Fiba Fever

TEAM USA: Mission = Incomplete!!!

Turns out I was right about only 1 thing... Spain would get a medal.

Team USA with a young team of All-Stars just wasn't prepared for the Greek team who had never beaten them in previous tournaments. I understand that this was a warm up to see how they fared against the rest of the world and did not matter as much as the Olympics but it was clear that the rest of the world has caught up. Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are very talented but the issue was not talent it was working within the way the international game flows. USA showed a lack of energy gettin down the floor many times and were terrible when it came to rotations and help defence. 3rd place is better than 6th but coach K has a lot of work ahead of him hopefully for the Olypics he will have the likes of Amare, Kobe and gang to work with.

Spain on the other hand dominated throughout the tournament and were clearly more comfortable in the environment and with the style of play. They managed to capture Gold with their star player cheering from the bench. As a Toronto Raptors fan this tournament was a thrill in terms of the Spanish team as 2 raptors represented and played a significant role. I hope they use this to motivate them for the NBA season. They won amongst the best now its time to show it on a nightly basis for 82 games.

Out with the old... In with the new

Gone are the days of dominance. After a bronze medal performance at the 2004 Olympics and a 6th place finish at the last World Championships, USA Basketball took a new approach to putting together the dream team of the future. They targeted youth and athleticism and above all players who can make a long term commitment to the team and are hungry to win. With the youth on board they brought on Coach K, one of the best in the business and he brings with him a ton of experience dealing with young gifted athletes.This is a test


At first glance the roster is hardly overwhelming as its not a team full of superstars but more a balance of role players and defensive specialist to complement the superstars. One third of the roster is made up of players from the class of 2003 (probably one of the best draft classes in the history of the NBA) and the average age is closer to 20 than it is to 30 for this men's senior team but if they learnt anything in the past is that the game is played different and this team was put together with that in mind. The players representing the USA are the best suited to the international game in the opinion of the mastermind behind this program Jerry Colangelo. The team is on their way to China to begin this quest for gold and it will be about a month until they can prove that they are once again the best in the world.



Living in Canada isn't very conducive to getting basketball coverage on television but with the help of TVUplayer I was able to watch the exhibition game between USA and Puerto Rico.

Observations after a first look at team USA...

The Average age of the starting 5 of Melo, Wade, Bosh, Lebron and Chris Paul is about 22... Wow!

Carmelo Anthony looks like a man on a mission and from every interview he seems to be the guy most of the coaching staff was surprised by. He was on the last team that captured bronze and received a ton of negative press in the aftermath of the Olympics. He is lookin' for redemption and looked like the most game ready player on the court yesterday.

Dwayne Wade is going to be the most unstoppable player on this team as he looked to be in playoff mode still. Wade is matured a ton after this years playoffs and it showed in his game on this night

Chris Paul is a Star! He is going to be the man that gets everyone going and he is the right guy for the job as his speed will be an asset during the tournament.

The team seemed to have a logjam at the guard position so when the roster is trimmed to 12 I expect only one player from the group of Joe Johnson, Bruce Bowen and Hinrich to survive.

Lebron James shot was flat and he was outshone the whole time by Melo and wade.

Carlos Arroyo looks like the next coming of Allen Iverson when playing for his country... I wonder if this Arroyo will ever show up in the NBA

Shane Battier looks like a dad amongst this team but his veteran presence will be welcomed. He brings something different to the game and was effective off the bench

Dwight Howard may be just 20 years old but he is a beast and opponents are going to have a tough time keeping him out of the paint. Also, he can be effective with pulling rebounds off the rim and stuffing them down without worrying about basket interference.

Brad Miller hit some shots but he really didn't look like he fit in well to the style. He seemed to be moving at a slower pace down the court and in the future his roster spot will probably go to Amare.

The team started out looking a little mechanical and were trying to get the perfect shot but after the half they made the adjustments and came out flying

The players effectively implemented college style full court pressure and that created turnovers and steals and at the same time they made good adjustments to the constant zone defence they faced.

Joe Johnson had a good shooting night and him along with Elton Brand were effectively hitting the mid-range jumpers

Gilbert Arenas and Chris Bosh looked a bit over anxious to start but that can be said of a lot of the players as the team got off to a slow start with a lot of turnovers and fouls as they were forcing the issue

3 Pointers didn't fall as easily as I had expected but this needs to be a weapon that the team can use often during the tournament

Random Notes

After the first half I had to turn the game on mute as the sound of Bill Walton's voice was giving me a headache...

Pat Riley was in attendance and he looked burnt to a crisp! I think he might have fallen asleep in the tanning bed or sumthin...

10 minute quarters are going to take a little time adjusting to...

This concept of pulling rebounds right off the rim after a missed free throw is crazy...

Seeing Coach K. pacing the sidelines and talking to Battier and Brand during timeouts is surreal...

Grading the NBA Draft MSN style with Nat, Lincoln and Zack

MSN convo between Nat, Lincoln and Zack as we break down the NBA draft.
(Sorry for the delay in this post... chalk it up to unexpected circumstances)

Nat: To set the tone for this, give me one word that comes to your mind when thinking of last night’s draft
Z.Cooper: HECTIC
Nat: I think my word is clear … PORTLAND!!
Z.Cooper: yeah... Portland led to the draft being Hectic
*silence* (Lincoln is still number crunching the ways the Raptors could have and should have drafted Rudy Gay!!)
Lincoln: DISSAPOINTMENT

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, P.J Tucker
Nat: Toronto Raptors had the first pick in the draft was this a curse for the team this year?
Z.Cooper: I don't think it was a curse... I think anytime you get a first overall pick, it's a blessing...
Z.Cooper: it may not have been the most opportunistic season to get it... but first pick is first pick
Nat: I think this put the team with a back agaisnt the wall... When you see a couple of picks or even one you have a better gage of whats needed to get more than you hoped for
Lincoln: I saw this coming a mile away at the draft lottery ... the only way fate could pay us what was owed while still mocking us was the no. 1 this year
Z.Cooper: I think that's ridiculous... I mean, would you honestly prefer to pick 5th?
Lincoln: Interesting question... hmm.. it may have eliminated some of the conservatism around exploring trades
Lincoln: I think BC did a great job of creating confusion to control the situation
Z.Cooper: If anything... it got a lot of people looking, and talking to and about the Raptors...
Lincoln: I think he was so set on Bargnani, that he didn't want to risk losing him to Chicago or another team below them.
Nat: Do you think Bargnani will be a successful player in the league?
Z.Cooper: I certainly think Bargnani will succeed. I have the utmost faith that Bryan Colangelo knows what he's doing... and no one has scouted this guy more than him.
Lincoln: Question is can he play the 5? He's not a bust, but everyone is agreed, it's not just a question of his size, it's the way he plays. He's a strictly face the basket offensive player with bad D at this time. He has to develop a better defense and post game to put in the time at that centre spot.
Lincoln: The Raps should have found a way to get at another player in the draft. Gay obviously. But even a stab at a pick that could have been Ronnie Brewer or Rondo would have been worthwhile in my opinion.
Nat: In his post draft press conference Colangelo stated - "we were a really bad team last year, we could not draft by position we went BPA the whole way and we will work with that from here on"
Lincoln: I think that's the right attitude
Z.Cooper: final note... "positions" are overrated
Lincoln: I agree, but "skill-sets" don't lie

Grades: Nat (B) Lincoln (B-) Zack (B)

