This New York crowd is brutal. I expect some "Donaghy" chants soon. Maybe a "Fire D'Antoni" chant. Good for Rose, going hometown like that.
Now we get a shot of the Bulls draft room as they golf-clap for each other.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
David Stern booed - 5:36
But what else is new? If the Bulls draft Rose, aren't they required to trade Hinrich? What could Denver offer? Charlotte? Portland? The Clippers? Sacramento? Plenty of teams could use him.
NBA Draft - live - 5:29pm MST
Drinking game - Take one every time Jay Bilas says upside. You'll be under the table before they get out of the lottery.
I love the NBA Draft. It's like a second Christmas, where all your hopes and dreams for your team's future are wide open.
Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are locked at #1 and #2, says everyone, but there's some speculation Minnesota might not take OJ Mayo at #3? I can see them taking him, turning around to someone a couple picks lower and saying, "What will you give us?"
I love the NBA Draft. It's like a second Christmas, where all your hopes and dreams for your team's future are wide open.
Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are locked at #1 and #2, says everyone, but there's some speculation Minnesota might not take OJ Mayo at #3? I can see them taking him, turning around to someone a couple picks lower and saying, "What will you give us?"
More trades
ESPN.com is reporting the Nets are trading Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. This would imply Joe Alexander is no longer a lock at #8.
The Nets are also looking to trade up, from #10 to Memphis's #5.
The Sonics will trade #4 to the L.A. Clippers for #7 and a future pick if OJ Mayo is off the board by #4.
Quelle surprise, Portland is working making a move.
San Antonio is actively trying to trade out of their pick.
All mock drafts are pretty oblitherated at this point.
The Nets are also looking to trade up, from #10 to Memphis's #5.
The Sonics will trade #4 to the L.A. Clippers for #7 and a future pick if OJ Mayo is off the board by #4.
Quelle surprise, Portland is working making a move.
San Antonio is actively trying to trade out of their pick.
All mock drafts are pretty oblitherated at this point.
NBA Mock Draft update
Some trades have gone down, and more rumors are a-swirling.
Here's my morning-of guesses.
1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3
2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8
3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4
4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0
5. MEMPHIS - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3
6. NEW YORK - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9
7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3
8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8
9. CHARLOTTE - Kevin Love - PF/6-9
10. NEW JERSEY - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - Traded to Portland for #13
11. INDIANA - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1
12. SACRAMENTO - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3
13. PORTLAND - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - Traded to New Jersey for #10
14. GOLDEN STATE - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2
15. PHOENIX - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6
16. PHILADELPHIA - Donte Green - 6-10/PF
17. INDIANA - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9
18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9
19. CLEVELAND - DeAndre Jordan - C/7-0
20. CHARLOTTE - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2
21. NEW JERSEY - Robin Lopez - C/7-0
22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5
23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1
24. SEATTLE - Kyle Weaver - PG/6-2
25. HOUSTON - JaVale McGee - C/7-0
26. SAN ANTONIO - Jason Thompson - C/6-11
27. NEW ORLEANS - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8
28. MEMPHIS - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9
29. DETROIT - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7
30. BOSTON - Trent Plaistad - PF/6-10
I'm sure at least one more of those picks are traded tonight. Prime suspects: Miami, Seattle.
Here's my morning-of guesses.
1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3
2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8
3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4
4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0
5. MEMPHIS - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3
6. NEW YORK - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9
7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3
8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8
9. CHARLOTTE - Kevin Love - PF/6-9
10. NEW JERSEY - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - Traded to Portland for #13
11. INDIANA - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1
12. SACRAMENTO - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3
13. PORTLAND - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - Traded to New Jersey for #10
14. GOLDEN STATE - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2
15. PHOENIX - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6
16. PHILADELPHIA - Donte Green - 6-10/PF
17. INDIANA - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9
18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9
19. CLEVELAND - DeAndre Jordan - C/7-0
20. CHARLOTTE - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2
21. NEW JERSEY - Robin Lopez - C/7-0
22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5
23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1
24. SEATTLE - Kyle Weaver - PG/6-2
25. HOUSTON - JaVale McGee - C/7-0
26. SAN ANTONIO - Jason Thompson - C/6-11
27. NEW ORLEANS - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8
28. MEMPHIS - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9
29. DETROIT - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7
30. BOSTON - Trent Plaistad - PF/6-10
I'm sure at least one more of those picks are traded tonight. Prime suspects: Miami, Seattle.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
NBA Mock Draft
After reading literally dozens of reports and projections, I'm making my own mock draft guess.
