Power of Sports by Deontay Morris and Kellen Sims
If this summer has showed us nothing else about sports it has showed us the true power that sports and its athletes hold over fans and media alike. This summer Tiger Woods, Lebron James and Brett Favre, have had every part of their lives chronicled and each word they spoke gone over with a fine tooth comb. Sports have the power to captivate neighborhoods, cities, states and countries. There are various instances displaying the power of sports and having more meaning than just simply records. In 1936 the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany when Adolf Hitler was in power. African-American track star Jesse Owens won four gold medals and defied the Nazi ideology of being the Aryan race. Muhammad Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. His defiance was applauded by many blacks around the country who felt they shouldn’t fight for liberties they couldn’t receive.
Why do these athletes and sports hold this power? The most obvious answer is that many kids grow up wanting to play these same sports and emulating athletes. Growing up everyone thinks they will be the next great NBA point guard. Then reality smacks us in the face when it becomes clear that it’s hard to make it in the NBA if you don’t grow past 5’8.
Once people come to understand they are not going to be a professional athlete the next step in the process is to begin transferring one’s love for the sports into another area besides playing. This transference of energy is where the power of sports begin, because now fans believe they have the right to praise, criticize and ridicule athletes. The day of the “Decision” was a sad day because many believed that Lebron James respected the fans of Cleveland enough to not bring them on national television and stab them in the back. The true power of sports can best be shown through what happened next to the Cleveland Cavalier fans. There were grown men crying, women sobbing, and even more people so angry that they began to rip their Lebron paraphernalia off their bodies stomping, and burning it in the streets. The next day Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke out against the Cavs owner and his Comic Sans tirade ignoring the injustice of the Oscar Grant trial in Oakland, and once again showing the world true power of the Lebron James media frenzy.
In many ways our lives and the lives of our friends revolve around the different sports and their seasons. This past Monday we did not go out to hang with our friends because our fantasy football draft was at 11:00 PM. We needed to be prepared and focused for the four hour draft that would ensue; the league is made up of graduate students and young professionals who had no business being up at 2:00 AM arguing over who each person chose for their team and yet there we were for one simple reason. The POWER OF SPORTS.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
If He Leaves Do The Cavs Retire Jersey?
There is no doubt in anybody’s mind of whom the greatest player in Cavs history… Lebron James has been in the league for 7 years, and has led the Cavs to heights that many in Cleveland never thought would be reached. That being said if he goes on ESPN and decides to choose another team, in my book Lebron James would instantly become the 2nd most villainous person in Cleveland sports history, behind Art Modell who decided to steal a whole team (Cleveland Browns) from the city. It is not just because he left but also the way in which he did so, if he had told the Cavs in June that he may not come back, and its not looking good, people would have been hurt but that pain would have subsided but by going on national television and then stabbing Cleveland fans in the heart would be one of the worst things in my recent memory.
By choosing another city Lebron James should not have his number retired just because it would be the equivalent to Barack Obama winning the presidency, and then going on CNN and saying I am not black I am Cablasian, throwing the African American community upside down and setting it back for ten years. I use this analogy because as much as he has done for the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, this decision would destroy the team and place the Cavs in a horrible place in terms of the near future.
Does a player who leads or is near the lead in all relevant categories deserve to hang in the rafters if his name would be vilified? I for one would not want to go to a Cavs game and see his name anymore, not because I don’t respect his body of work but because those names should signify pride and happy memories. Despite all that he has done from this point on no matter what has happened in the past, the only moment that would stand out in my mind would be the one where he stomps on the heart of the city by donning the hat of another team. I cannot be mad at Lebron James wanting to win and leaving for a “seemingly” better situation, but I can despise a player for disregarding the emotions he would elicit by dragging on this process, only to turn his back on a city that has been following him since the 9th grade.
By choosing another city Lebron James should not have his number retired just because it would be the equivalent to Barack Obama winning the presidency, and then going on CNN and saying I am not black I am Cablasian, throwing the African American community upside down and setting it back for ten years. I use this analogy because as much as he has done for the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, this decision would destroy the team and place the Cavs in a horrible place in terms of the near future.
