Evans at the horn

Check out my boy Tyreke Evans game winner against the Memphis Grizzlies the other night. I'm glad to see Tyreke finally building confidence.

Is This Even Legal?

Wow, this is a new move...

College Football Bowl Game Predictions

2010-11 College football bowl predictions:

New Mexico
BYU vs UTEP
Winner: BYU

uDrove Humanitarian
Northern Illinois vs Fresno State
Winner: Fresno State

R+L Carriers New Orleans
Ohio vs Troy
Winner: Troy

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg
Southern Mississippi vs Louisville
Winner: Louisville

MAACO Las Vegas
Utah vs Boise St
Winner: Boise St

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
Navy vs San Diego St
Winner: Navy

Sheraton Hawaii
Hawaii vs Tulsa
Winner: Hawaii

Little Caesars
Florida International vs Toledo
Winner: Toledo

AdvoCare V100 Independence
Air Force vs Georgia Tech
Winner: Georgia Tech

Champs Sports
West Virginia vs NC State
Winner: West Virginia

Insight
Missouri vs Iowa
Winner: Iowa

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
East Carolina vs Maryland
Winner: Maryland

Texas
Illinois vs Baylor
Winner: Illinois

Valero Alamo
Oklahoma State vs Arizona
Winner: Oklahoma State

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
Army vs SMU
Winner: SMU

New Era Pinstripe
Kansas State vs Syracuse
Winner: Kansas State

Franklin American Mortagage Music City
North Carolina vs Tennessee
Winner: North Carolina

Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Nebraska vs Washington
Winner: Nebraska

Meineke Car Care
South Florida vs Clemson
Winner: Clemson

Hyundai Sun
Notre Dame vs Miami
Winner: Miami

AutoZone Liberty
Georgia vs UCF
Winner: Georgia

Chick-fil-A
South Carolina vs Florida State
Winner: Florida State

TicketCity
Northwestern vs Texas Tech
Winner: Northwestern

Outback
Florida vs Penn State
Winner: Florida

Capital One
Alabama vs Michigan State
Winner: Alabama

Gator Bowl
Mississippi State vs Michigan
Winner: Michigan

Rose Bowl Game Presented by VIZIO
Wisconsin vs TCU
Winner: TCU

Tostitos Fiesta
Connecticut vs Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma

Discover Orange
Stanford vs Virginia Tech
Winner: Virginia Tech

Allstate Sugar
Ohio State vs Arkansas
Winner: Ohio State

GoDaddy.com
Middle Tennessee vs Miami (Ohio)
Winner: Middle Tennesse

AT&T Cotton
LSU vs Texas A&M
Winner: LSU

BBVA Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh vs Kentucky
Winner: Pittsburgh

Kraft Fight Hunger
Nevada vs Boston College
Winner: Nevada

Tositos National Championship Game
Oregon vs Auburn
Winner: Auburn

Say it ain't so

For the last decade their has been one player in the NFL that has constantly been feared. He talks a lot of stuff, but he continues to back it up. He is your prototypical middle linebacker. He is a direct representation of what the game of football is supposed to be...hard work, dedication, passion and violence. If you haven't guessed who I'm talking about by now (you suck), I'll just tell you...Ray Lewis.

This season Ray Lewis has caught me off guard with his Old Spice commercials and recently I had to reevaluate how I saw the scariest middle linebacker of the past two generations. Take a look at this picture, is that really him?


Yes, that unfortunately is a snuggie.

No Ref Is Safe

Shocking play after a foul call.

Skip to about the 1:15 mark

Remarkable Creativity....

Did He Really Just Do That?

This video has received a ton of attention over the last 18 hours. Take a look at Jets strength coach, Sal Alosi intentionally sticking his leg out to trip a Miami Dolphin player, during a punt play.

This is one of those things you always think about doing if you have the chance, but you don't actually do it!

James Harden Monster Dunk

Check out James Harden's emphatic dunk over J.J. Hickson.

Heisman Hopefuls

On Saturday, December 11, 2010, the next NCAA Football Heisman will be crowned.

