Ich weiß, ich hinke ein wenig hinterher, aber ich wollte euch diesen sagenhaften Spielzug der Boston Celtics dennoch nicht vorenthalten. Möglicherweise war es der ‚Play of the Year‘, darüber lässt sich sicherlich streiten und wenn nicht, dann war er dennoch nicht minder spektakulär. Es freut mich auch zu sehen, dass Tony Allen offenbar wieder fit ist. Corey Brewer, you’ve been posterized!

Sehr sehenswert war auch der linkshändige Bounce Pass von Rajon Rondo (0:43) zu Tony Allen, der dann wiederum Kendrick Perkins unter dem Korb findet. Es lässt sich nicht leugnen, die Celtics spielen seh ansehnlichen Basketball.

]]> http://themixtapemonster.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/corey-brewer-embarasses-d-fish/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:59:05 +0000 The Mixtape Monster http://themixtapemonster.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/corey-brewer-embarasses-d-fish/ http://freshprinceoftheblog.com/2009/12/14/derek-fisher-you-got-served/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:30:18 +0000 JaCoB http://freshprinceoftheblog.com/2009/12/14/derek-fisher-you-got-served/

Corey Brewer and the Timberwolves got their butts handed to them on Friday night.

Even though the the Wolves lost the game, Brewer served up one of the biggest offerings of servation of the season.

The look on Derek Fisher’s face says it all. Don’t be embarassed Fish, you’re still a four-time NBA champion and one of the best winners in the league.

Ouch.

Had to post this Brewer Jam. If this dunk ins’t the dunk of the year, I’ll be very surprised.

Talk about a Facial….PAUSE. A note to Fisher – [This is what happens when you are tardy].

Corey Brewer’s young career hasn’t given him much time to fill up a highlight reel, but this sick dunk over the Lakers’ Derek Fisher will be foremost among his greatest hits.

Wow. He slams that home with AUTHORITY! Look how far Fisher goes stumbling and falling afterwards…dope!

I honestly don’t even know if this game deserves to be written about. It was disgusting and painful to waatch. I guess I’ll just put out the sort of effort the Rockets did tonight; I’ll get the job done but it may be ugly.

The 1st 7 minutes were excruciating to watch. There were 10 turnovers between the two teams. Shane Battier hit a 3 to make it 24 straight games with a made 3 for him. Finally the Rockets started to push the tempo a little; Aaron Brooks made a great pass to a sprinting Trevor Ariza who was fouled on a dunk attempt only :03 into the possession. You have to love that speed. Then Sideshow Dave made a left-handed hook in the lane and Kyle Lowry had a nice finish to end the quarter.

23 – 21 Houston after 1.

The 2nd quarter was just as ugly. The Rockets turned the ball over on 6 consecutive trips including 2 in a row by Chase Budinger (yes, he’s “Budinger” after this showing) and 2 travels by Carl Landry. TThey couldn’t even get a basket until Sideshow Dave hit a three-pointer 3:30 into the period.

Houston finally heated up a little to go on a 9 – 0 run in the middle of the 2nd but Al Jefferson kept the Wolves in it with a 7/7 shooting performance with 2 blocks. Chuck Hayes threw in a lefty scooping hook floater near the end of the half. If you’re confused as to what a “lefty scooping hook floater” is, that’s because I’ve never seen the shot he threw up and I am at a loss for words that it went in. That was about it for a grotesque half of 43% and 44% shooting respectively and 14 turnovers each.

48 – 42 Houston at the half.

The 3rd quarter looked like it would be more entertaining. The Wolves got within 3 but then Brooks, Ariza and Brooks again knocked down back-to-back-to-back threes to open the lead up. But then things returned to form when the Rockets decided to go to Ariza with the shot clock running out. He did his same crap-ass pump fake step-through and hit the side of the backboard. He is awful in one-on-one situations. The he was stripped by Corey Brewer who went the other way for a dunk. Brooks responded with the always effective turnover/technical combination. Then Ariza and Budinger missed an open layup each in the last :15 of the 3rd. 

68 – 67 Houston after 3.

Andersen and Battier hit back-to-back 3s in the beginning of the 4th. Al Jefferson finally missed a shot with 9:00 to go in the game. Landry kicked Jefferson in the face because Jefferson wouldn’t tell him who his dentist is.  Then the Rockets went on a 6 – 0 run to get it to 85 – 76. Chuck Hayes took his 4th charge of the night on Brewer. Scola had 20 and 16. Brooks had 15 turnovers. Landry stunk worse than this blog. A half-ass effort by the Rockets earns them a half-ass effort from me. Notice I’m not even seperating paragraphs anymore.

97 – 84 final score.

Simply put, NBAmate.com is one of the funniest and creative blogs out there. It is probably Australia’s best NBA blog. Here is the explanation of the Doubting Thomas Award:

Here at NBAMate, we love the underdog, the little “Aussie battler” (to use a colloquial term). So we thought, instead of turning our backs on the players who have tried so hard to fulfill our expectations and failed, why not celebrate them instead? In the spirit of Thomas the Apostle and Isiah Thomas, the most doubted NBA figure of the modern era, we proudly present the inaugural Doubting Thomas Award. An award to recognise the achievements of those who have achieved so little. An award to celebrate those players who have frustrated us beyond belief, yet leave us with a tinge of hope that maybe, just maybe, they’ll turn it around soon. Because let’s face it, no matter how many chances you’ve blown, there’s always the chance you won’t fuck up the next one.

You got to love “recognise” spelled with an S instead of Z.

