NBA Einstein

    I still remember the first time I saw Brandon Jennings.  He was being interviewed before the McDonald's All-American contest. His charisma and energy was oozing through the television screen. To top it all off (literally), was his high top fade that keep giving me flashbacks of "House Party".  What I appreciated most about the kid was that he was a team player. Jennings wasn't going after the MVP award, nor the most points ever scored, or even the most defensive gambles either (steals). So then what did he want?

    "I wanted to set the assist record," Jennings said.

    Although he didn't get the record of 14 ("only" managed 9) he played very admirably scoring 12 points and setting up a beautiful off-the-backboard pass to Jrue Holiday.

    As Coach Moreau would say, "Jennings wasn't just pass-first; he was pass-first, -second and -third."

    Yet don't mistake the 12 points as evidence that Jennings only tries to pass because he can't score. Counter evidence to that can be cited from his record 63 points while attending Oak Hill Academy. It is just that Jennings WANTS to pass that ball, he wants to assist, and he wants to help out whenever he can.

    Born in Los Angeles and going to school in Compton, Jennings had it tough to say the least. That's why whenever he has a chance to help others, he capitalizes on the opportunity because he appreciates good deeds and does them whenever he can. Take last year when he was in Europe and L'Aquila had an earthquake. He donated $50,000 out of the goodness of his heart because coming from LA he knew earthquakes were devastating.

    Now the 10th pick of the 2009 draft is taking that mentality of helping and assisting to the Milwaukee Bucks.

    "I'm going to give you the ball, that's what I do, I like to pass. So as long as they are running and getting out I am going to feed them. Just play basketball."

    Yet Jennings knows he isn't going to be Chris Paul overnight, he isn't perfect and understands that.

    "[The Bucks] know I am going to make mistakes. They just want to see how I run a team and just play with confidence."

    Confidence is never lacking with Jennings, and although that may be a bad thing to some, I would feel much more comfortable knowing my point guard has a bit more poise than have a scared lead guard. Especially when the opposing guard is known to be good, as the case was during the draft when Jennings said a few comments about Ricky Rubio.

    "Yeah, I think I'm a better player than he is," Jennings told reporters. "The only thing I've seen him do sometimes is when he has a home run pass or something like that. I think the dude is just all hype.
I can't even front."

    That's what you can always expect from Brandon Jennings. The truth from a true baller, he knows he is good so his goal is to make others around him better. And that's what his team expects from him to.

    "I think he's going to come in and impact us," Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson said.

    That's Brandon Jennings for the folks who didn't know him. Yes sometimes he may bring the ugly as seen in his conversation with Rapper Joe Budden, but he isn't going to sugarcoat anything for anyone.

    "I'm just going to be real with you guys."

    Whether it's being real generous to tragedy stricken cities, whether its being real honest about his competition, or whether it's being real real back in the day with his eraser head doo, don't expect anything else from the 20 year old Brandon Jennings.

 

 

           When NBA experts throw out the word "potential", you hear about the usual names. Roy's Trailblazers, Durant's Thunder, and Rose's Bulls. Heck people think of Kevin Martin's Kings (wait scratch that) and even the Grizzles even though they just added Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson. The team that always seems to get lost in the shuffle is the New Jersey Nets. But what's not to love about them??

           First off, when discussing the Nets, understand that they are a team of the future. Hence the reason why most analysts have them finishing last in their division this year. All their actions are for the future and it is a plus if there future plans help them in the present. And it's great that they are a team of tomorrow because all their pieces are starting to come together.

        One reason the Nets outlook seems so positive is because of their plentiful cap space. They have done a terrific job of trading large contracts for expiring ones as well as young talent. (VC for Lee) And as we all know it would be very difficult to have a positive future if your money is always tied up to an under achieving squad (see: New York Knicks). Just look at next season, they only have three players on the books (that aren't under rookie contracts) and those players are: Star player Devin Harris, the nitty -gritty and mentoring Najera, and finally the calm and reliable Dooling. Not a bad group to show the young guns the ropes huh? And the best part is the team will only have 30 million committed to the summer of LeBron. By that time, Russian billionaire (that's a one with NINE zeros after it) Mikhail Prokhorov will be the New Jersey Nets majority owner. Devin Harris explained it best when he said, "(Prokhorov) has deep pockets." The Nets can use the cash to lure a superstar next summer whether it is LeBron or a superstar power forward like Amare or Boozer.

                  If New Jersey doesn't want to get a power forward in free agency, then that's not a problem because of the draft. The Nets will most likely finish the season with a mediocre record, and in draft language that translates into a high draft pick. Next years draft features as many as fifteen potential first round power forwards, including North Carolina's Ed Davis, international phenom Donatas Motiejunas, and Georgetown's Greg Monroe. They can also add more depth and talent in next years draft because they have two first round draft picks (thank you Jason Kidd).

            The possible draft picks and free agents that the Nets can get are always fun to dream about, but they also have a solid core of six right now.

           Devin Harris has matured as the leader of the squad after Vince was traded and has proven that he is ready for the roll after averaging career highs in points (21.3), assists (6.9) and steals (1.6) last year.

        Brook Lopez finished 3rd place in rookie voting last year and is already considered as one of the best centers in the league. Lopez grabbed 10.6% of the offensive rebounds he was on the floor for last year, and that's good enough for ninth in the league. Those offensive rebounds lead to more offensive possessions which are great for Lopez. Why? Because head coach Frank Lawrence has stated that that he will get more touches, "Brook is going to be a very good 'hub' for us."

         Courtney Lee is a rising star for the Nets after being traded for VC. He is a terrific three point shooter (40.4% last year) and an even better defensive player. He played the Magic's stopper last year guarding the leagues best players as a rookie. What was his final trick that rookie season? Taking on the Black Mamba in the NBA finals. And Lee is not bitter after going from such a talented team to the Nets. He doesn't even want to magically fill the void left by VC, he just wants to do what he can for the team, asserting, "I'm looking forward to getting up to New Jersey and trying to help that team as much as possible."

             And has everyone forgotten about the second round steal from Memphis last year? Chris Douglas Roberts has a year of pro ball under his belt now and is capable of becoming that deadly second unit scorer ala JR Smith or Flip Murray.

          Even the Nets 2009 draft pick Terrence Williams is already considered a cornerstone for the team. He has the ball-handling ability to play some point-forward when Harris is on the bench. Williams is not only a touted defensive player, but a proud defensive player, exclaiming, "I get a joy out of stopping somebody."

            Lastly comes the huge question mark of Yi Jianlian. He has been a disappointment through this point of his career, but has shown brief flashes of light giving glimpses of what may be. He has bulked up considerably (and I mean considerably) this summer in order to bang down low with the big boys of the East. And let's not forget he is only 22 years old and has plenty of time to grow.

            One of the few remaining questions left for the Nets is what to do with so much duplication at the small forward position. Is there a trade coming up this season, because Terrance Williams is going to need his playing me, but it is a little difficult with Hassell, Najera, and Hayes right there. Even star Devin Harris poses some difficulty. He only appeared in 69 games last year, but luckily there's Rafer Alston that can easily step in and run the team till Harris returns.