Candidates:

Andrew Luck
Stanford
JR QB
Conference: Pac-10
Passing Yards: 3,051 Touchdowns: 28 Completion Percentage: 70.2 Interceptions: 7
Rushing Yards: 438 Touchdowns: 3 Yards Per Rush: 8.6
Team Record:11-1

Cameron Newton
Auburn
JR QB
Conference: SEC
Passing Yards: 2,589 Touchdowns: 28 Completion Percentage: 67.1 Interceptions: 6
Rushing Yards: 1,409 Touchdowns: 20 Yards Per Rush: 5.8
Team Record:13-0

LaMichael James
Oregon
SO RB
Conference: Pac-10
Rushing Yards: 1,682 Touchdowns: 21 Yards Per Rush: 6.0
Receiving Yards: 169 Catches 16 Touchdowns: 1
Team Record:12-0

Kellen Moore
Boise State
JR QB
Conference: WAC
Passing Yards: 3,506 Touchdowns: 33 Completion Percentage: 71.0 Interceptions: 5
Team Record:11-1

I'm going to keep this short. This year we have four strong candidates for the 2010 Heisman Trophy. But with all do respect, this shouldn't be a competition. As you look at the above stats there are a few things to note...Overall statistics, conference played in, and team record. Immediately, Kellen Moore should be removed from the discussion. He had an outstanding season but he played in the WAC conference and did not score enough touchdowns to really be considered this years Heisman. That narrows it down to three legit candidates. As you examine the numbers, Cameron Newton measures well against Andrew Luck in passing and also measures well against LaMichael James in rushing yards. His 3,998 total yards and 49 touchdowns (he had one receiving touchdown) puts him head and shoulders above all the other candidates. Not to mention his team is undefeated. Luck will most likely go on to be the No.1 overall pick in the 2011 draft and James is a blooming sophomore, who will go on and have a very productive NFL career but Saturday will belong to Cam Newton. I expect to hear Newtons name Saturday night for this years Heisman and if he isn't I may boycott college football.

NBA Big Head Commercials

If you haven't seen them, here are the popular NBA "Big Head" commericals.

More than a game

This proves that there is more to sports than just the games being played.

Why So Stingy?

Whether your a Yankees fan or not, you know the boys in stripes are always in the media. The free agent market is at its peak in the Major Leagues right now, so we can expect the Yankees to dish out hundreds of millions of dollars to top free agents, as they try to assemble their version of the "All Madden" team. Can you blame them though? They have the money, they are located in New York and they have a winning culture. I've never had a problem with their offseason tactics to winning until recently.

As we all know Yankee legend, Derek Jeter became a free agent for the first time in his career this fall. Jeter has been a Yankee for his entire 15 year career. He has been a team captain since the 2003 season and has really served as the teams face for the last decade. So why was there a contract dispute? Apparently the Yankees found Jeter's original contract request to be unrealistic. The Yankees pretty much told Jeter to come back when he has a buyer for that offer. It got so ugly that Yankee reps were quoted as saying Jeter needed to drink some "reality potion." Whether the Yankees were right or not, is that the way to talk about the face of your franchise to the media?

Understandably, Jeter is on the downside of his Hall of Fame career, so he isn't going to be able to command top dollar. But when CC Sabathia was given a seven-year $161 mil contract in 2008, Mark Teixeira was given a eight-year $180 mil in 2008, Alex Rodriguez was given a 10 year $275 mil contract in 2007, and A.J. Burnett was given a five-year $82.5 mil contract in 2008, why can't the face of your franchise get the money he wants?

Jeter has reportedly asked for $22 mil per year over the course of the next five years, which I agree is unreasonable for most teams. But when your the franchise is known for spending the top dollar, why all of a sudden become stingy? It is no secret that Jeter is coming off the worst season of his career and while some may argue it was an off year, the rest of us realize that he is going on 37 and has seen his best days as a Major League baseball player. Trust me, I see all the reasons why Derek Jeter should have been stuck in a contract dispute but I also realize that during his 15 years the Yankees have won five World Series Championships, had two managers (Joe Torre and Joe Jirardi), gone through two owners, and played in two stadiums. Jeter is embedded in Yankees history. He may not be playing his best ball, but I wouldn't couldn't him a liability. So I ask, why so stingy?

