Drafts 2001-2005

2001

You would like a mulligan on this one right, MJ? Gasol is probably the best big man right now behind D12, Joe Johnson is a top tier player, Tony Parker is a 3 time champ and a finals MVP, Zach Randolph is (was?) crazy but gives you a 20/10 night after night. So, yeah, bad choice MJ, bad choice

Championship Builders: None

Biggest Jump: Mehmet Okur from 37th to 10th

Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Wizards -- Pau Gasol (3)
2. Clippers -- Joe Johnson (10)
3. Hawks -- Tony Parker (29)
4. Bulls -- Shane Battier (6 )
5. Warriors -- Zach Randolph (19)
6. Grizzlies -- Gerald Wallace (25)
7. Nets -- Richard Jefferson (13)
8. Cavs -- Jason Richardson (5)
9. Pistons -- Tyson Chandler (2)
10. Celtics -- Mehmet Okur (37)


2002

Solid solid class featuring 4 quality dependable big guys (if we count Nene as dependable), Amare could overtake Yao as the first pick depending on where he lands this summer. Also a very bad drafted class as we have 3 second round picks in the top 10.


Championship Builders: Rockets
Biggest Jump: Luis Scola from 55th to 9th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Rockets -- Yao Ming (1)
2. Bulls -- Amare Stoudemire (9)
3. Warriors -- Carlos Boozer (34)
4. Grizzlies -- Caron Butler (10)
5. Nuggets -- Tayshaun Prince (23)
6. Cavs -- John Salmons (26)
7. Knicks -- Nene Hilario (7)
8. Clippers -- Matt Barnes (45)
9. Suns -- Luis Scola (55)
10. Heat -- Drew Gooden (4)



2003

Four franchise players. Its 1984 all over again and as in 1984 the redoing of this class changes everything! Cleveland get Lebron but the Pistons come away with Dwayne Wade, basically taking away the 2006 title from the Heat and Shaq’s fourth title. What Detroit does with Wade? Bring him off the bench? We all know Wade was ready to be a impact player in year one, does Larry Brown plays him? Do the trade him? I’m guessing both Dumars and Brown would realize what they have in hands and do the right thing (Trading Rip after a year or two). Kaman goes to the Heat (no more Shaq) and Perkins take Kaman’s spot in the Clippers (Sorry Kendrick. Sorry Celtics)

Championship Builders: Cavs, Pistons, Nuggets, Raptors

Biggest Jump: Kendrick Perkins from 27th to 6th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Cavs -- Lebron James (1)
2. Pistons -- Dwayne Wade (5)
3. Nuggets -- Carmelo Anthony (3)
4. Raptors -- Chris Bosh (4)
5. Heat -- Chris Kaman (6)
6. Clippers -- Kendrick Perkins (27)
7. Bulls-- David West (18)
8. Bucks -- Leandro Barbosa (28)
9. Knicks -- Boris Diaw (21)



2004

Fourth straight solid talent filled class. And you wonder why we are getting a better product (player wise). The impact of this class: Al Jefferson getting selected by the Bobcats so the Celtics don’t have the golden ticket to get the Big Ticket. No 17th banner for the Celtics. Oh look, the Hawks selects a point guard!

Championship Builders: Magic, Bobcats

Biggest Jump: Anderson Varejao from 30th to 11th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Magic -- Dwight Howard (1)
2. Bobcats -- Al Jefferson (15)
3. Bulls -- Josh Smith (17)
4. Clippers -- Emeka Okafor (2)
5. Wizards -- Andre Igoudala (9)
6. Hawks -- Jameer Nelson (20)
7. Suns -- Loul Deng (7)
8. Raptors -- Kevin Martin (26 )
9. Sixers -- Ben Gordon (3)
10. Cavs -- Devin Harris (5)
11. Warriors -- Anderson Varejao (30)
12. Sonics -- J.R. Smith (18)



2005

Can we say “5 straight good class?” Not exactly a deep class but you rarely have the first 6 teams selecting coming out with a big smile in their faces. We have two franchise point guards, one big swing man who wants to be a second banana and three really good big man who happens to be young enough to get better. Oh look, the Hawks selects a point guard!

