Here are my Top 10 Best Available Players in the NBA Draft. This is not a prediction on how the draft will pan out, because sometimes a team needs a player for a certain position, and doesn’t always select the best available player across all positions.
1. Michael Beasley, Kansas State. Beasley is the best player in this year’s draft. He is one of the most complete players that I have seen in a really long time. At 6 feet 10 inches, he this years best rebounder and one of the best scorers. He has the best outside shot for a big man in this draft. Beasley can score with his back to the basket, and while facing the basket. Michael is a new hybrid of a guard and forward. He is the best player in the draft.
GRADE: A++
2. Derrick Rose, Memphis. Rose is a contender for the title of best player in this draft. He is easily the best point guard in this draft. People who believe that he is not the best PG are delusional. Derrick Rose is a dream point guard because he is a great passer, good shooter, and is strong enough to get to the basket.
GRADE: A++
3. Jeryd Bayliss, Arizona. Bayliss is underrated in my opinion. I think that Bayliss has a great career in the NBA ahead of him. People say he isn’t as good as O.J. Mayo, but he is. Here is the breakdown. He is a great scorer, has a great outside shot, and can attack the basket well. He is a good defender who shuts down his man. Bayliss is a steal in the NBA draft.
GRADE: A
4. Russell Westbrook, UCLA. Westbrook is one of the best defenders and athletes in this year’s draft. He won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. His defense will get him far, his offense is good, and he is working to make it better--a surprise, perhaps, but the right choice for #4 here.
GRADE: A-
5. O.J. Mayo, USC. Mayo has a lot of hype. Mayo is a great scorer. He drives really well and has a nice J. His big problem: he plays no DEFENSE! While he is great offensively, he lacks defensive skills. So he may score 30 but give up 25. But then again, who really does play defense in the NBA?
GRADE: A-
6. Eric Gordon, Indiana. Gordon is a great shooter. He is going to be like a Michael Redd in the NBA. He is a pure shooter, but can still get to the hole. Gordon is also a good defender. He is one of the best all around players in this year’s draft. The only problem is he is a little too short to play shooting guard and is not a true PG.
GRADE: A-
7. Donte Green, Syracuse. Green is the darkest horse in this draft. He is a great offensive player. He gets to the rim at will. He is a great driver, and has impressive range. He has very long wingspan. His main problem is he doesn’t have good shot selection; he shoots too many three pointers.
GRADE: A-/B+
8. Mario Chalmbers, Kansas. Chambers is a defensive god. He is hands-down the best defender in this draft. He is one of the best players who can get steals in a long time. I guarantee that if Chalmers gets 17+ minutes each game he will lead the NBA in steals. The only thing he lacks is some true point guard skills.
GRADE: B+
9. D.J. Augustine, Texas. Augustine is a great facilitator. He reminds me a lot of Steve Nash in that respect. He will be a catalyst for whatever team gets him. I think that Augustine is a dark horse in this draft. He is a great pick. The only reason why he won’t go in the top 10 is he is a little short. I think teams need to look past his 5’11’’ height.
GRADE: B+
10. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown. Hibbert is my number 10 for one reason… he is 7’2’’!!! He is a 7’2’’ center and good centers are rare. He is also an excellent shotblocker (he’d better be at that height). Hibbert has very soft hands for a big man, and has good post moves. His major weakness is he lacks speed and agility, but then again how many NBA centers have amazing speed and agility?
GRADE: B+/B
Tell me what you think before the draft. Watch the draft, Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 4p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST and then log back on to this blog and chat some more.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
NBA Finals The Rivalry
Ok, let me first start out by saying that the old Celtics vs. Lakers was different than this series. This is going to be a great series but, it is not going to be like the old time because there is no past between these particular teams and there are not going to be 6 hall-of-famers playing on the court.
I am sticking with my previous argument that the Celtics will win in six. As much as I want the Lakers to win, I just don’t think the match-ups work in their favor.
If you look at the match-ups it just doesn’t cut it for the Lakers. Here:
RONDO VS. FISCHER
Fischer is a veteran and has a pretty shot. Rondo is a scrappy defender who is young and quick, but inexperienced.
ADVANTAGE: N/A
KOBE VS. ALLEN
Kobe is the MVP of the league. An overall beast, and the best player in the NBA. Allen is probably the purest shooter I have ever seen.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
RADMONOVIC VS. PEIRCE
Paul Pierce is a dynamic small forward who takes it to the hole and can hit the jumper. Radmonovic is really the Lakers 6th man but got moved up when Bynum got injured. He is mediocre, but can hit the three. This is the biggest mismatch of the series.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
GARNETT VS. ODOM
KG is a beast. If he powers down in the post against Odom, Odom is fried. KG is also lethal because he has the deadly mid-range jumper. Odom is a good driver and rebounder, he has a decent three and a jumper that is a little better.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
PAU VS. PERKINS
Pau and Perkins are completely different types of players. Perkins is a power player who often backs down. Pau is finesse. It will be interesting to see who exploits the others weaknesses first. I think Pau will get it done.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE LAKERS:
1. Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe. Kobe has to be HUGE in this series if the Lakers want a chance to win. He has to get his points but also make his teammates better.