Chicago Bulls: Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha
Nat: Chicago Bulls one of the better teams in this draft had a high pick… How would u say the draft worked out for them?
Nat: they were involved in a couple of swaps as they ended up with Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha.
Z.Cooper: I'm not a huge fan of Chicago's moves. I'd rather have Aldridge in Chicago, than Tyrus
Lincoln: all along Chicago's need has been universally recognized as needed to add a big-time vet to complete the puzzle, or at least a PF with a solid post game on offense
Z.Cooper: I mean... LaMarcus' skills are much more suited to partner with a defensive-minded center... than pitting TT next to Chandler. I do like Thabo, though...
Nat: I just don’t see how they went with upside when there was a scoring PF available who could be Bosh-like in this draft
Lincoln: I wonder if this doesn't signal the end of Chandler though
Z.Cooper: Chandler is expendable. His defense is nice, but his health is unreliable...
Nat: I think Tyrus is actually going to be pretty much one of the bigger disappointments in the first year or so…but might work out in the long run
Nat: Scott Skiles is a very tough coach and but I think they messed up here not taking Aldridge 'cuz Tyson can swat them like TT but he isn’t getting 20 points anytime soon

Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (B) Zack (C)

Charlotte Bobcats: Adam Morrison, Ryan Hollins
Nat: Michael Jordan had one pick in this draft for the Bobcats at #3 and he did it with a bang – Adam Morrison (or so the marketing guys say)
Z.Cooper: I think Morrison's a safe bet for the Bobcats, a proven guy, who can hit any shot he takes... a winner who will fight until the tears come streaming down...
Z.Cooper: and with a healthy Okafor, might get away with some serious defensive deficiencies
Lincoln: Ammo on the Bobcats. A few things 1) this has to have been partially motivated by a desire to sell tickets; 2) they did need scoring, and that's the one and only thing Morrison can do (we'll have to see how well at this level); 3) does anyone think taking Ammo with his competitive streak was overcompensation on MJ's part for Kwame and his lack of a pulse
Nat: Ammo is a box office guy who has a passion for the game that he displayed on a National stage and I think that they have some good tools… Meka, G Wallace and Raymond Felton (who was great for the 2nd half of the season) I think this was a great pick for them

Grades: Nat (A-) Lincoln (B) Zack (A-)

Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Sergio Rodriguez, Joel Freeland
Nat: This deserves a WTF! This wasn’t the NBA draft it was the "Portland Robbery"
Z.Cooper: I felt like they took an initial step back, with the trading of my boy, Telfair before things got going... but saved face with the Aldridge steal
Z.Cooper: I love how they snaked out Brandon Roy...
Lincoln: That was clever. Roy was headed to Houston until they intercepted the trade and killed the plans
Z.Cooper: and along with the drafting of Spanish Chocolate, and Boy English (Freeland)... how they FLEECED the Pacers for a PAIR of 2nd rounders, for James White (no doubt, a talent)
Lincoln: If I was Portland I still would have taken Gay over Roy, but you can't give this team any less than an A for that draft
Nat: yes whoever was at the helm in the war room needs to be the next GM!
Lincoln: I have a feeling this may be the last time those two are ever mentioned in the same sentence again
Z.Cooper: Roy and Gay?
Lincoln: Yeah, I don't see greatness in Roy… I see solidness
Lincoln: whereas with Gay his worst case scenario is really Iguodala.
Z.Cooper: I agree with that and yes, in a few years back... they might regret the decision
Nat: Longevity and an all-around game. I still see Brandon Roy being one of the best players in the 2006 draft
Nat: Everyone is banking on Rudy Gay's unlimited ceiling but for now Roy was the better pick for Portland IMO.
Z.Cooper: I see Roy being up for... ROY...
Nat: We could probably chat for an hour about this teams transactions but I think they got a bit fleeced in the Aldridge deal…they gave up a pick and Khryapa for a guy who was going to be there at #4 anyways
Z.Cooper: I thought Chicago got fleeced and that deal ... I like Aldridge more than TT... and I think Khryapa is expendable
Nat: My point was Chicago wanted TT the whole time and Portland gets a higher salary to pay now (albeit not by much) for a guy who they could have gotten at #4 without moving anyone
Lincoln: Khryapa is nice… that may look a little worse in the future, but I don't think anyone will lose sleep over it anytime soon.

Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A+)

Atlanta Hawks: Shelden Williams, Solomon Jones
Nat: Wow Atlanta!
Z.Cooper: WHY???
Lincoln: Next!
Nat: again they passed up on guards and went with a 6'8 guy!!!
Z.Cooper: Why oh why do you promise a guy 5... When he could drop to like 15?
Z.Cooper: I like Sheldon Williams...but 5th???
Nat: good thing he can block shots with that massive forehead
Nat: word on the street was they never even worked him out!! They could have traded down got a vet and still had him at #11 or so
Lincoln: Alright. Here's where the cynical side of me just think Bill Knight realized Belkin's gonna own this team soon and fire him anyway - so why not just scorch the earth as an act of advance revenge.
Lincoln: Then I remember that this is the same idiot who passed on Chris Paul, and he's perfectly capable of doing something this dumb with no ulterior motive whatsoever.
Z.Cooper: I think that's the more probable, Linc
Z.Cooper: they're just dazed and confused in Georgia
Z.Cooper: there's something to be said about drafting for position... but I’m pretty sure that revolves around NEED, not duplication
Lincoln: I bet Knight is on the phone right now with Babcock..."so how did you handle the backlash?"
Nat says: for the sake of not having to talk about the Hawks anymore lets just grade them and move on…

Grades: Nat (D) Lincoln (D) Zack (C-)

Minnesota Timberwolves: Randy Foye, Craig Smith
Nat: Let's talk about Kevin McHale and how Rob Babcock is back in a front office position making draft decisions…
Z.Cooper: I don't see how anyone would let Babcock into a draft war room ever again
Nat: Minnesota traded Roy and took Randy Foye from Portland and it’s suffice to say that means Marcus Banks isn’t coming back
Z.Cooper: I think Roy would have been better suited next to KG than Foye. Randy's defense is great... but they need someone who can shoot
Nat: I don’t think KG has much time left on this team… its just not working
Nat: They are stuck in salary cap hell and don’t have the flexibility to put half decent players around him.

Grades: Nat (C+) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C)

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe
Nat: On to Boston… Danny Ainge was busy
Lincoln: Ainge. What a tool.
Nat: He basically got 2 Point guards in this draft
Z.Cooper: you're thinking he should get back to baseball?
Lincoln: He's just spinning wheels in the mud right now. I don't think he has a plan. I don't think he's ever had a plan. I think he kinda wings it and more or less fails.
Z.Cooper: well, again... going back to Telfair... I think if anyone can get the ball to PP... It’s Bassy...
Lincoln: Telfair might benefit from a change of scenery, as he wasn't gonna work out in Portland's mess.
Nat: Rajon Rondo will be better than Telfair in Boston I think though
Nat: I am of the thought that he is stock piling the pieces he wants Allen Iverson in Boston more than any other team wants AI
Lincoln: A combination of Iverson and Pierce. Wow how terrible is that? I can't wait for the inevitable Bill Simmons rant if that comes to fruition.
Lincoln: The Telfair-Rondo combo sounds to me like a bad construction
Z.Cooper: Telfair/Rondo might not be so hot, because neither of them has a reliable jumper... but the speed will be a bonus... and they're both gifted passers, so...
Nat: as long as they get PP the ball they should be fine
Lincoln: sort of like he's throwing out prospects in the hopes one works out, because if both played together the opposing defense would just descend on Boston
Lincoln: Boston has its foot in two doors and needs to make up their mind.

Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (C+) Zack (C)

Houston Rockets: ?, Steve Novak, Eliyahu
Nat: Now for Lincoln’s boy. The rockets got Rudy gay and Steve Novak in this draft
Z.Cooper: I really don't see why the Rockets would do this… trading Gay away
Z.Cooper: how deadly would it be for T-Mac and Gay to be on the court at the same time?
Nat: I think the rockets are stupid to give this guy away for an aging Shane Battier. Last season the rockets would go 4 minutes at a time without scoring when Yao and Tracy were out
Nat: they need Gay more than they need a “Jeff Van Gundy guy” right now in Battier
Z.Cooper: I like Battier... but I’d rather have a 2-way player like Gay
Lincoln: Battier vs. Gay reminds me a debate we had a few minutes ago with Roy. Again, "solidness". Why take solidness over Gay?
Lincoln: and frankly speaking T-Mac's back is not a sure thing. Who knows if he is ever able to offer a stable enough contribution for the Rockets to go as far as they'd like.
Z.Cooper: they need to get rid of JVG and T-Mac needs himself some surgery
Lincoln: Gay could have helped them right now, and would have been a fall-back if T-Mac doesn't work out
Lincoln: I just see no need to dump Gay for a role player
Z.Cooper: exactly!!

Grades: Nat (D+) Lincoln (D) Zack (C-)

Golden State Wrriors: Patrick O'Bryant
Nat: Golden State went with the guy we all kinda saw them going with, Patrick O'Bryant and I think its fair to say he is a "project" at this point
Z.Cooper: A center like O’Bryant should do them well... but I don't think it will save the Warriors
Lincoln: Yeah they were either gonna grab a SF to replace Dunleavy or go big by default but in the big picture this does nothing for the Warriors
Z.Cooper: they're in a tough spot... looking at a 13th straight season with no playoffs
Lincoln: they are just directionless. Stockpiling mediocre pieces until they have to hand them inflated contracts.
Nat: this team teases their fans at the end of each season showing hope and comes back looking out of shape
Z.Cooper: get Mullin out of there, before he makes Hardaway the new coach
Nat: they have a lot of good young pieces I don’t think that they are utilizing them properly
Lincoln: they're building the ultimate bench
Z.Cooper: J-Rich is the one positive in GSW... that's why they need to trade him for something else
Nat: right now they need a PG who can stay healthy and play within a system

Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (D) Zack (B-)

Seattle Supersonics: Saer Sene, Denham Brown
Nat: fun fun!! We get to talk about Seattle who seems to pick the same player year after year for the past 3 running!
Z.Cooper: Seattle now has like 10 centers that all do the same
Nat: Saer Sene a 7 foot beast but I think it was more the 7 foot beast than the player that got him picked so high and the success of Dsagana Diop
Lincoln: yeah, this was a pointless pick
Z.Cooper: Senegal is the breeding grounds of feisty shot-blockers ...that don't do much else
Nat: Seattle had one of the worst drafts from how I see it
Lincoln: Seattle needs to decide what it's doing as well. Rebuild? or move forward?
Z.Cooper: Seattle needs some more 'fan-favorite' types... otherwise, they'll be moving to Vegas
Lincoln: they had the worst defense in the league (according to Hollinger, ever)
Lincoln: so who knows if this helps. We’d have to see more than shot blocking, but overall defensive smarts before saying…
Z.Cooper: when blocks miss... they turn to fouls...
Nat: Seattle right now basically had a top 10 pick and put themselves in a worse of situation.
Z.Cooper: they're going for Oden
Nat: I can see the tanking already!!

Grades: Nat (D) Lincoln (C) Zack (D+)

Orlando Magic: J.J.Redick, James Augustine
Nat: Orlando went with a guy who managed to get a broke-back and a DUI under his belt within one month of the draft…
Z.Cooper: JJ... oh dear...
Nat: but we cant forget he is the leading scorer in ACC history
Z.Cooper: I want to love the Magic so bad… Jameer... Darko... Dwight... now JJ???
Z.Cooper: they could have passed, and taken a playoff seed
Lincoln: Orlando. Sigh.
Lincoln: All they had to do was take Brewer and grab a play-off seed next year
Nat: I agree Brewer would have been the best guy for them
Lincoln: but JJ? Bad enough on his own. But as a back court with Jameer?
Lincoln: That backcourt is gonna get annihilated on D
Nat: they might contend for tallest frontcourt and shortest backcourt in the league
Z.Cooper: for some reason... JJ is like my equivalent to Antoine Walker…not game-wise...but the way I perceive them
Z.Cooper: just... straight... dislike...

Grades: Nat (C+) Lincoln (D+) Zack (C-)

NO/Oaklahoma City Hornets: Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons
Nat: Anyways the Hornets took Hilton Armstrong
Z.Cooper: nice grab.... nothing special. anyone out of UConn will give you something good
Nat: safe pick for the Hornets
Lincoln: I am not sold. Not even sure how safe it was but they wanted size, so sure why not.
Z.Cooper: Hilton's got game... although he plays smaller than his 6'11" frame
Nat: I think they could have gone with size or a shooter
Nat: I guess they went with the theory "when all else fails draft big"
Lincoln: remember Brewer is still on the board at this point.
Lincoln: and while I can understand the nervousness around passing up on size in the hopes it's there later
Z.Cooper: with David West... I don't know if Hilton can contribute much. I don't think he's big enough to play the 5
Lincoln: I'm pretty sure Brewer was the obvious BPA at that stage. And with JR Smith on the outs... they need that spot covered.
Lincoln: I think they hope they got Shelden “lite” in Cedric Simmons
Lincoln: they're just stocking up the front hoping something works out

Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C+)

Philadelphia 76'ers: Rodney Carney, Bobby Jones
Nat: Philly picked Iggy part 2 in Rodney Carney
Z.Cooper: well, I think Sefalosha was closer to Iggy part 2 and they could have wrecked havoc with both of those
Z.Cooper: Carney's good... but I don't think he helps improve the product in Philly too much
Nat: they took 2 forwards in round 2 as well and traded for most of these picks
Z.Cooper: yah... again... it seems King needs to be dethroned
Nat: and with Marcus Williams and Rondo still on the board I don’t know what they are thinking
Lincoln: I think Philly's in limbo until they get past the Iverson era so it's hard to say what their needs are or will be
Nat: I think King needs to move Iverson and rebuild
Z.Cooper: Philly looks good on paper... just not on hardwood
Z.Cooper: should have kept Sefalosha… no one would have been able to get into their lane

Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (B-) Zack (C-)

Utah Jazz: Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown
Nat: Utah… Ok... Jerry Sloan has Ronnie Brewer he loves pure shooters wanted JJ ... good fit here?
Z.Cooper: and Hoffa!!!
Lincoln: If Ronnie Brewer is smart he takes Sloan out to a tractor pull this summer just to get in his good graces
Z.Cooper: Brewer's a smart player... but if he has a bad first impression on the court, it's tough to get out of Sloan's doghouse
Nat: from everything we hear and know… it sucks to be a rookie under Sloan
Z.Cooper: I remember asking Sloan about Robert Whaley in the pre-season... and he wasn't shy about ripping the guy
Nat: I hope Ronnie comes focused because Sloan is Old Skool and if u in the doghouse u might never come out till u on the flight to the team they traded you to
Nat: I still wonder how milt survived it with his extreme layups
Lincoln: Speaking of which, at what point is Sloan becoming a hindrance to that team?
Z.Cooper: when Larry Miller leaves… they've got a front-office love fest in Utah
Nat: they need a changing of the guard in the worst way
Lincoln: Every draft is Utah walking on eggshells about both Sloan's preferences and whether or not a player will just leave at the first chance they get since, well, it's Utah
Z.Cooper: yeah, because Sloan only begrudgingly plays rooks and he doesn't have much else
Nat: Ronnie Brewer didn’t look too happy to be going there but its cool that Dee Brown will be back playing besides Deron Williams...
Z.Cooper: who would be? Mormons and mountains
Lincoln: Isn't wonder bread the official state food or something?

