Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mock Draft: NBA 2009

Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma. No real explanation needed, it's a position they don't need right now except for the youth and small contract. Expect to see Camby (signed through 10) and Kaman (through 12) traded as soon as possible. I can't believe they are going to let Griffin hang out with Zach Randolph, but they don't have much of a choice besides cutting him outright.

Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn. They have a set point guard, shooting guard and small forward, so they need a big. I think he's fraudulent, he played in a great defensive system at UConn and will need more of an offensive game if he hopes to any good in the NBA. Memphis will pair him with Marc Gasol and ask them not to screw up the offense.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona. The team needs either a big or a shooting guard so they could take James Harden here. I just don't know if they know what they are doing with Westbrook yet and Rubio doesn't want to be in OKC. This pick solidifies Jeff Green as a 6th man, which might be perfect for him.

Sacramento Kings - Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain. Remember Jason Williams? This kid is better and without the issues. Ricky was one of the main cogs on the Spain team that took the Redeem Team to the limit in '08. Pairing Rubio and Kevin Martin in the backcourt is nice, right. The future is now in Sacramento, although keeping John Salmons wouldn't have hurt.

Washington Wizards - James Harden, SG, ASU. If they are committed to Gilbert Arenas as a point this pick is perfect for the new Wizards. Although, if they trade Antwan Jamison they will need a big and this pick could change. Harden was an odd player at ASU who could go games without enforcing his will on the other team, but his talent was very evident and should be a good pro for a long time.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Johnny Flynn, PG, Syracuse. It's either Flynn or Tyreke Evans and I'm guessing they choose Flynn. This moves Randy Foye to Shooting Guard or the bench but it's worth it to get Flynn. They are set at Power Forward and Center for as long as they keep re-signing Kevin Love and Al Jefferson so there isn't much of choice of positions as it's players.

Golden State Warriors - Tyrke Evans, PG, Memphis. This forces a decision to be made on Monta Ellis. He either becomes a shooting guard or you trade him. Evans' size allows you to play him with Ellis but does Ellis want to a be a shooting guard? You could also just roll with Evans and Ellis in the backcourt with neither being assigned a position. This seems to be how Don Nelson would like to roll anyway.

New York Knicks - Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson. He seems like the perfect point guard for Mike D'Antoni. He's a shooter or a passer, he can drive for a lay-up or an assist. He is basically Steve Nash 2.0.

Toronto Raptors - Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke. A team that will be rebuilding by 2010 if not earlier. Jose Calderon is set at the point but Chris Bosh and Shawn Marion could be traded by mid-season. Dejuan Blair could go here but I think that's a little early for the undersized (read short) power forward.

Milwaukee Bucks - Jeff Teague, G, Wake Forest. The best available player for a team that needs immediate help everywhere. They are good enough at every position but could be better everywhere as well. It's a very weird team.

New Jersey Nets - Demar Derozan, SG, USC. P.O.T.E.N.T.I.A.L. Pairing him with Devin Harris in the backcourt could make the Nets respectable in a hurry. He has to become a better outside shooter but the Nets aren't in a rush.

Charlotte Bobccats - Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona. The athleticism you get when you pair Chase with Gerald Wallace is ridiculous. They need a shooting guard and a power forward so it's either Budinger or Dejuan Blair.

Indiana Pacers - Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC. A position of need along with power forward, so it's either Ellington or Blair. Unless a trade is made Ellington is a starter from day one and all he's done is win.

Phoenix Suns - Dejuan Blair, PF, Pitt. Either he moves Amare to center of plays center himself. Which ever decision is made it helps Phoenix run and gun. He adds toughness to a team that needs it. Whichever small you plug into the system seems to work so adding a big that isn't too big is what should be done in the draft.

Detroit Pistons - Eric Maynor, PG, VCU. The Rodney Stuckey point guard experiment didn't work. It's either Maynor or Ty Lawson at this point and I hope they take Maynor. The Pistons are stuck with 4 players for 3 positions if they make this pick so look for a trade before the season, possibly Chris Bosh.

Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State. When you don't know what to do, draft big. They need to replace Ben Gordon, he's not coming back, but there aren't any good 2's left. If they do a sign and trade they should get a shooting guard in return.

Philadelphia 76ers - Brandon Jennings, PG, USA. He went to Europe instead of to college which could have turned out worse, I guess. He might not have got paid ever, instead of wasn't sure when he would get paid. They need an Andre Miller replacement and this kid is awesome, he shouldn't slip this far but if he does the 6ers will jump all over it.

Minnesota Timberwolves - James Johnson, SF, Wake Forest.