Anyway, here is the rundown:

• Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks by Tizzle – NBAMate’s resident Knicks fan
• Patrick O’Bryant, Toronto Raptors by Loscy – Loscy Celtics Blog
  Yes yes, I am an absolute sucker for players that used to dress in Celtic green. Patrick O’Bryant made a cameo for the Celtics in the 2008-2009 season and was seen as a possible asset coming off the bench with length, defense, and youth: three things the Celtics bench desperately needed to defend their title from 2008. So what if he POB had absolutely nothing in his offensive repertoire and couldn’t even keep in front of a glass door on defense? So what if POB was constantly hurt? So what if he was the first lottery pick to be sent into the D-League in his inaugural season? So what if his then coach/GM at Golden State (Donnie boy!) told POB that he wasn’t getting any better at all and that he was a long-term project and a disappointment? So what if Golden State could have had Rajon Rondo or Kyle Lowry or Paul Milsap or Sergio Rodriguez or even Shannon Brown? So what if he was picked up by the Celtics and then shipped to Toronto for a measly future second round draft pick? I’m pulling for you big guy. Why? Mainly because Don Nelson is a meathead of a coach/GM/person and since he hated you, I therefore have to atomically root for you. Let’s dedicate ourselves to good solid defense in the paint, crashing the boards, and finishing on second chances. This Bud’s for you, #13.
• Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns by Paul – Two Sides of the Hoop
• Roko Ukic, Milwaukee Bucks by Romy – Hip Hoop Junkies
• Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves by Anton – The Sport Count
• Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns by Chucko – The Frustrated Suns Fan
• Marco Belinelli, Toronto Raptors by Mookie – A Stern Warning
• Chris Quinn, Miami Heat by Jobba – NBAMate’s resident draft expert
• JJ Redick, Orlando Magic by Ryan – Two Sides of the Hoop
• Kwame Brown, Detroit Pistons by Robd – NBAMate Captain

I mean seriously… what a freakin’ list of players. Maybe Chris Wallace will sign all of them for a mega-bust team?!?!?

Final words from RobD over at NBAmate.com:

What an exclusive list of players that is. If after reading that you feel the urge to ram your head through your PC monitor, then don’t stress – that is the typical reaction of having to visualize these guys on a basketball court. It’s also quite a broad mix of talent. Some of these players find themselves within the regular rotation – or *gasp* even the starting line ups – for their respective teams. Others seem destined to be warming the bench, praying that a teammate of theirs will be severely injured so they can finally get some decent minutes. Whatever their situation, one thing is clear: the only way is up. So tune in for the first Doubting Thomas Rankings, near the end of the month, to see how they’re faring on their road to redemption.

It’s a great idea, and I’m flattered/honored/excited for the chance to join these other folks in a little underdog jostling. I’ll be sure to update you each month when we have our rundowns, but for now, peep at what others are writing– it’s good stuff.

For Regular 12-team H2H

Anthony Morrow is somehow only 22 per cent owned in Yahoo leagues right now, below injured players such as Francisco Garcia and Mike Dunleavy Jr. I know his early averages have been nothing to cheer about (12.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg) but for anybody in need of shooting percentage help from the wings (and buckets of treys while at it), Morrow is your man. He broke out against Memphis going for 24 points on 83.3 per cent (!) shooting, 4-4 from long range. Don’t expect that every game, but if he evan halves that production consistently he’s worth a pickup for those looking for speciality help in those cats.

DeJuan Blair again is worth a look for speciality needs. Particularly if your league counts offensive rebounds, his 3.3 per game would offset decidedly poor FT numbers. His .704 from the field is nice however, and overall 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 0.5 steals in only 20 minutes a game are gaudy numbers any way you slice it.

Roy Hibbert is sitting at 51 per cent owned right now, meaning just over half of the owners out there are cluing in. Expect that number to rise precipitously over the next week. With Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy both hampered by injury, Hibbery has posted back-to-back massive double-doubles in his last games, hauling in 15-14 and 14-12 along with averaging 3 swats over that stretch. There is no reason not to expect more of the same going forward.

Corey Brewer is shooting an atrocious .364 from the field. If you can live with that however, and his equally traumatizing 53 per cent from the charity stripe, he might single-handidly win you the steals category. Brewer is averaging an insane 2.6 steals per game along with 1 block, 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. His contributions in the valuable hustle categories definitely make him viable for a team with enough solid shooters to hide Brewer’s brick laying tendencies.

Ben Wallace is back. Don’t look now, but Big Ben has returned to at least a partial shadow of his old self, averaging 10 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Teams in deep leagues needing big man stats could definitely do worse. Wallace’s 4.2 points on 61 per cent shooting also won’t do any real damage, while his signature achilles (50 per cent FT shooting) is mitigated by him averaging only one trip to the line per game.

Beno Udrih should see starters minutes with the recent announcement that Kevin Martin will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured left wrist. Although Andres Nocioni should also see an uptick in numbers, it will probably be Udrih who gets fills Martin’s missing court time as Tyreke Evans slides to the shooting guard position. Udrih had 16 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a win against Memphis this week and followed that up with a 14 points performance against Atlanta. Although decidedly inconstant in his decision making, as a fantasy option Udrih has always produced decent numbers given adequate minutes. Expect averages close to 12 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists with nearly a steal, nearly a three and decent percentages all-around. For 6-8 weeks, at least.

Ross Geiger’s NBA Season Award Predictions

Most Valuable Player:

1. 1. LeBron James- It’s pretty simple for King James, improve upon last year’s record of 66-16 and carry his team to the top spot in the Eastern Conference. If he can do that, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be handed back-to-back MVP honors. That’s a lot to ask for right? Wrong, if he can do it last year, there’s no reason to expect anything less from him year with the Cavs dramatically strengthening their depth surrounding him. The only one who can stop LeBron from grabbing two straight MVPs is LeBron. PERIOD
2. 2. Dwight Howard- There’s been much talk that Dwight has improved his overall offense game this offseason, if that can be put on displayed immediately along alongside the direct results in the win column, Dwight has a legit shot at making his case for MVP. Already the most dominating big man in the game today, leading the league in both rebounds and blocks last year, if he can continue to be league leader in both rebounds and blocks while continuing to improve his scoring average and free throw percentage, makes himself a prime candidate, if hasn’t already done so.
3. 3. Kevin Durant- This should be the year Kevin Durant, absolutely blows up. If so, he not only put himself in a position to become involved in the MVP talks but should also put his team in a position to possibly make the playoffs. Though I put Durant 3^rd on MVP candidate list, even if the Thunder aren’t a championship caliber team, if the Thunder make the playoffs, Durant could make an exception to the unwritten MVP rule.