Grades: Nat (B) Lincoln (A) Zack (B-)

Indiana Pacers: Shawne Willaims, James White
Nat: The Pacers quietly had a pretty good draft but I think that Shawne Williams is another Danny Granger type and then they traded for James White as well
Z.Cooper: ...and James White type
Lincoln: Granger's a 3/4
Nat: It was clear they have a huge need at PG and its because Jamal Tinsley is money thrown in the toilet
Lincoln: Big off-season for the Pacers we'll see where they're going with this, but I would have taken a point if I were them
Z.Cooper: yeah, they'll be coming back looking quite different. I would have taken Farmar... or... the man who shall remain unmentioned until NJ comes up
Nat: they are a half court team though
Lincoln: Well Rondo would have been a bad fit in Indiana if they are keeping Carlisle, yes half-court exactly
Z.Cooper: they've got more athleticism/less scoring than the Hawks it seems, in their plethora of SF's
Z.Cooper: I'm surprised Carlisle's still around... with Bird's 3-year lease on coaches

Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C-)

Washington Wizards: some Uke!
Nat: Wizards pulled one outta their a$ last night - Oleksiy Pecherov
Z.Cooper: I know nothing of this Ukrainian the Wiz grabbed
Nat: I don’t think any Wizards fan had even heard of the guy it was on the lines of the ISIAH pick
Lincoln: yeah, who knows.. next!

Grades: ?????

Sacramento Kings: Quincy Douby
Z.Cooper: QUINCY DOUBY!
Nat: DOOOOOOOBBBBIIIIIEEEE!!!
Nat: how many kids are gonna wanna get his jersey v/s Rudy gay!
Nat: seriously though a good pick for them this point in the draft
Z.Cooper: I think that was a GREAT pick for the Kings
Z.Cooper: Bibby and Douby... come on now.. how much punch is that?
Z.Cooper: drive and kick, drive and kick... pop the 3
Nat: soon they are going to have to address the frontcourt for the long term

Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A)

New York Knicks: Ronaldo Balkman!!!
Z.Cooper: Knicks = F!!!!!
Z.Cooper: what a frikkin mess
Lincoln: you beat me to it… maybe a D- till we see
Lincoln: Isiah has earned at least some benefit of the doubt on talent evaluation, but I gotta say, this looks horrible
Nat: ISIAH = F
Nat: you could build about 4 NBA teams with that payroll but they will be lucky to get 30 wins this year again
Lincoln: roster construction he's psycho
Z.Cooper: ...what a mess...
Z.Cooper: I just think it's ridiculous how a team can be run down like the Knicks are...
Z.Cooper: such a storied team... dealing with such humility
Nat: The Mecca of basketball is now the Retirement home for Max contracts
Z.Cooper: multiple F's, and a middle finger, to boot

Grades: Nat (F) Lincoln (D-) Zack (F)

Phoenix Suns: ???
Z.Cooper: Alright... so the Suns... nice pick, maybe should have kept it?
Nat: Suns pretty much traded all the way out of this years draft trying to keep cap room to re-sign their guys
Lincoln: yeah they should'a kept it
Z.Cooper: I’m hearing more rumours of Leandro getting moved, too
Nat: they could use a real pg to work with Nash and move the Brazilian bullet or keep him as a SG
Lincoln: this is the start of Sarver's penny pinching?
Nat: I'm thinking you are right.. it is well known he will not in anyway go over the luxury tax threshold
Nat: they like bell and Diaw and right now Barbosa is on the borderline

Grades: Nat (C-) Lincoln (F) Zack (D)

New Jersey Nets: Marcus Williams, Josh Boone
Nat: New Jersey got the best steals in the first round!!!
Z.Cooper: MARCUS WILLIAMS!!! I can not BELIEVE he dropped this far
Nat: 2guys who played together both fit their needs… these picks fell into their lap!!!
Nat: Marcus is going to play like Charlie V did!! a man possessed ‘cuz he dropped so low
Lincoln: NJ. Marcus Williams. I think there's a reason he fell this far. I'm not a big fan/ But if can come in and play effective back-up to J-Kidd. Great move. Great fit.
Z.Cooper: now he gets to play behind one of the best PG's in the history of the league, passing to 2 of the best finishers today.
Z.Cooper: he has the potential to put up some SERIOUS assist numbers on that team
Nat: to me he was the best PG in the draft and everyone who didn’t pick him and needed a pg will be kicking themselves
Nat: Josh Boone is a good banger type guy who will work well with Kristic I think

Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A+)

NotableS:
- Jerry west is a genius nabbing Lowry late in the 1st round and straight up raping the rockets and getting Rudy Gay. This team needed help on the offensive end in the biggest way and this draft may have solved a lot of their problems.
- The Lakers got a homegrown product in Jordan Farmar. His stock rose and fell like the NASDAQ but in the end I think he is now in a situation he will flourish in as long as the hometown pressure is not going to get to him
- Dallas got a steal in a MSU player… Ager will be a nice addition to an already solid team with a good mix of youth and vets.

NBA DRAFT - What was that??!!??

The Italian Stallion has officially arrived!! (He needs a better fitting hat though)Besides the first pick in the draft, no one saw this coming!!! Not in the way it went down for sure... As on draft night there were 15 transactions made. (Portland had a hand in about half of them) People knew this was a weak draft but it was the most active draft in recent memory. Players were given caps of teams they were never going to play for and it happened early and often. There were so many smoke screens thrown up before this draft that I think a lot of the trades didn't need to happen to get the player you wanted. But tonight was all about Portland and how many teams they can tango with...

To give an idea as to what went down at Madison Square Garden tonight I will just say this...

Portland ended up with 4 FIRST round draft picks in Lamarcus Aldrdige, Brandon Roy, Joel Freeland, Sergio Rodriguez. They also got 3 future 2nd round picks, along with Dan Dickau and Raef LaFrentz... (might take a minute to wrap your head around that one as they did all this without a GM in place!)

Not a guy who I would normally quote but it must be said... On his blog Chuck Swirsky said this "Portland buys a first round pick in Sergio Rodriguez....how young are these guys? On their charter flight they're going to serve Happy Meals."

- Toronto was probably a lot more conservative in this draft than many might have thought (or hoped for).
- Philadelphia drafted not 1 but 2 clones of Andre Iguodala (Rodney Carney and Bobby Jones).
- Rudy Gay went slipping and sliding and word is he is going to Memphis but for now he is a member of the Houston Rockets at #8. (His reactions as he watched himself spiral down the board made for good TV though)
- Boston had a very strong Draft as did Chicago in a way even though I still don't agree on the Tyrus pick.
- Isah Thomas is trying to ensure that the Knicks are out of the NBA before his 1 year is up. He reached so far with a guy in the first round who probably could have been had as a free agent!!! I can't even imagine how the guys over at Sell the Knicks are feeling.
- Big up to Denham Brown for getting drafted by the Sonics ... He had a good camp in Orlando and deserved to be drafted.
- What on earth was Golden State thinking picking a player they drafted 4 times over in the last few drafts. Not knocking Saer Sene but do they not have Petro and Diagu and all them bigs... *sigh*

I think there is too much to say and I want to save it because the blog coming tomorrow is going to be action packed as I get a few people (with pretty strong opinions) to help me break down the draft and our reactions.