Championship Builders: Bucks, Hawks

Biggest Jump: Anderson Varejao from 30th to 6th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)




1. Bucks -- Chris Paul (4)
2. Hawks -- Deron Williams (3)
3. Jazz -- Danny Granger (17)
4. Hornets -- Andrew Bogut (1)
5. Bobcats -- Andew Bynum (10)
6. Blazers -- David Lee (30)
7. Raptors -- Raymon Felton (5)

Overview: LA Lakers vs Spurs

For the first time after a series I think my poor -and wrong - attempt to predict a series could easily have been true. San Antonio should have win game 1 and game 4. I believe the Spurs have a better team this season than LA but the New Orleans' series took so much out of them that the good ol' Spurs didn't have the legs to keep with the more rested Lakers. If San Antonio had had a 6 game series againts Chris Paul and Co the history would have been different.

Kobe played great and he was played great as well the Bowen and the Spurs' defense. Every Laker went for every loose ball, ofensive/defensive rebound and never let a themselves loose control offensively (with the posible exception of the last 30 seconds of game 4. Or Sasha Vujacic any given moment). You have to give lots of credit to Kobe and Phil for installing this team culture in less than a year and performing it for 7 straight games during playoffs games.

Bynum was out. Manu was as good as out. Duncan look tired every game past half time. Horry and Finley never showed up. Fisher didn't play up to it. Gasol wasn't an offensive force. This wasn't the best sample to measure this two teams but the tam with the best conditions won


Whose fault is it? Chris Paul

Overview: Hornets vs Spurs

Everything I was expecting from the Spurs - Suns series I got it from this series. By a mile the best series so far this year. Despite of the Spurs improbable victory in game 7 at New Orleans the lasting image for which we are going to remember this series is the arrival of Chris Paul to the mainstream media. I know he already was a MVP candidate a the average NBA fan kinda know he was pretty good. For now on Chris Paul is a household name and next season tons of kids are going to follow him and trying be like him at that, ladies and gentleman, is one of the best it could happen to us. (Pretty corny, right?)

The Hornets pushed the champs to the max. David West and Tyson Chandler played spectacular the game they did win. The same tren was followed by San Antonio' big three. The onyl thing that separated this teams was game 7. Experience. Poise. The good ol' know-how-to was the defining qualities that game this series to San Antonio (Memo to John Hollinger: Dude, this things matter. Just 'cause it can't be measured by some formula it doesn't mean they don't affect the course of a series)

The Spurs continue to be "a hated" team. People call them floppers, dirty team, boring, lucky. As long as they keep winning more people are going to hate them. Maybe that's a requirement to be champions. Get to be hated in at least 5 cities.

Whose fault is it? Probably the low point of the Hornets were their bench. A little production for the likes of Bonzi and Pargo and they'd be facing the Lakers in a couple of hours.

Tied 2-2

Right now we have three series tied 2-2 with each team collapsing on the road like little girlies. Every time everybody says that the momentum has change and the "pressure is on them". The momentum thing is right in all this cases just because some team just won 2 straight games, in the case of the Spurs by double digits -after getting beatten by double digits themselves - but I've never understand the pressure is on them thing and here's why (I'll be so Hollywood if I started singing and dancing in a manly and virtuosos way after saying that) :

In Spurs-Hornets series after Paul lead the Hornets to an easy 2-0 lead the pressure was on the Spurs. After the Spurs won easily their 2 home games the pressure is now back to the Hornets just 'cause the Hornets apparently can only beat San Antonio at home. But isn't San Antonio a little bit pressured to win this game and go home to rap it up. They don't want a game 7 in New Orleans. The need this game more than the Pauleners


Same history with the Lakers and Jazz. LA dominated at home and then struggled to execute in the strech run at Utah. Now what? Whose pressure? LA? They know the can win easily there and they have played 82 games to have this home court advantage and also know they could win at Utah. What about the DWillers? They pretty much squeeze two wins at their home floor but trust me on this one they don't believe they are unbeatable at home they need a win at LA if they are going to get back at the Western Finals and should be easier to win a game 5 than a game 7, right? A game 6 win is no way a given for this guys.