Does a player who leads or is near the lead in all relevant categories deserve to hang in the rafters if his name would be vilified? I for one would not want to go to a Cavs game and see his name anymore, not because I don’t respect his body of work but because those names should signify pride and happy memories. Despite all that he has done from this point on no matter what has happened in the past, the only moment that would stand out in my mind would be the one where he stomps on the heart of the city by donning the hat of another team. I cannot be mad at Lebron James wanting to win and leaving for a “seemingly” better situation, but I can despise a player for disregarding the emotions he would elicit by dragging on this process, only to turn his back on a city that has been following him since the 9th grade.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
How Lebron, Wade, and Bosh Could DESTROY the NBA
If Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh teamed up to play for the Miami Heat it would have a huge impact on the game. While yes they would be an early favorite for the next few NBA championships, but they would also be instantly vilified and what could happen in the next few years would destroy the League. I’m not sure how many of you watched the NBA in the early and mid 2000’s but this was a horrible time for the NBA. When you have teams such as the 76ers and Nets (2x) making the finals its not great for the league because these teams were not very good. During this point in the league there was absolutely no parody with 4-5 teams always dominating and no real suspense to the league. By creating this superpower whether this team was successful or not the next step would be other players trying to do the same. Next year we could have Carmelo signing with Oklahoma City and Kevin Durant as they trade for Chris Paul in the mid-season. Yes, the example I gave is a bit far fetched, but the point should be seen. By players deciding to team up and create these super teams it is destroying the competitive edge that the league has fought so hard to bring back and it makes you question the heart of a lot of players in the current NBA.
Do you think 20 years ago Isaiah Thomas Larry Bird and Michael Jordan would have a had a secret meeting to create a super team? The answer is a resounding NO. This is not because they did not want to win and were more worried about themselves and money but in fact they all had way too much pride in themselves and the belief that they could lead their own team to a championship. I’m not saying that Bosh and James lack this pride but what I question is have they thought about the ramifications that this team could have league wide. The best thing that has happened in the past few years is the sudden influx of great players. Whether it be the maturation of AAU leagues and year-round basketball or just the luck of the draw, there are way more good to great players entering the league at a high rate.
Who would have thought there would be a time when two year after a superstar like Derrick Rose another player who is seemingly better John Wall enters the draft? The answer is nobody and what this has done is allowed numerous teams to gain great players and made more teams good. In 2008-2009 the Oklahoma City Thunder with the same roster lost 50 plus games this year they nearly beat the Lakers in the playoffs. This was not because of huge signings but due to the improvement of their own players and it is this that is the key to the resurgence of the NBA. This year by far has been one of the most competitive and parody filled years in along time with numerous teams feeling like they had a chance at not only getting to the finals but winning and it is this excitement that the super team of Bosh Wade and Lebron would destroy.
Do you think 20 years ago Isaiah Thomas Larry Bird and Michael Jordan would have a had a secret meeting to create a super team? The answer is a resounding NO. This is not because they did not want to win and were more worried about themselves and money but in fact they all had way too much pride in themselves and the belief that they could lead their own team to a championship. I’m not saying that Bosh and James lack this pride but what I question is have they thought about the ramifications that this team could have league wide. The best thing that has happened in the past few years is the sudden influx of great players. Whether it be the maturation of AAU leagues and year-round basketball or just the luck of the draw, there are way more good to great players entering the league at a high rate.
Who would have thought there would be a time when two year after a superstar like Derrick Rose another player who is seemingly better John Wall enters the draft? The answer is nobody and what this has done is allowed numerous teams to gain great players and made more teams good. In 2008-2009 the Oklahoma City Thunder with the same roster lost 50 plus games this year they nearly beat the Lakers in the playoffs. This was not because of huge signings but due to the improvement of their own players and it is this that is the key to the resurgence of the NBA. This year by far has been one of the most competitive and parody filled years in along time with numerous teams feeling like they had a chance at not only getting to the finals but winning and it is this excitement that the super team of Bosh Wade and Lebron would destroy.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thoughts on Lebron James and HIS free-agency frenzy.
Lebron James is my favorite basketball player and until he signs with a different team I will be his fan but at this point I really don’t care if Lebron comes back to Cleveland. Yes, I would like him to be there but all this free agency speculation is tiring and I have reached my wits end. I understand that he wants to be recruited and shown the “love” but at the end of the day to me this whole experience shows me a lot about him as a man and so far Lebron the Man is towards the bottom of my list of people to respect. The biggest reason for this is because of the one problem that nobody seems to talk about the reason we have such a lack of roster flexibility and cap space is because he has been demanding that we make moves each season that loses us picks and cap space and leaves us with temporary answers to our problems.