Blogging the NBA Draft must reads:
Breaking down the ESPN crew's comments during the draft - Awful Announcing
Scott over at Raptorblog did his own live blogging with some gems - Raptorblog
Most comprehensive site for anything to do with the '06 NBA Draft with a live blog - True Hoop

Draft Week : Looking for answers in the Fountain of Youth

One down... One to go.

Honestly with the draft class in the NBA this year one could come up with a different mock draft for every day from the end of the NCAA tourny all the way to a couple hours before the draft. All the talks leading up to the draft have involved players from Allen Iverson to Luther Head to Ray Allen and inevitably most of this will not happen. We are 2 hours from the draft and there is still no consensus #1 ...That's just how crazy it's been!!
I have been trying to do this version 2.0 for a week now but both Lincoln and I had a different list pretty much every hour to the point we just went with a gut feeling in the end. This is a follow-up from the first mock we did a couple of weeks ago.
I hope to be back tomorrow with Lincoln and another guest Zack Cooper for a post draft analysis blog. So until then here goes...

My last shot at a mock draft...
1. Andrea Bargnani
2. LaMarcus Aldridge
3. Rudy Gay
4. Adam Morrison
5. Tyrus Thomas
6. Brandon Roy
7. Marcus Williams
8. Randy Foye
9. Patrick O'Bryant
10. Shelden Willams

Lincoln made some adjustments...
1. Andrea Bargnani
2. Tyrus Thomas
3. Rudy Gay
4. LaMarcus Aldridge
5. Brandon Roy (Sent to Houston)
6. Adam Morrison
7. Cedric Simmons
8. Shelden Williams (sent to Atlanta with Luther Head)
9. Randy Foye
10. Partrick O'Bryant

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NHL DRAFT: A quick roundup

The NBA Draft is on Today but the NHL draft took place over the past weekend and went ahead without much hype. Living in Canada I have come to expect most media outlets heavily covering the NHL but in the case of the draft there wasn't much thunder as the grueling 8 rounds took place in Vancouver this past Saturday. The NHL draft is unique that all the GM's are in one place and the setup is very interactive as you can watch whets going on leading up to each selection and the draft was full of trades and swaps for positioning.

There was a lot of talk during the NHL playoffs about the lack of interest for the sport from our neighbors down south but this draft points the trend going in the other direction. 10 players drafted in the first round are from the Unites States and that takes into account Erik Johnson who was drafted #1 overall by the St.Louis Blues. There was no Sidney Crosby type player in this draft and so maybe that was the reason not much was said pre-draft but it is definitely something to note the changing trend of where the top players are coming from and that the American grass roots systems are stronger and are producing some great hockey players.

Ahh...I cant focus on hockey when all I can think of is LaMarcus Aldridge?? Rudy Gay??
I need this draft to happen already before I start losing my mind...

NBA: "Where there's a will there's a WADE"

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill"- Muhammad Ali

Promises are meant to be kept: 2006 NBA Champions - "Miami Heat"

Two teams that were built for the playoffs but the paths taken to build these teams completely different.

The Dallas Mavericks were assembled through the draft and strategic additions of key free agents to complement their lineup. There was a good balance of youth and veterans on this team. Newly appointed head coach Avery Johnson implemented a defensive coaching method and added this to the philosophies already in place set by the departed Don Nelson. Mark Cuban is part of the new breed of NBA owners who are more active in the daily happenings of the team and he has been their biggest fan as they have slowly put together a team that is going to compete for years to come.
Miami used more of the "Yankees" approach to building a championship team. Getting a player like Dwayne Wade through the draft and then just buying the rest of the players. When Pat Riley joined the Heat he made a promise to the fans and when Shaq came on board that promise was seconded by him. They vowed to bring the Cup to Miami and the rest just fell in place. It helps having Shaq on the roster as every player in the league wants a chance to play with the Diesel. With Shaq and Wade at the helm, the team was comprised of players who wanted a shot at winning a ring even if it meant having a reduced role on the team and/or receiving smaller paychecks. I don't see any kind of Dynasty happening here with the way this team was put together but stranger things have happened.

The NBA playoffs this year were an absolute thrill. Game 7's galore and the matchup in the Finals promised to build on an already historical playoffs. Game 6 came around and it was apparent... This was not the Shaquille O'Neil show, not the Dirk Nowitzki show it was the Dwayne wade show as he broke down defenses and moved around the court with such smoothness that it made believers of the non believers. Dallas had Miami with their back against the wall as they were less than a quarter away from going up 3-0 and then it all came crumbling. Dirk Nowitzki is a great player but he was not aggressive enough towards the end of games they way he showed he could be - a la game 7 against the Spurs. Dwayne Wade had a supporting cast with a ton of experience and when the pressure was on they came through - a la Gary Payton in game 3 and game 5. As Wade showed his fearless attitude and will to win through the series mumblings began around the NBA world that he may be the next coming of your "Airness" but Wade was humbled and just played on. Shaq played second fiddle but his presence is felt without him touching the ball and all this led to a historical collapse by the Dallas Mavericks. The Miami heat led by Dwayne Wade had brought the cup to Miami as they won their first NBA championship in franchise history.

There was a big mark (pun intended) put on the finals this year in regard to officiating but I am going to avoid blaming the outcome of this series on the Zebra's with the whistles. There is no love lost between outspoken owner of the Mavs, Mark Cuban and NBA commissioner David Stern. Cuban was fined repeatedly this playoffs (each time he matches a fine with a donation to charity) but it wasn't just him calling foul. I don't really want to get into this much as its been talked out on many websites and blogs... But I do hope this situation is fixed to some extent come next year and we can appreciate the game on the court rather than having the focus be on the Suits in their box seats.

I called this outcome in my Finals prediction (read)
Zack Cooper isn't too thrilled with the way the team was put together... (read)
Henry Abbott over at True Hoop live blogged game 6 (read)
The Coach looks at what lies ahead for the Heat players (read)


In the words of Dave Chappelle, "It's a celebration BITCHES!!" (Pat Riley = Instant TV Classic)

A shot at the future: NBA Mock Draft

This years draft is full of players with great nicknames...We have the JJ, the TT, the Bargs and the Ammo but there is no sign of any of the above being the next Lebron or Shaq. With the top 10 as they are right now there isn't even one guy who stands out with enough of that "upside" factor that makes him the consensus #1 pick in this years draft. I have enlisted a fellow basketball junkie Lincoln to help me out with a mock draft of the top 10 picks which further will show how much of a crapshoot this draft. Draft day is exactly two weeks away as I write this (Lincoln gave his picks a while ago...) and I hope to have us both back on June 28th live blogging with an analysis on each pick as we hear Stephen A Smith go on his rants from Madison Square Garden. So without further adieu here goes....

#1: Toronto Raptors - LaMarcus Aldridge (Natasha)
The Raptors have had some good luck drafting Dallas products and I think if the Raptors utilize this draft pick they are going to go with Aldridge. He is passionate, he solid fundamentals, will be a solid pick and make the Raptors frontline a nightmare for opposing teams to defend. LaMarcus already has a good back to the basket game and can play the finesse game that seems to be more in demand for NBA centers now. All this said I of the thinking that the Raptors are going to trade down so they can acquire a veteran to go along with a top 10 draft pick.
#1: Toronto Raptors - Andrea Bargnani (Lincoln)
All signs coming out of Colangelo's camp is that he's going Euro with this pick. He's scouted Bargnani extensively for years, has numerous connections and is being fairly public about this preference. This is just the sort of unorthodox pick that I can see BC making.