Taking things to the East the Lebrons and the Big Three are also tied tow games apiece. Following common knowledge the pressure should be in the Celtics side. They have now lost two straight games and all but they have proven being unbeatable at home, just ask the Hawks, they don't need road wins to be the new champs. I have expressed by concerns about the Celtics almost on weekly basis for the last four weeks and I don't think they can defeat Detroit or whoever comes out of the West in a 7 game series playing like that on the road but they are facing Cleveland know, here it might male the trick. The Lebrons NEED this games more than Utah or San Antonio , this is a must win. They could use those two chances to take out the Celts if they win game 5 because a winning game 7 in Boston is almost an mission impossible, just ask the Hawks.



True be told. It's game 5. The pressure is on everybody.

NBA Playoffs Day 20

Finally the Spurs won a game. This was a weird game . The Spurs forgot the idea of stopping Chris Paul and focus on defending the three point line. The didn't close the lane for Paul instead they close the passing lines to West and Chandler. MoPete and Peja had awful games, West still had a good game and Chandler wasn't much of a factor and still the Hornets were only down by 5 entering the fourth quater. This approach worked for a game but I'm wondering if this is the right scheme to defeat the Hornets. Letting Paul have a field day. I don't know. I hope Pop does.

The one thing for me was the offense. Both Parker and Manu never stop attacking the defense and Parker stop being so hesitant when running the offense. Finley and Bowen had a nice shooting touch for three. I'm also a Spurs fan but I see this Hornets taking it on 6


Man, what's the deal with this Celtics? They are shutting down Lebron but they couldn't shut down Joe Johnson or Al Hortford. Is Lebron going for 50 in Cleveland? The image of Atlanta overplaying the Celtics still haunts me in my sleep.

NBA Playoffs Weekend 3

Boston got to the second round. Easily. I'm still questioning this team mental thoughness 'cause their road loasses where just lack of exectution they weren't victims of some conspiracy

The Spurs got beatten in the last couple of minutes by the Hornets. The Hornets' defense was "stingy" and the Spurs didn't help themselves by entering one of those "no offense time for us" type of groove they developed in the last month or so of the regular season. Not only they didn't contain Paul (his numbers may don't amaze you but he controlled that game) but they let West get 30 points and do whatever he wanted with the Spurs' defense. So, no defense and bad offense means 0-1 hole for the Spurs. Expect a better game for those guys today

The Pistons controlled Howard and the Magic shooters went 2 from 15. This is when Howard needs to prove that he really wants this. For me Howard and Lebron have the same problem: this game comes so easily for them, their bodies and abilities gives them so a clear advantage that most time they don't even need to try in order to have a big night and perhaps winning the game. Last year Lebron cruised for the entire first half and the Cavs still win 50 games.

Now Howard needs to get in another gear (like Lebron this year or last year conference finals) to defeat an highly superior team. Can he manhandle the Pistons like Lebron did last year? He has the potential but until he do it we'll leave it like that in "potential".


After building a 19 point lead the Lakers found themselves in a 4 point game with like 5 minutes to go. Utah never got closer because the didn't have Boozer (he fauled out somewhere around half way into the fourth quater) and the fould Kobe like 1 google times. I know Utah fouls a lot of people a lot of times (2468 times in the regular season. Numero uno in the league) but this Lakers team is a very good free throw shooting team (10th in the league) and having Boozer playing like a poor man's Antawn Jamison is not a good idea to give up so many points from the charity line.

Second Round: Hornets vs Spurs

2. Hornets (56-26) vs 3.Spurs (55-27)
Regular Season Series: TIED 2-2
Point Differencial: NOH +7.0

The new pups against the old savyy dog. Despite the age and experience diference this are two teams relatively similar. Their are lead by their point guards, they have great power forwards and a deep bench. Naturally each of these matchups are going to be key in this series.

