tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48041655696988409452024-03-13T15:22:40.540-06:00The NBA GuruNick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-54609085101075719682008-06-23T15:42:00.007-06:002019-01-25T13:51:10.811-06:002008 Mock Draft- The Lottery<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/SGEwizePPnI/AAAAAAAAAC8/OOi11Nm3nWE/s1600-h/derrick+rose.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/SGEwizePPnI/AAAAAAAAAC8/OOi11Nm3nWE/s400/derrick+rose.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215503217962466930" /></a><br />The 2008 NBA Draft is this Thursday, June 26th 2008. Though not extraordinarily rich in superstar talent (no Greg Oden's in this draft), this draft is deep on quality players who can play major roles in the league. Here is a go at the Mock Draft through the lottery.<br /><br />1. Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose PG Memphis<br />The Bulls lucked out in getting the top pick and they are in position to add to their impressive stock of young talent. The 6'3'' Rose combines a point guards mindset with exceptional athleticism and size; think Steve Francis, only with top intangibles and a winners mentality (therefore not totally cacked). His feel for the PG position (mainly improving his ability to play slow, not breakneck at every moment) needs some work and so does his jump shot, but #1 overall picks are supposed to have the on-court and off-the-court game of Derrick Rose. The Chicago Simeon graduate comes home in a dream scenario. <br /><br />2. Miami Heat- Michael Beasley SF/PF Kansas State<br />Beasley is taking something of a beating right now, with questions about his character and his size for the PF position (only 6'8'') taking center stage. Forget all that: Michael Beasley is a pure talent with rare skills. He can finish with both hands, rebound at both ends of the court and shoot from the perimeter. He has a fearless demeanor and dominated the college game like few in recent memory. Rumor has it that Pat Riley is dreaming of a "Flash and Dash" backcourt of Dwyane Wade and OJ Mayo. Maybe it's just me, but maybe Riles' needs to lay off the tanning booth and put a little less oil-can in that hair, it seems to be affecting his judgment. Miami would be foolish to pass on "Beastley", the 20-10 machine. <br /><br />3. Minnesota Timberwolves- OJ Mayo PG/SG Southern California<br />Minnesota might be the most troubled franchise in the NBA, what with their bottom-feeder status in the standings, their apathetic fan support, poor ownership and the trade of their lone great player in franchise history (the indomitable Kevin Garnett). They need talent and have only 1 guy to build around (rising star and low-post beast Al Jefferson). They have combo guards galore with Rashad McCants and Randy Foye, but the 6'4'' Mayo is substantially better than both with his all-around polish and aplomb. He has a PG's handle, a SG's jump shot and plays great defense against both positions. For all the talk about how shady of a guy he is, Mayo appears to be a mature player ready to handle the NBA lifestyle. The Timberwolves should go for the 3rd best talent in the draft.<br /><br />4. Seattle/Oklahoma City Sonics- Russell Westbrook PG/SG UCLA<br />This is where the draft gets interesting. The Top 3 players are pretty clear and now there is glut of talented but unpolished players. The 6'4'' Westbrook's stock is on the rise following a string of strong workouts. He plays as hard as anyone in the draft and is as unselfish as they come. He has shown he can play the point and some exceptional defense, even guarding the lightening fast Derrick Rose with some success. However his offensive game is unpolished; his moves to the hoop can be awkward and his jump shot is suspect. Seattle/OK City just needs good players to team with young forwards Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, and Westbrook would be a good young guard to develop. <br /><br />5. Memphis Grizzlies- Brook Lopez C Stanford<br />Memphis made the worst trade of the decade last season, shipping All-Star Pau Gasol to L.A. for All-Time Bust Kwame Brown and other clutter. They have some good young talent in Rudy Gay and Mike Conley but they need a lot more. Brook Lopez was projected as the 3rd pick at the end of the college season but has seen his stock fall during workouts. Lopez is not the best athlete as he appears to lumber down the floor at times, but he is reasonably flexible and has tremendous size at over 7'0'' and 260 lbs. He has a tremendous touch from the free-throw line in, has a few legit post moves and can play solid post defense. If he can learn to rebound a bit better, tighten up his shot-selection and improve his agility, Lopez could turn into a rock solid starting center in the NBA. <br /><br />6. New York Knicks- Kevin Love PF UCLA<br />This is pick is crucial for the Knicks, who need to change the culture of their team about as bad as Manhattan tycoon Donald Trump needs a new hairstyle. A smart, unselfish big man with the best outlet pass since We Unseld would be a nice start. The 6'9'' Love is pudgy, can't jump and doesn't run the floor with grace. But he can pass, he can rebound and can score inside or out. His basketball IQ is unusually high, and the hope would be that age and an NBA caliber training program/diet would help him grow out of his baby fat. The Knicks need more team-oriented players, so they should pass on flashy but ball-hungry combo guards Jerryd Bayless and Eric Gordon and go with the talented Bruin big man. <br /><br />7. L.A. Clippers- Eric Gordon SG Indiana<br />Gordon is an interesting prospect. Short and powerful (some would say a little pudgy), the 6'3'' Hoosier has tremendous knee bend, which allows him to explode for powerful slams in the half-court over larger defenders. He has unlimited range out past the NBA 3, has the first step to blow by his man on the perimeter and the swagger to be a go-to scorer in the NBA. The problem with Gordon is that he regressed after Coach Kelvin Sampson was fired. He began jacking up terrible shots from 25 feet, began caring even less about his defense and his lack of body control was exposed as he began barreling into well-positioned defenders for costly charging violations. Was this because he lost his mojo after losing his beloved coach or was it precursor to his shortcomings? Gordon is something of a boom or bust pick, which is right up the Clippers alley. They need a SG to take over for the aging Cuttino "Cat" Mobley. <br /><br />8. Milwaukee Bucks- Joe Alexander SF West Virginia<br />The Milwaukee Bucks, it would seem, have fully embraced the motto "Striving for Mediocrity" over the past 15 years, ever since the decline of the glorious Jay Humphries, Fred Roberts and Danny Schayes era. The fiercely loyal fans who flock to the Fortress on 4th Street every night are weary of excuses and rebuilding plans; they want results now. Which makes Alexander an interesting pick here at #8. Though a Junior, Alexander is a relatively raw talent, save his ripped 6'8'' physique. A tremendous leaper with great knee-bend, he has a very nice mid range face-up game, using both the jumper and the bounce well from that area. He hustles and scraps with the best of them, running the floor well and digging in on defense. Alexander lacks a great feel for the game and his toughness will be tested in The Association, but the Bucks would do well to address their glaring hole at the SF position and take this fast rising Mountaineer. <br /><br />9. Charlotte Bobcats- Jerryd Bayless PG/SG Arizona<br />The Bobcats should be thrilled about Bayless being on the board, as he could go as high as #4 to the Sonics. The 6'3'' Bayless fits the mold of the dynamic combo guards who are tearing up the league right now. He has a full arsenal offensively, including a buttery pull-up J and explosive open court quickness. There are very few guards in the league who possess his raw talent; he is similar to Monta Ellis in his ability to blow by helpless defenders. The problem with Bayless is that he is not a real PG. As great as these combo guards are, true PG's like Tony Parker, Deron Williams and Chris Paul are the ones who are getting their teams deep in the playoffs. Still, a team like Charlotte needs front-line talent. Bayless could be a spark off the bench to start out and eventually push the underwhelming Raymond Felton for time at the point. <br /><br />10. New Jersey Nets- Danillo Gallinari SF/PF Italy<br />The Nets need a spark. They have a nice nucleus of talent with Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Vince "Half-Man Half-Amazing" Carter. What they could use is an unselfish facilitator who can shoot from the perimeter. Enter the 6'9'' Gallinari, who very well might be off the board at #6 to the Knicks. He has drawn comparisons to Toni Kukoc for his versatile game, as he has the vision to play point-forward and the outside shot to stretch the defense. He will not be a traditional physical PF and like most Euros will need to work on his defense, but he has the type of game that can fit in well on most teams. <br /><br />11. Indiana Pacers- DJ Augustin PG Texas<br />Indiana needs a PG. They were trotting out Travis Diener as their starter last year and though he boasts nice assist/turnover ratio, he shoots a miserable percentage and is a defensive liability. I have serious reservations about Augustin's viability as a lottery pick but teams need PG's and Augustin is a real point. He distributes handles and shoots very well, and shows the type of offensive creativity teams covet at the PG spot. However, the 5'11'' Augustin is very undersized and does not possess top end athleticism to compensate. I think Augustin can play in the league, but the Steve Nash comparisons are ridiculous; think Jameer Nelson.<br /><br />12. Sacramento Kings- Darrell Arthur PF Kansas<br />The Kings are stuck in no-mans land. They have great fans, one of the best home-court advantages in the league, and some functional pieces in Kevin Martin, Brad Miller and Ron Artest. But they are stuck at the 35 win level, good enough to be competitive but not good enough to make the playoffs. What they do need is some frontcourt help and Arthur is a talented prospect. The 6'9'' Jayhawk has a smooth, athletic game, reminiscent of a smaller LaMarcus Aldridge. He has a nice mid-range game, equipped with a quality first step and a very good mid-range shot. But he is undersized and slight for the PF position and does not have the perimeter skills of an SF. He may be destined to become a valuable offensive specialist in the league, which is not ideal but good enough for the 12 spot. <br /><br />13. Portland Trailblazers- Brandon Rush SG/SF Kansas<br />The Blazers are on the verge of becoming a top-flight contender, even in the rugged Western Conference. The much-anticipated debut of phenom C Greg Oden could send Portland deep into the playoffs next year, what with their already strong young nucleus of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge and the superb coaching of Nate McMillon. The do need a PG and could look at Kansas PG Mario Chalmers, but Brandon Roy is a combo guard who alleviates some of the need for a true PG. They do have a need for an athletic wing who can play a role and do a little bit of everything and Rush is the perfect fir for the winning culture being built in Portland. The 6'7'' Jayhawk can hit the 3, finish on the break and play lock-down D on the perimeter. He may never be superstar because of his tendency to float during games, but the Blazers don't need a superstar, they need a championship caliber role player. You would be hard pressed to find a better one than Brandon Rush. <br /><br />14. Golden State Warriors- Marresse Speights PF/C Florida<br />The Warriors love to run-and-gun and don't have the biggest need for a traditional big man, but Nellie-ball is all about creating mismatches and the 6'10'' Speights is the kind of rugged low post scorer a team can turn to for a few efficient buckets a game against a weak post defender. He shot well over 60% from the field for his college career and has the girth to play solid post D and box out for defensive rebounds. He needs to polish his game and gain more game experience, but Speights could be a steal at this point of the draft.