#2: Chicago Bulls - Andrea Bargnani (Natasha)
To be honest I think Tyrus is too much like Tyson Chandler but the bulls need another rebounder and if the Raptors go with Aldridge then the Bulls are going to grab Bargs. The need a scoring big man more than the Raptors do and even though there have been rumors that they will go with Brandon Roy I don't see Chicago going for a guard in this years draft.
#2: Chicago Bulls - LaMarcus Aldridge (Lincoln)
Makes too much sense not to happen. There's been talk of them preferring Tyrus, but they need the low-post scoring and a power forward, Aldridge is the best fit for that. They'd be hoping he's Bosh version 2.0.

#3: Charlotte Bobcats - Rudy Gay (Natasha)
Wow this guy who was almost everyone's #1 pick at the start of the year is barely hanging in the top 5. I think the Bobcats will end up taking Rudy Gay because he is a scorer who can play defense. Felton is going to be solid and a healthy Oakafor will be good but Rudy Gay would be the perfect pick for them at SF and with a good amount of salary cap space they can rely on his "upside" factor and give him time to develop while still investing in one or two vets.
#3: Charlotte Bobcats - Rudy Gay (Lincoln)
Call this a hunch. Rudy Gay is due for a resurgence. Now that the big tournament has left its mark, it's time for workout sessions. He should crush those. Bickerstaff has all but shot down the Morrison rumors (while defending Gay), and who can blame him. Who would you rather have, a one dimensional hustle player who's going to have to squeeze blood from a stone just to get a shot off at the NBA level, or a two-way player who's undeniably far more talented and whose biggest knock has been that he might not reach his maximum on-court assertiveness? Asking if you'd rather have 100% of Morrison or 65% of Rudy Gay's potential is like asking if you'd you rather have 100% of $100 or 65% of $1000.

#4: Portland Trailblazers - Adam Morrison (Natasha)
Portland needs something to give them a boost and Adam Morrison might just be the answer. He is a scorer and he has a passion for the game rarely seen in many over-paid NBA players. His breakdown in the tourney wasn't really the best idea but Portland needs someone to come there and bring something real back to this team. If they want to shed the Jailblazers image they need to ship out the Darius Miles and Zach Randolphs and bring in some passion and skill that Adam Morrsion displayed all year in the NCAA.
#4: Portland Trailblazers - Adam Morrison (Lincoln)
Scoring + college hype + model citizen = Blazers pick? Really who knows what's going on in Portland, but if anyone in the top 5 was going to pick Morrison this is the one team where it might actually make some sense. Rumor has it the team is up for sale. If they dump salary this off-season they may want to add a name in Morrison to sell a few tickets. I guess Morrison has appeal.

#5: Atlanta Hawks - Brandon Roy (Natasha)
Roy is probably the most complete and ready player in this years draft. He is a combo guard who can do a lot of things well. Atlanta right now needs every position that is not a Small Forward and even though Lincoln sees them picking Tyrus Thomas, I see Tyrus eventually being more of a SF Gerald Wallace style. Brandon Roy will give them a scorer who can play the point and will be able to contribute immediately. (I am hoping the Raptors grab this guy though)
#5: Atlanta Hawks - Tyrus Thomas (Lincoln)
Height jokes aside, they could use someone with some defensive potential for the front court. Besides, with no point guards worth taking this high, picking up the best asset they can makes sense.

#6: Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyrus Thomas (Natasha)
Kevin Garnett's contract is straight up ugly! Minnesota has almost half their salary cap tied up with his contract and have not had too much success with the draft and/or lack of draft picks in the recent years but I think they are going to have to starting building a team around him through the draft or if they can trade him then they will manage to put together a decent team. I am still not sold on Tyrus Thomas but he has shown enough of the "upside" to know he can be a force. If Minnesota cant move up in the Draft I am sure they will be happy to take him unless Rob Babcock steps in then we might see them draft J.J Redick!!
#6: Minnesota Timberwolves - Brandon Roy (Lincoln)
Minnesota wants to keep trying to put a team around Garnett. I'm sure they'd love to trade the pick for some immediate veteran help, but assuming the right opportunity doesn't present itself, Roy seems ready to contribute right away on an NBA level plus he gives something in the back court.

#7: Boston Celtics - Marcus Williams (Natasha)
The celtics might not have Paul Pierce as the face of the franchise at the start of next season but they do need to look to get a pure point guard and at this spot I think Marcus Williams is the best option. Sure he has the whole "stealing the laptop" thing going against him and some said he was out of shape but he has great court vision and during this years tournament was by far the best point guard. He might need some developing but I think he would be a good fit for this young Celtics team.
#7: Boston Celtics - Rajon Rondo (Lincoln)
Everyone's had this guy's stock in freefall for much of the season for no reason it seems other than the fact he was ill-suited for Kentucky's style of play. Sobriety time. Boston loved their workout with him, and they could use a pure point. Two bold predictions at this time for Rondo: 1) he's going ahead of Marcus Williams because he is actually the best point guard prospect in the draft (though it does depend what style you want your team to play); 2) he's going lottery and probably top 10.

#8: Houston Rockets - Randy Foye (Natasha)
Going into last season we all thought the Rockets were going to be great and it all came crashing. T-Mac had a rough year and the team was riddled with injuries. Luther Head was a pleasant surprise but the Rockets need some help in the back court and I think Randy Foye can be a combo guard and will be able to fill the role of a SG/PG. Its really not known how T-Mac will be next season but Foye was solid in his time at college and will be able to contribute right away like Luther Head did this past season.
#8: Houston Rockets - Shelden Williams (Lincoln)
Size (well he's not all that tall, but he plays up front... You get my meaning) tends to start to win out in a lot of GM's minds this time of year, especially when there's a lot of parity otherwise. Assuming he doesn't just totally suck, Houston could put Shelden to some potential use up front (especially given that the Swift experiment didn't work out).

#9: Golden State Warriors - Patrick O'Bryant (Natasha)
The big man with upside factor starts creeping in the top 10 at this point. O'Bryant had an amazing tournament and he might be a project and he admits it himself but Golden State could use a solid big body and they would be stupid to pass him up. Shelden is available but I don't see him being as strong as O'Bryant in the NBA.
#9: Golden State Warriors - Rodney Carney (Lincoln)
Why not? Golden State doesn't really need more junk and spare parts at any position since they have plenty already, but Mike Dunleavy really sucks so they might as well take a run at trying to do better while figuring out what to do with the rest of the junk and spare parts.

#10: Seattle Supersonics - Shelden Williams (Natasha)
I really believe Shelden Williams is the next coming of Antonio Davis (Davis of 5 years ago albeit). His physique, his aggressiveness, he was solid in college and will be productive for a long time in the NBA and the Sonics will be happy to take him here. He isn't quite tall enough compared to most of the C's in the league but he has a NBA body and he seems to show a great grasp of the game in terms of position on the floor to grab rebounds and has a consistent offensive game in the paint. It might help him to increase his shooting range but he is a solid pick for the Sonics at #10.
#10: Seattle Supersonics - Patrick O'Bryant (Lincoln)
Again size. Since he's the only centre anyone cares about in this draft (and even then, barely), I figure that should keep pushing his stock up and up until it creeps into the top 10. It's a vicious cycle. Basically a centre is projected to go, let's say, 20-25. But there's no one projected ahead of him who plays his position. So a couple teams with the 17th pick and the 16th pick start saying "Meh". It's not that much of a reach, and we need a centre. Suddenly his draft range is 16-20. But there's still no one ahead of him and so some teams with the 15th and 14th picks start thinking "We need a centre..." and so on. This continues until some idiot just says "Screw it! I'm taking him top 10". Hey did I mention Babcock is back in the Minny front office?