Even though considering the fact that Phoenix never put much defensive resistente, both Duncan and Parker were unstoppable against them and they look as hungry and they have look in years. They executed the pick and roll prefectly and Parker was hitting the jump shot becoming unguardable for the Suns. Finley, Oberto and Ginobili had their moments but they were pretty unregular. They need more from them. They need a lot more from Ginobili. Lots of experts predicted that San Antonio were going to win the last series thanks to the Ginobili factor but he was held in check (by his standards) and the Spurs still won the series but this is a thougher more solid team and Manu needs to prove right here right now that he can be as clutch and valueable (hint) as a Kobe or a Paul. The athleticism of New Orleans front court could put Duncan and Thomas in foul trouble so their bench needs to play good and play smart.


This Hornets are a treat to watch. Paul plays with a passion that is very rare to see in such a young player and they are highly efficent. They can drain the three like free throws (.389%, 3rd in the league) and their offensive rating is 5th in league. Their defensive numbers are good (7th in the league in defensive rating) because they control the tempo of the game and the although they can run, they prefer to run the pick and roll and find open shooters in half court schemes. They are young but they are not dumb.

Duncan vs West, Parker vs Paul, Bowen vs Peja. This are going to be matchups were are going to enjoy and you can almost expect good series from those guys. This is going to be a more defensive series than the previous one both teams had. In this one the bench players are going to be THE KEY (yeap capital letters) . Mainly Manu Ginobili. The Hornets doesn't have an answer for him, a few teams do (actually Raja Bell defends manu amanzinly and this year wasn't the exception) he needs to explode the matchup and go right to Tyson Chandler. At some point defense most collapse but before that he needs to make his jump shots which he wasn't doing it against Phoenix. The Hornets must rely on their team defense. That defensive discipline and Paul have take them this long and could easily take them farther.

X Factor: Manu.

Basketball Gods' prediction: SAS 4-2

Overview: Hornets vs Mavs

I would have predicted New Orleans in 5 but I thought this year there was going to be some fire under this Mavs. I was wrong. Everybody not named Nowitzki showed the same intensity and desire shown last year agains the Warriors. Their defense was specially atrocious and Kidd seemed lost on offense. The didn't "gave the nightmares to somebody else" they just kept them for themselves.

The sucess of this Hornets ain't all due to Dallas' mishaps. Peja and Paul played a great series. West was a solid option all series long. Paul made sure the the tempo of each game was in their convenience and he pretty much dominated Kidd and any other Mav that dared to step in front of him. Their defense wasn't top notch by they didn't needed this series.

Whose fault is it? Avery Johnson. He never let Kidd to control the offense and never showed signs of having total control of this teams. The fire he deployed on his playing days never translate to his players and that was the only way this team had a chance to win this. Oh, and the blame algo goes to Josh Howard, you pothead!

NBA Playoffs Day 3

I didn't post anything yesterday 'cause first of all, I hate teams and players that talk and talk trash and then don't even show up to the game and know everybody is asking questions about the Wizards toughness and mentality. Let me give you a piece of advise coming from above: Stop talking, stop trying to kill Lebron and start playing some freaking D ( You were supposed to be playing better D this season, remember?)

The other reason is that hoped for a good Rockets' postseason they are soooo overtmatched that I feel bad for TMac I doesn't have a shot this year.

Last night was another story completely. Both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard gave more than impresive playoffs performances for the second straight game. They both protected their home court and that's always a good start specially for young teams as those. If I were the Raptors I'll be very worried right now, Orlando was one of the best teams league-wide on the road. It's time for Bosh to step up and stop Howard. Good luck, Chris. Just a little side note, what were the Mavs thinking (Via TrueHoop)


And then there was the old guys aka Spurs grabbing a 2 - 0 lead on their series. Right now I have a couple of concerns - from the Suns' standpoint:

1. Steve Nash is not dominating anymore. He's there but he's not the same.
2. Amare and Shaq had good games, stayed out of foul trouble but even so couldn't get the win
   
3. Amare is talking like the series is over
4. Duncan is not going to lose this series

The work is cut out for you Suns specially that you are the "better team"