            The next problem returns again to the power forward positions, a spot that the Nets are amazingly weak at. Unless Yi produces in a big way this upcoming season then they better start shopping for a new four. As stated earlier, Boozer would look very good in a Nets jersey, and Amare would tear it up in Jersey with the line-up around him. Again there's always the option of the draft, and the free agent class of 2010 will only come once so they better capitalize at the opportunity of having at most 30 million dollars of cap space next year. All in all, the New Jersey Nets have a very promising future, they have valuable pieces in place now as well as many avenues to improve themselves with, thus providing strong evidence to support the claim that whenever you hear the word potential, the Nets better be near the top of the list of the names you think of.

Every successful team had one. All potential-filled teams are creating one. They're the reason franchises are temporarily promoted to champions. That reason is the angle of choice, the algorithm, the blueprint, and the battle plan. No champion in the history of the league would have donned that envied name had it not been for strategy.

We all here the clichés whether it's San Antonio's approach that the NBA season is not a sprint, rather it is a marathon, or Boston's now famous strategy and motto ubuntu.

But is there one game plan that is superior to all others?

If you are a big fan of the NBA then, without a doubt, the most common over-used phrase is: Defense wins Championships.

Just look at the two teams I listed above. Combined they have five championships in the past eleven years thanks to one simple strategy of (say it with me) defense.

Now its time to throw a wrench in the seemingly perfect strategy of (once more) defense.

This past post-season has showed us numerous occasions of where offense triumphed. The Spurs defense couldn't contain the Mavericks in round one, the gritty Denver team couldn't stop the scoring outbursts of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in the WCF, and in fact Cleveland the leagues best team (record-wise) was no match for the Magic's offensive explosion in the Eastern Conference Finals capped off by Dwight Howard's 40 points. The NBA's two best teams were offensively powered groups of the Kobe-Pau duo and the inside-outside combination of Orlando.

Even looking back at one of the highest scoring squads, the Suns, we can see where an offensive outline can take you. A year of having the best record in the league (2004) and second best record in 2006. In 2005 they went all the way to the Western Conference Finals losing to San Antonio in five games. As Tommy Beer can tell you, Amare was just a monster in the series (Question 4), and had it not been for a broken nose that Joe Johnson received, the outcome of the series might have been different. Johnson was averaging 19.0 points per game before that series then had to miss game one (Spurs win) while also not being fully healthy and being forced to wear a face mask. The following year the Suns rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to the Lakers (*tear*) before being ousted by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. If anyone can remember, this Suns team was radically different from the prior year because Joe Johnson was traded and Stoudemire missed the season due to micro fracture surgery. The next year the Suns made it to the semi-finals before losing to the Spurs ocne again. This series was very controversial because of the suspensions to Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire. In 2008 it was San Antonio yet again; with Tim Duncan making a game tying three pointer (What do you mean you've never seen it!) Each year was freak bad luck that held the Suns back from possibly winning the big prize. If these strange occurrences hadn't happened would their offense have taken them to a championship?

In addition, theoretically speaking, shouldn't good offense always beat good defense? I mean look at all of Kobe's "hand in my face" swishes. And let's not forget that no matter how good a defender is, the player with the ball in his hands (offensive) will always know when he will make an attack and he will always explode for the shot before the defensive player will. Finally, an NBA game is won by the team with the most points no matter what.

I am not saying that offense is better then defense because clearly history proves me wrong, but what I am saying is that offense should never be taken lightly. Especially with the NBA's new rules that promote offensive strategies and the change to a scoring philosophy we have seen from teams this year (VC to Magic, RJ to Spurs, and Hedo to the Raptors) Notice the defensive power house we know as the Spurs traded for more offensive bang by trading their super-star stopper Bruce Bowen. Teams this year are more offensively stronger then in years past, and maybe groups like Boston and Cleveland might not be able to contain all the scoring frenzies they will see from the Wizards or Magic.

The idea of a perfect strategy is far from a given. Defense will have a run for its money, particularly this season with the influx of offensive emphasis. Will a team that likes to score ever triumph the age old cliché of "Defense wins Championships"?

The Washington Wizards.

A team known more for their injuries off the court than their actual play on the hardwood floor, are coming off a disappointing 19-63 season worth repressing deep, deep in the fans subconscious. But there was light at the end of the tunnel that maybe, just maybe some lucky bounces would leave the Wizards with the number one pick (Hello Blake Griffin!) Yet evil magic appeared and poof, Washington ended up with pick number five. Rather then have some rookie that wouldn't be able to contribute for another few years, the Wizards went into "win now" mode and traded the pick for some depth in the form of Randy Foye (You know that guy traded for some young cat named Brandon Roy) and Mike Miller.

So for the optimistic D.C. fans I have some good news for you, the Washington Wizards are a team with Coach Conference-Finals Flip Saunders, All-Star Caron Butler, ever-reliable Antawn Jamison,  offensive-duo Foye and Miller, Javale Mcgee (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in his last Summer League game), healthy-duo Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, and ever improving Andray Blatche . Not a bad team, especially in the East (Where losing records make the Play-offs happens).

WAIT!

I think I'm forgetting someone. Some blogging spy. What's his name..?...OH that's right Gilbert Arenas! Now I know he isn't perfect with his gigantic contract, three surgeries in two years, and build a pool worth "more than your house" ways, but hear me out.

Arenas is one of the few players in this league of the worlds greatest athletes that can carry a team on his back. He was a second round draft pick out of the University of Arizona (Jordan Hill has a tough act to follow) that  picked the number zero because he fought for his minutes. He went through adversity entering college and then had even more to prove when he entered the NBA Gilbert Arenas LIVES for big games. Has everyone already forgotten how he did this, this, some how did this, and lets not forget THIS! Gilbert hung 54 against the Suns in a double-overtime thriller, exploded for another 60 against LA (not the Clippers) in LA, and averaged 28.4 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals just a few, short years ago. And yes I know all the information stated above is from the past, but the point I am trying to make is that Gilbert has handled the pressure before, he has been the Superstar his team needed, and most importantly he has delivered. Since he picked up a basketball he has gone threw hard times and has always been victorious.

Clearly Agent Zero has his work cut out for him with high expectations for his team entering next season, the Wizards have more offensive fire-power than the blitzkrieg attack. And yes we all know the old cliché "defense wins championships", but this Washington team just might be that group that has too much scoring for Boston or Cleveland to defend. Maybe that's too much to expect from a Arenas led team just coming off a season like they had, but for someone who has had a career of the hard knocks and a low shot to succeed, I would say he has a good chance of making something out of nothing.                                             

So we are now here on the final part of my four part article here to revisit the past's drafts and find out the best player at their draft number. I've compiled a selection of players, and based off what they have done on the grandest basketball stage in the world, I will chose the best player drafted at each of their respective positions (1-60^th) dating back all the way to the draft of 1995. Not only will I choose these players, but I will provide you with my reasoning of the selection.

We have finally reached the end, the lottery picks, and the very best the draft has to offer. I carefully graded each of these picks much more tightly then the others and I have but one favor to ask of my audience.

