Friday, June 24, 2011

2011 NBA Draft, Trades, and Foreign Players Galore

06/24/11

Opinion:

Last night's NBA Draft was like nothing I've ever seen before.

I'm used to seeing the occasional trade involving current players, or even players and picks mixed in deals. But, last night was something else. There was a rash of trades like it was going out of style. To even keep the player you draft anymore is rare. The Houston Rockets for instance have only kept 2 of their draft picks since 2007.

The most shocking thing in my eyes when watching the Draft was all the foreign players getting drafted. It was like the new "cool" thing to do. Draft a guy who "looks" like he has potential, and stash them overseas for 3-5 years and hope it pans out. What does that do for the teams that need improvement NOW? I just can't come to grips with the way GM's are drafting these guys off of pure "potential". Looking at some of the footage of the upper tier of European players was baffling to me. They are going off of a small smaple size of footage, and the players size more than actual skill level. Who are those guys even playing anyway? Some look like they are playing high school players. Maybe Dirk had a big influence on these GM's when they saw what happens when you draft the "right" European player? Even so, isn't that the same boat you are in when looking at College Basketball players? Who know's, but it sure was something else watching foreign players who have averaged 0.7 pts per game (Chukwudiebere Maduabum) getting drafted over proven college players like David Lighty from Ohio St.

Trades that went down:

Kings, Bucks, Bobcats Trade:

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Stephen Jackson, Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston, and No. 19 Pick (Tobias Harris)

Charlotte Bobcats receive: Corey Maggette, and No. 7 pick (Bismack Biyombo)
Sacramento Kings receive: No. 10 pick (Jimmer Fredette), and John Salmons

Opinion:
The Kings in this trade have got to be kicking themselves when looking back. The Kings were originally in the No. 7 spot and with making this trade obviously thought PG Brandon Knight wouldn't be available. But, he was...and Knight fell to the Pistons at No. 8. The Kings would have loved to been able to snag Knight in that position. Therefore, this turns out to be a bad trade for the Kings. As for the Bobcats, it's not bad. They weren't going anywhere with Stephen Jackson anway, so you might as well start re-building...and they will start that rebuilding process with a good defensive player in Biyombo and a great leader in Kemba Walker. The Bucks got what they needed in this trade when they acquired a scorer in Stephen Jackson, and also a back up point guard in Shaun Livingston.

Pacers and Spurs Trade:

Indiana Pacers receive: George Hill

San Antonio Spurs receive: No. 15 pick (Kawhi Leonard), No. 42 pick (Davis Bertans), 2005 No. 46 pick (Erazem Lorbek)

Opinion:
Not sure what to think of this trade yet. If the Pacers keep Darren Collison it's tough to say who will get more playing time....Hill or Collison? As for the Spurs, they must have really loved Leonard, because Coach Popovich was enamored with Hill's skill. Time will tell whether or not this trade will pay off, but the Spurs did draft PG Cory Joseph late in the 1st round to potentially replace Hill.

Celtics and Nets Trade:

Boston Celtics receive: No. 27 pick (JaJuan Johnson), 2014 second-round pick
New Jersey Nets receive: No. 25 pick (MarShon Brooks)

Opinion:
Love the trade for both teams. They both check off needs for their teams, and the Celtics also acquire an extra pick down the line.

Minnesota and Houston Trade:

Minnesota Timberwolves receives: Brad Miller, No. 23 pick (Nikola Mirotic), future first-round pick
Houston Rockets receive: Jonny Flynn, No. 20 pick (Donatas Motiejunas), No. 38 pick (Chandler Parsons) - reacquisition

Opinion:
I couldn't even begin to figure out what either of these teams are really doing, so it's tought to say where this rates for either of them.

Blazers, Nuggets, and Mavericks Trade:

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Raymond Felton, No. 57 pick (Tanguy Ngombo)
Denver Nuggest receive: Andre Miller, No. 26 pick (Jordan Hamilton), future second-round pick
Dallas Mavericks receive: Rudy Fernandez, 2007 No. 30 pick (Petteri Koponen)
Opinion:
Win, win, and win for all three teams in my opinion. They all get parts to help out their respective teams. The Nuggets just keep piling on talent from the Carmelo trade....