Danny Ferry knew that to keep Lebron happy he had to make moves the thing that people fail to realize is that because of this the Cavs are now stuck with aging veterans who work well with Lebron but would be next to nothing without him. Since Lebron James has come to Cleveland they have only had one lottery pick and yes they wasted it on Luke Jackson, but that shouldn’t be such a huge issue all teams miss sometimes. Sportscasters always say that these other teams had GM’s who made better decisions than Ferry for example Oklahoma City and Chicago but the reality is that all these other teams had stars with less of an ego who were willing to lose a little to grow with the team. Kevin Durant it a perfect example of that, while he is no Lebron James in terms of impacting the whole game with some more hard work and a couple more years under his belt he will only be a few steps behind, yet he stays out of running the team letting his GM do what he’s paid to do and yes he has endured a couple hard years but it is now paying off with solid young core to play with for years.
Lebron James is a great basketball player who will go on to be one of the greatest athletes of all-time but if he leaves Cleveland it just shows a huge lack of loyalty to fans who have endured so much heartbreak. If you truly knew you didn’t want to be back why let this go on for so long just tell the fans that its been great and let us move on there is no need for the fans who have supported him since 10th grade to be held in suspense like this. If Lebron James leaves Cleveland, yes it hurt but only for a minute because I’m from Cleveland, OH everyone has seen the montage of our history of losses we’ve endured worst, yesterday a friend asked me how would you feel if Lebron left? My response was simple, it’ll be okay I’m from Cleveland we lost a whole team before. (Cleveland Browns)
Danny Ferry knew that to keep Lebron happy he had to make moves the thing that people fail to realize is that because of this the Cavs are now stuck with aging veterans who work well with Lebron but would be next to nothing without him. Since Lebron James has come to Cleveland they have only had one lottery pick and yes they wasted it on Luke Jackson, but that shouldn’t be such a huge issue all teams miss sometimes. Sportscasters always say that these other teams had GM’s who made better decisions than Ferry for example Oklahoma City and Chicago but the reality is that all these other teams had stars with less of an ego who were willing to lose a little to grow with the team. Kevin Durant it a perfect example of that, while he is no Lebron James in terms of impacting the whole game with some more hard work and a couple more years under his belt he will only be a few steps behind, yet he stays out of running the team letting his GM do what he’s paid to do and yes he has endured a couple hard years but it is now paying off with solid young core to play with for years.
Lebron James is a great basketball player who will go on to be one of the greatest athletes of all-time but if he leaves Cleveland it just shows a huge lack of loyalty to fans who have endured so much heartbreak. If you truly knew you didn’t want to be back why let this go on for so long just tell the fans that its been great and let us move on there is no need for the fans who have supported him since 10th grade to be held in suspense like this. If Lebron James leaves Cleveland, yes it hurt but only for a minute because I’m from Cleveland, OH everyone has seen the montage of our history of losses we’ve endured worst, yesterday a friend asked me how would you feel if Lebron left? My response was simple, it’ll be okay I’m from Cleveland we lost a whole team before. (Cleveland Browns)
Monday, June 21, 2010
NBA Mock Draft II
1. Washington Wizards - John Wall - PG - Kentucky:
A quicker more athletic Derrick Rose without the same strength this is an easy pick and the Wizards hope the start of an era teaming Wall and Arenas in the backcourt together.
2. Philadelphia 76ers - Derrick Favors - PF - Georgia Tech:
While Evan Turner is seen at the consensus number 2 player in this draft, after the Dalembert trade the 76ers could use help in the post with Elton Brand near the end of his career and new coach Doug Collins favoring the young Georgia Tech post player.
3. New Jersey Nets - Evan Turner - SG/SF - Ohio State:
Turner falling to the Nets would be a dream scenario as you can play Devin Harris and the 6’7 Turner in the backcourt together to form a huge athletic backcourt with the Nets having the space to still sign a Stoudemire or Boozer in free agency to pair with Brook Lopez.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson - SG/SF - Syracuse:
The Timberwolves have three picks in the first round but they can go a number of different ways with this pick but it looks as if they will go for the small forward out of Syracuse who has drawn comparisons to Shawn Marion for his athleticism with a better shot.
5. Sacramento Kings - Al Faruq Aminu - SF - Wake Forest:
The Kings need size toughness, and athleticism upfront to pair with Tyreke Ecans and their young big men that they have acquired the past couple years, and Aminu fits in perfectly although he is a bit of a project his athleticism will allow him to come in and contribute immediately.
6. Golden State Warriors - DeMarcus Cousins - PF/C - Kentucky:
Cousins could be the next big thing or Eddy Curry Jr. of recent drafts and it is that problem that have many people nervous about drafting him. I believe that Cousins is the most offensively skilled big men to hit the league and with his size 6’11 295 lbs. and tenacity, he has the chance to be the best center in the league in the next three years.