Honorable Mention: Kobe Bryant & Andre Iguodala

Sixth Man of the Year:

1. 1. Manu Ginobili- While adding Richard Jefferson should take a little pressure of Ginobili’s expectations to score, Manu still needs to provide a scoring spark off the San Antonio bench. Ginobili if finally back to full health, the Manu of old, should be as good as new this year. If you don’t believe me ask Charles Barkley and he’ll respond, “GGINNOOOBILLLLIII”.
2. 2. Leandro Barbosa- Call it a “homer” pick, I don’t care, but fact is Barbosa could find away to come up with his second Sixth Man of the Year honor. With Coach Gentry leading the team back into the direction of the “7 Seconds or Less” mentality, Barbosa being one of the top three fastest players in the league, has to be in the running for Sixth Man. The Brazilian Blur is counted upon to score in bunches off the bench for the high octane Suns, a team that averaged 117.7 ppg after the coaching change. So let’s do that math, nearly 118 points, dare I say Barbosa contribute nearly 18 to 20 each game this year? Just think about it…
3. 3. Jason Terry- It’s never hard or incorrect to throw “The Jets” name out in Sixth Man talks, he’s been one of the best in the business for years. I think Shawn Marion’s ability to help the Mavs run more only helps Terry’s ability to find more acceptable time, if the Mavs decide to go small on teams. The faster the Mavs pace their offense the more touches and opportunities Terry will get to light it up from the floor. It’s possible Terry could go onto winning the honor for the second straight year.

Honorable Mention: Ben Gordon & (tie) Daequan Cook/Hakim Warrick (if he ends up coming off the bench for the majority of the season)

Rookie of the Year:

1. 1. Blake Griffin- I’m not a fan of Griffin, I think at best he’ll end up being the next Kenyon Martin in terms of ability. But it’s hard to go against the number one pick who despite the depth should find plenty of opportunity with the Clippers.
2. 2. Brandon Jennings- Many would call it a stretch, but I’d like to point out, if the Bucks veterans stay healthy, he should be able to be successful with their help. NBA veterans Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, Carlos Delfino, Kurt Thomas, and Hakim Warrick already believe in the young kid’s ability and should help keep the game simple for the second year pro (yeah, I said it). If Jennings’s leadership proves to help the Bucks battle for a final playoff spot, something nobody has predicted (but me) then he could become quite a surprise for Rookie of the Year honors.
3. 3. Terrence Williams- An interesting pick, but not out of the question if team success is not part of the picture. To be fair, none of this year’s potential rookie of the year candidates have a good chance at making the playoffs (don’t think DeRozan is a top rook stat-wise), so Williams actually has an upper edge on all the rest. The Nets are set on rebuilding and with on the pathetic Bobby Simmons in Williams’s way, he should find time to put up numbers. So far in the preseason, Williams has shown vast improvements and has been getting tons of touches. Had to put Terrence Williams here, so if he does it, I can say, I told ya so!

Honorable Mention: Tyreke Evans & (tie) Stephen Curry/Jonny Flynn

Most Improved Player Award:

1. 1. Anthony Randolph
2. 2. Roy Hibbert
3. 3. Channing Frye

Honorable Mention: Courtney Lee & Corey Brewer

Defensive Player of the Year:

1. 1. Dwight Howard
2. 2. Caron Butler
3. 3. Ron Artest

Honorable Mention: Tyrus Thomas & Mario Chalmers

Coach of the Year:

1. 1. Flip Saunders- Washington Wizards
2. 2. Doc Rivers- Boston Celtics
3. 3. Scott Brooks- Oklahoma City Thunder

Honorable Mention: Alvin Gentry (Phoenix Suns) & Scott Skiles (Milwaukee Bucks)

Executive of the Year:

1. 1. Donnie Nelson (Dallas Mavericks)
2. 2. Ernie Grunfeld (Washington Wizards)
3. 3. Danny Ferry (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Honorable Mention: Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics) & RC Buford (San Antonio Spurs)

By Justin Cherot

THE NBA IS BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!

And, you know, we here at Pick and Pop try to keep it as fresh and quirky as possible.  So, my plan for the next 32 (or some odd) days is to not break down how a team will do.  That’s for sportswriters with degrees and such, although I guess a night before the season tips off Colin and I will do something like that. 

Instead, I’m giving every single player in the league, even some guys that won’t even make the roster, a little ink.  Because not all players are created (and adored) equally by yours truly, some will have much longer anecdotes/analysis or what have you than others.  Case and point: would it be fair to give Dirk Nowitzki and Adam Morrison the same amount of space?  I haven’t gotten that far yet, but I’m willing to bet I won’t do that.

I guess to make sure the pecking order of the NBA isn’t completely ruined, I’m going to go in ascending order in terms of how I predict the teams will finish.  We stay in the NBA’s lower echelon (wondering if things will eventually stop looking so putrid) with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Star

Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson is a scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking manbeast. But it's still going to be a long season. Photo courtesy emptythebenches.com

When he left the Boston Celtics in 2007, I knew the boy was good.  What I didn’t know was that he was 23, 11 and two blocks good.  True, his numbers are probably inflated because 1) he’s on an awful team (fourth worst in the league is a gift from me to David Kahn because, quite frankly, why kick him when he’s already down) and 2) he’s the offensive equivalent of a black hole.  As long as he stays healthy, he may put up even better numbers now that he has two legit NBA point guards feeding him the ball.

The Other Starters

Kevin Love

First off, I’d like to say that I owe the man an apology for a little rant I wrote early into the 2007-08 college basketball season.  I think that was just my angry reaction to UCLA getting into Maryland’s rectum that night.  But, I’ve changed.  I promise.  Anyway, he damn near averaged a double-double and only got 25 minutes a night.  While his ceiling (and vertical) are certainly lower than most of the rookies in his class, I’ve for certain changed my opinion about Love and see him being a solid NBA starter for many years to come.  Oh, and to all you announcers out there: his uncle was a Beach Boy.  We get it.  Move on.

Ramon Sessions

Unfortunately, it looks like the Sessions signing is going to disqualify Jonny Flynn from ROY consideration.  Flynn’s skill combined with the T’Wolves obvious lack of depth at the two guard position will probably have the two of them on the floor together, which will cause nightmares for teams in trying to stop their penetration.  I’ve only truly seen him play a couple times, and I remember Sessions being a decent shooter.  But, what was it that Jay-Z said?  Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.  And Sessions is probably has the least range among NBA starting point guards.

Damien Wilkins

Wilkins is what we call a “cosmetic starter”, meaning that sure, he’ll start the games, but Gerald’s kid is going to lose time to Flynn, Cory Brewer and, in my opinion the eventual starting two, Wayne Ellington.

Corey Brewer

ESPN.com (have I learned yet?) actually has Ryan Gomes penciled in as the starting three man, which conflicts their report within his profile that Brewer practiced with the first team.  Truthfully, I believe they should go with Brewer, because they have to figure out if he can play.  I liked him coming out of college, more or less because he reminded me of Josh Howard.  Offensively, he’s not there yet, but if he can play defense like he did at Florida, Brewer will make it in this league.