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-9975773070396765612008-06-23T08:54:00.013-06:002008-06-23T16:18:11.428-06:00Beasley Getting a Bad Wrap?<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Michael Beasley has talent, there's no question. Averaging 26 and 12 in his freshman year at K. State, the 6 foot 8 inch Beasley has a great jumper and an endless skillset, as evidenced by his dominant performance shown in this big 12 game (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHgaRgZCZgk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHgaRgZCZgk</a>). Notice the half-court shot off the tip, and you can see why scouts are have never questioned his on-court abilities. A high school phenom born in Philadelphia, Beasely later moved to Bel-Air california, where his pranks at Bel-Air Academy have been well-documented and have become a red flag for NBA Scouts. </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215158443953992306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="201" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/SF_2-UNBsnI/AAAAAAAAABE/JWqRGPsKOG8/s320/Beasley+3.png" width="289" border="0" /></p><p align="center">(Rare photo of Beasley playing street-ball in his native Philadelphia)</p><p align="left">Preeminent sports journalist KC Johnson has noted that Beasley's off court troubles "run the gamut from stereotypically abhorrent behavior as a 12-year-old—slashing tires to a dead rat in a teacher's drawer." And new allegations of deliquent High-School behavior are still leaking from basketball blogs on a daily basis. This blurry camera-phone picture shows him in the act stealing his dean's (possibly Scott Skiles?) cap and showing a blatant disregard for Bel-Air Academy's strict dress-code. Michael was also found guilty of academic fraud after plagarizing several poems from well-known urban wordsmith Raphael De La Ghetto, including Street Beat, and several other modern classics. </p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215090783331544802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="122" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/SF-5b8vj7uI/AAAAAAAAAA0/2eQge0qkqDM/s320/Beasley+2.jpg" width="189" border="0" /> <p align="center">(Beasley, left, was known as a high-school prankster)</p><p><br />But is Beasley getting a bad wrap? Several of his high school shifts can be attributed to his move from West Philadelphia to Bel Air, where Beasley relocated in order to live with his affluent uncle Phillip Banks and avoid trouble from area gang members. Life in Bel-Air wasn't all Cross Colours and "fly honey dips" either. Beasley has also overcome numerous hardships on his path from Philly to the NBA. Few NBA scouts are talking about the time Michael was shot in a february 1995 episode while being robbed with alongside his cousin Carleton. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215090919034605138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="158" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/SF-5j2RsTlI/AAAAAAAAAA8/nhsqWLW8QSE/s320/Beasley1.jpg" width="265" border="0" /> <p align="center">(Beasley takes the tip during K. State's first victory at KU in more than 20 years)</p><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Scouts are also too often overlooking Michael's family-first mentality. Beasley assisted his cousin Carleton move past his speed addiction, and played procterate to his cousin Ashley after she began dating Jaleel White. These are the characteristics that Paxson and Del Negro have shown an inclination towards in past drafts. Will the stories of a wily prankster who used his uncle's mansion to film a Bel Biv Devoe video stop the Bulls from drafting the prodigy, or will the Bulls' brass take a more holistic view? </div>James Lavignehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17580558363583235084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-64562771771470760622008-05-27T12:54:00.003-06:002008-06-23T21:27:51.099-06:00Gold Rush<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/SDxe2OMIKAI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aphalVSfuCM/s1600-h/Brandon+Rush.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/SDxe2OMIKAI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aphalVSfuCM/s400/Brandon+Rush.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205139554948360194" /></a><br />Much like his two older brothers Jaron and Kareem, Brandon Rush came into college with lofty expectations. If anything, he has had the least prolific college career of the brothers, at least individually. But it has become apparent that Brandon will be the best NBA Rush. In fact if NBA GM's look past his surgically repaired knee and underwhelming statistics, he may have his name called in the Lottery come draft night.<br /><br />Rush is a cut 6'7'' and 210 lbs. He has a great NBA body; lean but strong, with a 7' foot wingspan and big hands. His defense was once a question mark but now may be his strongest suit. He has tremendous lateral quickness and can guard wings of all shapes and sizes, using his great footwork and long arms to stay in front of his man. He is a solid rebounder who gets his boards on good position. Rush possess a deadly jump shot from 3 point land and can work the mid-range game and can hit off the bounce and off the screen. He has a good basketball IQ; he spreads the floor well in the half court and takes excellent angles in the open court, setting himself up well for the easy bucket. His passing and ball handling have improved to the point where they are no longer questionable. His body control and athleticism are first-rate. He is a good team player who will be able to fill a role on any succesful team.<br /><br />The problem with Rush's game comes down to aggresiveness. He does not attack the rim like a player of his athletic prowess should. Maybe it was the Kansas system, or maybe it was his reconstructed knee. Or maybe Rush simply lacks the killer instinct to ensure that he gets his points. He did have reconstructive surgery on his knee during the summer of 07', but by the end of last season he was showing very few ill affects. Though not an elite prospect, Rush is one of those well rounded players who can do most anything at least adequately.<br /><br />Brandon Rush, in my opinion, is one of the most underated draft prospects in recent memory. He does turn 23 this summer, has never averaged more than 13 points per game and is coming off a knee reconstruction. But he was the best player on a national champion and is such an elite athlete that it would be silly for too many teams to take a pass. My personal opinion is that Rush should be a top 10-12 pick. He is one of those wings that can be the perfect compliment to any frontline perimeter or post players, a quality starter who can defend and score. Though he may never be a superstar, Brandon Rush will have an impactful NBA career.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-17923941167350987442008-04-10T10:27:00.013-06:002008-04-10T11:26:04.241-06:00A Day in the Life of Scott Skiles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:YY1938fgllFM4M:http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/images/e/ed/Kenneth_kendall_bw_headshot_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 95px;" src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:YY1938fgllFM4M:http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/images/e/ed/Kenneth_kendall_bw_headshot_small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This article is the first in the Guru's new Insider series.<br /><br />By Nicholas Churchill<br /><br /><br /></span><br />All is quiet on the western front. It's almost 4 o'clock am and I'm standing outside the open bedroom door of former NBA player and Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles. The room and everything in it is midnight black and the only thing I can hear is Skiles' laborious breathing. Skiles suffers from sleep apnea, a condition he earlier attributed to to "an overstrengthening of neck musculature, from an early age" Skiles, like so many of his generation, lifted weights pre-pubescently. I tiptoe toward the door, peering in. Skiles doesn't know I'm here. He gave me the keys to his house so I could gain exclusive access to him for the biography I'm writing. He told me not to tell him when I was coming, so that I could get a true picture of him when he wasn't awake. "I'm a different person, then," the NBA all-times assists in a game (30) leader said. Even in his loud breathing, I notice an uncanny slowness, a calm over Skiles. He is at peace.<br /><br />That ends now, when his alarm-clock goes off, at 3:59:59. I jump at the cacophony of sounds.<br /><br />Whistles blowing, sneakers squeaking, nets swishing, clips of Skiles himself yelling, point guards barking plays, big men slamming dunks, buzzers going off. Sounds of the game. For Scott Skiles, wakeup time is game time. He flips on the lights. Next to the alarm clock on Skiles' nightstand is a 1st edition autographed copy of Wilt Chamberlain's epic, <span style="font-style: italic;">A View From Above</span>--"The Bible," Skiles says with a wistful look. "The greatest player to ever play the game, on and off the court."<br /><br />Skiles brushes his teeth, flosses twice, lathers his face vigorously. One thought pervades every corner of my mind: Scott Skiles is a man of discipline. He still hasn't spoken to me.<br /><br />As he exits the bathroom, he clears his throat and says, "Good morning," and heads toward the kitchen in his slippers. On the way, I can see his energy building with every step. Skiles makes a sharp right and shows me his trophy room. In addition to his many gleaming gold, silver, bronze and brass awards, Skiles has a great photo of his Hoosier high school days, when a shaggy-haired boy took a no-name high school to the Indiana State Basketball Title. "Back then it was all one tourney, not that 4-class BS they have now. We slayed the dragon that day, and that's not all I slayed," pointing to a cheerleader in the background. "Man that was a great day, but this is the real trophy," he says as we walk into his garage. "This, my friend, is a 1981 Dodge Stratus. I stole this car the night we won it all, back in high school. This was a car of conquest for me--sexual conquest. Obviously, I'd conquered everything else Indiana had to offer by that point."<br /><br />At first glance you wouldn't think of Skiles as a ladies man. He's a shade under 6 ft, balding noticeably, and his regimented coaching style carries over to his life, even with the ladies. "Women, you have to understand, they need to be smacked around once in a while. I learned that from my Granpappy Skiles down in Terra Haute, IN. He was born in to a polygamist sect, and well, sometimes, the best way to a woman's 'heart' is with the back of your hand."<br /><br />Kissing the hairy back of his own right hand, Skiles chuckles. "I gave Shaq some of this back in '93. And he won't ever forget it, don't let him tell you otherwise. Larry Krystowiak, my good friend, who I'll probably be replacing as Milwaukee Bucks coach next year, tried to break it up. Nothing doing. Shaq was a boy back then, and I could make him a boy now. I still don't know why I was the second Magic player on NBA Jam. That game didn't even showcase my skills. Boom-shaka-laka?!?! You couldn't even run a help defense, the guys wouldn't switch. It was like the Bulls this year. What a joke. Although I did like that special code-player, Mark Turmel. I believe his intials that you entered were TUR. I guess he was a designer, and he wrote himself into the game along with P-Funk. Who would've thunk it? That's genius."<br /><br />The garage opens onto the kitchen. "Skiles makes way for a cabinet and pulls out an industrial sized jar of Metamusil. "That's the stuff. IBS always plagued me as a player, until I met Kareem, and he told the benefits of a healthy diet, with plenty of fiber. I'm a guy who needs regularity in every aspect of my life. Naturally, that includes the can." Skiles claims that he's had "Nothing but one wipers," since his 1992 appearance in NBA Jam. "Being in that game really cemented my legacy as a star. And a true NBA star is always in control, especially a white point guard. It starts with your bowels, and then you go from there.""