In case you were wondering Jeter's career numbers are listed below:

Batting Average: .314
Hits: 2,926
Runs: 1,685
Home Runs: 234
Runs Batted In: 1,135
On-Base Plus Slugging: .837

P.S. Jeter and the Yankees recently agreed upon a three-year $51 million deal, that includes a player option for a fourth year.

Must See Soccer Blooper

Possibly the worst soccer play of all-time.

Large Kid

An old video of Philadelphia head coach Andy Reed as a teenager in a kick, pass and punt competition. Please take notice of the size differential between Andy and the other kids...Hilarious

Jacked Up!

Philadelphia Eagles corner back Asante Samuels destroys New York Giants Derek Hagan. Mind you, Samuels weighs 185 lbs and Hagan weighs 215 lbs.

Knockout of the Year

American boxer Paul Williams went into his fight on Saturday against Sergio Martinez with an impressive 39-1 record. Williams previously defeated Martinez after a grueling 12 round decision. Going into Saturdays rematch, Williams was on top of the world as he held the WBO welterweight title, WBO Light Middleweight title and the WBC Middleweight title.

The rematch didn't last long. Williams started the fight very aggressive, in typical fashion. Martinez did his homework on Williams this time around, and this was the ending result:

Larger than Life?

Have you ever noticed that whenever someone is tall at a young age it is assumed that they play basketball?...And if they don't play, then they should. Am I the only one that wonders why you can't be tall and want to be a lawyer, an engineer, a television broadcaster, or anything that doesn't require you to be an athlete?

I recently read a refreshing story about a 14 year old larger than life. Well, not literally but a young kid by name of Satnam Singh Bhamara, who is already 7 feet, 250 pounds, at just 14 years old. He probably isn't on any web databases like Rivals.com or Scout.com because he is from Punjab, India.

Bhamara comes from a family where your future is set at birth. His father is a farmer and it is assumed Satnam will follow in those footsteps. Obviously things change when your 7 feet tall. Bhamara is currently in the US getting a middle school education and perfecting his basketball skills at IMG Basketball Academy, in Florida. The program he is in, typically last for three months, but Bhamara plans to make a lasting impression in hopes that he remains in the US and takes his basketball talent to the next level.

While many of us, including myself, don't truly mature and make real life decisions until college and after, this 14 year old is working hard to be one of a kind. The NBA has never had an athlete from India. Bhamara already has the size, he just needs to improve his skills. The trainers working with him say he has outstanding touch and very good moves for his age. His main weaknesses are his lower body strength and body control. Both of those weaknesses are expected for any 14 year old, not to mention he is 7 feet. Everything is in place for Bhamara to succeed, his future is in his hands.

Best case scenario, Bhamara does for India what Yao Ming did for China. He becomes the first and most prominent player from India in the NBA. Worst case scenario is that he continues to grow and never fully gets the control of his body needed to play in the NBA or a division one college, which would mean this could be the last time you hear the name Satnam Singh Bhamara.

Only time will tell what happens, but I wish Satnam the best and would love to see him in the NBA one day.

Why Timberwolves???

Just two days after I write up a nice blog post about my Minnesota Timberwolves, I'm exposed to this embarassing video...

Man Down....Again

I will try to do my best to post a highlight everyone time someone falls this year. This makes is the second time for Stephen Curry, the boy has brittle ankles.

Historic Night

Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a Minnesota Timberwolves fan. Anyone that watches the NBA knows it can't be easy supporting the Timberwolves. This is true...at times its a little depressing but with a roster full of young talent, I just look forward to the future.

