow, Wholesome White Guy

Just Kidding, the Kings took Jimmer Fredette, but the Tebow comparison is irresistible.  Jimmer is a better athlete than people think.  He's not JJ Reddick; he's more than a pure shooter that's strong, a good athlete, and has as much range as any player alive.  A lot of people say he's a horrible defender, but when asked to score 45 points a game at BYU, I think his coaches told him not to worry about defense.  In the NBA he won't play that many minutes and won't be asked to carry such a heavy offensive burden.  I think he will be a Jason Terry-type player, a guy that can play 20-25 minutes per game and just score.

7:35 PM WHERE ARE THE AWESOME IRRATIONAL TRADES????

11th Pick, Golden State Warriors: Clay Thompson, Guard/Forward, Washington State

This guy can stroke it and really fill it up offensively.  At 6'7", he gives the Warriors size at the guard spot, which may signal the exit of Monta Ellis.  Thompson has a well-rounded game and I think he'll be a consistent NBA starter but never an All-Star.  Also, new coach Mark Jackson can say "mama there goes that man" every time Thompson scores.

12th Pick, Utah Jazz: Alec Burks, Guard, Colorado

Supposedly a good scorer, but I'm not sure how he translates to the NBA.  I mean, everybody said this is the worst draft in years, so how good can the 12th guy off the board be?  I'm getting bitter about a lack of trades.  Burks is a natural born scorer to pair with Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter, not to mention Al Jefferson.  Lots of young assets pile up in Salt Lake.

-Jimmer would have done better in Milwaukee, low expectations, high amount of boredom, no matter what he does the people would have loved it.  Disgruntled Stephen Jackson or wholesome Jimmer?  I'm conflicted.

7:46 PM: Mark Jackson just made the least convincing playoff guarantee of all time. "Hand down, man down."

13th pick, Phoenix Suns: Markieff Morris, Forward, Kansas

An NBA ready player who can play in the post and shoot from the outside, but he's going to the Suns so who the hell cares? This team is going nowhere fast.

Why does ESPN keep telling me two heights for each player, how tall they are with and without shoes?  I'm just confused.  Was Manute Bol 7'6" with or without shoes?  I'll never know.

Reaching the end of the lottery, I am bored.  Sorry folks, but I don't know much about the rest of the players that will be coming off the board.  When I have thoughts I will weigh in but will no longer do pick-by-pick analysis.  UNLESS I GET A DAMN TRADE.

Marcus Morris now to the Rockets: very cute that the brothers went back-to-back, both good players, but Houston wants to trade everyone they have, so let's just wait and see.

-Bigger story, Ron Artest is changing his name to Metta World Peace.  I wonder if that ups his trade value?

-Is it the beer, or is Ric Bucher a good-looking guy?  I'll tell ya one thing, he's been hittin' that tanning bed.

-Oh yeah, the Pacers select Kawhi Leonard, continuing their tradition of stockpiling good college players to create a reasonably formidable team that goes out in the first round of the playoffs (see Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough, Paul George).

- Fans must be getting drunk, inexplicably booing Stern after cheering him to start the night.

-76ers select Nikola Vucevic from USC.  Even Bilas is struggling to come up with something to say about this guy.

-Take it easy Knicks fans, your picking 17th in a bad draft, and you select: Iman Shumpert, Guard, Georgia Teach.  Knicks fans who are on TV act happy, but we hear overwhelming boos from the unseen crowd.  If Stern had said, "We've found a time machine, and the Knicks select 20-year-old Michael Jordan," Knicks fans would still find a way to boo.

-Washington Wizards select Chris Singleton, forward, Florida State.  With Wall, Singleton, McGee, and fellow top pick Vesely, the Wizards might be the most athletic team in the league.  Get ready to run.

-Bobacts get their third pick in the first 20, too bad it's a horrible draft.  Tobias Harris, Forward, Tennessee, a solid athlete but not much more.  Biyombo, Walker, and Harris, quite not Wade, Bosh, and James, but it's an athletic young group with promise.

T-WOLVES ON THE CLOCK.  Do Something dumb please!!!!

Trade update- Completely disappointing, but a trade none the less.  Spurs reserve guard George Hill for Pacers draftee Kawhi Leonard.  I don't get this deal at all.  The Spurs aren't in total rebuild mode nor are they competing for a title, so why swap a good, young player in Hill for a guy who has never played an NBA game?  Head scratcher.

T'Wolves select Donatas Motiejunas, otherwise known as a guy you will never hear from again.  A 7-footer that shoots threes from Europe, what a rarity.  Maybe he was drafted to make Darko feel better about himself.

8:38 PM: Jay Bilas Just called Nolan Smith, who was just drafted by the Blazers, a "solid citizen."  Well, I'm sold.

-Every time a team is good but doesn't have a star, the analysts compare them to the 2004 Pistons.

-Kenneth Faried to the Nuggets.  Everyone in his entourage has braids, and Bilas says "energy guy," uh-oh.  Does "energy guy" in the NBA mean "no talent" like it does in the NFL?