<br /><br />"I mean back at MSU, we'd a get a little crazy, but not like that game design guy--Turmel. We'd get a little booze, a little white, you know the usual, maybe jack a couple cars. Back then it was good clean fun. These guys now, I don't get it. Players on their phones all the time. Would you believe Ben Wallace is always texting? Neither could I, but it's non stop. Texting women, never closing the deal. It's the same on the court, he can never finish at the rim."<br /><br />It's late afternoon, our interviews are done for the day. Skiles shows me his court out back. We play a couple of games of PIG and then lace em up for a little one on one. Skiles insists on lowering the rim to 8 ft so we can both dunk. Needless to say, the thrown downs keep coming and coming. Skiles, though, doesn't talk any smack. He keeps it cool until the end, giving me open jumpers and a few easy buckets, keeping me in the game. "I'm playing you like the Bulls, you see, playing down to your level. Now you're seeing what I had to deal with day in day out."<br /><br />It's 10-10, Game Point. I post Skiles up, give him a little chin music with my elbow. He ducks and then reaches down to his shoe, like he's twisted an ankle. "Scott, you OK?" After rolling down his old gym socks, he makes a rush at me. There's something twinkling in the sun. Swoosh. It's a switch blade. "What the fuck was that," the Coach says, pointing the knife at me. I block it with the ball which he jabs. That's NBA leather, tough as nails, tough as Scott Skiles." He turns to the other hoop and throws the knife full court, swish. "Game." But just for good measure, he steals the ball and dunks it on the near hoop like Woody Harrelson in White Men Can't Jump, a primordial scream echoes around the Skiles estate.<br /><br />Inside, Skiles chugs prune juice by the bottle. "Kareem?" I ask. He nods between gulps.<br /><br />I use the guest shower and Skiles hands me a leather jacket as we head for the garage. Night is falling. He puts on sunglasses and points to the '81 Stratus. "Let's roll."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />This text was excerpted from author Nicholas Churchill's forthcoming biography, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scott Skiles: White Noise</span>, due out from Simon and Schuster later this spring. Churchill is a 13 year veteran of The New Republic and a Founding Editor of Sports Illustrated for KIDS.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-79481673149111163752008-04-03T12:23:00.023-06:002008-04-10T08:25:56.549-06:00<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/R_4jSqxHdYI/AAAAAAAAAAs/KqlMmZx-H7s/s1600-h/playoffs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187622624402306434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/R_4jSqxHdYI/AAAAAAAAAAs/KqlMmZx-H7s/s320/playoffs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/R_UjptnhmpI/AAAAAAAAAAc/cMisH0KOr3M/s1600-h/bulls.bmp"></a><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Congratulations Bulls fans. The team has chosen a direction, and that direction is down. With a few Charlotte wins we can grab a hold of a 2.8% chance of winning the 8th most balls in this year's lottery. So here's to four relatively terrible NBA regular season games, and the hope of a brighter future. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-family:verdana;" >BULLS MAGIC NUMBER*: </span></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-family:verdana;" >ZERO</span></strong><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;" ><span style="color:#ffffff;">Our most recent ESPN.com NBA Mock Lottery Pick: No. 9 - Kevin Love (1.7% *Chance for #1)</span> </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >*indicates number of losses needed for mathematic elimination</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Verdana;" ><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/lottery2008/mockdraft"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/lottery2008/mockdraft</span></a></span></div></div>James Lavignehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17580558363583235084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-55644859359328441722008-03-27T20:17:00.007-06:002008-03-28T10:31:39.236-06:00Bittersweet O.J<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/R-0dZAxctPI/AAAAAAAAACs/jXDGmm1fOEY/s1600-h/OJ+MAyo.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/R-0dZAxctPI/AAAAAAAAACs/jXDGmm1fOEY/s400/OJ+MAyo.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182831061714646258" /></a><br />During his first (and most certainly only) season at USC, OJ Mayo has become a lightening rod for criticism. His antagonistic, brash style has rubbed many onlookers the wrong way. And though talented, Mayo has failed to live up to the impossible "The Next Lebron James" expectations that preceded him. <br /><br />Lost in the all the hoopla is that OJ Mayo is a fantastic guard who will be a lottery pick come draft night. Lets take a look at his game.<br /><br />A cut 6'4'' 210 lbs, Mayo has tremendous body control and all-around athleticism; he looks like he could have played wide receiver in the NFL if this basketball thing didn't work out. Great handle with a lethal crossover and an outstanding first step. In the halfcourt, he has the ability to pull up on a dime and drain the mid-range jumper or go all the way to the rim for creative layups or explosive slams. Has legit NBA 3 range and is a solid free throw shooter. Solid passer with good court vision; he may shoot a bit too often in college because he can get his shot off so easily but he is surprisingly unselfish with the ball at times. Defense is very good, bordering on outstanding; he is tremendous picking up his man at 35 feet and staying in front of him and has quick hands for steals. An extremely confident player who has the courage to take and make the clutch shot. <br /><br />For all his strengths, Mayo struggles to fit into a team-oriented style of play. Frankly, he is a ball-hog. He needs the rock in his hands to be effective; he does not move well off screens and does not fit as a catch-and-shoot guy. FG % is low because he shoots too often. Launches too many 3's or forced shots over defenders in the mid-range. Rebounding is average for a player of his physical ability. Struggled against Russell Westbrook of UCLA and though Westbrook projects as an All-NBA caliber defender, it raises questions of how tough defense affects Mayo's offensive game. His intangible are below average; he comes off as antagonistic and arrogant on the court. Does not seem to make his teammates much better.<br /><br />On talent, Mayo should be a top 5 pick come draft night but the problem is ball-hogging guards are about as out of style in the NBA right now as tapered stone-washed jeans (thank you Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis!). The problem with Mayo is that he will never be able to lead a team to a title as a first man but his game as it is now is completely predicated around being "The Man". A tremendously talented but fatally flawed player, he projects as a cross between Larry Hughes and Stephon Marbury in the league. Look for him to go between 4-10 on draft night.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-29055119550978242242008-03-27T10:53:00.013-06:002008-03-27T12:55:25.527-06:00'The 300 Level' Entry #1: Biggie Bagel Wins Again<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/R-vqf9nhmnI/AAAAAAAAAAM/PhzXTi2IDyY/s1600-h/A0D71530F47B90.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182493631057074802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 147px" height="147" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_BIGGITpyHP0/R-vqf9nhmnI/AAAAAAAAAAM/PhzXTi2IDyY/s320/A0D71530F47B90.jpg" width="164" border="0" /></a><strong>"Do you really want to win, or just look good losing"</strong> – Phonte from Little Brother<br /><br />The Bulls don't want the Eighth Seed.<br /><br />Eighth seed in the East, lets be honest, is like winning your IM B-League. You know, the league where the frats play their third string dudes like it's a damn JV game and there might be a dude out there in loafers. Teams don't have shirts, they have to borrow pennies, and they're one penny short, so they gotta switch when the dude with the loafers come into the game. It's like that. You've clearly got some skills, but you can't compete with the A-League where the dude you heard transferred from D-1 because he blew out his knee dishes to like the thirty year old assistant coach who got in cause he knows the ref, and the 6-4 hippie in Tevas (rainbows, if tevas are no longer the hippie sandal of choice) slams the put-back. (I've literally seen a 6-4 hippie dunk in the lane over some guys. Does every college IM ball have this dude?) My point is, sure you made it, but your not touching the elite teams.<br /><br />See up here with 300 Level tickets you really need a close game and a team worth rooting for if you want an exciting game, and right now the Bulls rarely put either on display. Excitement for the Dunkin Donuts race is a good barometer for how good the game is (better than the literal fan barometer, the meter that measures the yelling of the crowd. More on this in later entries). For those not familiar with the Dunkin Donuts race, somewhere late in the third quarter the Bulls feature a three lap race between three personified Dunkin Donut products. Without getting into the details, Dashing Donut and Biggie Bagel race against Cuppy Coffee, all with about an equal chance of winning. Now, the discrepancy between the cheering for the game and the cheering for the race can pretty well show how into a game the crowd is. Recently, I would say Dunkin Donuts is beating the Bulls by about 1500%.<br /><br />Without a team that has some direction and has guys consistently playing hard, that ratio is going to stand pat (Now cheering out of your mind because you won the free chipotle burritos for a year, that's understandable. That's just a damn good prize.) Unfortunately for the Bulls, they have neither of these elements. Some nights they lose to a lottery-bound eastern conference team and you think hey, maybe we can hit the lottery, get lucky, and get a quality draft pick. Other nights, they play like the hard-working Skiles led Bulls that we had come to know and love. But if they keep switching off then we get that eighth seed. No new assets, no real hope for the future of this core. We can do better than the IM B-League championship, either with a solid playoff showing, or a total collapse. But if we keep treading water, that A-League (I guess represented here by the 13 or 14 more legitimate teams than the bulls) will keep showing us how to do this. We might look better than a lottery team, but we'll definitely be losing like one. Phonte Holla at me!James Lavignehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17580558363583235084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-19396668563236131842007-07-06T13:22:00.000-06:002007-07-06T13:43:07.874-06:00Bulls Sign Nocioni, What's Next?The Chicago Bulls announced today that the have resigned Argentinian forward Andres Nocioni to a 5-year deal worth a reported $38 million, with a team option for a 6th year. Nocioni was a restricted free agent, meaning that the Bulls would have had the opportunity to match any offere from another team. The only one with reported interest was Memphis, whose offer was not significantly higher than Chicago's.<br /><br />With Nocioni now signed to a long term deal, is this a signal that the Bulls are now shopping Luol Deng? Deng has been rumored to be a key piece in the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes, with the Bulls being a frontrunner for the former MVP's services. With extensions expected to be offered Deng and Ben Gordon, who are both heading into the last year of their rookie deals, the Bulls are suddenly looking at a crowded financial situation, given Nocioni's new contract. Starting PG Kirk Hinrich will be paid 11 million for the first season of his own 5-year contract.