Do NOT skip ahead to the end; make it a surprise by going through each pick individually and building the suspense.

Enjoy the most value for picks 15-1 (I'm really going to miss you guys, I had a fun ride)

15. Steve Nash 6-3 PG Santa Clara 1996 Suns- Nash is the first of a few picks from the glorious 1996 draft. He is a 2-time back-to-back MVP, a 6-time ALL-NBAer, and has led the league in assists three times over the course of his career.

14 Predrag Stojakovic 6-10 SF PAOK (Greece) 1996 Kings- Was part of the great King's team in the early part of the decade and averaged a career high 24.2 in 2003-04. Peja also won the three pint shooting twice during All-Star weekend.

13. Kobe Bryant 6-6 SG Lower Merion HS 1996 Hornets- Really, who else would I put here? Richard Jefferson? Corey Maggette? Nah, I'm good with Kobe every day of the week and twice on Wednesday. Although maybe I should consider the others, because I heard "Kobe sucks".                                                                                                                           

12.  Thaddeus Young 6-7 SF GT 2007 Sixers- Usually this pick is filled with bad choices, so much so that I did an article about it some two years ago about how much bad luck number 12 brings. Maybe the curse has been broken with solid picks like Jason Thompson in '08 and Thad Young. This kid is great and jumped on the scene this year with his 15.3 ppg and 5 rpg. He even made a game-winner for Philly vs. the Magic in game 3 of the first round.

11. Andris Biedrins 6-11PF/C Latvia 2004 Warriors- This is the Over-Rated pick. Players are drafted off of hype and being a college star, but as we know that doesn't always translate to the pros. Players that made this the Over-Rated pick include: Jerryd Bayless (Still has time to show us he can at least back-up), J.J. Redick, Fran Vazquez, and Trajan Langdon. Andris, on the other hand, has improved each year and has a legit chance to become an All-Star next season now that Cav-a-Shaq is with LeBron.

10. Paul Pierce 6-7 SF Kansas 1998 Celtics- Over Jason Terry, Joe Johnson, and Caron Butler. Why? Because he has earned a ring, and nothing I say can do anything about it. Lately this pick has been less about guards and more about great young centers. (Brook Lopez and Andrew Bynum)

9. Dirk Nowitzki 7-0 PF K Wurzburg (Germany) 1998 Bucks- Arguably the greatest European player to ever step on the court, Dirk has done it all. Won MVP, 8-time All-Star, 9-time All-NBAer, 2006 NBA Three-Point Shootout Winner, and has made it to the NBA finals once. He without a doubt deserves to be the best number nine since 1995 over honorable mentions such as Tracy McGrady, Shawn Marion, and Andre Iguodala.

8. Andre Miller 6-2 PG Utah 1999 Cavaliers- As steady of a floor general as you can find, Andre has had the epitome of a solid career. He has averaged 15 and 7 his whole career and is no facing free agency as a 33 year old but has a very good chance of finding a great offer for his services. (I'm looking at you Portland)

7. Richard Hamilton 6-7 SG Connecticut 1999 Wizards- He is a competitor, every day every night. I once heard that on the off-season he tries to sprint a mile from start to finish just to get his conditioning up. He has put the work to get this spot

6. Brandon Roy 6-6 SG Washington 2006 Timberwolves- Don't care what anyone says, Roy is a future superstar and with the make-up of the Trailblazers he will surely get at least one ring. The fact that he was Rookie of the Year in 2006 also helps him get the edge over Shane Battier and Chris Kaman.

5. Kevin Garnett 6-11 PF Farragut Academy (Ill.) 1995 Timberwolves- Easy pick here, no offense to teammate Ray Allen and Orlando Magic's newest Player Vince Carter, KG's intensity is unmatched and his passion for the game is one of the hottest in the game. His MVP in 2004 and DPOY award put him over the top of all-everything player Dwayne Wade.  They both share rings, and Dwayne Wade had one of the greatest regular seasons I have ever seen, but Garnett has more credentials on his side.

4. Chris Paul 6-0 PG Wake Forest 2005 Hornets- Chris Paul, even at such a young age, is cementing his name as one of histories greatest at running the point. Isiah Thomas-like speed and Magic-esque vision there is no way anyone else is more deserving of this spot. He was a VERY close second to the MVP voting during the 2007-08 season and has lead the league in assists and steals two consecutive years. Honorable mention: Chris Bosh

3. Chauncey Billups 6-3 PG Colorado 1997 Celtics- He is a former finals MVP and champion. His leadership skills are unmatched in today's age and time. Billups has the same muscle as Deron Williams, aided Melo's maturation process, and is the unquestioned leader unlike Pau Gasol. Number three is for Chauncey, the disposable superstar

2. Kevin Durant 6-9 SF Texas 2007 Seattle-This pick is extremely disappointing, producing NO superstars since 1995 but KD. Unless you consider Marcus Camby, Mike Bibby, Steve Francis, Stormile Swift, Jay Williams, Tyson Chandler, Emeka Okafor, and one of histories most disappointing players Darko Milicic superstars. Good luck Thabeet. Kevin Durant is a future superstar and the leader of a very scary and young Oklahoma Thunder group.

There we have it the best of the best at their positions since 1995. Thanks for coming by!

 

 

 

JUST KIDDING! Here is the (drum roll please) NUMBER ONE!

Former Firsts: Joe Smith, Kenyon Martin, Andrew Bogut, Greg Oden, Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi, Andrea Bargnani

Candidates: Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Yao Ming, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose

Finalists: Tim Duncan, LeBron James

Losers: Elton Brand (Not enough star power), Yao Ming (Injured too often), Dwight Howard (Lack of post moves exposed in Finals), and Derrick Rose (Not proven enough)

1. Tim Duncan 6-10 PF Wake Forest 1999 Spurs- Its not that LeBron isn't too this or not good enough at that, its just that Duncan is the best at this spot no doubt. He is a 4-Championship, 3-finals MVPS, 2-time MVP, Rookie of the Year, 11-time All-star and 1-time All-Star game MVP. If there ever was a argument for the Jordan-Bird-Magic club, it's Duncan. No flaws in his game, fundamentals are top notch, he is the full package.

There we go the best the draft has to offer since 1995. This time, really thanks for stopping by.

Any disagreements? Any agreements? Well let me hear it! I won't know unless you comment so drop your opinion and let's discuss!