1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3 - The Bulls seems locked in here, and with Rose aboard, it makes Kirk Hinrich a valuable trading commodity, which they should use to get a better big man.
2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8 - Even though Miami really wants Rose, it doesn't look like that will happen. I'm thinking they trade this, and I've seen sceanrios with Seattle, Memphis and the Clippers.
3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4 - Putting him with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson makes a talented core. But Al Jefferson was the center of a "talented core" for years in Boston and it didn't get anywhere, but you need to start somewhere.
4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0 - Sonics' ownership seems determined to torpedo their relationship with Seattle, and while they really need a star point guard (Earl Watson/Luke Ridnour are not long-term solutions), I can see them drafting yet another center, though Lopez should be more effective than Robert Swift, Johan Petro and Mahmoud Sene.
5. MEMPHIS - Kevin Love - PF/6-9 - Assuming there are no trades, Love will be a good fit with the gutted Grizzlies. Time for Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and crew to take on Portland for Best Young Team in the West.
6. NEW YORK - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3 - The Knicks have been dying for a better point guard than the shoot-first crew that have shuffled through there (Marbury, Francis, Robinson...), and if Bayless lips to here, I think they take. Rumor has it Mike D'Antoni might take a risk on the Italian star Danilo Gallinari, but they need that point guard in place.
7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3 - Here's another team looking for a point guard, where it's clear Shaun Livingston's body just won't let him do it.
8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8 - If Alexander is here, they take him. He's exactly what they want and need.
9. CHARLOTTE - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1 - The Bobcats want a center so they can move Emeka Okafor to the 4-spot. If Brook Lopez is available, they snatch him up here. They could take Koufos here, though it seems high. Then again, Rafael Araujo was high at #8 a few years ago. Big men often go sooner than they should.
10. NEW JERSEY - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9 - Annnnd Richard Jefferson is trade bait all summer.
11. INDIANA - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3 - He could be the point guard to finally bump Jamaal Tinsley out of there. DJ Augustin could go here too.
12. SACRAMENTO - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - I can see him being a bust, but the Kings ain't been too bright lately.
13. PORTLAND - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - They have a lot of young pieces, so it wouldn't hurt to have more competition at point guard.
14. GOLDEN STATE - Donte Green - 6-10/PF - I've seen some centers go here, but I have a hard time seeing Nellie use them. Green has the body and style for a run-and-gun team, could be a good bench player for them.
15. PHOENIX - DeAndre Jordan - 7-0/C - Shaq's going to miss a few games, and it would behoove the Suns to groom a successor so they can keep Amare at the 4.
16. PHILADELPHIA - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6
17. TORONTO - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8
18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9
19. CLEVELAND - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9
20. DENVER - JaVale McGee - C/7-0
21. NEW JERSEY - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2
22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5
23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1
24. SEATTLE - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9
25. HOUSTON - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2
26. SAN ANTONIO - Serge Ibaka - PF/6-11
27. NEW ORLEANS - Jason Thompson - C/6-11
28. MEMPHIS - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7
29. DETROIT - Bill Walker - SF/6-6
30. BOSTON - Robin Lopez - C/7-0
Bubble players:
Ryan Anderson
Omer Asik
JR Giddens
Jamont Gordon
DeVon Hardin
Richard Hendrix
Nathan Jawai
Ante Tomic
Kyle Weaver
DJ White
1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3 - The Bulls seems locked in here, and with Rose aboard, it makes Kirk Hinrich a valuable trading commodity, which they should use to get a better big man.