<br /><br />The Bulls, who are still looking for offensive firepower, particularly low post scoring, have stayed committed to their young talents just as GM John Paxson said they would. The team, however, is still a player away from being a sure bet in the weak Eastern Conference, after falling to Detroit in 6 in the 2nd round. The team has been rumored to be actively shopping backup PG Chris Duhon, who is slated to make nearly $4 million the next year in the last year of his deal.<br /><br />While Paxson can count on continued improvement, at least from Deng and Gordon, this latest move is disturbing, given that it would take Nocioni's approval on any sign and trade. His contract, while not over-indulgent, while nontheless be hard to move, unless the Bulls offer young pieces like Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah to go with him.<br /><br />With Nocioni in the fold, now, this does seem like Paxson could be on the verge of making a deal for Garnett or Kobe Bryant, with Deng being the centerpiece. The Bulls simply cannot afford to pay two small forwards upwards of $16 million combined, which is what they are looking at if they want to keep Luol. If this is their plan, they are on the road to becoming the Pistons, a very good team whose starters' high salaries make for a thin bench and playoff meltdowns.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-14535448838455162242007-06-26T08:50:00.000-06:002007-06-26T09:32:19.426-06:00Mock Draft #1 (Lottery Picks)With what could be the best NBA draft, top to bottom, in history only two days away, we are looking at monumental reshaping of the league. Kobe and KG are on the trading block, Danny Ainge is trying to figure out how to get his Celtics out of mediocrity, and Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is about to make the toughest decision of his life. If you're an optimist, Pritchard can't lose with either pick. However, history has shown that even with two greats coming out, one will be better than the other. Hakeem vs. Michael. Lebron vs. Darko vs. Carmelo. Without further ado, here goes; these picks are slated as to how best they would help a team, and the rumors I have heard on the wire, they will not factor in potential trades.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Portland--Greg Oden</span>. Pritchard makes the safe choice, and gets the best big man to come through the NBA in 2 decades. Oden, with paired with the duo of Randolph and Aldridge, also leaves Pritchard wiggle room to trade one of his other bigs. Or, he could just keep them all and have the most dominant, deepest front line in the league. Oden is a defensive ace, and while he needs to develop offensively, sheer size and athletic ability make him an immediate force in the paint.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Seattle--Kevin Durant</span>. New GM Sam Presti, who was schooled under Spurs gurus R.C. Buford and Greg Popovich, makes the no brainer choice with Durant, who simultaneously opens up the perimeter and frontline for the Sonics. Durant can spread the floor, back his man down, run the offense, and take it to the cup. This allows the Sonics to let Rashard Lewis go if they please, and saves cap space for a franchise in flux.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Atlanta--Al Horford</span>. Billy Knight's practice of taking the best player available finally pays off. Though Mike Conley should be in the argument here, Horford gives the Hawks legit low post scoring and defense, and passes well for a big man. Along with Shelden Williams and Pachulia, the Hawks all of the sudden have an intriguing frontcourt.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Memphis--Mike Conley</span>. Why take Joakim Noah or Brandan Wright when you already have Pau Gasol? Firesale talks in Memphis will quiet down with the lightning quick PG, who draws immediate comparisons to TJ Ford, but with a better sense of pace, and a semblance of a jumper. Conley is a superb athlete who should be able to break defenses down a la Tony Parker. He might be one of the few players in the league able to stay with Parker on the perimeter, and extremely valuable skill come playoff time.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Boston--Yi Jianlian</span>. This is where things get interesting. Ainge will likely be drafting for someone else, and Yi gives him some options there. Yi is also a better complement to Al Jefferson than Brandan Wright or Jeff Green, should the Celtics choose to keep the pick. Wright has been slipping, after being outplayed in workouts by Green and Corey Brewer.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Milwaukee--Brandan Wright</span>. The Bucks roll the dice on Wright instead of taking Jeff Green. Wright has better longterm potential, and in an East that is beginning to get crowded, there is no immediate future with Green--short term, he doesn't raise them to a second round team. Wright is an athletic complement to the bruising Andrew Bogut, and also benefits from Bogut's passing ability.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Minnesota--Cory Brewer</span>. With a KG trade imminent, possibly with Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum coming in from the Lakers, Brewer shores up the 2 and 3 spots for Minne. Paired with Randy Foye, he can provide an athletic backcourt, and be a defensive thorn.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Charlotte--Nick Young</span>. With a frontcourt already filled with young solid players Okafor and Sean May, MJ turns to the backcourt and drafts someone who reminds him of himself, athletically. Young is a smooth 6-6 who can do it all, back down, shoot the 3, take it to the rim and finish. He and Ray Felton give the Bobcats a quick backcourt to offset their deliberate frontcourt. And if the team can retain Gerald Wallace at the 3, we're talking playoffs next year.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Chicago--Spencer Hawes</span>. While Jeff Green and Joakim Noah intrigue, the Bulls go for sheer size and low post scoring, drafting for need in the conservative Paxson way. Hawes speed and defensive deficiencies can be masked by Ben Wallace and a long Luol Deng. The Bulls get a proven back to the basket player who has a creative arsenal of moves, and who should be able to pass out of the post to their perimeter shooters.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Sacramento--Jeff Green</span>. Green has the more polished offensive game than Noah, which is what this pick comes down to, as Sactown is forced to hang onto Bibby. Green can play either the 3 or 4 along Brad Miller and even Ron Artest, because he is an unselfish player who can be effective as a focal point, or not.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Atlanta--Acie Law</span>. Atlanta finally shores up their PG spot, though Mike Conley might have been a better pick at #3 strictly based on team need. Law and Joe Johnson both can shoot it, and Law and the moxie and closer mentality that the Hawks sorely lack. He can step right in, contribute, and be a captain for the future.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Philadelphia--Joakim Noah</span>. The slide is over for Noah as he falls into the Sixers--who need a power forward--lap. Noah is never going to be a great scorer in the league, but at 12 he's too good to pass up. He can be a double double energy guy a la Marcus Camby, and delivers defense to any 3, 4, or 5. Noah can be a matchup nightmare and gives Philly some needed star power.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. New Orleans--Julian Wright</span>. The Hornets get another initiator in Wright, who can take some of the pressure off Chris Paul. Wright can run the floor and be a matchup nightmare defensively, offsetting the plodding D of Peja Stojakovic. He makes the Hornets make the jump to playoff team in the West.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. LA Clippers--Thaddeus Young</span>. The clippers got hosed, watching Law and Wright fall off the board, their two best fits. So they go future with Thaddeus Young, who is a better fit than Elton Brand than Al Thornton. Young is athletic, and does it all for this team, allowing them to move Maggete.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-32416331462680823312007-06-15T10:58:00.001-06:002007-06-15T11:22:44.206-06:00Spurs Stomp Cavs into GroundCleveland's best game of the 2007 NBA Finals wasn't good enough. The San Antonio Spurs, the class of the NBA, won game 4 83-82 in what was the only remotely compelling game of the series. The game wasn't as close as the score indicated, not with Tony Parker attacking the paint relentlessly, and Tim Duncan crashing the boards (he finished with 15 rebs) to overcome a poor shooting night. The Spurs, as they have done every opponent this year and in years past, ground the Cavs down clinically and once again made LeBron James look human.<br /><br />While questions of a Dynasty, in my opinion, should be reserved for teams who have pulled off back-to-back titles, the Spurs have a longevity that some great teams like the Rockets, Pistons, and Shaq-Kobe-lead Lakers did not. And don't even begin to think this team is finished. Tim Duncan is a young 31, and his game, premised on defense, rebounding, and footwork , should age well. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are just entering their primes, and you can bet the Spurs will find somebody worth keeping--my bet's some Euro--with their 28th pick in this year's draft.<br /><br />The Spurs got it done--as always--with stifling perimeter and interior defense. LeBron's epic drives were met by 2 or 3 of the best defenders in league, and his teammates couldn't hit a jump shot to save their respective lives. Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones, formerly solid contributors, showed their age and as much as I like Daniel Gibson, he's not a true point and still has a long way to go. It seems that every Cavs player--maybe LeBron included, even--has some flaw that prevents them from working cohesively with their teammates. Whereas the Spurs are built perfectly: their talents accentuate and feed of each other's. Duncan's passing breeds good drives for Parker and Ginobili, for example. Oberto and Horry's rebounding give second chances that end up in the hands of lights out shooters like Michael Finley and Brent Barry.<br /><br />Speaking of Finley, his acceptance speech was muddled and hilarious: he let out a King Kong growl and that game ball was glued to his hands, which doubtless, are huge and lend themselves to good shooting, unlike certain Cavs players, probably Larry Hughes, whose jumper makes me grimace.<br /><br />The Cavs were worse finals opponents for the Spurs than either the Pistons--proven history-- and the Bulls, whose peak performance ability could probably have taken at least a game or two. Cleveland needs many a band-aid, but they have untradeable contracts and a plethora of decent parts that fail to add up to a good whole. It is worth noting, again, the greatness of the West; I am convinced that the Suns, Mavs, Jazz, and Rockets even would have beaten the Cavs in a 7 game series. That doesn't take away from Cleveland's excellent play against Detroit, but the Cavs would have been a 4 or a 5 out West and might not have escaped the first round. Last year's finals was better by a mile.<br /><br />The Cavs need a good distributor not named Hughes to take the pressure off the Chosen one. The need 1 or 2 shooters who can do what Damon Jones did the past two years. Drew Gooden was solid, but they need more upfront, a slasher who can crash the boards. Would Phoenix take Gibson and Gooden--or another package-- for Marion? Marion and Lebron would get it done, and Marion could be a clear cut #2 in Cleveland. Phoenix could unload cap.<br /><br />That would never happen, unless it were in the Cavs dreams. Just like an NBA title is only a dream with this flawed roster.<br /><br />As for the Spurs? The most efficient and boring NBA team needs no further explanations. They are the best, and they will be the best, or among them, for the next 5 years.