First Round: Hornets vs Mavs

2. Hornets (56-26) vs 7. Mavs (51-31)

Regular Season Series: NOH 2-1

Point Differencial: DAL +2.0

This series will define how good of a coach is Avery Johnson. Forget the nightmares, forget the overcoaching, forget everything. His place in this team depends on this result. This series is the bomb! We have mismatches left and right, up and down. we have the quick point guard, the old and savy point guard, the post prescense and rim defender, the foreighn shooters, the dynamos coming from the bench,etc. Imagine you are Avery Johnson right now and this is your line of thinking:

Whose going to defend Chris Paul? Jason Kidd will be bitting his dust all series long. Jason Terry can match his speed but he will be in foul trouble before I can change my chewing gum. Josh Howard? What? Be real. Poker Face. Come on, man

What about David West? Dirk can't defend a folding chair. I guess Devean George could do the trick while West scores the first 12 points of the game Barea? Howard? Damn
How do I take Chandler out of the paint? Dampier can only catch and dunk and JKidd just taught him that. Can I use Bass as my center and playsmall ball like..like...

That's when the vein in his forhead explodes. (I'm not saying he talks like that. Maybe he thinks like that)

This is not going to be easy for any team. Before the Kidd trade they could have a shot in this series. I'm not taking anything away from Kidd but Harris and Diop are utterly missed right now. Harris'd gave them a better matchup against Paul and Diop would at least made Paul and West to think about before going into the paint. Across the street New Orleans is not so giggly about this matchup, Dallas has more experience and a HUUUUGE ship on their shoulder. New Orleans doesn't have permiter stoppers so they rely in team defense- a very good one- and Chandler rejecting everybody and that doesn't work to well against shooters like Nowitzki and Terry.

The Hornets can't underestimate Dirk Nowiztki. I know he's been through a lot and people - included myself - have wondered for awhile if this guy can hold a franchise in his shoulders but it will be dumb for the Hornets not to plan and adjust their defense around a very aggresive Nowitzki

Dallas needs to attack New Orleans' defense. Tyson Chandler can't stop them all. Stackhouse, Terry, George and Josh Howard need to perform a retlentess atack to the paint. They need an MVP effort from Nowitzki and a time machine for Kidd (so he can defend Paul). What Dallas must focus this series is trapping and somehow trying to slow down Paul with Kidd's size being the anchor of that scheme. I wont be easy.

X Factor: Avery Johson,I'll say it again. This is his moment. If he relies on the decision making of Jason Kidd, give their bechnenough confidence and believesin Dirk Nowitzki story -and let him know - will be very kind on him. The entire franchise's stability depends on him

Basketball Gods' prediction: NOH 4-2

My Vote

It's so useful when you are going to do something and there are guidelines that help you perform that activity in a way that you are sure you are doing a good work. The league issue no such thing like guidelines when they ask for the media to vote for the MVP. They don't ask bloggers' vote no matter if they represent the Basketball Gods in Earth, I asked :(

If somebody at work tells you that you are very valuable it doesn't mean that you are the best guy at the office. It means that what you do has a high value for the company. It means that the company will suffer if you leave or take a vacation. If somebody does a survey and realizes that you bring the most value to your company that any other of your coleagues to their own company it doesn't mean that your company is better that any other but your contributions have helped the company get out of mediocrity.

Did I make my point? I don't think so. My point is that the MVP trophy should be given to the player that gives more to his team, it's have to be given to that guy wihout who the franchise will be lost in their own floor. My candidates will be next in no particular order:

• Chris Paul: He's the reason the Hornets are contenders. He's the reason why West it's a All Star and Chandler and almost All Star. Whenever an oponent handles to shut down Paul is all over for the Hornets. Voters would be shy to vote for him due to his age and the fact that he could crash and burn in the playoffs. They don't want to make the same mistake two years running.
  

• Kobe Bryant: The talent gap between him and the next best Laker it's not as big as in previous years but still Kobe is the face of the Lakers. He creates so much offense for the rest of the lakers as he does for himselft and that's has been the key for the Lakers' success. He'd had better seasons and there at least 2 more players deserving the award for this season.
  