Bench

Jonny Flynn

Yeah, Flynn may miss out on Rookie of the Year, but he may get enough minutes and do enough damage to be in consideration for 6th Man of the Year.  To me he seems like a poor man’s Chris Paul: less floor vision, more scorer’s mentality.  The consolation prize for the ‘Wolves in the draft may end up being better than the main prize… but, of course, my daughter Cadence may be in college by the time we find out.

Ryan Gomes

I feel bad for Gomes.  Really, I do.  He’d be a great player to have coming off the bench for a good team.  Unfortunately, he keeps getting caught in crap rebuilding situations, and since his game isn’t predicated on doing any one thing at an “A” level, GMs undervalue him.  He won’t finish out the season as a starter, and I have a feeling he’s due for a dip this season.

Ryan Hollins

Out of Brandon Bass, James Singleton and Ryan Hollins, Hollins was the guy I most wanted to come back as a Mavericks’ fan.  You may think I’m crazy, especially when Bass is a starting four for more than half the league, but I loved his energy off the bench, especially against the Spurs in last year’s playoffs.  Ry-Ho will be missed, but the ‘Wolves are getting a warrior on the defensive end… not literally because that would be oxymoronic… because the Warriors don’t play any defense… sorry it’s 12:45 in the morning.

Wayne Ellington

Out of all the Tar Heels who went into the draft, Ellington has the most upside.  You know what you’re going to get from Tyler “I haven’t played a game and I’m in an AT&T commercial, how cool am I?” Hansborough, and Ty Lawson’s height and lack of athleticism are going to ultimately hinder his chances at becoming anymore than a “change of pace” guard.  Ellington?  Boy can flat out drill it, and he can do so off the dribble fairly well.  With a slightly quicker release and some work defensively, Ellington will be, at the very worst, a Morris Peterson type of player with an outside shot at being a Michael Redd late-bloomer.

Sasha Pavlovic 

Honestly, Sasha’s game is underrated.  He can fill it up if given the minutes, and while he’s not a great defender, he’s usually solid.  Usually.  Watch the video below.  If you’re not a fan of the song “Kryptonite”, which may have been one of the most unneccesarily overplayed “get high” songs in hip-hop history, just put the thing on mute and wait for the very last highlight of Dwyane Wade.  Unfortunately, I have to remind myself that Pavlovic is a decent NBA player everytime I see that highlight.

Antonio Daniels 

You would think things would be okay if Daniels was your third point guard… but it’s just further proof that David Kahn is obsessed with point guards. 

Oleksiy Pecherov

If his first two seasons in Washington are any indication of what to expect from OP as a T’Wolf, Love needs to get in better shape.  He might set an NBA single-season record for minutes played if Pecherov is his back-up.

Brian Cardinal

Looking at these salaries is starting to upset me. 

Mark Blount

This is coming from a person who lives, breathes and sleeps basketball: there has GOT to be a better way to spend $8 million.

Oh, and by the way: Colin is alive and well.  In fact, he wanted me to let you guys know that the NHL season started tonight and he’s sorry he didn’t get the chance to preview it.  Let’s see… let me channel my inner-Colin for a second… what would he say?

Got it.

The Washington Capitals become the first team to go undefeated during the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs… only to lose in the finals to Detroit Redwings.  In four.  Would that be a kick in the nuts or what?

NBA Preview Archives

30. Sacramento Kings

29. New Jersey Nets

28. Milwaukee Bucks

The uncertainty that surrounds the Minnesota Timberwolves is rivaled only by the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the Michael Jackson toxicology results. The recently sacked Kevin McHale may be regarded as the worst general manager ever in the history of the Association and as this week’s hiring of former Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis shows, the Wolves are a team in transition.

Minnesota had a dismal 2008-09 season. The fallout began when the aforementioned McHale traded the draft rights to O.J. Mayo and several scrubs for the draft rights to Kevin Love and cash considerations. Mayo had a stellar rookie year, averaging over 20 points per game for the Memphis Grizzlies, while Love languished on the Minnesota bench.

After the inevitable firing of then head coach Randy Whitman, McHale took over as head coach. After losing Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer for the entire year, the Wolves carousel of progress came to a screeching halt. Minnesota finished the season on a 7-25 runa nd wound up with a 24-58 record.

As this article is meticulously penned, Corey Brewer is the team’s longest tenured player. The former University of Florida swingman led the Gators (Chomp! Chomp!) to two national championships and was even named MVP of the second game.  The team features Chucky Atkins and Bobby Brown (no, not that Bobby Brown) at guard, but another curious draft masterminded by McHale severs to shake things up at guard.

Minnesota selected Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio in the first round of the 2009 draft. Two picks, two point guards. Then McHale added Wayne Ellington, another guard, with the team’s second round pick. The roster serves to be shaken up again.

The only player who is a lock to start for the Timberwolves is the talented Al Jefferson. Jefferson was the centerpiece of the Kevin Garnett trade and is coming off a season where he averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Brewer and Love figure to be in the mix as do Flynn, Rubio, and Ellington. Although Rubio can choose not to opt out of his Spanish contract and remain in the homeland of Sergio Garcia.

Timberwolves fans long for the glory days of the Kevin Garnett era. The self proclaimed “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” power forward was a no nonsense player, the greatest to ever wear the Minnesota uniform. Perhaps KG’s “it’s not about me… it’s about us” mantra will rub off on the young Wolves of the Corey Brewer era.

¿Puedes llamar a un doctor? Un pastor alemán me mordío en la pierna izquierda.

