Lebron James: Chicago Bulls. And no, he is not pairing with Bosh. Carlos Boozer is coming to Chi town. That is going to hurt Cavs. Double. This is leaving Chicago enough money to round up the roster with decent role players
Chris Bosh: Miami Heat. DWade has his new sidekick. Same case as the Bulls, the are not throwing all their money in two players. They are going to spread the wealth.
Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson: New York Knicks. Well, Plan B worked.
David Lee: New Jersey Nets. He likes the area and the Russian guy is probably going to seriously overpaid to get him. Keeps him in line with his plan of turning Knicks fans into Nets fans
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen: Boston Celtics
Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks. He is probably also getting Shaquille O'neal in a sign and trade for Butler with the Cavs. This team might be the front runners on getting Arenas next February.
Rudy Gay: L.A Clippers. They are going to overpay for him. Big time!
J.J. Redick: Orlando Magic. Offers are going to be there but I don't the Magic letting him go
John Salmons: Torn between Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets. Probably the latter
Brad Miller: Chicago Bulls. He likes it there. They like him
That was fast. No real drama in the first round as the usual suspects passed to the second round.
Atlanta had to sweat a little bit and Denver fall apart without Coach Karl. Here is a quick recap of each series in case you didn't bother to watch basketball the last couple of weeks
Lakers vs Thunder.
Lakers won in 6
It did go to 6 games but i wasn't expected the Thunder to be this competitive. They were right there in 5 of the 6 games and the reason they lost the series was Durant poor shooting performances. Lakers D and Artest bullying him cause fatigue in the poor guy. He missed a lot of easy open shots he normally makes specially in game 6. This is an extremely young Thunder team that we can only hope they have the chance to grow together. The Lakers are hoping they don't. After game 4 everybody started to freak, the very same Lakers asked reporters around " What is wrong with u? Its just 2-2" After 2 convincing games in Oklahoma City and a very close win in game 2 all the issues the Lakers had in the regular reason came to the surface ( Kobe injuries, lack of focus, depth, Derek Fisher, etc) but after they gave an old fashioned ass kicking to the the Thunder and they escaped game 6 with a series clinching win now everybody is happy. The Lakers are vincible, more than a year ago. Is going to take an very defensive team to take them down. Lakers D is one of the best in the league, their offense in the other hand has holes all over the place. They go away from Gasol/Bynum way to often, Kobe is picking his spots more than ever and their bench is terrible. If Odom doesn't comes out like a marry man possessed they are getting nothing from their bench.
Mavs vs Spurs
Spurs won in 6
I gave too much credit to Jason Kidd. That was the only reason I picked Dallas over San Antonio. Look I know about all the lack of balls Dallas has shown in recent playoff trips, I also know Dallas had a real chance of knocking Denver last year with a worst team that his year incarnation. We all knew that the Spurs were going to rough the Mavs up and make this a very physical series. This is where I thought Kidd was going to step up, not hitting Parker like he was Joumana but injecting some calm into the Mavs when they were about to melt down. It never happen. As kid was outplayed by Parker and Hill he completely check out of the series. There is something wrong in the core of this Mavs team. I don't know if it was the result of the 2006 Finals or the ass kicking they got my Don Nelson and Baron Davis the next year. Maybe they just take the Cuban's beat and whine instead of playing through bad times. I have nothing against Mark Cuban. He is a personal hero, he is the best owner in this league but that constant pickering on the league and the refs set the tone of the entire franchise. I can bet you that if he takes just a small step back and stop trying to show off the league they would be in a better place. Just saying
San Antonio, man oh man, what can I say about this team. They just wont go away. What amazes me is that right now they are finding new ways to win. They are not longer the defensive juggernaut they used to be. They don't have the size of the experience to play like that. Offensively and defensively they are getting contributions from some many places night in and night out. That speaks tons of Popovich and Buford. The question here is: Can they sustain that for 3 more rounds of playoffs? Can they keep winning without being excellent at neither end. They can beat Phoenix. Nash still their toughest player and I think they are going to fold under pressure, again. The Lakers are an excellent defensive team. So are the Cavs and the Magic. The Lakers have more options on offense that the Spurs can contain. Nobody in a Spurs uniform ( in the league for that matter) can stop Lebron. They are not athletic enough to close Orlando's shooters. The odds are against them but one thing I've learn the past couple of years is that they don't give a fuck about their odds. They just win.