7. Detroit Pistons - Ed Davis - PF - North Carolina:
Detroit needs a big man with athleticism and toughness Davis has all those things, just not the production to match it, he has the chance to blossom into a dominant big man but more than likely will become a role player like Amir Johnson.
8. Los Angeles Clippers - Paul George - SF - Fresno State
The latest “Tracy McGrady” clone to come to the draft a 6’9 small forward / shooting guard who can jump out of the gym and when hes locked in score in bunches. The biggest problem with this comparison is that there has yet to be another McGrady and George really came on the scene late, so it may be a lot of hype surrounding him, that being said the GM- less Clippers seem like the most likely team to take a chance on him,
9. Utah Jazz - Greg Monroe - PF/C - Georgetown
The Jazz don’t necessarily need another big man at this spot but a post man with his moves and passing skills is hard to pass up especially in a system that is seemingly tailor made for him in Utah.
10. Indiana Pacers - Ekpe Udoh - PF - Baylor
Udoh is 23 years old and one of the most ready players in the draft this year his length and skill will fit very nicely next to Roy Hibbert as well as being a nice change of pace for the frantic Tyler Hansborough. While the Pacers have more pressing needs such as PG they don’t see the need matching up with the draft position they have.
11. New Orleans Hornets - Gordan Hayward - SF - Butler:
The Hornets could use some help on the frontline but Hayward is just too much to pass up, with the playmaking ability of Chris Paul and the post game of David West, Hayward could be the heir apparent to Peja Stoacavic who has entered the twilight years of his career.
12. Memphis Grizzlies - Luke Babbit - SF - UNLV:
The Grizzlies say that they will match any offer for Rudy Gay but they know if someone offers him the max then they need to let him go, Babbit could fit in nicely with the Grizzlies because they are team full of penetrators lacking quality outside shooters. The biggest knock on Babbit is that while he has the size to play SF or PF he really cant guard either position so a team will be a huge disadvantage on D.
13. Toronto Raptors - Cole Aldrich - C - Kansas:
The Raptors have a lot of needs with Bosh on his way out and Jose Calderon on the trading block, so they decide to go with size and toughness so they can move Bargiani back to the 4 where he is far more comfortable, while there is a very good chance that Aldrich is Greg Ostertag’s long lost twin he will bring toughness and rebounding to a team that has none.
14. Houston Rockets - Patrick Patterson - PF - Kentucky:
Patrick Patterson is ready to play for an NBA team right now and on a team full of overachievers he will fit right in. While he may never be a star in the league or even an all-star you do know that he will come in and compete at a high level and be highly productive.
15. Milwaukee Bucks - Xavier Henry - SG - Kansas:
Has an NBA ready body and the shooting stroke to make it in the league, while his stock has dropped a little bit during the college season due to lack of production, its more likely that on a team as loaded as Kansas he didn’t have the chance to produce. Teaming him with a playmaker such as Brandon Jennings will be great for both of them and give the Bucks one of the young dynamic backcourts in the league.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Hassan Whiteside - C - Marshall:
Whiteside is an enigma he is athletic long and seems to have the drive to succeed on the court , but people are starting to sour on him because of his attitude off the court. He is not a problem but rather it seems as if he is uninterested and it is that lack of interest off the court that is scaring teams away. The Wolves could use a player like Whiteside who’s long arms and blocking ability would match up well with the undersized post player of Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.
17. Chicago Bulls - James Anderson - SG - Oklahoma State:
The Bulls need outside shooting so that teams will stop collapsing the middle of the lane on Derrick Rose as he penetrates. Anderson is the answer to these problems he’s one of the best shooters in the draft this year and has a knack for knocking down threes from the corner spreading out the D
18. Miami Heat - Eric Bledsoe - PG - Kentucky:
Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo are not the answer at PG and the Heat desperately need somebody to take control of the position and right the ship. Bledsoe who played in the shadow of John Wall this year is a great playmaker and defender who can step out of Wall’s shadow and be a star PG in his own right.
19. Boston Celtics - Solomon Alabi - C - Florida State:
Is he the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo or is he the next Desagna Diop? Alabi is a great shot blocker with the mean streak to go with it but after four years he was unable to develop an effective offensive game so he cannot be counted on in that facet of the game. The Celtics need big men with Rasheed Wallace’s pending retirement and Kendrick Perkins foul trouble and Alabi would fit into the defensive scheme of the Celtics.