Dieci anni fa, era il 1999, final four di Eurolega a Monaco. La semifinale era il derby bolognese,  Virtus  contro Fortitudo. Vinsero le v nere, come regola voleva nelle partite importanti: 62-57, con 16 punti di Nesterovic e Danilovic col fumogeno in mano (poi  si perse  la finale con la Zalgiris di Stombergas, ma è altra storia). 
Estate 2009, la Fortitudo vive un incubo concreto nella sostanza (retrocessione, mancata affiliazione alla legadue, ipotesi A dilettanti ad alto rischio causa debiti, lodi ed affitti non pagati), eppure surreale per chi ne ha seguito la storia (i movimenti di Gilberto Sacrati, da due anni a questa parte, restano un mistero incomprensibile ai più). Ne parleremo, forse, fra qualche giorno, quando si capirà cosa succederà veramente ad una società che quattro anni fa era in finale scudetto e l’anno prima, lo scudetto, lo vinceva. 
Serve, tuttavia, partire dalla F per arrivare all’attualità Virtus. Un’attualità caotica come spesso è accaduto nei sei anni di Claudio Sabatini. Dal 2003, quando salvò la Virtus dal fallimento  (va ripetuto perchè molti lo dimenticano: la Virtus  Bologna non è mai fallita. Il palazzo le tolse l’affiliazione e su quello che accade all’epoca avremo molto da dire , ma il fallimento fu evitato) ad oggi.
Sei anni, con due campionati di Legadue, la promozione a Montegranaro col canestro di  Corey Brewer, la finale scudetto, il ritorno in eurolega, tre finali di coppa italia (perse tutte con qualche sasso nella scarpa) e la vittoria in Eurochallenge.  Un’ultima stagione con alti e bassi, sostanziosa eppure ricca di rimpianti (colpa nostra) e polemiche (Minucciane) per quello che poteva essere (visto il valore altrui). Nel mezzo tanto  di buono (un settore giovanile tornato ad essere orgoglio e fondamenta della società, eventi ed organizzazioni rari, se non unici oggi, in Italia), stravaganze assortite (maraglio day, happy hour durante i Play Off, allenamenti pre-finale in Piazza Maggiore) e dichiarazioni provocatorie destinate a creare malumori (dall’addio a Markovksy ai casi Di Bella e Michelori, le polemiche- giuste per chi scrive- con qualsiasi presidente di lega poi regolarmente cacciato, sino all’evitabile gestione comunicativa  al termine della stagione scorsa, con accuse a certo pubblico, rilascio immediato di una bandiera come Giovannoni, continui paragoni con i fortitudini e arzigogoli vari).  
Nel mentre mette la società in vendita, ma gli unici a farsi avanti sono quattro curiosi individui, poi mutati nel duo Bergamini-Tonelli (dell’altra metà sappiamo che tal Lorenzo Gaidella ha a carico alcuni protesti, regolarmente messi sul sito Virtus da Patron Claudio), disponibile a versare contanti il 19 Giugno, ma, causa vari impicci (spesso raccontati tramite fax da sale giochi romagnole) impossibilitato a farlo sino al 15 Luglio. Così è, se vi pare: Claudio, nemmeno controvoglia, forse, va avanti, polemizza con tre quarti del roster, vende Langford e mette paletti chiari sulla futura stagione. Intanto, però, prende Lino Lardo come coach, Gm diventa l’ottimo Massimo Faraoni e porta all’Arcoveggio due dei cinque migliori del campionato scorso (Collins e Moss) più un fedele di Lardo come Leroy Hurd.
Intanto la Fortitudo annega e Sabatini annuncia che “posso affittarla per un anno. Metto a posto i conti e poi la restituisco ai tifosi o a chi la vorrà“. La Fossa Dei Leoni, dopo un primo comunicato in cui chiedeva a Sacrati di pagare i debiti (..??…) e citava la Virtus Castelmaggiore, invita il Divino Claudio (come proprietario della Virtus Bologna, improvvisamente tornata ad essere ciò che è…) a partecipare allo Stato Generale Del Tifo Fortitudo, evento (?) a cui ci saranno tutti, tranne i dirigenti biancoblu. Ed oggi arrivano i lodi (Forte, ma anche Mancinelli, la bandiera) e forse si capisce che Sacrati, poveretto, i soldi proprio non li ha, mentre Osimo si domanda quale sia stata la regola seguita per iscrivere i bolognesi alla A Dilettanti. 
Eppure, a testimoniare che Basket City, seppur in questa situazione, resta Basket City (e non parliamo solo di cifre, con Virtus abbondantemente prima come numero di spettatori e Fortitudo terza nel campionato 2008-2009) abbiamo avuto svariate e seguitissime conferenze stampe tv, fra cui la presentazione della campagna abbonamenti bianconera che, fortunatamente, è andata meglio di quanto funerei personaggi si auspicavano dopo le polemiche recenti. Un interesse vivo e fecondo, quello alla base, spesso stuprato da personaggi che della pallacanestro sanno poco o nulla, interessati a costruire ipotetici palazzi (parco delle stelle con pista da sci annessa: questo il sogno di Gil-torbato-Sacrati) o a proporre progetti quantomeno curiosi (la riviera solare, obiettivo della cordata respinta da Sabatini).  Poi ci sono i comportamenti di altri, discutibili spesso, che tuttavia da sei anni mantengono la Virtus su binari economici perfetti, senza rischi o paure.  Che questo sia poco, oggi, è tutto da dimostrare, soprattutto senza banche o mecenati alle spalle, anche se qualche silenzio in più gioverebbe a tutti.

Ricky Rubio.

A sexy name for a guy with a sexy game.

The basketball analysts were salivating over the Spanish sensation. A European Pistol Pete? Judging from his YouTube clips, the kid makes passes like a confident drunk at the bar. I want me some of that. Surprisingly, the Grizzlies, Thunder, and Kings were willing to pass.

Timberwolves President David Kahn was looking like a genius for not trading up to draft his prized point guard. But did the other teams know something he didn’t? Considering Rubio’s contract buyout situation with DKV Joventut, maybe they did.

Whether Ricky shows up or not, the Wolves are going to be terrible this season. If you thought 2008-09 was bad, just wait until you see their record for 2009-10. As scary as it sounds, their best option at shooting guard is likely rookie Wayne Ellington. And as for the small forward, Ryan Gomes (who’s in all honesty backup) is one of only two players who even have the build to play that position (the other being Corey Brewer).

It’s not going to be pretty folks. As much as you may think Rubio could salvage the season, he plays best in an up-and-down system where he can see the whole court to work his Harry Potter wizardry. What do you expect him to do with Big Al and Kevin Love slowing things up down low? It’d be like watching a Ferrari sludging around in a mud pit. It’s just not going to work.

What the Wolves need to have any success is a point guard who can get it done in the half-court set. A slasher who’s strong enough to finish at the rim or dump it to Al and Love. He also has to have enough of a jump shot so that defenders couldn’t slouch off and help out on the big fellas. Oh, and it’d be nice if he could play defense considering the big boys like watching the ball go through the hoop on both ends of the court. Too bad Kahn wasn’t daring enough to draft two point guards in a row and take Jonny Flynn. That guy would be a perfect fit.

What? You’re telling me Kahn did take Flynn right after Rubio? That’s genius.