Atlanta Hawks - Ty Lawson, PG, UNC. Acie "Law" Earl IV, isn't exactly working out. Either Ty or Earl Clark.

Utah Jazz - Earl Clark, SF, Louisville. They need a 2 or a 3 so a 6'10" small forward helps.

New Orleans Hornets - Tyler Hansborough, PF, UNC. You know what you're getting with Tyler and it's a hard worker with actual game and he's NBA tall. Good at ping-pong too.

Dallas Mavericks - Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA. Jason Kidd ain't lasting forever.

Sacramento Kings - Terrence Williams, SF, Louisville. This gives them an actual roster of starters. Crazy.

Portland Trailblazers - Trade. They package a player or two and add a veteran. Yes, I cheated.

OKC - Darren Collison, PG, UCLA. Back together and it feels so good. Re-united with Russel Westbrook who it turns out is better then Darren.

Chicago Bulls - Damion James, PF, Texas. Why not.

Memphis Grizzlies - Taj Gibson, SF, USC. Is Rudy Gay good? Is Taj Gibson a starter? We'll find out.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Omir Casspi, PF, Israel. Why not?

L.A. Lakers - Goran Suton, C, Michigan State. GUESSING!!!!!???

Cleveland Cavs - Dajuan Summers, SF, Georgetown. Everyone not named Lebron sucks on this team. Except for Mo Williams.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

NBA Finals Prediction

Break it down via position. Prediction at the end or on twitter 10 minutes ago.

Point Guard- Derek Fisher versus Rafer Alston. Fish is to old for this game and it started showing against the Rockets in round two. Aaron Brooks ran circles around him and I think "Skip To My Lou" may do the same thing in this series. I hear good things about Fish in the locker room but I heard the same things about Lindsey Hunter and he hasn't started for anyone this century. Adavantage Orlando.

Shooting Guard- Kobe Bryant versus Courtney Lee. Do I even need to break this down? Courtney is hoping to slow Kobe down that's it. Advantage Lakers.

Small Forward- Trevor Ariza versus Rashard Lewis. Ariza was traded to LA from Orlando for nothing and that was a mistake. Rashard Lewis let Orlando bid against themselves to pay him a max contract, this has turned out to be worth it because they are in the finals. Rashard is the better player but sometimes tries to do to much. Ariza is not allowed to try to do to much because Kobe would stab him. Ariza knocks down threes and plays good defense. He's also an athletic freak. Rashard can play inside or out but is usually waiting for an open three when his man doubles Dwight. Rashard is also an athletic freak. Advantage Orlando.

Power Forward- Pau Gasol versus Hedo Turkoglu. This is the best match-up of the starters but they are very different player. Pau plays at the elbow or lower and is looking to pass first I unless Kobe tells him to get points. Hero plays point forward at times, loves to hit a step back three as a clock expires. I think Hedo can guard Pau better then Pau can guard Hedo and Hedo will see Ariza try to guard him as well. Advantage Lakers, barely.

Center- Andrew Bynum versus Dwight Howard. Not close, Kobe is still mad Bynum wasn't traded for Jason Kidd last year (he seems obsessed with old ass point guards that won't take his shots... Oh I get it). Bynum has gotten hurt the last two years and has not gotten better as quickly as LA would like, especially since they gave him a huge contract for no reason. Dwight Howard is the most athletic superstar not named Lebron James, this is good and bad. He hasn't developed a post up game but can out rebound anyone on either end. Bynum is going to get embarassed by Howard's athleticism. Advantage Orlando.

Benches- Shannon Brown, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic versus Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat and Tony Battie. Lamar Odom should be starting over Bynum because the match-ups are better and he is a better player. Shannon Brown is one of the toughest Lakers and was only brought in so the Lakers could dump Radmanovics contract on Charlotte. Have the Bobcats met a terrible contract that they haven't liked? Jameer Nelson has been out since February and anything he gives Orlando is a bonus, Pietrus needs to play defense and hit threes. Advantage LA but it's closer then it looks.

Coaching- Phil Jackson versus Stan Van. Phil Jackson has 9 rings. Pat Riley took over the Heat because he didn't trust Stan to win the championship that the refs eventually gave to Dwyane Wade. Advantage LA.

I don't think the match-ups are good for LA but the coaching is big because Stan Van hates making adjustments. Luckily for him I think the adjustments will have to be made by LA in this series. And I just saw that Orlando is putting Lewis on Gasol which seems stupid to me.

I'm picking Orlando in 5 games and Kobe doesn't win another championship as the top guy on a squad.

Wrote this on my Iphone, sorry it looks bad.