2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8 - Even though Miami really wants Rose, it doesn't look like that will happen. I'm thinking they trade this, and I've seen sceanrios with Seattle, Memphis and the Clippers.
3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4 - Putting him with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson makes a talented core. But Al Jefferson was the center of a "talented core" for years in Boston and it didn't get anywhere, but you need to start somewhere.
4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0 - Sonics' ownership seems determined to torpedo their relationship with Seattle, and while they really need a star point guard (Earl Watson/Luke Ridnour are not long-term solutions), I can see them drafting yet another center, though Lopez should be more effective than Robert Swift, Johan Petro and Mahmoud Sene.
5. MEMPHIS - Kevin Love - PF/6-9 - Assuming there are no trades, Love will be a good fit with the gutted Grizzlies. Time for Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and crew to take on Portland for Best Young Team in the West.
6. NEW YORK - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3 - The Knicks have been dying for a better point guard than the shoot-first crew that have shuffled through there (Marbury, Francis, Robinson...), and if Bayless lips to here, I think they take. Rumor has it Mike D'Antoni might take a risk on the Italian star Danilo Gallinari, but they need that point guard in place.
7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3 - Here's another team looking for a point guard, where it's clear Shaun Livingston's body just won't let him do it.
8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8 - If Alexander is here, they take him. He's exactly what they want and need.
9. CHARLOTTE - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1 - The Bobcats want a center so they can move Emeka Okafor to the 4-spot. If Brook Lopez is available, they snatch him up here. They could take Koufos here, though it seems high. Then again, Rafael Araujo was high at #8 a few years ago. Big men often go sooner than they should.
10. NEW JERSEY - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9 - Annnnd Richard Jefferson is trade bait all summer.
11. INDIANA - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3 - He could be the point guard to finally bump Jamaal Tinsley out of there. DJ Augustin could go here too.
12. SACRAMENTO - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - I can see him being a bust, but the Kings ain't been too bright lately.
13. PORTLAND - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - They have a lot of young pieces, so it wouldn't hurt to have more competition at point guard.
14. GOLDEN STATE - Donte Green - 6-10/PF - I've seen some centers go here, but I have a hard time seeing Nellie use them. Green has the body and style for a run-and-gun team, could be a good bench player for them.
15. PHOENIX - DeAndre Jordan - 7-0/C - Shaq's going to miss a few games, and it would behoove the Suns to groom a successor so they can keep Amare at the 4.
16. PHILADELPHIA - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6
17. TORONTO - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8
18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9
19. CLEVELAND - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9
20. DENVER - JaVale McGee - C/7-0
21. NEW JERSEY - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2
22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5
23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1
24. SEATTLE - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9
25. HOUSTON - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2
26. SAN ANTONIO - Serge Ibaka - PF/6-11
27. NEW ORLEANS - Jason Thompson - C/6-11
28. MEMPHIS - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7
29. DETROIT - Bill Walker - SF/6-6
30. BOSTON - Robin Lopez - C/7-0
Bubble players:
Ryan Anderson
Omer Asik
JR Giddens
Jamont Gordon
DeVon Hardin
Richard Hendrix
Nathan Jawai
Ante Tomic
Kyle Weaver
DJ White
Friday, June 13, 2008
Game 4 / Bavetta / Detroit-Utah trade rumor
A lot of the pleasure from Game 4 was the big comeback story, but it was also that I was watching players play and coaches trying to out-maneuver each other, and the refs didn't really come into play.
---
ESPN.com is reporting that two ex-referees were asked by investigators about Dick Bavetta as much as they were Tim Donaghy. Among other controversial games, Bavetta was head ref of Game 6 of the 2002 Kings-Lakers series that Donaghy said was fixed. This is not going to be swept under the rug anytime soon.