8:45 PM: Stu Scott says, "Brick City, stand up," twice in the course of one minute after Faried gets picked.

-Johnny Flynn just got traded for a pile of indistinguishable European players.  Boy, how the mighty have fallen.  Flynn was in contention for Rookie of the Year just two seasons ago.

8:58 PM: Nenad Kristic is now playing in Russia?  What, playing in the best league in the world for the Boston Celtics just wasn't appealing anymore?

MarShon Brooks, Guard, Providence goes to Boston.  He can score like a mofo, and if Ray Allen or Paul Pierce die of old age, he can slide right in and fill a rotation spot.  Brooks just traded for somebody, I forgot who.

Old Milwaukee Update: 5 cans down, but this draft is starting to feel like a mid-February Bobcats-Nets game.  I have no motivation to get drunker at this point, but if the Lakers trade Lamar Odom, I will finish the case.  That's a promise.

Not Fair Alert: The champion Mavs select Jordan Hamilton, Guard, Texas.  This guy has lottery talent and should have gone higher.  Bob Knight, czar of all things basketball and scary, called Hamilton the best offensive player in the country.

-If David Kahn Doesn't run across the stage naked with a horrible trade proposal written in permanent marker on his ass, I'm turning the TV off.

-"Rangy, face-up big man without a wide frame."  C'mon Bilas, even you don't know what that means.  It just doesn't have the same charm as Kiper telling me about somebody's awesome cone drill time.

-Two important developments: The Timberwolves continue to stockpile people I've never heard of, and Bilas is getting angry because his basket of obscure descriptive words for untalented players is running low.  He just called somebody a "stretch 4."  Was that meant to be sexual?

-Stern finally reached the end of his rope.  After being booed inexplicably for his 30th straight trip to the podium, he sarcastically quipped, "Thank you for that."  I think Stern might have the power to whack people, so I'd be careful.  Plus the draft is in Newark; someone's bound to get shot.

-End of the first round and I am pissed. I'm going to start making up trades: Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard.  Pau Gasol for Kevin Love, Wesley Johnson, and the T-Wolves' next three first round picks.

-Minnesota just made their 53rd trade of the night, this time giving their 28th pick, Norris Cole, who's actually a really talented player, to (sigh) the Miami Heat.  This might actually really help the Heat out.  Crap.

-"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO."  That was just quoting the 18 fans left at the draft.

-Fans now cheer the NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver.  Apparently even though he works for Stern, the fact that he has a different face excites the fans.

-Minnesota gets their 75th European player who is over 7' and can shoot from 35 feet.

-Kyle Singler to the Pistons.  I might be nuts, or it might be the fact that I'm nude, but I think Singler will be successful in the NBA.  10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in a starter/6th man role is reasonable.

-Shelvin Mack, John Wall, Chris Singleton, Jan Vesely, Javale McGee: I like the way this is shaping up for Washington.  Of course I picked them to finish fifth in the East last year and they won two road games all season...

-The Kings take UCLA's Tyler Honneycutt, a card-carrying member of the "I came out too early and now will be bounced from the league in two years" team.

-TRADE: Mavs trade Jordan Hamilton and get Portland's Rudy Fernandez, the Blazers get Raymond Felton and trade Andre Miller to the Nuggets.  Some obscure picks were involved too.  If you're really interested in all the details, wait for a year until all these buyouts and trade exceptions get solved, and oh yeah, the CBA.  Then we can figure out these trades...

But for now, the Blazers get an athletic young point guard in Felton, the Mavs get a talented and proven swing man scorer as depth in Fernandez, and the Nuggets get the rotting corps of Andre Miller and a pick, or something.  Jordan Hamilton ends up on the Nuggets, so it's not a complete loss for them.  They had to pick between Ty Lawson and Felton anyway.

-Fredette and Tyreke Evans, plus the always chipper DeMarcus Cousins?  I'm smelling title in Sac-Town...that or a move to Anaheim.

-Bilas just called Chandler Parsons a "skill player." I would have preferred to get a completely unskilled player.

-Somebody from the Tokyo Apache just got drafted, and he's a black kid from America.  What?  My limited stereotype-driven brain can't handle this.

-John Leuer from Wisconsin to the Bucks?  Yup, love it, not for any basketball reasons, just state pride.

-Darius Morris to the Lakers, a very good passer that can't shoot.  No problem, Kobe likes to shoot just a little bit.

Bold Prediction: Of all ten or so Euro Prospects drafted tonight, only one (Kanter) ever makes an All-Star game.  Maybe Vesely.

10:09 PM  Announcement: I'm waiting for the Lakers' next pick then going to bed completely devastated that rampant trade speculation was once again (shocker) unfounded.  Some deals may just be in the works right now though.  We will know more tomorrow.

JHORTS just got drafted.  Yes!  I think he'll find a niche in the league as a Banger and solid defender.