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-89572021375217366702007-05-30T13:18:00.000-06:002007-06-04T11:13:32.267-06:00UW's Tucker a Winner, but is He Good Enough?<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rl3UvB3ijjI/AAAAAAAAACE/zcYmWUG3ZEI/s1600-h/Alando+Tucker.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rl3UvB3ijjI/AAAAAAAAACE/zcYmWUG3ZEI/s400/Alando+Tucker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070442659909373490" /></a><br />Alando Tucker has the labels of Big 10 Player of the Year, 1st All American, Wisconsin's All-Time scoring leader. Unfortunately for him, all of those accolades are not enough to give him a most coveted label this time of the year: first round lock. In this years loaded draft, Tucker will have to sweat out the draft process while guys he outperformed in college go above him. There's a strong possibility he won't hear his name until Round 2. Whats wrong with the guy? Lets take a look at his game.<br /><br />At 6'5'' 210lb, Tucker has good size for an NBA 2 guard. The problem is his best position is power-forward. Excellent athleticism; great leaper, fast running the floor, agile laterally. Good strength in the legs and upper body. Strong defender who consistently neutrlizes his man. Rebounding a bit dissapointing considering size and athleticism; earlier in his career he was a ferocious offensive rebounder but he seems to have cooled his feistiness there. Good on slashes to the hoop and can finish difficult shots in the paint. Charecter and attitude may be the best in the whole draft; charimatic leader on and off the court (he doesn't drink or smoke and has earned his college degree). With all that being, Tuckers offensive game is far too raw for a 23 year old 5th year senior prospect. Not a distributor. Handle is poor; he handles on par with the average NBA 4-man but remember he is 6'5''! Don't be misled by his FG%, his shooting mechanics are poor (trust the lousy FT%). He has a bit of a two-handed release and his ball is very flat. Has some deep range on his jumper, but is an NBA team really going to want this guy shooting from the perimeter? Gets his points on shots that generally won't be there in the NBA. Ultimately, the problem with Tucker is that he is a 4 in a 2's body.<br /><br />For Alando Tucker to stick in the NBA, he will have to play dogged defense, crash the offensive glass, become a loose ball kamikaze, and stick the occasional jump shot. He has the athleticism and the intangibles to make it but does he have the skills? He must learn to play the role of specialist (his speciality being energy guy off the bench) after playing the role of college superstar at UW. He might be worth a gamble late in the 1st round, but my guess is he'll be an early 2nd round pick come draft night.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-66162563463042751502007-05-29T14:55:00.000-06:002007-05-29T16:58:41.979-06:00USC's Young Rising up Draft Boards<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rlybix3ijiI/AAAAAAAAAB8/fjQfh0uDnfo/s1600-h/Nick+Young.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rlybix3ijiI/AAAAAAAAAB8/fjQfh0uDnfo/s400/Nick+Young.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070098302316482082" /></a><br />Nick Young HAD been something of an under appreciated talent at USC. Yeah he was All-Pac 10 twice, led his team to the Sweet 16 this year and showed enough talent to be on the NBA radar screen the last 2 years. But he was tucked away on the West Coast on an underrated team and his game could be best described as smooth, not flashy or fiery enough to make the national headlines or Sports Center highlights. So why has he gone from "bubble first rounder" to lottery-projected in many mock drafts the last month? The simple answer is that pure talent always seems to rise this time of the year (and Young certainly is a "pure talent"), but taking a deeper look at Young's NBA ready game provides the more comprehensive answer.<br /><br />The 6'6'' 205 lb Young has very good size for an NBA 2 guard and has enough size to swing to 3 for a smaller lineup: long arms, wide hips, big hands. He is not the most explosive athlete but he is a very good one (think Josh Howard type athleticism); blessed with great body control, Young is one of those players who looks smoother than everyone else on the floor. Offensively he plays as a pure wing and he stays on the wing, he doesn't over dribble or bog down the offense. He likes the mid range jumper and can get the shot off with ease because of a smooth handle, nice elevation and a wide frame which creates separation (he has a nice turnaround jump shot from the right side of the floor that is pure butter). Defensive ability is good; he is not shutdown but he will be able to neutralize his man in the NBA with his size, strong hand usage and good lateral agility. Don't confuse him with a point guard or even a combo guard; he's not a great distributor and though he can handle the ball, he doesn't operate much at the top of circle. Rebounding is average at best and will probably never be a strength of his. Intangibles are very good; he is a confident, unselfish player who plays within the team system. Intensity and focus are questionable as he has been inconsistent during his career (Aaron Afflalo he is not). Young projects as a legitimate starter and 15 plus point scorer in the NBA for many years.<br /><br />Nick Young should be able to fit in on just about any team in the league. He is a pure wingman who can get his shots in the flow of the offense, play solid defense and bring solid character. I would personally rate Young as a top 10 or maybe Top 7 player in the draft, ahead of some more prominent names like Julian Wright, Joakim Noah and Jeff Green. He may need to toughen up a little bit and he certainly cannot be a teams #1 option, but I really think Nick Young could be a championship type player, a 3rd or 4th guy on a great team. Charlotte would be wise to consider the late-rising Young at 8, as they could use a throwback wing who plays the right way (unlike a certain mustached showboat we all know too well).Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-84902951542478911932007-05-29T10:52:00.000-06:002007-05-29T14:10:52.976-06:00Bulls Eye East Crown Next Year...What Will it Take?It's taken almost two weeks for the Bulls second round exit to sink in, and I finally feel ready to go back to the drawing board for my team. Tonight's Detroit-Cleveland game and the rest of the series should provide a good barometer for the Bulls, who took the Pistons to 6, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">could've</span> taken them to 7 had they not melted down in the second half of game 3.<br /><br />The Pistons exploited the Bulls weaknesses, most glaringly in the size department. Chicago had no answer for Detroit's arsenal of skilled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bigs</span>, and while Ben Wallace was doing his darnedest to pose as an offensive threat, let's be real, Wallace's hands belong in one of the city's meat packing plants. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">PJ</span> Brown played a stellar series, highlighted by a 20-point first half outburst in game 6, along with his usual solid post defense, but the elder statesman's star is dwindling. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Malik</span> Allen, for once, stayed where he belonged on the bench and was a non-factor. Ditto for Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sweetney</span>. Tyrus Thomas, as is his way, showed brilliant flashes followed by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">knuckleheaded</span> traveling violations, turnovers, and post defense. This is the Bulls front line crew, and it ain't gonna get it done next year either. So what should <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Paxson</span> do?<br /><br />The Bulls own the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> pick in the draft, and likely will be able to get a serviceable big like Washington's Spencer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hawes</span>, a slightly stiff but surprisingly polished post presence. Along with Wallace's bruising and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Thomas's</span> athleticism, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hawes</span> could be a real fit here. The trio could help mask each other's weaknesses. Draft-wise, the other option would be to trade into the top six, and guarantee that Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Horford</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Brandan</span> Wright (whose offense is arguably better than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Thomas's</span>), or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Yi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Jianlin</span> would be available. Rumor has it that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Pax</span> is into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Yi</span>, who scouts have described along the lines of a Dirk or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Bargnani</span>. But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Yi</span> is more of a 3/4 and while he has the size to be a back to the basket player, he certainly isn't yet, and may never be. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Horford</span> has the passing, defense, and grit that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Skiles</span> would love, and would fill the gap in the paint. The next question is what will it take for the Bulls to move up those 3 or 4 spots. My money says <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Nocioni</span> and the #9 pick would get it done. A team like Boston, with so much youth and unproven talent should be dying to get their hands on a proven commodity like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Noce</span>. His game is not perfect, but you're getting someone who can shoot the 3, post up smaller forwards, and harass other teams scorers. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Noce's</span> contract is up so the Bulls would have to do a sign and trade and possibly take back some salary to make the #s work.<br /><br />A free agent option that has to be revisited is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Pau</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Gasol</span>, although he's recently backed off his trade demands and said he wants to remain in Memphis, which I actually find surprising. If I'm Memphis a combination of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nocioni</span>, #9, and maybe Tyrus gets it done. Memphis gets younger, tougher, and deeper and saves some money in the process. For the Bulls, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Gasol</span> deal would vault them to the top of the East with a 1a to Ben Gordon's 1b.<br /><br />The Bulls have the wings and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">backcourt</span> of the future, which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Pax</span> has repeatedly said is untouchable. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Nocioni</span> is not and given the contract situation, we can expect him to be used as bait in any trades before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Luol</span>, Kirk, or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">BG</span>. With <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Sefalosha</span> waiting in the wings the Bulls 1-3 positions are already set. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">PJ</span> Brown should be brought back, if he wants, for the veteran's minimum, while Sweets should be let go--to the donut shoppe. Gordon and Deng are up for extensions this summer and expect them both to get around $11 million/year, hopefully with as much up front money as possible.<br /><br />Either way, the Bulls have an opportunity (thank you Isiah) to take another leap next year. Our young guys are not done improving, and with more size and an aging Detroit, you could be looking at next year's eastern conference champs, which would look like this.