"Bahama Mama"... Making some predictions

Its been a whirlwind couple of weeks and my blogging has gone from non-existent to all over the place. 2 weeks ago I took off to Boston and the Bahamas for some fun in the sun and much needed R&R. Let me tell you Paradise Island lives up to its name and I was fortunate enough to get beautiful weather for the entire length of my stay at Atlantis. A picture is worth a thousand words and instead of praising to no end the beauty of this resort I figure the above picture would give you an idea. A bit pricey but soo worth it, Atlantis lived up to its namesake and provided photo op's every moment as you walk through the resort. My favourite is the slide where you suddenly find yourself enclosed in a glass tube which is suspended inside a shark tank. Ill get some pic's on flikr up sometime soon. In the meantime let's get to what I began this post for some predictions for the NBA Championship and the Stanley Cup ( a little late but I'm going with it)

According to Shaq the role he plays will soon be obsolete and Dirk will be the model of an NBA center. This matchup its one of the best we have seen in a while and is keeping with the theme of being one of the most exciting playoffs for the league in over a decade. There is really no one on the Heat roster that can defend Dirk, but fortunately for the Heat they can try to shut down the rest of the team. Avery Johnson has proven throughout the playoffs why he was named the coach of the year in the NBA as he has played each series perfectly. He has prepared his team well and with his coaching strategies outcoached the opposing coaches putting his team in the perfect position to win. Yet, if there is one guy who can give him a run for his money its Coach Pat Riley who is seen prancing the sidelines on the other end with his always in place hair and lots of experience to boot. I thought about this one for a while as I like both teams but they represent the changing of the guard in the NBA. The heat with the Shaq- Wade combo personifies how a team was built to win in the past but the Mavericks are the future with a high powered uptempo offense and a modern approach to defense. For now though... Shaq is playing like he is in his prime and the 1-2 punch of Superman and the Flash should prevail.
My Prediction: Miami Heat in 6

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals garnered less interest from viewers south of the border than some women's NCAA softball game. True its a little hard to find what channel the game is on (OLN) and for the most part half the country probably doesn't even know what OLN is!! Its a shame that no major station picked up the finals because its been a great couple of games. I know its a little late to make a prediction (but since this is my blog I will do as I please) for the Stanley Cup as 2 games are in the books. The Carolina Hurricanes are looking strong and the Edmonton Oilers lost their starting goaltender in game 1. The Oilers have kept the Cinderella story alive this season and coming from 8th spot in the Western conference to the Stanley Cup Finals is a big deal in itself but I do believe they will go down fighting and the goaltender situation made their task a lot harder. I don't see this series going too deep and hopefully next year the NHL will have a better television deal in place in the US so more people can enjoy the product on ice with everything that's changed. The new NHL is here to stay.
My Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes in 5

The "IF" Factor : Breaking down round 2 of the NBA Playoffs

LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM?

Well that was totally anti-climactic... Kobe Bryant was MIA for game 7 against Phoenix and being the Kobe hater that I am I was thrilled. He came out to play but when he realized his team was not going to be able to pull it off he went AWOL. My theory ... Once the Lakers were down 15 he started passing the ball to the rest of his team, who for the most part don't belong in the NBA and when they lose he can say he got them the shots they didn't make them... blah blah team player blah blah... Youth in the playoffs... But really the Lakers were down on the Raptors by 20 points the day Kobe decided to go nuts on us all and drop 81 points. You tellin me he couldn't even try to win this game on his own somethin he is done all season long?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Round 2 is underway and I am a little late for a preview (blame the good weather) so I decided to go with the humor approach to break down the series. Every game has some players that are tagged the "X" - Factor so here is my version with my "IF" factor for each team to get to the next round.

(#2) Miami Heat v/s (#3) New Jersey Nets


IF Shaq can arrest Vince for faking an injury
IF Dwayne Wade can stop wearing those pantyhose
IF Jason Williams can go back to being "White Chocolate"
IF Antoine Walker figures out a way to become useful on the court
IF Alonzo Mourning thanks Vince for asking for a trade which in turn got Zo to Miami
IF Gary Payton can stop trash talking and actually start playing ball
IF the Miami Heat never again don the Floridians uniform


... Then the Miami Heat will win this series.


IF Vince Carter doesn't have a graduation to attend...
IF Richard Jefferson can bribe Jason Kidd to pass him the ball from time to time
IF Jason Kidd can keep his manchild of a kid away from the press conferences
IF Nenad Kristic pulls a "Raja Bell" on Shaq
IF Uncle Cliffy would reveal what age defying pills he has been taking
IF John Thomas can enjoy his 15 minutes of fame
IF Lawrence Frank can grow some facial hair


... Then the New Jersey Nets will win this series.

My Prediction: Miami in 6
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(#1) Detroit Pistons v/s (#4) Cleveland Cavaliers

IF Rasheed Wallace can find a way to hide that hideous patch on the top of his head
IF Chauncy Billups shows Larry Hughes how to make a shot in a playoff game
IF Ben Wallace releases the FRO
IF Tayshaun Prince shows Lebron what playing against a real defender is
IF Richard Hamilton admits he uses the mask to hide his ugliness
IF the Pistons fans keep their beer cups away from the players on the court.


... Then the Pistons will win this series.


IF Lebron James can stop making love to Damon Jones long enough to win a game
IF Damon Jones can forget about his 14 seconds of fame and actually contribute
IF Big Z can find a way to make a shot over Big Ben who is 6" shorter than him
IF Donyell Marshall can find his 3 point shot
IF Anderson Varejao gets cast in the role for "Sideshow Bob" in the live action movie
IF the Pistons simultaneously combust
IF the NBA pays off the refs 'cuz they want to see Lebron set new records


... Then the Cavaliers will win this series

My Prediction: Pistons in 5

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(#2) Phoenix Suns v/s (#6) Los Angeles Clippers


IF Steve Nash defects from the NBA to the MLS
IF Sean Marion takes the Red pill and gets transported to Zion
IF Boris Diaw can get his middle name on his jersey 'cuz it sounds cool (Riffod)
IF Leandro Barbosa can decide on a nickname...
IF Raja Bell can get his mom to do some more trash talking
IF Tim Thomas keeps getting paid for showing up only for the playoffs


... Then the Phoenix Suns will win this series


IF Elton Brand starts sounding like an adult male
IF Sam Cassell gets cast for the role of E.T in the remake of the movie...
IF Chris Kaman finds his way to the barbershop
IF Shaun Livingston spends less time designing his corn rows
IF the Phoenix Suns try to play defence
IF Billy Crystal swaps season tickets with Jack Nicholson (Jack is soooo much cooler)

... Then the Clippers will win this series

My Prediction: Suns in 6
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(#1) San Antonio Spurs v/s (#4) Dallas Mavericks


IF Tim Duncan grows a personality and shows some emotion
IF Manu Ginobili admits Balki from "Perfect Strangers" is his twin
IF Tony Parker stops drooling at his woman and concentrates on his extreme layups
IF Robert Horry can make about 100 more clutch 3's
IF Bruce Bowen admits to playing "dirty" defense
IF Eva Longoria flashes the Dallas Mavericks team


... Then the Spurs will win this series


IF Dirk Nowitzki can lay off the Booze
IF Jerry Stackhouse can make more 3's than Robert Horry
IF Devon Harris breaks Tony Parker's record for fastest end to end layup
IF Avery Johnson throws a fit at a post game press conference
IF Desagana Diop can stay out of foul trouble
IF Mark Cuban claims to "own" Greg Popovich