20. San Antonio Spurs - Damion James - SF - Texas:
When drafting a player like James you know exactly what you’re getting he/‘s never going to take over a game or be a star but he will a productive member of the team who can be counted on to make shots and not make mistakes on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton - C - Kentucky:
Anytime a player averages 3 points and 3 rebounds a game in college you have to draft him, because he will clearly be star in the league, that is the message many teams are spreading about Orton leading up to the draft saying that his skill set was just hidden behind the many stars of Kentucky. Orton recently stopped working out for teams and there is speculation its because of a promise from the Thunder. The Thunder are in need of a big man who can rebound block shots and play with his back to the basket, Orton can do all of these things, how productive he will be in the league is another question altogether.
22. Portland Trailblazers - Kevin Seraphin - PF/C - France:
The Trailblazers are looking for help on the frontline but the people they have locked on are already gone so they decide to grab Seraphin a player with Serge Ibaka like skills who they can stash overseas for a season or two.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Avery Bradley - SG/PG - Teaxas:
Bradley had the talent to be drafted way before this pick but due to his lack of size and position many teams weren’t sure where to place him on the draft board. The T-Wolves on the other hand are looking for a SG who can be a lockdown defender and still knock down the open shot. Bradley can do all these things and would team nicely with Johnny Flynn in the backcourt since there strengths and weaknesses offset one another.
24. Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Jones - SG - South Florida:
Joe Johnson is on his way out, they have a new coach that nobody has heard about and still are in need of some size up the middle so its difficult to peg what the Hawks will do. While most of the league realizes with an elite 5 the Hawks could be a great team the Hawks seem to think playing Horford out of position there makes the most sense, so they try and replace Johnson with Jones a high scoring guard from South Florida.
25. Memphis Grizzlies - Larry Sanders - PF - Virginia Commonwealth:
Larry Sanders is a great rebounded and shot-blocker who plays great in the post, the Grizzlies while still having Gasol and Randolph could use some help off the bench and Sanders is a great pick up this late in the draft.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Craig Brackins - PF - Iowa State:
Brackins could be one of the real steals of the draft, he dominated for two years and than this year his numbers really just dropped due to the constant double teams he faced by being the best player on the court at all times. Brackins is a great inside-out post player who could excel on a team like the Thunder where he is not the focal point of the team allowing him to focus on his game and not the constant pressures of being a star.
27. New Jersey Nets - Gani Lawal - PF - Georgia Tech:
By getting Evan Turner with the first pick the Nets can focus on shoring up their PF position where they are a little weak next to Brook Lopez, Lawal is an athletic PF who can rebound and run the floor well and can score without his name being called which is exactly what the Nets will need him to do.
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Crawford - SG - Xavier:
OFFENSE, by drafting Crawford that’s what you’re getting, he can score in any number of ways, shooting threes, mid-range jumpers, “dunking” on Lebron James, he has all these things in his arsenal and any team that drafts him will do so hoping that he can be a spark off the bench. The Grizzlies have one of the weaker benches and could use some instant offense and will be ecstatic if Crawford is still there.
29. Orlando Magic - Quincy Pondexter - SF- Washington:
Pondexter is a great athlete with a high basketball IQ who has the size and skill set to be a star in the league. While he lacks a great jump shot and his shot selection is questionable there is no denying that if he puts it all together he can be a star. With Vince Carter still locked into his contract Pondexter could ease his way into the lineup until he is ready.
30. Washington Wizards - Devin Ebanks - SF- West Virginia:
Ebanks was a potential lottery pick coming into this year, but after no real improvements in his game and questions about his character Ebanks has dropped on many draft boards. At the end of the first round Ebanks is a steal because he has great size and can defend a couple of positions, things that the Wizards could definitely use.
A quicker more athletic Derrick Rose without the same strength this is an easy pick and the Wizards hope the start of an era teaming Wall and Arenas in the backcourt together.
2. Philadelphia 76ers - Derrick Favors - PF - Georgia Tech:
While Evan Turner is seen at the consensus number 2 player in this draft, after the Dalembert trade the 76ers could use help in the post with Elton Brand near the end of his career and new coach Doug Collins favoring the young Georgia Tech post player.
3. New Jersey Nets - Evan Turner - SG/SF - Ohio State:
Turner falling to the Nets would be a dream scenario as you can play Devin Harris and the 6’7 Turner in the backcourt together to form a huge athletic backcourt with the Nets having the space to still sign a Stoudemire or Boozer in free agency to pair with Brook Lopez.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson - SG/SF - Syracuse:
The Timberwolves have three picks in the first round but they can go a number of different ways with this pick but it looks as if they will go for the small forward out of Syracuse who has drawn comparisons to Shawn Marion for his athleticism with a better shot.