<br /><br />1--Kirk <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Hinrich</span>, Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Duhon</span><br />2--Ben Gordon, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Thabo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Sefalosha</span><br />3--<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Luol</span> Deng, Tyrus Thomas<br />4--(<strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Yi</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Horford</span>/Wright/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Gasol</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Hawes</span></strong>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">PJ</span> Brown<br />5--Ben WallaceNick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-30097845996365212782007-05-23T10:33:00.000-06:002007-05-29T16:55:41.234-06:00Here Comes Portland<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RlR7ER3ijhI/AAAAAAAAAB0/PPFMy5ETz-c/s1600-h/Greg+Oden.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067810794144697874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RlR7ER3ijhI/AAAAAAAAAB0/PPFMy5ETz-c/s400/Greg+Oden.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />1) Portland wins <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lottery</span>. 2) Portland uses #1 pick draft Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oden</span>. 3)Therefore, Portland is now a title contender waiting to happen. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">That's</span> how great of a player Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Oden</span> is going to be (and already is). One <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">truly</span> great player (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">particularly</span> Center) can change a teams fortunes immediately, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">particularly</span> when the player is as unselfish as Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Oden</span>. With him and their existing core, the Blazers have the foundation to go deep into the playoffs, maybe as soon as next season.<br /><br />Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Oden</span> is 7'1'' 260lb but seems even bigger on the court, if <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">that's</span> possible. And he possess many other attributes on top of the size: Explosive hops and flexible legs, great hands (soft and strong on offense and for rebounding, hammer-like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">usage</span> on defense), high shoulders and long arms, speed of a small forward, quality and improving post moves, soft touch in the paint and at the line, giant court presence at all times, unselfish, quiet fire to win, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">likable</span> personality. Bottom line: the best NBA prospect since Tim Duncan (with the potential to be better than TD, he's a better athlete).<br /><br />The Portland cupboard was looking well-stocked even before the addition of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Oden</span>. Now it is simply overflowing. Brandon Roy looks like a 10 year rock in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">backcourt</span>. Not a true PG, but similar to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Deron</span> Williams and the late Dennis Johnson with his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">bulldozer</span> strength to get in the paint, rock solid defense and winning court presence. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">LaMarcus</span> Aldridge is tremendously springy for a 7 footer, with a nice touch and a fundamentally sound defensive and rebounding game. Winning court demeanor is a positive, but heart condition makes him a tainted prospect. Zach Randolph had better REALLY shape up now or the Blazers will look to ship him out. Though improved last season, Randolph must now realize it his not his show and learn to fit in around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Oden</span> and Roy. Still, his bruising frame, quick feet and immaculate hands make him a rare NBA commodity: 20 points, 10 rebounds. Don't disregard their other pieces either. Jarret Jack can be a low-level starting PG in the NBA (whether <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">that's</span> actually a compliment is another story). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Martell</span> Webster has a big time stroke and a solid frame, but he needs to learn the other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">phases</span> of the game. Joel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Pryzbilla</span> is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">serviceable</span> big man off the bench and Travis Outlaw can change a game with his shot blocking and free-throw <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">inducing</span> drives to the hoop.<br /><br />Their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">mojo</span> lost after the infamous Game 7 loss to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Lakers</span> in West Finals back in 2000, the Blazers are back with a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">vengeance</span>. They should be a title contender by 2009 or 2010.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-42139933659707090002007-05-21T08:33:00.000-06:002007-05-21T13:02:28.297-06:00Van Gundy...More Like Van DONEdy<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RlG0gh3ijgI/AAAAAAAAABs/8d1hviLP69E/s1600-h/Jeff+Van+Gundy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RlG0gh3ijgI/AAAAAAAAABs/8d1hviLP69E/s400/Jeff+Van+Gundy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067029526708653570" /></a><br />Following a painful first round exit to Utah during which his team lost series leads of 2-0 and 3-2, Jeff Van Gundy was fired last week by the Houston Rockets. This was a make-or-break season for Van Gundy, as the Rockets hadn't made it out of the first round in his 4 year tender. His preffered deliberate style of ball and stubborn demeanor (what, you don't think proven playoff assasian Bonzi Wells would have made a difference against Utah?) have worn out their welcomce in today's NBA. Cmon' Jeff, this isn't 97' anymore. Patrick Ewing isn't out there creating puddles of sweat in the 4th quarter and Charles Oakley isn't clothlining dudes into the 3rd row. Hey Jeff, you're a brilliant basketball mind and a stand-up guy, but we've seen enough. Get with the times or stay out of the league.<br /><br />Van Gundy certainly is the most accountable for the failure of the Rockets to beat the underdog Jazz but make no bones about it, this is a flawed roster. T-Mac and Yao may be able to win a championship together at some point and they are certainly worth keeping together for the long haul. But there are glaring shortcomings in each of their games, shortcomings that must be improved for Houston to take the next step. T-Mac is a great distibutor of the ball, but he can be something of a ball hog in the halfcourt, over dribbling and forcing pull-up jumpers, the effect being teamates frozen on their heels on the offensive end. 0-6 in the first round of the playoffs, McGrady has not proven to be a clutch playoff performer either. Yao is a defensive liability. He struggles to get up and down the floor, and cannot contain a quick, bullish big man like Carlos Boozer. Both players have lengthy injury histories that diminishes their long-term value. <br /><br />The supporting cast in Houston features guys put in roles that are too big for their games. Rafer Alston is quick and can pump in a 3 now and then, but his game is better suited for the playgrounds of Rucker Park. Chuck Hayes, for all his defense and hustle, lacks offensive ability. Dikember Mutumbo and Juwan Howard would fit well on Van Gundys 97' Knicks, but these dinosours games and bodies have seen better days. If I'm GM Carrol Dawson, I hold onto my 2 superstars, glue-guy supreme Shane Battier and Luther Head (a nice 3rd guard off the bench) and I try to get a legitimate guard who can take some pressure off McGrady (maybe making a push for Mo Williams or Jerry Stackhouse) and a bruiser with size to take some pressure off Yao (maybe a guy like Jason Collins). And I bring in a coach like Rick Adelman who will open things just a little bit and stop playing the Van Gundy ball that does not work in the modern NBA. As for Van Gundy, maybe his dismissal is for the best. Take a year off, get some sleep for once, go back into the booth and get some polish for that nice shiny bald dome.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-87950125276625046352007-05-17T09:39:00.000-06:002007-05-17T12:36:58.610-06:00Sheed Force<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rkx_nx3ijfI/AAAAAAAAABk/3rxLOOq4low/s1600-h/rasheed-wallace.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/Rkx_nx3ijfI/AAAAAAAAABk/3rxLOOq4low/s400/rasheed-wallace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065564002262879730" /></a><br />Detroit and Chicago square off tonight in a 6th game that few saw as a possibility one week, when Detroit was demoralizing the Bulls in a dominant, come-from-behind second half performace. But here we are, back at the United Center,Bulls fans rabidly awaiting the biggest game in their buidling since the MJ dynasty. Chicago should be proud of their team. The Bulls have proven to be a worthy 2nd round team with their precision offense, stout defense and beyond-their-years resiliancy. This is a team on the cusp of big things in the near future. However, for them to get past Detroit this year is not really dependent on their own performance. It has everyting to do with the performance of the Pistons, or more specifically one Piston. <br /><br />The Pistons and Bulls match up fairly even across the board except for one position: Power Forward. PJ Brown is a proud veteran and still can produce in big games but lets face it Chicago fans, he can't hold Rasheed Wallace's jock strap. Sheed holds the key to tonights game, damn, the key to the whole series. If he plays the game that he knows and everyone else knows he can play tonight, the Bulls won't have to worry about making travel plans to Detroit. Anyone who saw his sublime 2nd half in game 3 has seen the way Sheed can rip the heart out of a good team. The buttery 3's, the outstanding screens he sets on the perimeter, the unblockable turnaround J on the block, the help defense 30 feet from the hoop, the paint eliminating interior D: Rasheed Wallace has a package of skills no one else in the NBA can match. What makes him even more valuable is his floor presence; his big plays have so often destroyed whatever spirit the opposition might have had. But he also might not show up to play tonight. He might jack up 12 3's. He might get a stupid technical. He might not command the ball on the block. Thats why Sheed doesnt make All-NBA teams every year despite being one of the top 15 talents in the league: no one knows which Sheed will show up every night. But he has a history of showing up big in big games. He also has a history of following subpar performances with brilliant performances. As far as a prediction for tonights game, my money is on Rasheed playing big. Therefore, my money is on Detroit.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-17727435333765223502007-05-16T10:32:00.000-06:002007-05-17T11:49:22.352-06:00Recap: Efficient Jazz Make Mincemeat of WarriorsWhoever says that Avery Johnson is a better coach than Jerry Sloan is flat out kidding themselves. Sloan's Jazz, the latest surprise of these playoffs, have earned a berth in the vaunted Western Conference's final series after dismantling two teams that all the "experts"--where's Sean Salisbury when you need him?--picked against them. With superior size, relentless effort on the glass, and the point guard of the future, the Jazz took down a Golden State squad that may have used up all its mojo in the first round.