60	Alex Acker	45	Matt Bonner	30	David Lee	15	Steve Nash
59	DJ Strawberry	44	Trevor Ariza	29	Josh Howard	14	Predrag Stojakovic
58	Maceo Baston	43	Michael Redd	28	Tony Parker	13	Kobe Bryant
57	Emmanuel Ginobili	42	Bobby Simmons	27	Kendrick Perkins	12	Thaddeus Young
56	Luis Scola	41	Cuttino Mobley	26	Kevin Martin	11	Andris Biedrins
55	Mike Taylor	40	Gordan Giricek	25	Gerald Wallace	10	Paul Pierce
54	Shandon Anderson	39	Rafer Alston	24	Derek Fisher	9	Dirk Nowitzki
53	Rasual Butler	38	Mehmet Okur	23	Tayshaun Prince	8	Andre Miller
52	Fred Hoiberg	37	Eddie House	22	Courtney Lee	7	Richard Hamilton
51	Kyle Korver	36	Craig Smith	21	Michael Finley	6	Brandon Roy
50	Ryan Gomes	35	Carlos Boozer	20	Jameer Nelson	5	Kevin Garnett
49	James Jones	34	Mario Chalmers	19	Zach Randolph	4	Chris Paul
48	Marc Gasol	33	Brandon Bass	18	David West	3	Chauncey Billups
47	Paul Millsap	32	Rashard Lewis	17	Danny Granger	2	Kevin Durant
46	Matt Barnes	31	Gilbert Arenas	16	Ron Artest	1	Tim Duncan

                              

 

The draft has finally come, and with more shocks than a hair dryer in a bathtub (I'm speaking to you ladies and Ricky Rubio). Check out the drafts more interesting picks.

1. Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin Oklahoma State-  Nah, just pulling your leg, it would have been surprising if he was chosen anywhere else but numero uno.

4. Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans Memphis- I'm surprised with the pick because with Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio, and Jonny Flynn were still on the board. Why would they draft a player with more of a scorer's mentality? No knock on Evans, I think he is going to be great in the NBA just not with a King's team that has Kevin Martin as well as uncertainty at the point guard position.

7. Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry Davidson- Poor Curry, oh man I was so excited when the Timberwolves passed on him because I KNEW he was going to drop to the Knicks because Golden State was going to select Jordan Hill. Then something funny happened, they DIDN'T! Why do the Warriors have a need for another scorer with Azubuike, Belineli, Ellis, Captain Jack, Maggette, Morrow, and Watson on the roster? Unless the Amar'e trade goes down, this was another "great" decision by the Golden State franchise.

21. New Orleans Hornets Darren Collison UCLA- I thought Marcus Thornton was going to go NO lower than New Orleans? Lucky for the Hornets, they ended up with him much later in the draft, but couldn't they have gotten Collison much later in the draft rather then risk not getting Thornton?

22. Portland Trailblazers Victor Claver Spain- Kevin you got us again, you had everyone fooled into thinking you were going to get Omri Casspi. 

25. Oklahoma Thunder Rodrigue Beaubois France- Its pick like these that make the title of this article, this was a surprise, surprise indeed. I don't even know who this kid is.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers Christian Eyenga Congo- Wasn't this draft suppose to be weak of international influence? Again I say "Who is this kid"!!

36. and 38. Memphis Grizzles Sam Young and San Antonio Spurs DeJuan Blair PITT- Shocked beyond belief these two fell this far. However, each team got QUALITY players late in the draft. Spurs even got a "lottery" guy, nice.

43. Miami HEAT Marcus Thornton LSU- Again he slipped wayyyy too far, luckily he'll be playing next to Chris Paul.

These were some of the surprises I saw in the draft, what were yours?

Did someone go too high or too low? Sound off about surprises that the draft gave you.

So we are now here on part three of four to revisit the past's drafts and find out the best player at their draft number. I've compiled a selection of players, and based off what they have done on the grandest basketball stage in the world, I will chose the best player drafted at each of their respective positions (1-60th) dating back all the way to the draft of 1995. Not only will I choose these players, but I will provide you with my reasoning of the selection.

Now that we have entered the first round, the pick get harder with more talent to choose from.

Enjoy the most value for picks 30-16

30. David Lee 6-9 PF Florida 2005 Knicks- For all the crap Isiah  gets, he had a 6^th eye when it came to the draft. (Yes David Lee was another one of his picks) What's not to love out of the 30^th pick?  16 points and 11 rebounds (3rd in the NBA) in just his third pro year, number one in double-doubles (65), and restricted free agency around the corner. Wait scratch that last one New York fans. Honorable Mention: Mark Madsen, want to know why...priceless.

29. Josh Howard 6-6 SG/SF Wake Forest 2003 Mavericks- Another player from that fabulous '03 draft, Howard has one-all-star appearance and is a gritty warrior that played through a injury the whole second half of the season. His maturity could stand to improve just a little bit, but Mark has to live with what he gets. (Unless of course he trades Howard)

28. Tony Parker 6-1 PG France 2001 Spurs- Tony is here ONLY because of how much respect I have for his game (no not basketball game, the game he used to get Eva Longoria!) All kidding aside, Tony Parker is one of the league brightest stars and even has a finals MVP to add with his three rings. On another note, this pick is officially named the SPURS PICK, because they have had number 28 five out of the past seven years.

27. Kendrick Perkins 6-10 PF/C Beaumont, TX HS 2003 Grizzles- A defensive nightmare with a face that always looks like his house has just been robbed (seriously when does he ever smile?) I can't hate on the cat because he has a ring and made Gasol look like play-doh in the 2008 finals.

26. Kevin Martin 6-7 SG W. Carolina 2004 Kings- This pick will be known as the Late Pick. Why? Because players drafted here always take some time before they become really good like John Salmons for example.

25. Gerald Wallace 6-7 SG/SF Alabama 2001 Kings- Crash is a team player that I would take over Al Harrington nine times a week. If only he could stay a little more healthy...

24. Derek Fisher 6-2 PG Arkansas-Little Rock 1996 Lakers- Its all about the rings and Fisher is tied for most among active players (4). He is another player that made the 2009 All NBA Squeeze Team. Honorable mentions: AK47 and Rudy Fernandez.

23. Tayshaun Prince 6-9 SF Kentucky 2002 Pistons- Why should I explain all that Prince has does when I can have my friend David's two cents say it all.

22. Courtney Lee 6-5 SG W.Kentucky 2008 Magic- Don't get me wrong I love Lee, but when a rookie is the best drafted here over every player dating back to 1995 then that should tell you how weak this spot is.

21. Michael Finley 6-7 SG Wisconsin 1995 Suns- Could score with the best of them during his prime years. Interesting fact: Finley has played with 4 former MVPs in his career (Charles Barkley in Phoenix, Steve Nash in Phoenix and Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas, and Tim Duncan in San Antonio). This spot is known as Instant Offense because of the players drafted here: Finley, Ricky Davis, Nate Robinson, Mo-Pete, and Daequan Cook)

20. Jameer Nelson 6-0 PG St. Joe's 2004 Nuggets- Big Z almost beat out Nelson, but when he was healthy Jameer was an All-Star on the team with the leagues best record. Even injured his team made it to the Finals over Big Z's (thanks to a little help from Rafer Alston)

19. Zach Randolph 6-9 PF Michigan St. 2001 Trailblazers- Zack Randolph is a sure 20-10 every time he steps on the floor, but numbers only make you remembered, wins make a player never forgotten. Poor Randolph, he is the hollowest player in NBA history.

18.  David West 6-9 PF Xavier 2003 Hornets- 2-time All-star and yet another player drafted in 2003.

17. Danny Granger 6-9 SF New Mexico 2005 Pacers- I wanted to put Jermaine O'Neal here, because at one point he was just a beast for the Pacers. But now they have a young gun in Granger that has a ceiling that could put him in a top scorers atmosphere (Bron, Melo, Kobe, and Durant)

16. Ron Artest 6-7 SF St. Johns 1999 Bulls- Hedo is a close second here, but Artest has a defensive Player of the Year award and his team pushed the Lakers to seven games while Hedo only got to five.