----
Chad Ford is putting out this trade rumor: The Detroit Pistons to send Rich Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Aaron Afflalo to the Utah Jazz for Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Jarron Collins and Morris Almond. I don't know if it makes either team better or worse. The Jazz would entertain the notion just because Boozer will likely opt out of his deal in 2009, and Deron Williams & Andrei Kirilenko will already be max-money makers.
The benefits for Detroit is that they've plateaued ever since Larry Brown left, and they needed a change. They get a two-time All-Star power forward in Boozer, two promising young shooting guards in Brewer & Almond, and a good locker-room guy in Collins. They get youth. The downside is their core still has good chemistry, and they're blowing it up, and who's to say they won't still lose Boozer in 2009? Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Billips, Brewer, Stuckey, Boozer, Wallace.
The benefits for Utah is they get some more experienced guys (Utah's one of the youngest teams in the league, which L.A. was able to exploit), a solid shooting shooting-guard, the lankiest 3-4 tandem in the league (AK would move to the 4 spot, which was his before Boozer showed up), and a little more payroll flexibility. The downside is they lose a two-time All-Star power forward and their only low-post threat, and Almond looks like a guy who could really blow up after setting records in the D-League last year. Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Williams, Hamilton, Prince, Kirilenko, Okur.
It would be quite the dice-roll for both teams.
---
ESPN.com is reporting that two ex-referees were asked by investigators about Dick Bavetta as much as they were Tim Donaghy. Among other controversial games, Bavetta was head ref of Game 6 of the 2002 Kings-Lakers series that Donaghy said was fixed. This is not going to be swept under the rug anytime soon.
----
Chad Ford is putting out this trade rumor: The Detroit Pistons to send Rich Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Aaron Afflalo to the Utah Jazz for Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Jarron Collins and Morris Almond. I don't know if it makes either team better or worse. The Jazz would entertain the notion just because Boozer will likely opt out of his deal in 2009, and Deron Williams & Andrei Kirilenko will already be max-money makers.
The benefits for Detroit is that they've plateaued ever since Larry Brown left, and they needed a change. They get a two-time All-Star power forward in Boozer, two promising young shooting guards in Brewer & Almond, and a good locker-room guy in Collins. They get youth. The downside is their core still has good chemistry, and they're blowing it up, and who's to say they won't still lose Boozer in 2009? Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Billips, Brewer, Stuckey, Boozer, Wallace.
The benefits for Utah is they get some more experienced guys (Utah's one of the youngest teams in the league, which L.A. was able to exploit), a solid shooting shooting-guard, the lankiest 3-4 tandem in the league (AK would move to the 4 spot, which was his before Boozer showed up), and a little more payroll flexibility. The downside is they lose a two-time All-Star power forward and their only low-post threat, and Almond looks like a guy who could really blow up after setting records in the D-League last year. Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Williams, Hamilton, Prince, Kirilenko, Okur.
It would be quite the dice-roll for both teams.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Celtics up 2-0
There's a bit in Marc Cohn's song "Walking in Memphis" where he sings about a lady coming up to him and asking, "Are you a Christian?" and he sings "Ma'am, I am tonight!"
That's how I feel about my temporary Celtic-fan status. I love it. I love seeing Kevin Garnett on the brink of his first title after all those years of hard work. As a former Sonic fan, I'm happy for Ray Allen. I think of what Paul Pierce has been through, and here they are, up 2-0. And almost as important, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers are losing.
That's how I feel about my temporary Celtic-fan status. I love it. I love seeing Kevin Garnett on the brink of his first title after all those years of hard work. As a former Sonic fan, I'm happy for Ray Allen. I think of what Paul Pierce has been through, and here they are, up 2-0. And almost as important, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers are losing.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Pistons fire Flip Saunders
This is the second head coach in the last decade the Pistons have fired after the coach got that team to the Eastern Conference Finals. The logic I guess is that if Larry Brown could get a championship with this basic team, there must be another coach out there who can get another title out of them. That ignores how serendipitous the Larry Brown year was, running into a Laker team where Kobe and Shaq hated each other, Gary Payton's talent took a steep drop-off, and Karl Malone had injured his knee.
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