Suns vs Blazers
Suns won in 6
Well not surprise here. As i watch this series unfold I started asking myself if we overestimated the potential of the Blazers. This summer I had Portland as a 3 seed. Worst case. I know injuries really did a number on them... AGAIN... this is like the third straight year we say this. The are a group that just can't stay healthy ( and now they just inked Camby for two more years. Are you kidding me?) Their big investments are Roy and Aldridge. Brandon is a top 5 or top 7 wing player in this league. Every penny he earns he worths it. LaMarcus in the other hand has shown flashes, an of those when it matter the most. He is just 24. He has plenty of time. Worst case scenario he is a 18-8 guy. Can you win a ring with Roy as your best player and LaMarcus as your second banana? Forget about Oden. Two years for a 35 year old injury prone Camby should tell you what Portland management is thinking about Oden. As young as they are I don't see them becoming real contenders as they are built right now.
I still don't buy Phoenix and this is why:
JRich is not this good. How long before he comes back to Earth? I don't think he has 3 more rounds like this against San Antonio, Lakers, Cavs/Magic defense. He is not Joe Johnson ( sorry Suns fans.Too easy). As easily as
Amare can dominate the inside he can shy away from contact and start taking 15 footers all game long. Plain and simple he's playing for his next contract. Can you go against real defensive schemes just thinking " I need to get notice. I need to people think I care" I don't know. I think if he puts a couple of 30/15 games against the Spurs or the Lakers on national TV is going to be satisfied.
Nash is taking halves off. Not because he is bad person. Because he can't do it for entire games anymore. Now you tell me what happens when Blair or Bynum put him on his butt twice in the first quarter. His back can't take that. A jump shooting Nash that lets Richardson or Hill run the team is a formula for disaster for Phoenix.
Jazz vs Nuggets
Jazz won in 6
The Nuggets confuse me. They really do. On paper and in many night they look like true contenders. A decent defensive team, well coached , star player, second banana, nice rotation. Not deep enough and probably not good enough. Those things you can improve. Other nights they look in such a disarray, specially offensively, the look lost beyond Melo. They loose their composure way too easily. One can't wait for them to grow up and take the next step. Can they take it with Melo as their best player? Of course they can. What's holding them back? No idea. I hope this guys can help. If we talk about this series you can blame Melo's supporting cast. Besides Billups, nobody step up consistently. No Kmart. No J.R. No Birdman. As it was three years ago , it was Melo all by himself.
How good in DWill? Seriously if you are outside Utah, did you know Williams was this good? My God the Hawks GM who skipped him and Paul most be stoned to dead. Anyhow Utah showed lost of courage going against Denver and Melo without their best defender ( Kirilenko) and one key piece of their offense ( Okur ). They ran the offense perfectly when it mattered. Deron Williams just ate the Nuggets alive. I'm still amazed. No kidding. The Lakers are next and that's it. For all DWill brilliance and their efficient offensive execution they are not a good defensive team. They are not long enough to keep up with the Lakers' bigs. I don't even see a ray of hope here. When the summer comes I'm rooting for them. I want them to get a really good shooting guard in exchange for Boozer. Somebody who can shoot and defend. That's it . They don't need the next MJ.
Gotta love this Spurs. They "only" won 50 games but they are still mentioned between those teams nobody wants to face. Some night the look like they can't be beat some other nights the look plain old and tired. They don't necessary need 40 games from Manu to be contenders but they do need efficient games from Duncan, aggressive games from Richard Jefferson and more then solid games from their shooters. Is that too much to ask? Actually is not. The last month of Spurs basketball is being that. Duncan has had a couple of poor games but the other factors have been there. And the defense is always there.
Dallas? You know, on paper they look mighty good but there is something that just doesn't click with this group. Caron Butler is not the all star he was, Marion seems lost offensively sometimes, Terry's shooting touch hasn't been there all season long. The bench is good but not always there.
Still they are bigger and stronger than the Spurs and Nowitzki will be the better player on this series unless Manu goes super nova hot on them. Or Timmeh goes 2003 on all of us.
Both Tony and George Hill are hurt which takes a lot of the advantage the Spurs have on the point guard positions. San Antonio has never had a answer for Dirk and their benches are decent but unreliable. Its going to go down to execution and lucky bounces. Sucks to end a season like that.
Basketball Gods Prediction: Mavs in 7
Win Scale (From 1: "The refs gave them that game. Are they really this bad?" to 10: " This is the best team ever! Make me yours" ) 7
I left Larry Bird for the next year because he belonged to that draft class. The Blazers got great help in Michael Ray Richardson to continue their search to get back to a championship level. The championship teams of Philly and LA got a big hit as two of their main players (Maurice Cheeks and Michael Cooper respectively) got drafted by different teams.