There we have it, the best of the best at their draft position for the picks 30-16. Come by tomorrow to see the FINAL fifteen!

Any disagreements? Any agreements? Well let me hear it! I won't know unless you comment so drop your opinion and let's discuss!

Another season has come to an end, another champ has been crowned. They say (I don't know who they are but does anyone really know?) a season is not a sprint, but a marathon. If that is the case then a basketball career is three ironman competitions and a jog through Death Valley combined. These professionals go through the grind of an 82 game season while constantly practicing and then to get the best possible paycheck, have to work just as hard during the off-season to stay in shape and improve. This is all without even including international, pre-season, and post-season play! These games add up, and to think some players endure this task for extra seasons. Wait what? Oh sorry, didn't mean to confuse you there. What I meant is that the current class of high school players are starting to feel the strain of taking the jump from high school. My stance on the whole situation is that the one year rule is ridiculous. It should be changed to at least two years or allow them to make the leap of prep to the pros. Well that still doesn't tell us your stance. Which is it? Darn, I was trying to give you a politician's answer. If I have to decide between the two, it would be the at least two years option. Why? Let me get to it!

     Quite simply talking the jump takes some sturdy legs, and most high school players couldn't handle it. Just look at all the past players to take the prep to pro jump: Jermaine O'Neal (Is he ever healthy anymore?), Tracy McGrady (When has he ever been healthy?), Jonathan Bender (His knees couldn't hold up),  Darius Miles (Never matured as a person, and college would have helped him do that.), Kwame Brown (A sad story of too much hype at too much of a young age), Ndudi Ebi (couldn't handle the man's game), Sebastian Telfair ( another case of too much hype without substance), and Gerald Green (Limitless potential if a team ever gave a rats behind about him.) Players like O'Neal and McGrady will soon retire due to the extensive mileage they have on their legs while players who went to college like Ray Allen and Derek Fisher are kicking strong and winning championships.

           Also the players who have to shut their careers early are left in a tough situation, only possessing a high school diploma and having their dream realized only to have it taken from under their noses. Plus (And this is the opinion of a youth, a 16 year old who is thinking about education after high school.) the college experience is something every person should taste at one point or another, whether it's a giant university like ASU or the little community college right around the corner. No matter how many millions are waiting in the NBA you cannot put a price on education.

      There are certain circumstances where college does nothing for players; it is just an extended day care. I completely understand. I mentioned players that have become unsuccessful talking the jump but failed to mention those who have been successful. LeBron without a doubt would have murdered the college scene in ways that would make Michael Beasley's head spin. They would have had to replace the word dominant with LeBron. What's the problem with that? Nothing. But now with the college game coming so easy he could have earned a degree in marketing which he so clearly seems to embrace. If not that, there are endless leagues that could take him like the NBDL or CBA. David Stern is always talking about expanding the game globally and wouldn't King James tearing it up in Europe before dismantling the association do that? And in case you didn't know Kobe made the jump as well. And he didn't start for his first THREE years. Wouldn't it be grand to see Kobe winning and learning under Coach K and the Dukies for those years? (Yes, Kobe would have been a Dukie).

             We understand these players could have gone to college and learned, but sometimes learning isn't for everyone. Excuse me? That is a load of Bull..err..oni. The human brain can hold endless amount of information. If you don't believe me ask HOOPSWORLD writer Travis Heath who has a PhD in psychology and teaches at a local college in Denver. Also college has an endless amount of classes to take, not just: math, science, history, and English. I am positive any person could find a class or two that strikes their fancy. Even my friend, who is a musician, had this conversation with me. His stance being that college isn't for everyone, to which I simply replied, you could take a music class or two". He simply stood quiet with embarrassed agreement. (He's only 17 and still contemplating college) And again if the college's ruckus crowds, future opportunities, and time for maturation aren't for everyone, there are other avenues to explore as stated above.

         The one and done rule is pointless, kids take half a semester and not even have to try in any of them. While prep to professional basketball has too many downsides and denying many potential positives. My position on the issue is giving them two years. The benefits are infinite, from a longer playing career, a back-up plan, and a new experience. If they don't want to do that then there are other options at hand like Europe or NBDL where they can get paid. Either way these prospects will get a chance to play plus another positive (cash or learning) if they do two years. Not only that, but NBA teams have the opportunity to spot the diamonds in the rough and not fall for the fools gold. Two years is more productive for these potential pros and will better them in the long run rather then making the jump.

So we are now here on part two of four to revisit the past's drafts and find out the best player at their draft number. I've compiled a selection of players, and based off what they have done on the grandest basketball stage in the world, I will chose the best player drafted at each of their respective positions (1-60th) dating back all the way to the draft of 1995. Not only will I choose these players, but I will provide you with my reasoning of the selection.

Enjoy the most value for picks 45-31

45. Matt Bonner 6-10 PF Florida 2003 Bulls- Bonner has always been that solid 15 mpg guy, but now he has upped the ante with his career high 44% field goal percentage from three (8^th in the NBA). Also he had a season high 23 points against the Boston Celtics this year.

44.  Trevor Ariza 6-8 SF UCLA 2004 Knicks- Isaiah without a doubt always had an eye for finding talent in the draft. No exception here, after being traded twice Ariza found his home with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a league leader in steals, shot a blistering 47% from three in the playoffs, and is now a one-time world champion. (Oh and Take this Dahnaty "Kobe Tripper" Jones!)

43. Michael Redd 6-6 SG Ohio 2000 Bucks- Easy pick here, Eric Snow has gone to the finals twice and failed while Captain Jack has had his up and downs in the league. Redd is a legit star that needs to stay healthy If his team is ever going to compete.

42. Bobby Simmons 6-7 SF DePaul 2001 Seattle- This pick will be known as the pick of flashes. Just look at the players drafted here that once showed great potential: Boobie Gibson, Randy Livingston, Flip Murray, and even Zaza had his bright spots a few years ago. Simmons seemed destined for a great future after he won the Most Improved Player award (16 ppg) with the clippers, but never lived up to the hype because of injuries and a fat contract.

41. Cuttino Mobley 6-4 SG Rhode Island 1997 Rockets- Mobley had a long and successful career until heart problems caused an early retirement. Averaged a career high 21.7 points in 2001-02 and was a part of the greatest Clipper team (yeah I went there) in history in 2005-06.

40. Gordan Giricek 6-6 SG Croatia 1999 Dallas- Want a good role player?  Get the 40^th pick (Anthony Johnson, Earl Watson, Juan Carlos Navarro, and CDR to name a few.) Giricek always was a reliable scorer to have a pick at 40.

39. Rafer Alston 6-2 PG Fresno St 1998. Bucks- He narrowly beats out Donyell Marshall thanks to his great season, solid career, and how can you not select a guy with such a cook nickname?  (FYI its Skip to my Lou). This was my hardest choice of this post because both had such a solid career. (Even if not spectacular)

38.  Mehmet Okur 6-10 PF Turkey 2001 Pistons- His a 1 time all-star and NBA champion. He is also one of the few centers in the world that you WOULDN'T leave open at the three point line.