Flynn fits the system and will be a good backup plan if Ricky doesn’t come. Even if Ricky does come, I don’t think fans and coaches will be able to deny that Jonny is actually the guard that belongs on the Wolves after they see the two play. With Jonny’s charisma and leadership, he reminds me of a mini-KG. Plus he speaks very good English, a trait I like in a point guard on a team that has no foreign-born players who will play a significant role.

Take a look at Jonny “Upstairs” Flynn and tell me he’s not going to be a solid point in this league.

Ladies and gentlemen, Jonny Flynn has been overlooked in this whole process and it’s a shame. He may not have all the flashy passes that Ricky does, but Ricky isn’t going to cause anyone make that ugly face when he throws it down. Ricky isn’t going to drive through the lane and draw an and-1. And because of their lack of athleticism, Ricky isn’t going to be able to lob many alley-oops to Kevin Love and Big Al.

Face it, Jonny is the best option there is for the Wolves’ future unless the team undergoes a roster reconstruction of massive proportions. Don’t be too upset if Ricky doesn’t show up in Minneapolis this year. Barring a serious injury, his stock is only going to rise the longer he plays in Europe. Once we all finally realize Jonny is a stud and isn’t going to go anywhere, we can use Ricky as a huge trading piece to bring in players that fit with a solid core of Jonny, Al, and Kevin, who will have a year of playing together under their belts.

Sexy sells, but as much as we’re infatuated by it, sometimes sexy isn’t suitable for certain situations.

-MD

The NBA draft went down last night and of course I have to sound off about something that happened. My target for this rant will be Ricky Rubio, the18-year old kid from Spain, who went number five to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He has a ton of “upside” and is a very talented young player. But news has it now that since Minnesota, a small market team, has picked him he is thinking about staying in Spain to work on his game.

I say this, Ricky Rubio, if you were picked by the New York Knicks at eight, or if they traded up to pick you, or if scouts actually thought you were better than Blake Griffin and worthy of the number one pick and playing in Los Angeles, you would not be thinking about going back to Spain to play. I say shutup and just play for the NBA team who picked you.

You were passed on by four teams and Minnesota took you at five. Obviously they thought they might run into some type of scenario where you wouldn’t want to sign with them so they smartly covered themselves by picking another point-guard in Johnny Flynn from Syracuse.

Some rumors have the Timberwolves now trading Rubio to somewhere he is willing to play. Again New York comes up in every discussion you hear.

I just hate it when players throw a fit over who picked them and don’t want to play for certain teams. One example that jumps right to the front of my mind is what happened in the 2004 NFL Draft. Eli Manning was drafted number one by the San Diego Chargers, but demanded he would not sign with them and wanted to play for the New York Giants. The Chargers picked him at one and the Giants picked Phillip Rivers at four and the two teams then struck a deal to swap the picks.

I am here to tell Minnesota to stand their own and not let Rubio talk them into making a deal too fast. If Rubio really wants to play at the highest level of basketball, which is why he would enter the NBA draft in the first place, he will not go back to Spain.

The future of Timberwolves basketball will look very bright, with Ricky Rubio, Johnny Flynn, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith and Wayne Ellington, their other first-round pick ,as the nucleus of the team. The oldest player in that group is Gomes at 26, so this young team could compete, even in the tough Western Conference for many years.

I hope that Rubio comes to his senses and decides that you can’t always pick where you play. The Timberwolves picked you so play for them. I don’t see it ending this way though so I suspect he will be traded to some team he is willing to play for before the season starts.

Again I say good thing the T-Wolves covered themselves by picking another terrific point-guard in Johnny Flynn.

-Mark-

P.S. Check out my own personal blog at www.collegefanz.com/blogs/aroundpennstatesports and leave some comments on it.

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter where you draft. Great players are often left waiting until the second round, if they’re drafted at all. A high lottery pick doesn’t guarantee a thing. Upside can confuse. Wingspans can distract. Big mistakes can be made, even by the best-intentioned general managers.

#10 | Mouhamed Sene | Seattle Supersonics | 2006

Other Notables Mistakes At #10: Keyon Dooling, Orlando Magic, 2000 | Jarvis Hayes, Washington Wizards, 2003 | Luke Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2004

Remember that thing about wingspans? Sene was a clasically raw Senegalese shot-blocker with a ridiculous wingspan (7′8″) and an appropriate expectation of upside attached.

Sene clearly couldn’t play, expending all his energy racking up fouls and looking confused. It took just three months for the Sonics to boot him to the D-League. Since then, he was waived, then picked up by the Knicks in 2009. In other words, he was cheap, tall, and New York wanted to keep salaries low.

#9 | Michael Sweetney | New York Knicks | 2003

Other Notables Mistakes At #9: Patrick O’Bryant, Golden State Warriors, 2006 | Rodney White, Detroit Pistons, 2001

The Knicks, for all their recent failures, have done well at the draft, picking up Wilson Chandler, David Lee, and Nate Robinson towards the back end of the selections. The Sweetney pick was not one of their successes.

Battling constant weight problems in his rookie year, their ninth pick gave them 42 uninspiring games.

Sweetney was semi-serviceable in his second year (19 minutes, 8 points, 5 boards), but was never fit enough to contribute consistently. He was used as salary fodder in the trade that sent Eddy Curry to Chicago, and Sweetney has been wearing suits for the Bulls since.

#8 | Rafael Araújo | Toronto Raptors | 2004

Other Notables Mistakes At #8: DeSagana Diop, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2001 | Joe Alexander, Milwaukee Bucks, 2008

Befitting their status as the only non-US team, Toronto are an international franchise. They pride themselves on their worldly scouts. When it comes time to pull the trigger on an oversized white man who’ll undoubtedly struggle against superior NBA competition, the Raptors don’t hesitate.

Araújo wasn’t any good when he was drafted, and he never got any better. In his rookie year, he averaged 3 points and 3 boards; a slightly better contribution than what he offered to the Jazz in his last year in the league, three seasons later. Oversized, a bad shooter, and consistently incompetent at fundamental basketball tasks, Araújo was a badly wasted opportunity, drafted ahead of Andre Iguodala (9th) and Al Jefferson (15th).

#7 | Corey Brewer | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2007

Other Notables Mistakes At #7: Eddie Griffin, Houston Rockets, 2000 | Chris Mihm, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2000

With his sophomore season cut to just 15 games after knee surgery, it may be a little premature to proclaim Brewer a bust.

But it’s not far off. Brewer joined a terrible Timberwolves team, ripe for rookie playing time, a starting spot his for the taking. He responded by delivering 6 points (at 37.5%), 4 boards and a cheeky steal in 22 minutes.