Championship Builders: Blazers, Knicks and Warriors
Biggest Jump: Michael Cooper from 60 to 3
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Blazers-- Michal Ray Richardson (G,4)
2. Kings-- MychalThompson (C, 1)
3. Pacers-- Michael Cooper (G, 60)
4. Knicks -- Maurice Cheeks (G, 36)
5. Warriors -- Reggie Theus (G, 9)
6. Celtics-- Purvis Short (F, 5)
7. Blazers-- Dave Corzine (C, 18)
8. Celtics -- Mike Mitchell (F, 15)
9. Bulls -- John Long (C, 29)
10. Hawks -- Freeman Williams (F,8)
11. Jazz-- Phil Ford (G,2)
1979
History in the making here as the Chicago Bulls drafted Larry Bird pretty much scratching the 80’s matchup between the Lakers and the Celtics. The Pistons franchise also got a big hit to their future championship run as, Seattle Sonics, took two of their main guns with the 6th and 7th pick although they got Sydney Moncrief and Mark Eaton with their picks.
Championship Builders: Lakers, Bulls, Sonics
Biggest Jump: Mark Eaton from 107 to 10th
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Lakers-- Magic Johnson (G, 1)
2. Bulls-- Larry Bird (F, 6 (1978))
3.Knicks-- Bill Cartwright (C, 3)
4. Pistons-- Syndey Moncrief (G, 5)
5. Bucks-- Calvin Natt (F, 8)
6. Sonics -- Bill Laimbeer (C, 65)
7. Sonics -- Vinnie Johnson (G, 7)
8. Nets-- Clifford Robinson (F, 11)
9.Knicks-- Dave Greenwood (F, 2)
10. Pistons-- Mark Eaton (C, 107)
11. Nets-- Jim Paxson (G, 12)
12. Blazers -- James Donaldson (C, 73)
1980
A very weak draft, pretty much a 2 player draft as the Warriors got a great power forward to pair with their center Robert Parish (weirdeh?) and the Jazz and the Bulls got quality players.
Championship Builders: Warriors, Jazz
Biggest Jump: Kurt Rambis from 58 to 8.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Warriors-- Kevin McHale (F, 3)
2. Jazz-- KikiVandeweghe (F, 11)
3. Celtics-- Joe Barry Carroll (C, 1)
4. Bulls-- AndrewToney (G, 8)
5. Nuggets-- Jeff Ruland (C, 25)
6. Nets-- Darrell Griffith (G, 4)
7. Nets-- Rick Mahorn (F, 35)
8. Sixers-- Kurt Rambis (F, 58)
1981
The expansion team Dallas Mavericks got ahell of a building stone with Isiah Thomas but the winner of the draft must be theNets who got two quality big guys. Again the great drafting by the Boston Celtics in this era is shown as another piece of their championships is stolen from them as Danny Ainge is selected in the7th spot instead of landing in Red Auerbach lap until the 31th pick.
Championship Builders: Nets, Hawks
Biggest Jump: Danny Ainge from 31to 7.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Mavs-- Isiah Thomas (G, 2)
2. Pistons-- Mark Aguirre (G, 1)
3. Nets-- Tom Chambers (C, 8)
4. Hawks-- Rolando Blackman (G, 9)
5. Sonics-- Larry Nance (F, 20)
6. Bulls-- Buck Williams (F, 3)
7. Kings-- Danny Ainge (G, 31)
8. Clippers-- Orlando Woolridge (G, 6)
9. Mavs-- Eddie Johnson (F, 29)
10. Nets-- Steve Johnson (C, 7)
11. Bullets-- Alton Lister (C, 21)
1982
Another weak draft basically a 4 player draft where the 57 win newly crowned Lakers team got the man they originally selected and the Mavs show the poor drafting they did as a young franchise first passing on Isiah Thomas a year ago and now taking a guy named Bill Garnett instead of Rickiee Pierce or Fat Lever.
Championship Builders: Lakers
Biggest Jump: Derek Smith from 35to 7.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Lakers-- James Worthy1
2. Clippers-- Dominique Wilkins3
3. Jazz-- Terry Cummings2
4. Mavs-- Ricky Pierce18
5. Kings-- Fat Laver11
6. Knicks-- Sleepy Floyd13
7. Bulls-- Derek Smith35
8. Pacers-- LaSalle Thompson5
1983
One of the strongest draft until that date gave us one great big guy and a bunch of quality shooting guards but one guy was head and shoulders above all those guards and that was Clyde Drexler. His drafting by his hometowne Rockets gave them a hell of a stepping stone for years to come and takes out the Blazers from contention in the late 80’s and early 90’s.The Rockets walk away with the scoringprowess of Jeff Malone. Meanwhile the Pacers don´t do to shabby as they select Ralph Sampson to pair with Herb Williams
Championship Builders: Rockets, Pacers
Biggest Jump: Doc Rivers from 31th to 9
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