5. Sacramento Kings - Al Faruq Aminu - SF - Wake Forest:
The Kings need size toughness, and athleticism upfront to pair with Tyreke Ecans and their young big men that they have acquired the past couple years, and Aminu fits in perfectly although he is a bit of a project his athleticism will allow him to come in and contribute immediately.
6. Golden State Warriors - DeMarcus Cousins - PF/C - Kentucky:
Cousins could be the next big thing or Eddy Curry Jr. of recent drafts and it is that problem that have many people nervous about drafting him. I believe that Cousins is the most offensively skilled big men to hit the league and with his size 6’11 295 lbs. and tenacity, he has the chance to be the best center in the league in the next three years.
7. Detroit Pistons - Ed Davis - PF - North Carolina:
Detroit needs a big man with athleticism and toughness Davis has all those things, just not the production to match it, he has the chance to blossom into a dominant big man but more than likely will become a role player like Amir Johnson.
8. Los Angeles Clippers - Paul George - SF - Fresno State
The latest “Tracy McGrady” clone to come to the draft a 6’9 small forward / shooting guard who can jump out of the gym and when hes locked in score in bunches. The biggest problem with this comparison is that there has yet to be another McGrady and George really came on the scene late, so it may be a lot of hype surrounding him, that being said the GM- less Clippers seem like the most likely team to take a chance on him,
9. Utah Jazz - Greg Monroe - PF/C - Georgetown
The Jazz don’t necessarily need another big man at this spot but a post man with his moves and passing skills is hard to pass up especially in a system that is seemingly tailor made for him in Utah.
10. Indiana Pacers - Ekpe Udoh - PF - Baylor
Udoh is 23 years old and one of the most ready players in the draft this year his length and skill will fit very nicely next to Roy Hibbert as well as being a nice change of pace for the frantic Tyler Hansborough. While the Pacers have more pressing needs such as PG they don’t see the need matching up with the draft position they have.
11. New Orleans Hornets - Gordan Hayward - SF - Butler:
The Hornets could use some help on the frontline but Hayward is just too much to pass up, with the playmaking ability of Chris Paul and the post game of David West, Hayward could be the heir apparent to Peja Stoacavic who has entered the twilight years of his career.
12. Memphis Grizzlies - Luke Babbit - SF - UNLV:
The Grizzlies say that they will match any offer for Rudy Gay but they know if someone offers him the max then they need to let him go, Babbit could fit in nicely with the Grizzlies because they are team full of penetrators lacking quality outside shooters. The biggest knock on Babbit is that while he has the size to play SF or PF he really cant guard either position so a team will be a huge disadvantage on D.
13. Toronto Raptors - Cole Aldrich - C - Kansas:
The Raptors have a lot of needs with Bosh on his way out and Jose Calderon on the trading block, so they decide to go with size and toughness so they can move Bargiani back to the 4 where he is far more comfortable, while there is a very good chance that Aldrich is Greg Ostertag’s long lost twin he will bring toughness and rebounding to a team that has none.
14. Houston Rockets - Patrick Patterson - PF - Kentucky:
Patrick Patterson is ready to play for an NBA team right now and on a team full of overachievers he will fit right in. While he may never be a star in the league or even an all-star you do know that he will come in and compete at a high level and be highly productive.
15. Milwaukee Bucks - Xavier Henry - SG - Kansas:
Has an NBA ready body and the shooting stroke to make it in the league, while his stock has dropped a little bit during the college season due to lack of production, its more likely that on a team as loaded as Kansas he didn’t have the chance to produce. Teaming him with a playmaker such as Brandon Jennings will be great for both of them and give the Bucks one of the young dynamic backcourts in the league.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Hassan Whiteside - C - Marshall:
Whiteside is an enigma he is athletic long and seems to have the drive to succeed on the court , but people are starting to sour on him because of his attitude off the court. He is not a problem but rather it seems as if he is uninterested and it is that lack of interest off the court that is scaring teams away. The Wolves could use a player like Whiteside who’s long arms and blocking ability would match up well with the undersized post player of Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.