• Manu Ginobili: American society and press gives to much relevance to numbers and stats.They don't tell the whole story. Ginobili has been the offense motor for the Spurs all season long. They have been stuck in mud without him and this is a 55 win team. Sure he has Duncan guarding the rim and Parker doing lot's of scoring and passing but when the fourth quater comes the ball is always in Manu's hands

• Kevin Garnett: Another example that the numbers don't tell the whole story. He's been responsable for changing the Celtics culture from "Why the Basketball Gods hate us?" to a "You can't score on us. It won't happen". He's also responsable for brain washing Paul Pierce and making him to care about defense (He's actually pretty good). Nobody means more to his team that Garnett. Why wouldn't I vote for him? Tne only reason will be that Paul Pierce is almost as important as him. They truly deserv shared credit
  

• Lebron James: Without him the Cavs are no better than the Knicks. He's the most complete player on the league and pretty much he does whatever he wants to. You can't say that about too many players in league history, can you?
  

So my voting will go like this:


First Place: Kobe Bryant
Second Place: Kevin Garnett
Third Place: Chris Paul
Fourth Place: Manu Ginobili
Fifth Place: Lebron James

The Basketball Gods' Are Good

And s&it load of trades went down at the headline.


The big one was the 11 player Ben Wallace trade. The Basketball Gods' are good because Chicago found a way to dump Big Ben. But now, instead of having a underpaid big man the Bulls have a underpaid shooting guard. I keep telling you, the Basketball Gods work in a misterius ways.Read the comments from blogabull, there's a little bit of everything. The Cavs are happy.


Yesterday news but Bonzi was sent to the Hornets. Just one word of advise, keep Bonzi as far as posible from Chris Paul. Seriously. I know stuff. At the association the trade didn't like either. At least at Swarming the Ball are content

Tim Duncan won't have to worry again about Kurt Thomas ' D


Gerald Green was traded to the Rockets for Kirk Snyder and some chopped liver.


The Nuggets and the Blazers made a minor deal exchanging Von Wafer for Taurean Green
Pretty lateral move is you ask me.



Detroit gets Juan Dixon in exchange for Primoz Brezec. Another lateral move

Are you ready?

I was supposed to write this post at the beggining of the week but I didn't had time hence I'm doing a short maybe more intersting version

Take a look at the stadings, drive your glance to the West conference and enjoy the madness. This last 30 something games are really going to be something that any NBA fan is going to love. Seriously, they are only 5 games between the first seed and the 9th seed and if you believe in Portland's dream then it will be 10 teams fighting for everything from the number one position to be the poor souls outside looking in

For me this are the keys for each team:

• Hornets: Can they keep calm once that every game is played at full intensity? I mean Chris Paul is a true MVP (top 3 in my opinion) but they have never play with those conditions.

• Suns: Shaquille. He is going to slow them down. He is going to be in foul trouble a great deal of time. They are going to miss Shawn Marion. How does D'Antoni and Nash handle this? If they can pull it off I'll tip my hat to them.

• Lakers: Bynum's and Bryant's health. If they recover nicely they are the number one choice for the title.

• Utah: They need to find a way to win outside Utah. It's imperative.

• Mavs: If they get Kidd they will need to mesh pretty quick. If they stay put they Avery Johnson is the key. He needs to put some fire in this team. Somehow.

• Spurs: Finley, Barry, Bowen and Horry shot. Their title hopes depend a lot on those guys open jump shots.

• Nuggets: Believe it or not, K-Mart is the key here. He could be a great offensive and defensive weapon. They'd have so much versatility in both ends of the floor that they would be complicate matchup for anybody.

• Houston: Defense. It they play defense they know how to win. No matter if TMac is playing or not (Or he's traded or not)

• Warriors: Biedrins and Monta. When this two play their best they are an unbelievable team. Seriously. Warriors' fans know what I'm talking about.

• Blazers: Remember the magic. It wasn't only Roy's magic or Alridge's magic. Was a team's magic. Just remember it.