2. BENCH SAVIOR!! The Lakers young bench has to come up huge for them to win. Even if the Lakers don’t match-up in the starting lineup they could make up by having the better bench.
3. Make KG a jump shooter. Odom has to make KG shoot the J. KG is much less affective when he is turned into a jump shooter.
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE CELTICS:
1. LIMIT KOBE’S SCORING. There are not many ways to do this, but there are two. The first way to limit Kobe’s scoring is when Kobe is guarding Allen, the Celtics have to run Allen on a lot of screens. This tires Kobe and makes him less of threat offensively. That is what the Pistons did with Hamilton in 2004 and it worked out.
2. EXPLOIT PAUL PERIECE’S MISMATCH. Paul could have a field day against Radmonovic. He just is better that Vlad in every single way.
3. GET ALLEN HOT. Allen is the key to the series. When he is hot, the Celtics win. His shot changes the whole game. If he gets going early in the series the Celtics have a good chance of winning.
In conclusion I think, as much as it pains me to say it, the Celtics will win in six games. Even though the Lakers have some advantages against the Celtics, the artillery for the Celtics is just too much for the Lakers to handle.
I am sticking with my previous argument that the Celtics will win in six. As much as I want the Lakers to win, I just don’t think the match-ups work in their favor.
If you look at the match-ups it just doesn’t cut it for the Lakers. Here:
RONDO VS. FISCHER
Fischer is a veteran and has a pretty shot. Rondo is a scrappy defender who is young and quick, but inexperienced.
ADVANTAGE: N/A
KOBE VS. ALLEN
Kobe is the MVP of the league. An overall beast, and the best player in the NBA. Allen is probably the purest shooter I have ever seen.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
RADMONOVIC VS. PEIRCE
Paul Pierce is a dynamic small forward who takes it to the hole and can hit the jumper. Radmonovic is really the Lakers 6th man but got moved up when Bynum got injured. He is mediocre, but can hit the three. This is the biggest mismatch of the series.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
GARNETT VS. ODOM
KG is a beast. If he powers down in the post against Odom, Odom is fried. KG is also lethal because he has the deadly mid-range jumper. Odom is a good driver and rebounder, he has a decent three and a jumper that is a little better.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
PAU VS. PERKINS
Pau and Perkins are completely different types of players. Perkins is a power player who often backs down. Pau is finesse. It will be interesting to see who exploits the others weaknesses first. I think Pau will get it done.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE LAKERS:
1. Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe. Kobe has to be HUGE in this series if the Lakers want a chance to win. He has to get his points but also make his teammates better.
2. BENCH SAVIOR!! The Lakers young bench has to come up huge for them to win. Even if the Lakers don’t match-up in the starting lineup they could make up by having the better bench.
3. Make KG a jump shooter. Odom has to make KG shoot the J. KG is much less affective when he is turned into a jump shooter.
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE CELTICS:
1. LIMIT KOBE’S SCORING. There are not many ways to do this, but there are two. The first way to limit Kobe’s scoring is when Kobe is guarding Allen, the Celtics have to run Allen on a lot of screens. This tires Kobe and makes him less of threat offensively. That is what the Pistons did with Hamilton in 2004 and it worked out.
2. EXPLOIT PAUL PERIECE’S MISMATCH. Paul could have a field day against Radmonovic. He just is better that Vlad in every single way.
3. GET ALLEN HOT. Allen is the key to the series. When he is hot, the Celtics win. His shot changes the whole game. If he gets going early in the series the Celtics have a good chance of winning.
In conclusion I think, as much as it pains me to say it, the Celtics will win in six games. Even though the Lakers have some advantages against the Celtics, the artillery for the Celtics is just too much for the Lakers to handle.
NBA Finals
Ok, let me first start out by saying that the old Celtics vs. Lakers was different than this series. This is going to be a great series but, it is not going to be like the old time because there is no past between these particular teams and there are not going to be 6 hall-of-famers playing on the court.
I am sticking with my previous argument that the Celtics will win in six. As much as I want the Lakers to win, I just don’t think the match-ups work in their favor.
If you look at the match-ups it just doesn’t cut it for the Lakers. Here:
RONDO VS. FISCHER
Fischer is a veteran and has a pretty shot. Rondo is a scrappy defender who is young and quick, but inexperienced.