17. Chicago Bulls - James Anderson - SG - Oklahoma State:
The Bulls need outside shooting so that teams will stop collapsing the middle of the lane on Derrick Rose as he penetrates. Anderson is the answer to these problems he’s one of the best shooters in the draft this year and has a knack for knocking down threes from the corner spreading out the D
18. Miami Heat - Eric Bledsoe - PG - Kentucky:
Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo are not the answer at PG and the Heat desperately need somebody to take control of the position and right the ship. Bledsoe who played in the shadow of John Wall this year is a great playmaker and defender who can step out of Wall’s shadow and be a star PG in his own right.
19. Boston Celtics - Solomon Alabi - C - Florida State:
Is he the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo or is he the next Desagna Diop? Alabi is a great shot blocker with the mean streak to go with it but after four years he was unable to develop an effective offensive game so he cannot be counted on in that facet of the game. The Celtics need big men with Rasheed Wallace’s pending retirement and Kendrick Perkins foul trouble and Alabi would fit into the defensive scheme of the Celtics.
20. San Antonio Spurs - Damion James - SF - Texas:
When drafting a player like James you know exactly what you’re getting he/‘s never going to take over a game or be a star but he will a productive member of the team who can be counted on to make shots and not make mistakes on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton - C - Kentucky:
Anytime a player averages 3 points and 3 rebounds a game in college you have to draft him, because he will clearly be star in the league, that is the message many teams are spreading about Orton leading up to the draft saying that his skill set was just hidden behind the many stars of Kentucky. Orton recently stopped working out for teams and there is speculation its because of a promise from the Thunder. The Thunder are in need of a big man who can rebound block shots and play with his back to the basket, Orton can do all of these things, how productive he will be in the league is another question altogether.
22. Portland Trailblazers - Kevin Seraphin - PF/C - France:
The Trailblazers are looking for help on the frontline but the people they have locked on are already gone so they decide to grab Seraphin a player with Serge Ibaka like skills who they can stash overseas for a season or two.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Avery Bradley - SG/PG - Teaxas:
Bradley had the talent to be drafted way before this pick but due to his lack of size and position many teams weren’t sure where to place him on the draft board. The T-Wolves on the other hand are looking for a SG who can be a lockdown defender and still knock down the open shot. Bradley can do all these things and would team nicely with Johnny Flynn in the backcourt since there strengths and weaknesses offset one another.
24. Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Jones - SG - South Florida:
Joe Johnson is on his way out, they have a new coach that nobody has heard about and still are in need of some size up the middle so its difficult to peg what the Hawks will do. While most of the league realizes with an elite 5 the Hawks could be a great team the Hawks seem to think playing Horford out of position there makes the most sense, so they try and replace Johnson with Jones a high scoring guard from South Florida.
25. Memphis Grizzlies - Larry Sanders - PF - Virginia Commonwealth:
Larry Sanders is a great rebounded and shot-blocker who plays great in the post, the Grizzlies while still having Gasol and Randolph could use some help off the bench and Sanders is a great pick up this late in the draft.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Craig Brackins - PF - Iowa State:
Brackins could be one of the real steals of the draft, he dominated for two years and than this year his numbers really just dropped due to the constant double teams he faced by being the best player on the court at all times. Brackins is a great inside-out post player who could excel on a team like the Thunder where he is not the focal point of the team allowing him to focus on his game and not the constant pressures of being a star.
27. New Jersey Nets - Gani Lawal - PF - Georgia Tech:
By getting Evan Turner with the first pick the Nets can focus on shoring up their PF position where they are a little weak next to Brook Lopez, Lawal is an athletic PF who can rebound and run the floor well and can score without his name being called which is exactly what the Nets will need him to do.
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Crawford - SG - Xavier:
OFFENSE, by drafting Crawford that’s what you’re getting, he can score in any number of ways, shooting threes, mid-range jumpers, “dunking” on Lebron James, he has all these things in his arsenal and any team that drafts him will do so hoping that he can be a spark off the bench. The Grizzlies have one of the weaker benches and could use some instant offense and will be ecstatic if Crawford is still there.
29. Orlando Magic - Quincy Pondexter - SF- Washington:
Pondexter is a great athlete with a high basketball IQ who has the size and skill set to be a star in the league. While he lacks a great jump shot and his shot selection is questionable there is no denying that if he puts it all together he can be a star. With Vince Carter still locked into his contract Pondexter could ease his way into the lineup until he is ready.
30. Washington Wizards - Devin Ebanks - SF- West Virginia:
Ebanks was a potential lottery pick coming into this year, but after no real improvements in his game and questions about his character Ebanks has dropped on many draft boards. At the end of the first round Ebanks is a steal because he has great size and can defend a couple of positions, things that the Wizards could definitely use.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tom Izzo vs. Byron Scott: Who do the Cavs(Lebron) choose?