37. Before I make my selection here I have to say one thing: I love the players drafted here. I was praying every night before the draft for Mbah a Moute to fall to the Lakers; I was in tears for weeks when Ronny Turiaf was too much for the Lakers to pay for (nearly 8 million when you consider luxury Tax); and I did a whole article about Eddie House. And when push comes to shove the player I would pick here between the three will have to be...Eddie House. 1-time champion and much more proven then the other two.

36.  Craig Smith 6-7 PF BC 2006 Timber-wolves- I know what you're thinking, "How could you choose Smith over Jerome James"!? I almost picked him, but give me a chance to explain please! Smith made the All-Rookie Second team and has a career high 36 points. Just barely edging Jerome James. J

35. Carlos Boozer PF 6-9 Duke 2002 Cavaliers- Regardless of his injury problems, Boozer is one of the few obvious selections in this list so much so that I am not going to name his accomplishments. (Plus I don't want to anger Cavs fans with how successful he has become)

34. Mario Chalmers 6-2 PG Kansas 2008 Timber-wolves- A winner with his Kansas championship and the way he led the HEAT to the playoff (Got some help from some cat named Wade I hear) This pick is a little weak that even Baby Shaq, who has never played a game in the NBA, almost won it.

33. Brandon Bass 6-7 PF LSU 2005 Hornets- Another relatively weak number, but Bass is the PERFECT back-up power forward for any team looking to contend for a championship. (Lakers, Portland) But at the end of the day he will just be a back-up.

32. Rashard Lewis 6-10 SF/PF Alief Elsik HS 1998 Seattle- Say he's over paid, but waiting in the green room till 32 and then helping his team get all the way to the finals while beating Boston and Cleveland should get some critics off his back. He is even the first high school pick on the list.

31. Gilbert Arenas 6-3 PG Arizona 2001 Golden State- If he waited a few more years when combo guards were more accepted he would NOT have dropped this far. I know a lot is being made about his injuries and that gigantic contract he ha, but does anyone else remember the numbers he posted in 2006-07? That's not even his career high, just look at the year before that. Phenomenal if you ask me.

There we have it, the best of the best at their draft position for the picks 31-46. Come by tomorrow to see the next fifteen!

Any disagreements? Any agreements? Well let me hear it! I won't know unless you comment so drop your opinion and let's discuss!

Who is the best number one draft pick overall? How about number two? Three? Thirteen? Sixtieth!? I've compiled a selection of players, and based off what they have done on the grandest basketball stage in the world, I will chose the best player drafted at each of their respective positions (1-60th) dating back all the way to the draft of 1995. Not only will I choose these players, but I will provide you with my reasoning of the selection. However, since this is going to be a list of 60 and commentary, I will split it up into four different posts leading up to the draft, starting with the back end of the draft.

Enjoy the most value for picks 60-46.

60. Alex Acker 6-5 SG Pepperdine 2005 Pistons- Acker is one of the few picks at number 60 that made it into an actual game and he "bursted" on the scene this year for the Los Angeles Clippers scoring a career high 11 points in a career high in minutes(18). I feel All-star for him next year.  : )

59. DJ Strawberry 6-5 PG Maryland 2007 Suns- I absolutely love this guy at 59! Gritty defense is what he'll give you: Unfortunately after the Suns traded his non-guarantied contract to Houston, he was out-beaten for a roster spot by Von Wafer.

58.  Maceo Baston 6-10 PF Michigan 1998 Bulls- Indy, Toronto, Indy, Toronto: Had a career high 14 in 2007 against New Jersey.

57. Emmanuel Ginobili 6-6 SG Italy 1999 Spurs- I was this close to choosing Drew Barry (Seattle Sonics 1996) (add "more" to his last name) because of his name, and Marcin Gorat was also drafted 57^th a few years back, but in the end Manu edges them out. Why? Because he is a winner at every level, seriously in Italy, Euro league, NBA, and even global competition, and all at the 57^th pick, talk about value.

56. Luis Scola 6-9 PF Argentina 2002 Spurs- Wow it was between him and Ramon Sessions, but Luis gets the nod because Houston wouldn't have advanced to the second round for the first time in over a decade had it not been for him. Honorable Mention: Amir Johnson

55. Mike Taylor 6-2 PG NBDL 2008 Clippers- Mark Blount? Ryan Bowen? Give me Mike Taylor, potential of the world. Did anyone see him drop 35 on New York...as a rookie!

54. Shandon Anderson 6-6 PG Georgia 1996 Jazz- He averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds in 2000. He also won a championship with Miami in 2005.

53. Rasual Butler 6-8 SF LaSalle 2002 Heat-He made the 2009 All NBA Squeeze Team: ‘Nuff said.

52. Fred Hoiberg 6-5 SG Iowa 1995 Pacers- The guy could flat-out shoot the ball. He is now an assistant GM for Minnesota.

51. Ashton Kutcher 6-7 SF Creighton 2003 Nets- Oh my bad! I meant Kyle Korver. Can you blame me for the mistake? Look at them! If Hoiberg can flat out shoot the ball, Korver can flat out atomic bomb the ball.

50. Ryan Gomes 6-8 SF Providence 2005 Celtics- Got traded for Kevin Garnett (And some other guy named...I think Al Jefferson or something?) need I say more? Career high: 35 points.

49. James Jones 6-8 SF Miami 2003 Pacers- Jones is an underrated player, he helped the baby trailblazers grow up as a veteran leader, he is a solid role player, and a 3-point assassin.

48.Marc Gasol 7-0 C Spain 2007 Lakers- The lone bright side of the Laker-Memphis trade a few years back. This was a VERY smart move for the Grizzles to ask for him, because he would have been phenomenal in a Lakers uniform with his brother and all this praise after being drafted at 48, talk about value.

47. Here's where I will change it up a little bit, Mo Williams (PG Alabama 2003) or Paul Millsap (PF Louisiana Tech 2006)? Mo helped the Cavs win the title of best regular season team (66 wins), forming a lethal pick and pop with Big Z, while helping LeBron carry the load. Unfortunately his season was abruptly ended (along with Nikes puppet campaign for LeBron vs. Kobe) in the Conference Finals. Millsap helped the Jazz stay in the playoffs while the group was hampered by injuries all season long. He was one of the leading recipients for the Most Improved Player Award and had a streak of 19 consecutive double-doubles! But which of the two is the better number 47^th pick? Or should I just say to heck with the both of them and give it to Bill Walker (SG/SF Kansas 2008)? You Decide

46. Matt Barnes 6-7 SF UCLA 2002 Grizzles- Barnes is a great energy guy and came cheap for Phoenix this year. Horrible move for asking for more dollars in his break out year in Golden State because he got a one year contract, and then had a down year.

There we have it, the best of the best at their draft position for the final 15 picks. Come by tomorrow to see the next fifteen!

Any disagreements? Any agreements? Well let me hear it! I won't know unless you comment so drop your opinion and let's discuss!