#6 | Robert Traylor | Dallas Mavericks | 1998

Other Notables Mistakes At #6: DerMarr Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, 2000 | Dajuan Wagner, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2002 | Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers, 2005 | Yi Jianlian, Milwaukee Bucks, 2006

Note to Wolves fans: sorry. You really don’t want the 6th pick in the draft. Where teams become desperate for an upside pick, while struggling to find a guy ready to play right now. It’s a bad spot.

But the nod goes to ‘Tractor’ Traylor. Able to dominate despite — and partly because of — his weight in college, Traylor was a mess playing against professional athletes. While his natural ability was clear, his inability not to be fucking enormous limited his playing time and contributions. He was waived by Cleveland after the 2004-05 season, going on to have aorta surgery, and a failed stint with the Nets.

#5 | Nikoloz Tskitishvili | Denver Nuggets | 2002

Other Notables Mistakes At #5: Jonathan Bender, Toronto Raptors, 1999 | Shelden Williams, Atlanta Hawks, 2006

If the Nuggets had snagged Tskitishvili in the middle of the second round, he may have been a nice pick-up. But as such an early pick, taken ahead of Nenê Hilario (7th), Amar’e Stoudemire (9th) and Caron Butler (10th), Tskitishvili was an abomination. Career stats: 11 minutes, 3.0 points, 1.8 rebounds (at 7′0″), 30.4% from the field (unbelievable), and nothing else.

Presumably inspired by the Dirk Nowitzki pick in 1998, the Nuggets were looking for size combined with a stroke. Big Niko had the former, and emphatically lacked the latter.

#4 | Marcus Fizer| Chicago Bulls | 2000

Other Notables Mistakes At #4: Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls, 2001

Fizer was drafted into a Chicago frontcourt already packed full of Elton Brand. Despite the lacklustre situation, he received 22 minutes per outing in his rookie year, and gave back 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds. Not good, but not horrible.

He never got any better. Never developed. Ended up playing in Israel, where the standard of play suited.

#3 | Adam Morrison | Charlotte Bobcats | 2006

Other Notables Mistakes At #3: Raef LaFrentz, Denver Nuggets, 1998

If Bobcats fans existed, the city of Charlotte would be bathed in tears whenever Morrison’s sad little mouse face popped up on their television sets, his slumped body hung next to the Lakers bench.

What a monumentally bad choice: a weak, defensively appalling shooter taken ahead of Tyrus Thomas (4th), Brandon Roy (6th) and Rudy Gay (8th). 2006 was a notoriously weak draft pool, but the Bobcats found a way to turn ill-fortune into a self-made embarrassment.

Morrison was given the green light as a rookie, rarely benched despite his 37.6% clip combining with a stunning lack of rebounding effort or playmaking ability. He was happily sent to the Lakers for a guy no one in Los Angeles liked (Vladimir Radmanovic), gifting Morrison one of the least-deserved championship rings in the history of the sport.

#2 | Marvin Williams | Atlanta Hawks | 2005

Other Notables Mistakes At #2: Stromile Swift, Vancouver Grizzlies, 2000 | Jay Williams, Chicago Bulls, 2002 (a wise pick, but turned out terribly once Williams nearly killed himself in a motorcycle accident in 2003) | Darko Miličić, Detroit Pistons, 2003

Marvin Williams is yet to show he’s a bust. He continues to improve, recently developing an accurate three-point shot, and sporadically staying with his man on the defensive end. But he’s yet to show he can really play. Yet to show he isn’t expendable. Yet to justify his high selection.

Especially when that pick came with Deron Williams (3rd) and Chris Paul (4th) still available. But even in a weaker draft, Williams was a reach. Stromile Swift may have been a bigger bust, but in terms of disappointment — and injury to a franchise — the Marvin pick takes it.

Special mention should go to Darko Miličić*, a wretched creature who has, at best, managed to contribute as a shot-swatter sporadically. At worst, he decimated the dreams of a Pistons community dreaming of a long-term championship contender with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh on board.

Williams narrowly gets the nod due to his contributions being limited to inconsistent scoring, the most easily replaced NBA facility.

#1 | Kwame Brown | Washington Wizards | 2001

Other Notables Mistakes At #1: Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers, 1998 | Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Nets, 2000

As a front office man, Michael Jordan has developed a reputation as a very good golfer. Picks like the fundamentally flawed Kwame Brown selection earned it for him. What a bad call. What a lazy selection.

Jordan saw nothing but upside in Brown, a dominant force in high school, a big man with post ability. Unfortunately, Brown was lazy, unmotivated, and famously small-handed. Jordan went for a home run selection, and was struck out. 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in his rookie year. Traded twice. Is consistenly mocked. Rarely contributes. Those same, small, sad hands.

And he was taken ahead of Pau Gasol (3rd), Jason Richardson (5th), Joe Johnson (10th), and even Gilbert Arenas (30th).

Just like Chuck Berry sang, it goes to show you never can tell.

Posted By: Anton

*This article originally, and unjustifiably, omitted Darko Miličić from consideration.

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Smooth shooter Stephen Curry seems destined to become a New York Knick. But will the Golden State Warriors snatch him up first?

Though the 2009 NBA Draft doesn’t boast the talent of past years, there are still plenty that can make an impact. Many are either point or shooting guards, a pair of positions that make up a majority of the 60 players that will be chosen on Draft night.

Here are my predictions for who will be selected 6-11 in the draft, and how the remainder of the draft will transpire for each team:

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: DeMar Derozan- Derozan should be selected based on process of elimination. The Timberwolves already have a young point guard, Sebastian Telfair, and off-guard Randy Foye to complete their backcourt. Also, they have an equally young and talented forward, Al Jefferson, and center, Kevin Love. This leaves an opening at small forward. Mike Miller currently holds this position, but I would be shocked if he wasn’t traded.

Top ten picks, in recent memory, are chosen to excel as starters immediately. Derozan could certainly continue this trend. A 6′7″, the 19-year old forward is explosive offensively, but also makes his mark on the defensive end. Minnesota has Corey Brewer, a player they selected in last year’s NBA Draft, is a similar defensive specialist, but is no where near the offensive player. Brewer could easily be supplanted, and could have more of an impact off the bench, giving the Timberwolves some defensive-minded depth off the bench.