And the Lakers Pick...Andrew Goudelock.  Who the hell is that?!  Damnit!  I'm going to bed.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

--from @AdamHocking

NBA Top-10: #6 Magic Johnson and #5 Kobe Bryant

6) Magic Johnson

Similar to Jordan in that when you watched Magic play, it gave you a specific, unique feeling.  It wasn’t the same, “I’m going to cut your throat” vibe you got from MJ.  It was more like, “I’m having too much fun playing this game because I’m two steps ahead of everyone out here.”

Magic had the mega-watt smile and the flashy game to match.  Though unquantifiable, there has never been another player with Magic’s court vision.  At 6’9” he was also one of the most dominant rebounding guards of all time and could defend any position.  Recall Game 6 of the 1980 Finals when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got injured, and the rookie Johnson played center.  He recorded 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists and clinched the championship for LA.

Magic also did his damage in perhaps the NBA’s toughest era, battling Larry Bird’s Celtics, the Bad Boy Pistons, the rise of Jordan’s Bulls, the emergence of Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets, Moses Malone and Dr. J, Charles Barkley, Stockton/Malone, and the list goes on.

As for numbers, Magic isn’t lacking at all.  For his career he averaged 20 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds per game.  In the playoffs those averages elevated to 20, 12, and 8.  He won five NBA championships, three MVPs, three Finals MVPs, made twelve All-Star Games, and led the league in assists three times, ten times was top-3 in that category.

Johnson was the most versatile player of all time, had a never before seen style, was great in the clutch, thrived in the NBA’s toughest era, led a potent offense, and was the ring leader of the most entertaining team to ever take the floor.  A winner, a showman, and a true competitor, Magic is more than worthy of this spot on our list.

#6 Magic Johnson

5) Kobe Bryant

Many of you may roll your eyes at this placement.  Yes, I’m a Laker fan, and yes, I grew up watching Bryant play, but the numbers are pretty hard to argue with.  Additionally, Kobe had the same killer DNA that Jordan did but was a more self-conscious person.

Sometimes criticism fuels Kobe, but sometimes it gets to him.  That’s why at times you see him take ridiculously bad shots, which Jordan just wouldn’t have.  Occasionally Kobe wants to prove a point, to prove himself, more than he wants to win a game.  That’s why he’ll never be Jordan.

Still, Bryant is the best player of his generation and perhaps the most competitive player since Jordan hung it up.

In terms of the sheer amount of moves, ways to score, and creativeness, Kobe is unmatched.  He can shoot the three with ridiculous range or take the ball in the post with a variety of turn arounds, up-and-under moves, and step throughs.  When he gets the ball in the triple threat position his footwork is unbelievable.  Essentially, if Kobe is facing the hoop and has a one-on-one matchup, it’s a basket, a foul, or both.  Kobe thrives in the mid-range, an all but abandoned area in recent years for players favoring highlight reel dunks and long threes.

Kobe in his prime was one of the best two or three athletes in the league.  Plus he may have been the best dunker around until LeBron James showed up.  When Kobe got hot, there may have been no greater offensive force at guard in NBA history.  Witness his modern record, 81 points in a single game.

Some may ask why Kobe is ahead of Magic Johnson on this list.  Magic has just as many rings, two more MVPs, and by all accounts was the best ever at involving his teammates.  The answer lies in who those players’ teammates.  Sure, Shaquille O’Neal is an all-timer, but the Kobe and Shaq title teams had virtually no help from their supporting cast.  In Bryant’s recent championships his co-star was Pau Gasol, a very good player but not even a top-50 all-time player, not a Hall of Famer.  Johnson played with, in my opinion, the greatest center ever in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an all-time great forward in James Worthy, and excellent supporting players like Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, and Bob McAdoo.  If you gave Kobe that kind of help, he might have seven rings right now.  Of course, you can make the argument that Kobe wouldn’t fit with all that talent because he needs so many shots, but in the end, I believe Kobe carried a heavier burden than Magic and led his teams to just as much success.

Now to the numbers: the five-time NBA Champion, Bryant, has appeared in the finals seven times, more than half the seasons in his career.  Mechanically consistent and always among the best scorers in the league, his career averages are 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.  He’s appeared in thirteen All-Star Games, a number that will surely increase.  Top-5 in the voting nine times, Kobe only has one MVP award, but he probably deserved another in ’05-’06 when he averaged a staggering 35 points per game.  Bryant has two Finals MVPs as well.  Sixth and climbing on the all-time scoring list; been in the league’s top-5 in steals three times; has two scoring titles; 13 All-NBA selections, nine times on the First Team; and with eleven appearances on All-NBA Defensive Teams, for ten years Kobe was the best shooting guard in the league every year.  Though early in Kobe’s career Shaq, and more recently LeBron, were probably better overall players, Kobe had a five-year window where he was the best player in the game.

The frightening thing about Kobe is that next year he will only be 33.  A guy with his résumé should be retired by now.  He probably has two years left as an elite player and could play four more years at a very good—or at least above average—level.  If things break right, he has a chance to rise to second on the all-time scoring list, add another championship, and another Finals MVP.  If that’s case, he may move up this list.  Yet even if he never played another game, Kobe is secure at this spot for me.

#5 Kobe Bryant

--from @AdamHocking

(first image, second image)