What dog packs the most bark per pound? A Pit-bull? Nope. How about a Mastiff? Not even close. Has to be Rottweiler? Computer says: Incorrect Answer. The canine that packs the most bark per pound is (drum roll please): a Chihuahua. Seriously, the mutt ain't even as large as Shaq's small toe but can yap for days on end for absolutely stupid reasons. Talk about getting your woofs worth. And now my audience, I present to you the NBA's MVC (Most Valuable Chihuahua): the Boston Celtic's Paul Pierce.

Just get a look at what he twitted. "Lakers vs orlando. Looked like a german sherperd vs a poodle that's ok the rotwieler celtics will b back in 2o10"

Really now? I don't see the necessity of such a comment. You won it last year, and in convincing fashion. No one knocked you for that because a championship is a championship, whether it was a sweep or a seven game battle. And why on earth would you ever talk trash about the Magic this year of all years!? Isn't this "poodle" the same puppy that out-grinded you in a seven game clash and blemished your franchise's once perfect 32-0 record when up 3-2 in a series? Saying the Celtics would be back in 2010 isn't a problem, but why attempt to degrade the champs and the team that knocked you out of the playoffs?

This is now two summers in a row that "The Truth" captured the summer's most ridiculous comment award. (You guessed it, Shaq was the runner-up.) Does anyone remember last years wisecrack? Yeah the one where Pierce claimed he was the best player in the world.

I don't want to butcher his quote, so let's hear it from the man himself. "I'm the best player. There's a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don't cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself."

He later goes on to add, "I have an opinion, I have a right to have one and that's the way I feel. I felt I've played against the best over the years and felt right now that I'm the best player in the world"

Absolutely absurd. Granted he played a great series versus the Lakers, but he did not play well enough to warrant that kind of title. Because for sure LBJ and Mamba are ahead, I'd rather have Chris Paul and Dwight Howard over him nine days a week, and he wasn't even the best player on his own team! That honor goes to Sir-barks-a lot, Kevin Garnett. But now I guess I see where he was influenced. Yet Garnett can bark all he wants, a quick look at his resume says it all: 1 League MVP, 1 DPOY, 4 All NBA 1^st team selections, and 9 All NBA selections overall. He can back his bark. Pierce however will never be at a level where he can say he is the best in the world.

Paul Pierce further stained the great Celtics reputation this year, along with his teammates. The dirty plays (Poor Hinrich), massive multitude of technicals and suspensions, the bullying of smaller players (Go Calderon!), and now this. It definitely wasn't the franchises most memorable season. Pierce, why further smudge the disappointing season? (Yes, anything less than a championship for the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics is a disappointment.) Please Pierce, enough with the bark bark.

                           Don’t Forget About the Little Guy

Odom was phenomenal, Ariza was amazing, Gasol was great, and Kobe was Kobe. But people PLEASE don’t forget about the little guy. Whether you’re a Laker fan or not, one cannot take for granted or deny what Derek Fisher brings to the table.

 Leadership and respect go hand and hand, and there are very few players that garner the automatic respect Fisher gets. He sped Deron Williams’ maturation process in his time in Utah, helping the team get to an emotional conference finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs a few years ago. Thankfully now his veteran presence is clearly being felt during the Lakers’ run to the championship.      

As Kobe would say, “Fish has supreme confidence”.   

He also has striking similarities to another point guard that has  “supreme confidence”: Chauncey Billups. Now, in no way am I saying the two are close in statistical comparisons, even I know not to get blinded by my Laker love and say that the two are equal. But the manner in which each of them carry themselves , the elegant confidence in critical moments, the way they assemble their teams for meetings, and even the fact that the two are terrific post-up point guards is just so eerily similar. Both give their team a leader to look up to. Plus how can you ever go against what a 4-time champion has to say? His experiences in playoff runs gives Fisher’s leadership skills even more credibility. And everyone knows the saying “respect your elders”; well there is another reason why everyone respects Grandpa Fish.   

No leader can lead without strength, though. His emotional tale with his tumor-stricken child gave Fisher more growth and experience. The way he competed in a playoff game, knowing his child’s situation, is brave and encouraging for players to see such heart. His showing of strength is contagious and forces his teammates to respond, yet another way he has helped the Lakers to their 15^th championship. This also gives reassurance to Kobe Bryant to know that he has another leader to help share the load.      

 But how far can immeasurable qualities take a player? Fish doesn’t just have respectable traits, but he makes plays that count when the game is on the line. His knack for hitting big shots with astounding gracefulness is a timeless pleasure. A pleasure that Boston and Miami had with James Posey, that the Rockets, Spurs and Lakers had with Robert “Big Shot” Horry, that the Bulls had with Steve Kerr, that the Pistons had with Chauncey Billups, and that fortunately the 2009 Champs have with Derek Fisher. Would Kobe have his fourth ring had it not been for his trust in Fish to deliver? Without his duo of treys with 4.6 seconds in the fourth and 31 seconds in overtime in game four, this series would have headed back to Los Angeles and could have taken a different end result. And one thing readers may have accidently over looked is that Kobe trusted Fish to deliver.

What does humble Fish say when asked about his open looks? “When you play with number 24 he gets a lot if attention.”

But that means nothing if you miss shots. There has to be another reason for hitting his buckets other then Kobe garnering attention: “I wanted to come through for my guys.”

Plain and simple. Fish wanted to do it for his team, the team that trusted him to be able to do so. And no he will never win a Finals MVP, be selected to be an All-Star game, or even go to the Hall-of-Fame, but people PLEASE don’t forget about the little guy.

 

Kobe Sucks

         “He sucks!” That’s all I heard growing up in Phoenix every time I talked about Kobe Bryant. I even got made fun in middle school for being a Laker fan, and had to put up with a lot of it because these weren’t the golden years of the franchise. And all of the torture I endured was because of how much everyone hated Kobe and how much he sucked in the NBA. I got into another argument the other day about how bad Kobe still was, and the basis revolved around how he was a ball hog, doesn’t rebound as much as LeBron James, and how he isn’t scoring at the level other elite players were. Today I am going to touch on each subject and hopefully put an end to the debate that “Kobe Bryant sucks”.

         “He’s a ball hog!” Yes I really had someone say this to me and was shocked anyone would say that. Kobe “ball hog” Bryant is currently 5^th in assists for all players still active in the playoffs and ranked in the top 30 in the NBA for this category as well. He is the leading disher for a team that is number two in the league for dropping dimes. However, one distinguishing difference between the Lakers and the other top passing teams is that Los Angeles has no player in the top five for assists in the league while Phoenix had Steve Nash, Boston had Rajon Rondo, Toronto had Jose Calderon, and Utah had Deron Williams. What does this mean? It means that the Lakers have many players that pass and not one dominant point guard. This creates a trickle effect, where everyone gets in on the action, like Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Jordan Farmer, and finally Kobe himself. No wonder the black mamba is not averaging ten plus dimes, look at all the distributers on his team. In conclusion, Kobe is NOT a ball hog; he is a willing passer as evidenced by the beautiful dish to Fish on the corner at the end of the second quarter of Game 1.