... Then the Mavericks will win this series

My Prediction: Dallas Mavericks in 7

Best in the West: NBA Playoffs - Round 1 Analysis

#1 San Antonio Spurs v/s #8 Sacramento Kings (Series 2-2)
"Mike Bibby will not be able to keep up with Tony Parker." This was just one of the knocks put on this Sacramento Kings team who are on a mission to knock out the reigning NBA champions. The beautiful part about the NBA is that its not about one game, its a series where a team can make adjustments, they can play the matchup game and they can on any given night throw a blow to a team that might have looked poised and ready to bulldoze over them the previous night. The 05-06 Spurs are deeper and more experienced than the team that won the championship the previous season. With the additions of Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, this group has a vastly improved Tony Parker leading their offence but injuries have plagued this team all season long. Tim Duncan has been dealing with plantar fascitis and Manu Ginobli has been in and out of the lineup with back problems. Everywhere I was reading that the Kings didn't have much of a chance against the Spurs but right from the get go we were treated to some vintage Ron Artest and as a repercussion to an elbow thrown out at Manu, Ron Artest was suspended by the league for game 2. Mike Bibby and Brad miller who are a big part of the Kings offence struggled through the first two games but if it wasn't for a Brent Barry buzzer beater this series would be 3-1 right now in favour of the Kings. They have had great support from their off-season acquisitions of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells and Ron Artest has managed to pretty much eliminate Manu from the game with his smothering defense. A pleasant surprise for the Kings has to be the play of second year player Kevin Martin who turned out to be the hero in game 3 as he hit the game winning shot at the buzzer. For a kid who was left of the active roster in the previous years playoffs he has shown a lot of confidence and stepped in when Artest was suspended and given the Kings a boost on both ends of the floor. As for the Spurs, they are not a team that is just going to concede anything but in order for them to get to the Finals they are going to need production from the likes of Ginobli, Finley and Horry and a little healthier Tim Duncan will really help their cause.

#2 Phoenix Suns v/s #7 Los Angeles Lakers (Series 3-1 Lakers)
Mr. I dropped 81 points on the Raptors going against the MVP Steve Nash. I got to admit I am a Kobe hater but this series is just to exciting not to watch. TV remotes have been thrown, foul language has been used at my TV and several creative names have been put on my MSN to express my displeasure over the Lakers. The Phoenix Suns led by Steve Nash were not even expected to make the playoffs this year. Amare Stodamire sidelined for the season after knee surgery, Joe Johnson was traded away for Boris Diaw and a draft pick, Quentin Richardson headed for the Big Apple to play for the Knicks but Raja Bell and James Jones were added and this new look team finished atop their division and looked as deadly as ever ready to make a run to the Finals this year. Kobe Bryant has been a man on a mission in his own right as he averaged over 35 points a game this season and after missing the playoffs last year he was determined to get his team there this year. He took his team on his back and willed them into the 7th spot in the west. With a mix of youth and experience the Lakers starting 5 for the playoffs would have people wondering how this team made it there in the tough west but its been the players surrounding Kobe Bryant that have put the Lakers in a position to eliminate the Phoenix Suns. Kwame Brown has matured tremendously over the course of the season and has made his presence felt in this series in the paint as he is defended by a much smaller Phoenix Suns lineup who use Boris Diaw at Center and the same goes for Lamar Odom who has had a solid playoff series. The Suns sported the highest scoring average in he NBA over the season but have had trouble making shots in this series and a big problem is the lack of production on the part of Shaun Marion. The Lakers have solved them in a way and have greatly slowed down the pace of the game more to their own liking rather than the run and gun Suns who put up on average 10 more shots their their opponents. Boris Diaw who is the leagues "Most Improved Player" struggled for the first few games but is slowly getting it together. Nash the leagues MVP possibly for a second straight year is doing his best but needs his teammates to start making shots in order for them to push this series to a game 7. I avoided talking about Kobe but you can't talk about the Lakers without mentioning him and he has changed his role quite a bit during this series. He has been a playmaker more than a scorer but it was his buzzer beater in game 4 that put a dagger through the hearts of the phoenix Suns players.

#3 Denver Nuggets v/s #6 Los Angeles Clippers (Series 4-1 Clippers)
In the words of Sir Charles Barkley... "This aint yo daddy's Clippers." Over 500 regular season games played, yet Elton Brand had never tasted the post season. This year was different with the addition of key players like Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley and the emergence of Chris Kaman the Clippers were poised to be a part of basketball in May. Carmello Anthony on the other hand has made it to the second season in the NBA in every year that he has been in the league (3) but each time his team was handed an early exit from the playoffs which has left him hungry. In a weaker division of the western conference the Nuggets secured their division but did not hold home court advantage even in the first round. Home court is not what came to bite them in the ass though, it was the lack of any kind of offensive production from anyone not named Carmello Anthony. Marcus Camby had an outstanding season but he is not a guy who contributes consistently on offence same goes for Reggie Evans who was a nice addition at the trade deadline but he never addressed the problem the Nuggets have had for 2 straight seasons. Earl Boykins is the only jump shooter on the team and he had a broken wrist at the end of the season but was not at 100% heading into the playoffs. The Clippers had the Nuggets figured out pretty quick and took away their fast breaks and lob passes which is what got Denver a lot of their wins as Andre Miller is one of the best passing point guards in the league. With the inability to spread the floor as the Nuggets have no 3 point threats, the Clippers had a solid gameplan just double team Melo and let the rest of the guys try to win the game and clearly they were unable to do that as the Clippers with the leadership of Sam Cassell and the talent of Elton Brand rolled over the Nuggets to make it to the next round potentially setting up and a Lakers v/s Clippers series with the clips having home court.

#4 Dallas Mavericks v/s #5 Memphis Grizzlies (Series 4-0 Dallas)
Note to Pau Gasol: I think the playoff beard thing only works in hockey. The Grizzlies have been swept every year that they have made the playoffs and right now this year was no different. The Grizzlies are known for the defence but seem to have gotten away from what got them into the playoffs and their lack of offence surely didn't help their situation. A healthy Damon Stodamire might have been a key here to provide some of that much needed offence but he has been sidelined for the 2nd half of the season after having surgery. From watching this series I kept getting the feeling like I was watching a team of really good role players playing against Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks. In the post season you need to have one or two guys really step up but the Grizzlies never got that on a consistent basis. I won't get into too much detail about this series as it was one and done but I do want to point out that the Mavs looked great in the first round and seemed to have figured out a way to play on both sides of the court. Their defense has been shored up and the elevated play of Josh Howard along with the shot blocking presence of Diop has set them up to go deep in the playoffs this year and I personally have them pegged as the team who will come out victorious in the west.

Random quotes and stats from the first round...
- Ron Artest was given a 1 game suspension following the incident where he threw an elbow at Manu Ginobli.
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim of the Sacramento Kings played in over 700 regular season games before getting a chance to play in the post-season. Only one other player in history has played more games without going to the playoffs.
- Just straight up funny: Steve Nash's new Trophy
- The LA Clippers won game 5 to eliminate the Denver Nuggets from the playoffs and move to the second round. For the first time in 30 years.
- Kenyon Martin was also suspended but not by the NBA. The team suspended him indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team after he refused to play in the 2nd half of the first game against the Clippers.
- On the eve of game 5 in the Lakers series new was released the Kwame Brown is being charged for sexual assault.
-"I've never seen that in all my years in basketball, that someone (would) do that before. I don't think it has anything to do with basketball at all. It's totally ridiculous for someone to do that in a game. I don't care one way or another what happens to him." - Chris Kaman after being groped by Reggie Evans. (Denver Post)
- Saquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant became fathers of baby daughters six minutes apart last week.

Last time I checked this is what we call a "CHARGE!!!"