I know a lot of Cavs fans think Lebron should be able to choose who he wants to be his coach but for all we know he’ll end up choosing one of his entourage or getting rid of a coach all together like he did his agent. So I guess that means we have to just pray that Lebron won’t turn his back on a city that loves him and trust the upper management. So that means we are left with Tom Izzo and Byron Scott to lead us to that championship that Cleveland deserves.
Tom Izzo is a career college coach who through the past 15 years has quietly but firmly entrenched the Michigan State Spartans as a perennial contender and a team come the NCAA Tournament nobody wants to face. He has won a national championship, been to six final fours and won six Big Ten Championships. Tom Izzo achieved all this not by always getting the best recruits but by rather installing a system that the players had to buy into and execute. This system is predicated on swarming man to man defense that suffocated the other team and forced turnovers that would lead to early offense. The big question is can Izzo be the first college coach since Larry Brown to be successful in the pros?
Byron Scott on the other hand is a former NBA player who knows the ends and outs of the league not only because he has played in it, but also because he has coached the New Jersey Nets to two NBA finals appearances and then separately the New Orleans Hornets to a Western Conference semi-finals appearance. Yet, here lies the problem with Scott for all of his success why has he been relieved from two positions?
When choosing the next coach of the Cavaliers Dan Gilbert has a thin line to walk on. On the one hand he has to be sure that the candidate does not hurt the teams chances of getting Lebron James yet at the same time the coach must be willing and ready for life without Lebron James.
This is why I believe Izzo is the right person for the job because he has been balancing personalities and teams his whole careers, yes Byron Scott has been in the league but at the end of the day what is the point of taking someone else’s trash and believing that he will reinvent himself into a wonderful coach. Everyday a sportscaster talks about how bad college coaches do in the league and yes, while there are numerous coaches who failed to make the big jump from college Pitino, Montgomery, Floyd, there are even more pro coaches who couldnt make the cut. But, rarely do they talk about the fact that every year 10 coaches get fired and then two years later they are the hot ticket item; Eddie Jordan, Mo Cheeks, PJ Carlesimo and the list goes on. So if you are going to take a gamble, why not gamble with something new instead of somebody who has failed twice before.
Tom Izzo is a career college coach who through the past 15 years has quietly but firmly entrenched the Michigan State Spartans as a perennial contender and a team come the NCAA Tournament nobody wants to face. He has won a national championship, been to six final fours and won six Big Ten Championships. Tom Izzo achieved all this not by always getting the best recruits but by rather installing a system that the players had to buy into and execute. This system is predicated on swarming man to man defense that suffocated the other team and forced turnovers that would lead to early offense. The big question is can Izzo be the first college coach since Larry Brown to be successful in the pros?
Byron Scott on the other hand is a former NBA player who knows the ends and outs of the league not only because he has played in it, but also because he has coached the New Jersey Nets to two NBA finals appearances and then separately the New Orleans Hornets to a Western Conference semi-finals appearance. Yet, here lies the problem with Scott for all of his success why has he been relieved from two positions?
When choosing the next coach of the Cavaliers Dan Gilbert has a thin line to walk on. On the one hand he has to be sure that the candidate does not hurt the teams chances of getting Lebron James yet at the same time the coach must be willing and ready for life without Lebron James.
This is why I believe Izzo is the right person for the job because he has been balancing personalities and teams his whole careers, yes Byron Scott has been in the league but at the end of the day what is the point of taking someone else’s trash and believing that he will reinvent himself into a wonderful coach. Everyday a sportscaster talks about how bad college coaches do in the league and yes, while there are numerous coaches who failed to make the big jump from college Pitino, Montgomery, Floyd, there are even more pro coaches who couldnt make the cut. But, rarely do they talk about the fact that every year 10 coaches get fired and then two years later they are the hot ticket item; Eddie Jordan, Mo Cheeks, PJ Carlesimo and the list goes on. So if you are going to take a gamble, why not gamble with something new instead of somebody who has failed twice before.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Conference Re-alignment aka FootballExpansion
So Nebraska is going to the Big 10 with Missouri probabably following suit and then the new Pac 16 which will probably gain Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Colorado (just announced that they are joining) which is about to be the little SIX... Clearly all these moves are being made with Football in mind and not care in the world about basketball, or else somebody would quickly be scooping up Kansas and creating a more powerful basketball conference. I really dont agree with all this expansion and stuff because in the end I see a super conference being created and watering down the already suspect BCS.
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