ADVANTAGE: N/A
KOBE VS. ALLEN
Kobe is the MVP of the league. An overall beast, and the best player in the NBA. Allen is probably the purest shooter I have ever seen.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
RADMONOVIC VS. PEIRCE
Paul Pierce is a dynamic small forward who takes it to the hole and can hit the jumper. Radmonovic is really the Lakers 6th man but got moved up when Bynum got injured. He is mediocre, but can hit the three. This is the biggest mismatch of the series.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
GARNETT VS. ODOM
KG is a beast. If he powers down in the post against Odom, Odom is fried. KG is also lethal because he has the deadly mid-range jumper. Odom is a good driver and rebounder, he has a decent three and a jumper that is a little better.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
PAU VS. PERKINS
Pau and Perkins are completely different types of players. Perkins is a power player who often backs down. Pau is finesse. It will be interesting to see who exploits the others weaknesses first. I think Pau will get it done.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE LAKERS:
1. Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe. Kobe has to be HUGE in this series if the Lakers want a chance to win. He has to get his points but also make his teammates better.
2. BENCH SAVIOR!! The Lakers young bench has to come up huge for them to win. Even if the Lakers don’t match-up in the starting lineup they could make up by having the better bench.
3. Make KG a jump shooter. Odom has to make KG shoot the J. KG is much less affective when he is turned into a jump shooter.
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE CELTICS:
1. LIMIT KOBE’S SCORING. There are not many ways to do this, but there are two. The first way to limit Kobe’s scoring is when Kobe is guarding Allen, the Celtics have to run Allen on a lot of screens. This tires Kobe and makes him less of threat offensively. That is what the Pistons did with Hamilton in 2004 and it worked out.
2. EXPLOIT PAUL PERIECE’S MISMATCH. Paul could have a field day against Radmonovic. He just is better that Vlad in every single way.
3. GET ALLEN HOT. Allen is the key to the series. When he is hot, the Celtics win. His shot changes the whole game. If he gets going early in the series the Celtics have a good chance of winning.
In conclusion I think, as much as it pains me to say it, the Celtics will win in six games. Even though the Lakers have some advantages against the Celtics, the artillery for the Celtics is just too much for the Lakers to handle.
I am sticking with my previous argument that the Celtics will win in six. As much as I want the Lakers to win, I just don’t think the match-ups work in their favor.
If you look at the match-ups it just doesn’t cut it for the Lakers. Here:
RONDO VS. FISCHER
Fischer is a veteran and has a pretty shot. Rondo is a scrappy defender who is young and quick, but inexperienced.
ADVANTAGE: N/A
KOBE VS. ALLEN
Kobe is the MVP of the league. An overall beast, and the best player in the NBA. Allen is probably the purest shooter I have ever seen.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
RADMONOVIC VS. PEIRCE
Paul Pierce is a dynamic small forward who takes it to the hole and can hit the jumper. Radmonovic is really the Lakers 6th man but got moved up when Bynum got injured. He is mediocre, but can hit the three. This is the biggest mismatch of the series.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
GARNETT VS. ODOM
KG is a beast. If he powers down in the post against Odom, Odom is fried. KG is also lethal because he has the deadly mid-range jumper. Odom is a good driver and rebounder, he has a decent three and a jumper that is a little better.
ADVANTAGE: CELTICS
PAU VS. PERKINS
Pau and Perkins are completely different types of players. Perkins is a power player who often backs down. Pau is finesse. It will be interesting to see who exploits the others weaknesses first. I think Pau will get it done.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE LAKERS:
1. Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe. Kobe has to be HUGE in this series if the Lakers want a chance to win. He has to get his points but also make his teammates better.
2. BENCH SAVIOR!! The Lakers young bench has to come up huge for them to win. Even if the Lakers don’t match-up in the starting lineup they could make up by having the better bench.
3. Make KG a jump shooter. Odom has to make KG shoot the J. KG is much less affective when he is turned into a jump shooter.
KEYS TO THE SERIES FOR THE CELTICS:
1. LIMIT KOBE’S SCORING. There are not many ways to do this, but there are two. The first way to limit Kobe’s scoring is when Kobe is guarding Allen, the Celtics have to run Allen on a lot of screens. This tires Kobe and makes him less of threat offensively. That is what the Pistons did with Hamilton in 2004 and it worked out.
2. EXPLOIT PAUL PERIECE’S MISMATCH. Paul could have a field day against Radmonovic. He just is better that Vlad in every single way.
3. GET ALLEN HOT. Allen is the key to the series. When he is hot, the Celtics win. His shot changes the whole game. If he gets going early in the series the Celtics have a good chance of winning.
In conclusion I think, as much as it pains me to say it, the Celtics will win in six games. Even though the Lakers have some advantages against the Celtics, the artillery for the Celtics is just too much for the Lakers to handle.
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