<br /><br />Give Sloan credit. Unlike Johnson, he didn't change his gameplan to accomodate Nellie at all. Utah used Boozer as the bruiser he is, let Kirilenko roam, and created problems for Golden State's shaky front line. Al Harrington and Andres Biedrins--please. Adonal Foyle, earn your keep or get out of the NBA. For all the Warriors late season success, they looked very human throughout their five-game debacle, and you could see obvious holes in the GMing of this team. Don't forget that they made the playoffs on the last day of the season.<br /><br />Golden State looked weary by series' end; their guards couldn't score in the paint, and their streaky shooting from 3 was exposed as exactly that. But we have to give credit where credit is due: Deron Williams played B. Diddy chin to chin, although the latter's jowls are without question the largest in the league. The more clean cut, traditional Williams, also played the part of point guard better. Captaining his team like he has done all season, he guided the Jazz into their advantageous matchups, and the rest seemed to take care of itself.<br /><br />The scores of these games were all in the 100s, which you would think would favor the speedy Warriors, yet it was the Jazz who controlled the tempo, took better shots, and were able to exert their gameplan over their opponent's.<br /><br />Can anybody say coach of the year? They should award this thing during the playoffs.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-24399288909157043502007-05-10T10:54:00.000-06:002007-05-10T15:33:57.635-06:00Half-Man+Half-Amazing=No Heart<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RkNaeUuAWaI/AAAAAAAAABc/1Xufh1dqfHY/s1600-h/Vince+Carter.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RkNaeUuAWaI/AAAAAAAAABc/1Xufh1dqfHY/s400/Vince+Carter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062989883098814882" /></a><br />Lets start off by saying Vince Carter is a GREAT player. Not very good, GREAT. He will probably end up in the Hall Of Fame for his brilliance on the court and his legendary dunks. But for all of his greatness, the man does not seem to really care about really fulfilling his or his teams potential. Once again, it looks like Vince and his Nets will be going down to a hungrier team this year, this time LeBron James and his Clevelan Cavaliers. Lets take a deeper look at VC. What makes him great? What is missing in his game? Why does he always seem to let down when it matters most? Lets start answering some of those questions.<br /><br />Vince Carter cannot be stopped one-on-one and must be double teamed in order to be contained. Though his handle can look sloppy at times, the ball is rarely taken from him because his hands are so big and so strong. When he is in the mood, he can attack the basket and will not be stopped. He has a tremendous shoulder dip move which bowls over just about any defender, including stout 7 footers; VC's body strength is elite for a wing. When he gets to the rim, he uses either his great leaping ability to jump over helpless defenders (see Weis, Fredric) or those tremendous hands to finish on flips or runners. He is so strong in the upper body and in his hands that he can absorb a viscious blow in the paint and still finish. When he goes to the free throw line, he hits about 80% of the time. On those nights Vince doesn't feel like driving (which no one can predict besides Vince himself), he has one of the deadliest jump shots in the league, with a quiet release and unmatched elevation; VC might have the most range on his jumper in the NBA. He can get the shot whenever he wants because of the great elevation but also because his upper-body strength prevents defenders from getting into him. Carter sees the court well and can break the double team. He can rebound on both ends of the court. He has enough defensive skills to neutralize his man when he is interested. He has become more durable and played in all 82 games this past season, logging heavy minutes to boot. In short, VC posseses every tangible skill one could want in a basketball player.<br /><br />There are only a few tangible weakneses in VC's game. He doesn't play that hard on defense, but he is no sieve. He does not have much of a midrange game; he prefers the long jumper or the drive all the way to the hoop. His sloppy handle does not lead to turnovers but it does casue for the offense around him to bog down a bit. The primary problems with Vince Carter are almost intangible. It all starts with his demeanor. Whether it his fault or not, Vince has a sullen expression and lackadasical body language (part of this is because the game is so easy for him, it looks like he is not trying). He is not a natural leader and comes off a bit aloof on the court. The picture above should be familiar to anyone who has watched VC throughout his career; I have never seen a player overeact or feign more injuries than Vince Carter. That does not project the kind of iron will that is needed to win big in the NBA.<br /><br />Vince is most likely the Dominique Wilkens of our era: great dunker, great talent, not a champion. Thats not necesarily a bad thing; Dominique is enshrined in Springfield and is one of the more memorable players in NBA history. It's just that when we talk about Vince Carter, we'll always be asking "what if".Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-91177127678452536172007-05-09T10:52:00.000-06:002007-05-17T11:50:34.596-06:00Underrated Utah<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RkIDFEuAWZI/AAAAAAAAABU/DVmAZ6w-FuQ/s1600-h/Deron+Williams.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RkIDFEuAWZI/AAAAAAAAABU/DVmAZ6w-FuQ/s400/Deron+Williams.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062612316818790802" /></a><br />There is a tendancy in today's NBA to overlook solid, no frills basketball. The San Antonio Spurs never get the credit they deserve. The Chicago Bulls had to sweep the Miami Heat to get the national recognition they had coming to them. But neither team has been slighted over the years quite like Utah, going back to their glory days of Stockton and Malone in the 80's and 90's. <br /><br />Does anyone realize that Utah was 7th in scoring this year? They may not have the spectacular finishers to make the highlight reel but they can put points on the board. They are not a great defensive team or a grind-it-out team that everyone wants to make them out to be. They can run the fast break, but most of all they execute in the half court as well as anyone in the NBA.<br /><br />Their offense all starts with their premier young point guard Deron Williams. Burly like a QB but with nimble feet, Williams can overpower just about any guard in the league. He sees the court very well, can get to the rim and shoot from the perimeter. He is already one of the best point guards in the league and will be a perrenial All-Star. Carlos Boozer is the recipient of many of Williams pinpoint passes. Undersized but strong, Boozer has uncanny scoring touch in the paint, particuarily going left, and cleans up garbage around the rim. Mehmet Okur shoots the 3 better than any bigman in the NBA. His perimeter prowess keeps the lane clear for Boozer and he is great on high pick-and-pops with Williams. Matt Harpring brings toughness to the offense. He can create space with his upper body strength to hit the midrange jumper, or he can kamikaze his way to the rim for free throw attempts. And don't forget about Ivan Drago look-a-like Andrei Kirilenko. Though he only averaged 8.3 points per game in his nightmarish season, AK47 still can fill the lane on a fast break, lead the fast break, hit a 3 and pass surprisingly well in the halfcourt. <br /><br />Everyone is gushing over Golden State right now. They're Califronia hip, celebrity-approved and fun to watch. But to the basketball purist, Utah's game has all the sizzle with more substance than Golden State. Look for them to take down the Cinderella Warriors, probably in 5 or 6 games.Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-88291806938325848222007-05-07T08:32:00.000-06:002007-05-07T09:01:39.963-06:00Next Steps for the Toronto RaptorsLike so many young teams, the NBA playoffs left the Toronto Raptors by the wayside after a hard-fought first round defeat at the hands of a more battle-tested New Jersey Nets squad. The Raptors made great strides this year, in no small part due to the progression of Chris Bosh into what looks like a perennial all-star, and some savvy moves by Bryan Colangelo last summer. But what does Colangelo do now to take this team past the first round, which seems like a legitimate possibility next year given the aging of the Pistons, Heat, and Nets.<br /><br />The Raptors currently have the 4th lowest payroll in the league, and with Alvin Williams's $6M contract coming off the books, the team will be in even better shape next year. Morris Peterson's contract is up, and he has proved to be a valuable piece and steady producer for the team. He makes $4.5M, and Colangelo would be smart to hang on to a player that can go for 15 night in night out, and play solid defense. Colangelo, though, has a penchant for overhauling teams, and it's definitely a possbility that Mo Pete could be wearing different colors next season.<br /><br />Run by T.J. Ford, the Raptors now play a faster style similar to the Phoenix Suns. But they currently have neither the athletes nor the shooters of Colangelo's other architectural masterpiece. The Raps will be drafting in the late teens, and could see a Marcus Williams type at that spot, an athletic, smooth, and long-limbed swingman.<br /><br />Bosh and Bargnani form a formidable front court scoring wise, but combined they don't inspire fear on defense or the boards. Neither does Rasho Nesterovic. The Raptors would be well suited for a grinder/enforcer type to take the pressure off Bosh and allow Bargnani to roam the perimeter at will. Can anybody say Danny Fortson? A Dennis Rodman wannabe, Fortson comes off Seattle's books this summer and Toronto could get him on the cheap.<br /><br />Expect Colangelo to look for more speed in the backcourt, though, to complement Ford. Would he consider making a run at one of the Atlanta Hawks wings, like Josh Childress, who Billy Knight would be wise to unload. Childress could be a great 1 or 2 yr experiment for Colangelo. He can shoot the 3, and moves pretty well off the dribble. The lack of incessant losing would also be a positive, next to a winner like Ford, anybody can take another step. Look how good guys like Anthony Parker looked this year.<br /><br />With a taller wing to make up for Ford's slight of build, and a bruiser to protect Bosh, the Raptors could stay young, stay cheap, and improve. Bosh has not quite hit the ceiling in my book, but at this point it's going to take better players to make him better. Factor in a Bargnani improvement and added muscle and the Raps could lock down the Titanic for the next 5 years.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-61369248454304480812007-05-03T09:44:00.000-06:002007-05-05T12:52:02.142-06:00Big Changes Needed for Lakers<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjoKu0uAWYI/AAAAAAAAABM/Cl7MMY7_oeQ/s1600-h/Phil+Jackson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060368930846038402" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjoKu0uAWYI/AAAAAAAAABM/Cl7MMY7_oeQ/s400/Phil+Jackson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjoKm0uAWXI/AAAAAAAAABE/dpboSvLLv-g/s1600-h/Phil+Jackson.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>A ho-hum exit for the L.A Lakers last night, losing 119-110 to their burgeoning (and vastly superior) rival Phoenix. Series done in 5 games, no surprise. After all, for all the hoopla and national TV coverage and extra attention the Lakers get, don't forget that this was a 42 win team. Kobe played most of the year in the rarified air he alone can inhabit and only missed 5 games. Phil Jackson remains a titan in the coaching ranks. Great arena and facilities, great owner, great fan support, hefty payroll. So whats the problem? Why are they a .500 club and first round washout?