Hornets and Knicks Trade:

New Orleans Hornets receive: Cash considerations

New York Knicks receive: No. 45 pick (Josh Harrellson)
Opinion:
Knicks need a big body, and they get one in Harrellson. Shouldn't have a problem making the roster, so it's worth the Knicks buying this pick.

Cavaliers and Magic Trade:

Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Two future second-round picks
Orlando Magic receive: No. 32 pick (Justin Harper)
Opinion:
Not a bad deal. Like it for the Magic, who need all the help they can get to convince Dwight Howard they are trying to win now, and keep him in Orlando.

Bobcats and Warriors Trade:

Charlotte Bobcats receive: Cash considerations
Golden State Warriors receive: No. 39 pick (Jeremy Tyler)
Opinion:
Worth the risk for the Warriors I suppose. He was once one of the highest recruited high school players before leaving overseas to play basketball.

Timberwolves and Heat Trade:

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: No. 31 pick (Bojan Bogdanovic)
Miami Heat receive: The rights to guard Norris Cole (No. 28 pick)

Opinion:
Like this for the Heat, they needed a decent backup point guard, and Cole fits that role. As for the Timberwolves...I can't even explain this, not one bit. You get a guy who is drafted 3 spots after your pick, and you get nothing else in that trade? Should have got at least some cash considerations, or a future 2nd round pick. Kahn at his best.

Lakers and Nuggets Trade:

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Future second-round pick
Denver Nuggets receive: No. 56 pick (Chukwudiebere Maduabum)
Opinion:
A guy who averaged 0.7 pts, I guess there is only upside from that point. What's crazy is more than 1 team wanted that guy.


It sure was an exciting night with everything that went on. It will be interesting to see how this so called "weak" class turns out.

2011 NBA Draft

 1st Round


1.CavaliersKyrie IrvingPG
2.TimberwolvesDerrick WilliamsPF
3.JazzEnes KanterC
4.CavaliersTristan ThompsonPF
5.RaptorsJonas ValanciunasC
6.WizardsJan VeselySF
7.KingsBismack BiyomboPF
8.PistonsBrandon KnightPG
9.BobcatsKemba WalkerPG
10.BucksJimmer FredettePG
11.WarriorsKlay ThompsonSG
12.JazzAlec BurksSG
13.SunsMarkieff MorrisPF
14.RocketsMarcus MorrisPF
15.PacersKawhi LeonardSF
16.76ersNikola VucevicC
17.KnicksIman ShumpertPG
18.WizardsChris SingletonSF
19.BobcatsTobias HarrisPF
20.TimberwolvesDonatas MotiejunasPF
21.Trail BlazersNolan SmithSG
22.NuggetsKenneth FariedPF
23.RocketsNikola MiroticSF
24.ThunderReggie JacksonPG
25.CelticsMarshon BrooksSG
26.MavericksJordan HamiltonSF
27.NetsJaJuan JohnsonPF
28.BullsNorris ColePG
29.SpursCory JosephPG
30.BullsJimmy ButlerSF




 2nd Round


1.HeatBojan BogdanovicSF
2.CavaliersJustin HarperPF
3.PistonsKyle SinglerSF
4.WizardsShelvin MackPG
5.KingsTyler HoneycuttSF
6.NetsJordan WilliamsC
7.ClippersTrey ThompkinsPF
8.RocketsChandler ParsonsSF
9.BobcatsJeremy TylerPF
10.BucksJon LeuerPF
11.LakersDarius MorrisPG
12.PacersDavis BertansSF
13.BullsMalcolm LeePG
14.WarriorsCharles JenkinsPG
15.HornetsJosh HarrellsonC
16.LakersAndrew GoudelockSG
17.ClippersTravis LeslieSG
18.HawksKeith BensonC
19.GrizzliesJosh SelbyPG
20.76ersLavoy AllenPF
21.Trail BlazersJon DieblerSG
22.PistonsVernon MacklinPF
23.MagicDeAndre LigginsSG
24.CavaliersMilan MacvanPF
25.CelticsE'Twaun MooreSG
26.LakersChukwudiebere MaduabumPF
27.MavericksTarguy NgomboSF
28.LakersAter MajokPF
29.SpursAdam HangaSG
30.KingsIsaiah ThomasPG

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Dirk & Mavericks Stop the Heat Cold and Steal Game 2

06/02/11

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks had no business winning Game 2, but that didn't stop them from doing just that.