Derozan has been widely criticized, and justly. He isn’t a great passer, is turnover-prone, and has an inconsistent jump shot. With these negatives, how is he a top-ten pick? Well, he’s an athletic specimen with tremendous size for his position. He’s a nightmare in transition on offense, an aggressive rebounder, and has a efficient mid-range jump-shot. He will be selected this early not only because he fills a need, but because of his potential.

18th Pick: B.J. Mullens- The Timberwolves lack size, without a dignified center. Jefferson, Love, and Craig Smith are power forwards, and have been forced to play out of position in different offensive sets. Mullens, at 7-feet, would give them what they desperately need. He wouldn’t start, but would give Minnesota the defense inside they currently lack.

28th pick: Eric Maynor- The savvy point guard out of Virginia Commonwealth would be a very intelligent pick, that is if he’s still on the board. He could backup Telfair, and, with his scoring ability, could spell Foye when needed. If he’s not available, the Timberwolves could reach and take a point guard otherwise destined for the second round.

45th pick: Robert Dozier- Dozier, a shot-blocker out of Memphis University, would add to their list of power-forwards , but would give them some length to compliment the bulk of Jefferson and Smith.

47th pick: Wesley Matthews-He’s undersized for a shooting guard, but has a knack for scoring and doesn’t disappoint on the defensive end. Matthews would be a valuable asset late in games, and could provide an offensive jolt if injury thins their depth.

7. Golden State Warriors: Brandon Jennings- Jennings, a speedy point guard, would fit Don Nelson’s run ‘n gun system. Nelson has one rule: if you are open, shoot. Jennings can oblidge, but the reason why he is so highly touted is his passing ability. His penetration and floor presence would give the likes of Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis plenty of shots from the perimeter, which is Golden State’s mantra. He’s not known for his defense, so, again, he’ll fit right in.

The Warriors could be tempted by Stephen Curry, the high scorer out of Davidson, but I don’t think he would mesh well with Ellis, as both are are shooting guards in the size of point guards.

8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry- The aforementioned guard wants to be a Knick, and the Knicks want him. So, unless he goes earlier, New York won’t waste any time in calling his name. He’s a deadly scorer, averaging 28 points per game for the Davidson Wildcats, and can display the unselfishness of a point guard, as he also managed to dish out 5 assists per game. Head Coach Mike D’ Antoni, the orchestrator of the “Seven seconds or less” offense with the Phoenix Suns, would do wonders for Curry, and love his dangerous scoring ability. (As a side note, Curry wowed LeBron James, whom the Knicks are wooing, in a game earlier this year against NC State. Could his presence alone help James become a Knick?)

9. Toronto Raptors: Gerald Henderson Jr.- Plenty of stellar point guards are on the board, but the Raptors, with Jose Calderon, don’t need one. Henderson, an aggressive and intelligent scorer out of Duke, has the potential to made an immediate impact on the offensive and defensive end, and give the Raptors the scoring they lost by trading sharp-shooter Jason Kapono.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Johnny Flynn- The former Syracuse point guard’s draft stock skyrocketed with a breakout sophomore season. A tremendous leader with an improved jump-shot, he is the prototypical point guard. He’s not shy offensively, but looks to make plays for others before taking over. He has a tremendous work ethic, and, at Syracuse, played every minute as if it was his last. If he wasn’t touted already, Flynn put his name on the map with a 34 point, 11 rebound, 6 assist, 67-minute performance against the Connecticut Huskies in a six-overtime thriller. So, if the Bucks are ever in this situation, they will have a guard who can play an obscene amount of minutes and excel. It doesn’t hurt to carry this attribute.

He is generously listed at 6-foot, and doesn’t shoot three-pointers well, but his point guard mentality and will to win should wow the Bucks, and allow them to let Ramon Sessions leave through free-agency.

41st pick: Josh Heytvelt- A strong power-forward out of Gonzaga, Heytvelt would give the Bucks the low-post presence they currently lack off the bench. He has range uncanny for his size of 6′11″ and a smooth inside game with a wide-array of moves. He is also a fabulous rebounder, a category in which Milwaukee struggled last season.

11. New Jersey Nets: Jeff Teague- The point guard out of Wake Forest is similar to Flynn: he doesn’t have a great shot, but can, nonetheless, can greatly affect his team with his leadership. He rack up some assists, but is more of a scoring point guard. He is turnover-prone, but he can improve with some experience. He won’t start for the Nets, as Devin Harris is their point guard of the present and future, but could be an adequate backup (they currently don’t have a point guard other than Harris on their roster).

The Nets have other needs, but they would have to take a player not worthy of this low a selection. Teague is a fine talent to settle for.

Part 3 of my draft preview to come.

There is no doubt that Coach Howland is a spectacular coach in all ways. His ability to be personable with the players and the fact there will never be any recruiting violations or academic issues under him I cannot say enough about.

However, I don’t agree with his coaching style as it appears he holds his players back. He stresses defense and slowing the tempo of games down. Defense should be stressed but slowing a bunch of McDonald’s All American athletes who are more than capable of running in the open floor only hinders what they are fully capable of.

Jordan Farmar did well in college but his freedom in the NBA has allowed him to be a much better and more productive player. This also begs the question of why these players continue to come to UCLA knowing this.

On a short list of coaches that have been to the final four three consecutive times, only Coach Howland failed to bring home a national title. You could argue that two of those years no one was going to win except for Florida because of their core group of NBA talent. I agree with that completely.

So if Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford can win back to back championships why couldn’t Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute win one?

Coach John Calipari of Memphis and Coach Bill Self of Kansas both exploited their individual talent to help them win and it’s no secret that a superior offense almost always trumps a superior defense in basketball these days with very few exceptions.

Although Memphis had Derrick Rose and Kansas had Mario Chalmers, neither of those teams compare to what UCLA had last year especially based off the recent success of those players in the NBA today.

Jrue Holiday is supposed to have more talent than anyone on this current UCLA team but Coach Howland doesn’t exploit it. He’d rather run the offense entirely through Darren Collison and let Nikola Dragovic shoot as many threes as he pleases or Alfred Aboya shoot fifteen foot jumpers at will etc…

While these players have drastically improved their shooting, UCLA’s record should speak to the fact it hasn’t exactly worked every game. That being said, UCLA probably would not have done any better implementing Holiday more actively but we’ll never know as Holiday never got his chance to develop.

Without Howland, UCLA probably would not have their record over the past five years, the same number of Pac-10 championships or even the opportunity to make three consecutive final fours but I believe Howland is also the reason UCLA didn’t win it all either as his system can only take UCLA so far.