<br /><br />It's easy to point the finger at Kobe and he certainly deserves some of the blame. The best player in the league has a unique way of rubbing his teamates the wrong way; his competetive fire resmbles the great Michael Jordan, but his tightly-wound demeanor and hyper-sensitivity make him come off as not as cool of a guy as MJ and not nearly the natural leader. However, Kobe to me is the least culpible for the mediocrity in Los Angeles; what else could the guy reall do. Lamar Odom, for all the talent and all the hype, is not the All-Star caliber player that many claim him to be. He is simply too incosistent; All-Stars don't dissapear every 4 games. But he is a very good player, certainly capable of being a marquee player on a championship team.<br /><br />But the real problem with the Lakers lies in their complimentary parts. Having Phil and Kobe associated with these guys is like having a world class chef working Taco Bell's ingredients; it's insulting to us and them and it is disgusting. Luke Walton, though a nice player, is a 6th man, not the 3rd man he masquerades as on the Lakers. Andrew Bynum? Great potential no doubt, but call me in two years when he's ready to play a consistent role. Smush Parker WILL be out of the NBA VERY soon. Jordan Farmar is the Kevin Federline of the NBA: a lot of flash, a lot of swagger, a few nice moments (hey, Britney was still A-list when K-Fed snagged her), but at the end of the day he is simply posing as a legitimate NBA player. And the rest of the motley crew? Lets play a little word association: Brian Cook-Soft, Chris Mihm-White Stiff, Vladamir Radmonovich-Imbosil, Ronny Turiaf-A lot of Hair and not much game, Shammond Williams-Pudgy, Kwame Brown-Clueless, Sasha Vujajic-No Talent.<br /><br />The Bottom Line: Somebody PLEASE give Phil Jackson a medal for actually making these scrubs look decent at times this year. And maybe a few rolaids tablets and a couple of weeks in the Carribean to make him forget that he, the greatest coach of his generation, actually coached them.</div></div>Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-29379367101348214292007-05-03T09:32:00.000-06:002007-05-07T14:53:33.017-06:00What’s the Real Value of Free Agency?- By Adam Jungdahl<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjoBSkuAWWI/AAAAAAAAAA8/GrX4Ae8AJ6k/s1600-h/Billups.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060358549910083938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjoBSkuAWWI/AAAAAAAAAA8/GrX4Ae8AJ6k/s400/Billups.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a name="0.1_graphic02"></a><br />Come every spring we hear the same old rhetoric from NBA GM’s whose teams are headed back to the lottery: “we need to focus on building this team, we need to bring in some of this or that, we need to add one more piece in order to make a serious run”, and on and on about how their team has to acquire talent to improve their circumstances. The prevailing thought process here holds that a team should focus little upon the actions of other teams, only so much as if effects their odds at scoring a free agent. In this sense GM’s tend to focus on absolute gains by trying to acquire talent without regard to overall league activity, the primary concern being the accumulation of as many blue chippers as possible. Imagine, just for one moment, that your team’s GM chose to take a broader view realizing that each free agent loss by a potential opponent, be they a fellow division rival or perennial playoff adversary, improved your team’s chances of success. Thus, your GM approaches free agency through relative gains. The question then is how these different approaches would alter GM behavior. The divergent behavior between these two approaches it seems, would be in assigning values to free agents and potential trade targets.<br />Let’s take Chicago’s signing of Ben Wallace this past summer as an example. When the signing was first announced many questioned the massive contract Chicago was willing to fork over for an aging, undersized center with no offensive skills. Yet, this season the Bulls improved their record by eight games and advanced to the second round by sweeping a Miami team who bounced them out of the playoffs in six games last year. So in this sense Chicago obviously improved by acquiring Ben. More importantly, however, is how Detroit was effected. The pistons by contrast lost eleven more games this season and until the acquisition of Chris Webber languished behind Cleveland for the top spot in the Central. Now these two teams go at it this weekend, with the Bulls sporting a 4 time Defensive Player of the Year in the middle while the Pistons answer back with a bum-legged, Michigan has-been. The key point here is that Chicago may have over paid for Ben Wallace in terms of the production he’s given them, but he has been of even greater value than his numbers indicate, because his departure from Detroit weakened Chi-town’s chief divisional/playoff opponent.<br />Granted, this approach does not work in all circumstances, but it should be taken into account in certain situations. This summer we could see similar events play out with Milwaukee and Chauncey Billups. When assessing Billups’s value to the franchise, Milwaukee should take into account the chance to get an elite point guard but also an opportunity to severely wound a divisional foe and possible playoff opponent in the years to come. Thus, any massive contract the Bucks throw out there should be judged not solely on Billups’s contributions in Wisconsin, but also the demeaning effect it has on their neighbors across the crystal waters of Lake Michigan.<br /><br /><em>note: Adam Jugndahl is a special correspondednt for the NBA Guru.</em></div>Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-1013319581771992072007-05-02T08:57:00.000-06:002007-05-02T09:14:16.438-06:00Warrior Mentality, Part 2The Mavs and the Warriors played the best game of the playoffs last night, a nail-biter rife with big shots, big attitudes, and Mark Cuban looking like he was going to go home and cry. That was until Dirk played like an MVP, blocking a shot and hitting two deep threes, followed by an icy performance at the free throw line.<br /><br />The Warriors went up by nine late, thanks to flawless penetration by Baron Davis and red hot three point shooting by his wings. Then the unthinkable happened: Davis stopped getting to the hole and what had been Golden State's lifeblood became their bane. The Warriors kept jacking treys, missed them, and blew what would have been arguably their biggest win as NBA players. What was Nellie thinking, allowing his team to fire away at will, watching the game pass from his hands to Dirk's. What was Stephen Jackson thinking when he got ejected? As usual, nothing.<br /><br />You cannot take anything away from Dirk and co., but this game was the Warriors' to lose. One drive, one easy bucket, one drip to the line--finito. Now the upstarts face a must-win game six, lest they had back to Dallas for game seven.<br /><br />Mark Cuban must be thanking the basketball Gods. A loss last night would've sent shockwaves through that organization. Instead, Baron Davis's head got a little bigger, his jaw a little more swollen from all the trash talking he did. Davis must dip during games and the badass beard does little to cover it up. Cuban's team was saved for at least one more game.<br /><br />This series has shades of Kobe vs. Phoenix last year, when the Lakers went up 3-1, only to bow out in seven. Golden State won last night's game, and then they lost it. It wasn't either or, it was both. Expect Dallas to come out even more aggressively in a game six dandy. The Mavs may have taken Golden State's best shots, does Oakland have anything left?Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-19845660987353270462007-04-30T08:53:00.000-06:002007-04-30T16:27:19.458-06:00Warrior Mentality<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjYQD0uAWVI/AAAAAAAAAA0/v-CSgAudvrg/s1600-h/B+Diddy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059248889274587474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjYQD0uAWVI/AAAAAAAAAA0/v-CSgAudvrg/s400/B+Diddy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_6AdvxakIKlE/RjYPWEuAWTI/AAAAAAAAAAk/w4PLIa-vB-Q/s1600-h/Baron+Davis.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>Up 3-1 over the mighty Dallas Mavericks, Baron Davis(left) and his fearless Golden State Warriors are shocking the basketball world. Better yet, they are doing it with almost incomprehensible passion. Anyone who saw game 4 last night had to have been overwhelmed by the electricity of the Golden State players and the long-suffering Oakland fans. The arena was on fire all night, more so than any other NBA game in recent memory. It was truly a joy to watch and should go down as one of the all-time classic playoff games in NBA history.<br /><br />First round series aren't supposed to play out like this, not against a giant like the 67 win Mavs. Then again, Baron Davis wasn't supposed to remind everyone why his best game may be better than any other guards best game in the league (yes, that includes you Steve Nash, and you too Dwyane Wade). Then again, Stephen Jackson wasn't supposed to remind everyone how his unrivaled competetiveness and confidence can drive a team in the biggest of games. Then again, Mickeal Pietrus wasn't supposed to remind everyone why a brash and giddy Chad Ford called him "the Euro Michael Jordan". And most of all, Don Nelson wasn't supposed to remind everyone that he may just know a little more than his fawned-over protege Avery Johnson.<br /><br />If you really love NBA basketball, there is no way you cannot be mesmerized by these scrappy underdogs aptly called the Warriors and their spit-fire, diehard fans. And if you really love NBA basketball, there is no way you would miss game 5 Tuesday in Dallas to see if they can shockingly finish off perhaps the most memorable first round series in league history.</div></div>Evan Argallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02813790534568388601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804165569698840945.post-49234112973572807392007-04-28T19:56:00.000-06:002007-04-29T10:17:37.784-06:00Last Game for Grant Hill??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/7c557b10-44e7-4074-aec8-1b2468d01408.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/7c557b10-44e7-4074-aec8-1b2468d01408.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Is this dunk at left Grant Hill's last flush in the NBA?<br /><br />Hill is considering retirement, after his Orlando Magic were swept by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, losing game 4 97-93. The former All-Star's massive $16.9 million contract is up this year, and even if the Magic offer him a new deal--a very big if--it will likely be somewhere around the mid-level exception, or lower.<br /><br />Hill's ankle has seen more action than Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan combined. His heel has been reshaped, and he has sat out parts of the last 6 seasons, playing more than 60 games only twice. He is 34, his legs are about 28, and his ankle is a senior citizen. It's a sad story for a former MVP candidate, who I still imagine making championship runs with a Tracy McGrady--sans back injury, of course.<br /><br />But, Hill can still contribute. He averaged nearly 15 a game this year, shooting his characteristic 50% from the field, and is still a stabilizing force on the court. Multi-talented, good handle, good passer, solid defense, a glue guy of sorts. He still has a place in the league. But if Hill decides to hang 'em up, he deserves a pat on the back, and a solemn one at that. A job well done, with a body that betrayed him. Hill would have been a career 22-25 ppg scorer and one of the classy faces of the league, like a Tim Duncan.<br /><br />If Hill decides to stay, you have to think he'd like to go to a winner: Spurs, Mavs, Bulls, maybe a return tour of duty with the Pistons. A team that can live with his injuries and save him for the playoffs. A good example to watch would be Chris Webber. If he gets Detroit to a finals, that might serve as a model for Hill, that he can still be a force and have an impact for the right suitor.<br /><br />If not, though, we'll have to remember Hill for his high-flying dunks at Duke, and his ability to make those old Turquoise Pistons unis look damn good. Better not to think about what might have been.Nick Churchillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042888491156197884noreply@blogger.com0