          So ok, Kobe can pass a little but, he can’t rebound like Lebron. Well, Mr. Mamba plays on the perimeter, while LeBron is usually closer to the basket, not to mention the fact that King James has 2 inches and 50lbs on the Kobester. But then the counter argument to that is Chris Paul is shorter and averages more rebounds (only 0.3 more to be exact). Well, to that I point out one simple fact: the Lakers are seven-footers galore! Odom is a very underrated rebounder, Bynum is huge, and Gasol is long as they come. Who does Chris Paul have?? Tyson Chandler is a fantastic rebounder, when he is on the court, but he missed 50 games this year! The teams other center Hilton Armstrong only averaged three boards a game, and David West is under-sized for a power forward. So hypothetically speaking, if Kobe and Chris switched teams this year, Kobe might average somewhere along the lines of seven to eight rebounds while CP3 would MAYBE get around four. Don’t knock Kobe for not being a man-child and for having one of the tallest teams in the NBA.

      Finally comes the argument that Flash and LBJ score more points then Kobe does (yet he was still in the top five for scoring in the league at 28.3). Well, if you put Kobe on a franchise where the team’s second leading scorer averages 13.9 points (Michael Beasley) Kobe would put up numbers one could only imagine. Wait, I take that back, we don’t have to imagine we have proof!  In the 05-06 season Lamar’s 14.8 points were second to Kobe’s 35.4! Kobe not only had a “not-up-to-par” team similar to Wade’s team, but he averaged MORE POINTS! OK sure, but what about LeBron, huh? The Los Angeles Lakers simply don’t need Kobe to put up the numbers that King James has to. Kobe has a proven scorer in Gasol, capable scorers in Odom and Bynum, and the occasional scoring bursts by the rest of the team (one night is Trevor Ariza, the next it’s Fisher, and the next it’s ‘The Machine’ lighting it up) Kobe can score like Wilt on crack when he needs to, but the truth of the matter is that he has the luxury of not having to.

              Those who would discount Kobe because he doesn’t average double digits in rebounds and assists and isn’t leading the league in scoring ignore the conditions under which Kobe does his thing. Kobe has already carried the scoring load like Wade does, and if he were as big as LeBron he would no doubt get the boards, as well. Pound for pound Kobe is the best player in the NBA, and he’s exactly what the LA Lakers need to win a fourth championship ring for the Bryant era.

 

 

 Agree? Disagree? Comment and let’s Discuss!

 

                                                       Role Player in the House!

        The date was January 20^th, 2006. It was the first time I ever attended a professional basketball game. I was rooting for my Lakers, while my dad was cheering for the home town Phoenix Suns. It was father vs. son and Lakers vs. Suns. I kept thinking, “Today my Lakers will win and I won’t let my dad live it down” (because this was during the recovering years of the Lakers and during the time when the Suns were a power house). This was also the first time I witnessed Eddie House. He finished with 19 points in 24 minutes with 3-5 from the three-point line in that game. He did it with a jumper here, a three there, a turn around J on the next possession, the guy wouldn’t quit it. It was as if he was making sure that my team lost! And now he is doing the same thing for the defending champions Boston Celtics. What a remarkable story.

          House has been a journeyman since he was drafted to Miami in ‘01, never sticking to one team no matter how well he played. He has only been able to stick with a team for more than one season just twice in his career. Even after his terrific season in Phoenix, his hometown by the way, he still packed his bags and moved to New Jersey the following year. The year after his time with the Nets he got picked up by a stacked Celtics with The Truth, Jesus Shuttlesworth, and the Big Ticket. It was a brilliant move by Danny Ainge, with so much attention being put on those three there will be many open players that need to be able to shoot. It was a match made in heaven for Eddie House.

        Eddie House had already proven he could be a reliable role player, but could he do it on a championship team? Yes. He was an incredible three-point shooter, (my third favorite 3 pt shooter behind Reggie Miller and Ray Allen) Surprisingly, he turned out to be a pretty pesky defender, as well, frustrating opponents with his trash talking that lead to little scuffles (see game 2 Magic vs. Celtics). Perhaps the most important part of his skill set is that he is willing to buy into the system of the team and do what’s expected of him. And because of this rare skill set he is now a champion.  He can shoot, defend, steal (almost one a game), and listens; he is the type of role player any team would be glad to have. Eddie House is the epitome of a great role player.

          What else can he do? He can do something most bench players only strive to be able to do: Play big in big games. How devastating would it be to Celtic fans be if their team fell in a 0-2 hole with game three in Orlando? Eddie House made sure this did not happen with his career play-off high of 31pts going 11-14 from the field. He even got Rafer Alston so upset that he gave House a little slap that earned him a one-game suspension (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3OuzKpQ3jM). Not including his game 4 debacle, Eddie is averaging 17 points per game in the series for the defending champs. And now they head to Boston for game five with the series tied at 2-2.  One thing is for sure, the Magic won’t sleep on Eddie with the way he has been playing at home.

       Eddie House went from being the 37^th overall pick to a vital piece of a contender and has done it with hard work, perseverance, and doing what he is told. That in my book is a success story no matter what anyone says.

 

Agree? Disagree? Comment and Discuss!

How much is too much?

 Amidst the swine flu paranoia in the world there lies another condition spreading specifically in American basketball: physical fever. The level of contact goes up dramatically every year in the playoffs, but many are starting to complain that it is too physical. But is it really too physical?

The game of basketball is expected to have its bumps and bruises and although NBA

players may not wear pads, basketball is definitely a contact sport. After all, one player is attempting to use all of his strength, athleticism and force of will to put the ball in the basket, while another player is attempting to use an equal and opposite effort to prevent him from doing so. Somewhere along the way, forces are going to collide. Let’s not forget that in the last decade or so the physicality of the NBA has decreased tremendously due to the hand-checking rule. Now, if you touch a big man while playing defense, it’s a foul. All of this complaining is a little ironic since the game at one point was much more physical than today.

Now it is understood that there will be these bumps on the road along the course of the game but excessive aggressiveness and too much tolerance can lead to injuries to these players. Look at all the hard hits we have had: Dwyane Wade’s flagrant on Maurice Evans, Dwight Howard’s elbow to Sam Dalembert and Courtney Lee, Rajon Rondo’s hit to Brad Miller, Solomon Jones’ grab on D-Wade, all of the falls Chris Paul has had, and the list goes on! The scariest part is that this is only the first round of the playoffs.

Even coaches agree that it is becoming a problem.

 

  “Every time (Yao) moves, it's a wrestling match,” -Rockets Coach Rick Adelman.  

 But now think what one would do if Dwyane Wade falls too hard on a drive to the hoop and is out for the playoffs? What if role player and fan favorite Brian Scalabrine got hit too hard and got another concussion? Would the NBA then enforce stricter touch rules? Because at the end of the day these players are people too, and are just as susceptible to injuries as you and me.

 Both arguments make sense, and all in all there will always be some sort of physicality in the NBA, but are the way the playoffs are going is it too much? I think Utah coach Jerry Sloan puts it best when he says “You always have a chance (to win the game) if you become physical”. So what is my stance on the subject? I say let the players play. 

 

Agree? Disagree? Comment and Discuss!