The Mavericks won Game 2 of the NBA Finals 95-93 with a last second layup from Dirk Nowitzki, and send the series back to Dallas tied up 1-1.

What seemed like a sure thing for the Miami Heat coming down to the final 7 minutes in the 4th quarter and up by 15, the Mavericks made their signature come back. We saw Dallas do the same exact thing to the Oklahoma City Thunder, making an unlikely push late in the 4th to steal a big game.

The combination of the Dallas Maverick defense,poor shot choice by the Miami Heat led to a ridiculous 22-5 run to end the game and steal a huge game in Miami. Dirk Nowitzki led the way for the Dallas Mavericks scoring the last 9 pts of the game, and hit all the clutch shots Dallas needed to get a win. Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said it best after the game. ""That's about as tough a fourth quarter as you can have. When it started to slide, it just kept on going."

"The Big 3" for Miami played extremely well all game long, and combined for 68 of the 93 pts. Lebron, Bosh, and Wade all had their share of highlight dunks, put-backs, but in the end the Heat scored less than the Mavericks and that's all that counts. Dwyane Wade had the biggest game of the big 3 by scoring 36 pts, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Lebron James scored just 20 pts on just 15 shot attempts, but had 5 turnovers that really hurt the Heat down the stretch. Chris Bosh gave his critics another reason to say he's still a soft player, scoring only 12 pts on 4-16 shooting, and most of his shots coming from outside jump shots. He was anything but an inside force that the Miami Heat so desperately need from him. Bosh said this after the dissapointing loss: "We just didn't execute down the stretch," Bosh said. "There's no shock. There's disappointment. But the reality is the reality. We might as well get used to it and focus on the next one."

Going back to why we questioned Miami's possible deep run in the Playoffs from the start was the Miami depth, bench scoring ability, and the big man presence they lack. Throughout their run so far in the Playoffs we really haven't had much to question on those areas, but after tonights loss, I can't help but point to those areas of concern. Miami got a whopping 11 total pts from their bench, and 12 pts coming from their big men-if you count Bosh as that player, since Joel Anthony put up a goose egg in the scoring department. That's not going to cut it against a much deeper team in Dallas.

Like I said earlier, the Dallas Mavericks had no business whatsoever winning this game, period. They really didn't play well throughout the entire game, minus the last 7 minutes where they really focused on the task at hand. Dallas has to be one of the most resilient teams we've seen, getting wins when they aren't even playing well. Jason Terry had this to say after the game: ""You can just sense it in us that we weren't going to give up, we were going to be resilient." But, that's what great teams do, win even when they aren't at their best.

The Mavericks got great play once again out of Shawn Marion, who has revived his play in the Playoffs. Marion scored a much needed 20 pts on 9-14 shooting, adding 8 rebounds, with 3 of those being offensive rebounds. On an offense that at times looked lethargic, Marion gave the Mavericks that boost when they needed it, and his hustle really sparked the Mavericks down the stretch. Jason Terry also proved huge in the 4th quarter, scoring 8 of his 16 pts in the 4th quarter.

Jason Kidd had a very odd game, having 5 turnovers himself, but had 6 pts, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kidd hit a huge 3 pt shot that brought Dallas within 6 pts with 3:54 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki also having an odd game, losing 5 turnovers also. But, Dirk more than made up for it when he took over the game when it meant the most. Dirk ended up with 24 pts, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. His demeanor early on in the game just looked off, like he didn't have that killer instinct that he's been playing with all Playoffs long, until the 4th quarter. He came alive when he hit a shot with 2:44 left in the game, and got Dallas within 2 pts. He wouldn't miss after that, and was the entire offense for Dallas down the stretch. That's what great players do.

Moving onto Game 3, the series switches to Dallas for the next three games. Will Dallas come out the new NBA Champions at home, or will we see this series go 6 or 7 games?

Ask Mark Cuban, I'm sure he'll have your answer.

http://www.nba.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1106/finals.game2/content.12.html