Last night, I was a very proud Timberwolves fan. In a game that started like most (Wolves down double digits), something strange happened. The Wolves showed a little resilience! A second half charge led by underachieving Michael Beasley and a motivated Kevin Love. The Timberwolves were down 65-51 to the New York Knicks at halftime. Playing in front of a home crowd at the Target Center in Minnesota, my boys decided to play with a little pride. They rallied back and ultimately ended up winning 112-103.

Michael Beasley led the team in scoring with 35 points. He also contributed six rebounds and four assists. On most nights that stat line would steal the show in a Timberwolves box score, but those numbers were completely over shadowed by Kevin Love's 31 points, 31 rebounds, and five assists. No, trust me...that is not a typo. Kevin Love's historic night, clearly set career highs for him but also made him the first player to have 30+ points and 30+ rebounds in a game since 1982, when Moses Malone had 32 points and 38 rebounds. What makes this story even more amazing is that Love had 25 points and 22 rebounds in the second half alone.

This is truly a remarkable story and it probably won't receive as much publicity as it deserves because it wasn't done by a marquee star and it happened in Minnesota.

Regardless, congrats Kevin Love. Enjoy it and get ready to go back to work. The Timberwolves will need you to play at a high level every night.

A little friendly trash talk

Every NFL team has that one player who appears to do everything the right way. He works hard, he's never a distraction, he's usually a veteran and naturally a fan favorite. These are the guys who have all the right answers in interviews, they are generalized as a class act and a model citizen. Whatever team you root for, you can think of that one guy. In Pittsburgh, its Charlie Batch, in Indianapolis its Peyton Manning, in Tampa Bay its Ronde Barber and the list goes on.

In Baltimore, that guy is 14-year veteran, Derrick Mason. At the age of 36, Mason is still a very productive wide receiver. He is a professional, lead by example type of guy, which is why he is one of the Ravens team captains. With that being said, I was a little shocked at his comments following a victory against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Apparently, Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain and Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder were on the verge of fighting each other, before teammates broke them up. It is hard tell what was said, but what we do know is that the two locked face mask, and had a few words for one another.

After the game, Channing Crowder was in rage and very few people knew why. In a post game interview, he said, "Le'Ron McClain spit in my face. He spit in my face. That's some real ho s---. So if you talk to him, go tell him. And if he ever comes to Miami, he's got to see me." Those are very strong words, leading me to believe that maybe Le'Ron McClain really did spit in his face. Naturally, McClain denied the accusation and didn't fire back at Crowder.

Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason was interviewed after the game and asked what he thought about the accusations. This is the shocking part of the story. In response to Crowder calling Mason "the old man," Mason astonishingly responded out of character. He said, "Crowder was still peeing on himself when I was playing football." He later followed that with these harsh words...

"You have to be able in this sport to be able to back up what you talk, and for some reason this guy every time he says something he doesn't back it up...He's not a marquee player. I don't think they even want him on this team, but they have no one to replace him. So he has to be there...He's in the game, and he's getting knocked down. He's getting pushed out of the way. The guy is horrible. Honestly, the guy is horrible. He's probably a good guy. Not taking that away from him, but he's horrible. He's not a good football player. Honestly, he needs to go back and watch the film and humble himself and not say anything."

Wow, I would have never expected Derrick Mason of all people to have that reaction to a conflict, that really didn't concern him. I'm surprised that someone that has built such a class act reputation would waste his time and trash talk to Channing Crowder (who is historically known, for talking trash and not backing it up). I know trash talking is part of the game, but off the field you don't demean another mans career. If Le'Ron McClain didn't care enough to give a response, why did Mason? I found this whole situation comedic and eye-opening. Two lessons have been learned...never spit in a mans face and maybe these athletes aren't exactly who we think they are.

Teach Me How To Dougie

Washington Wizards rookie, John Wall, has moves on and off court. Here is his rendition of the popular hip hop dance "The Dougie."

Detroit...Why?

I love Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, but this is why there are no 300 lb kickers in the NFL.

Deadly Crossovers

We are just two weeks into the much anticipated NBA season and there are already unforgettable highlights. Here are two must see plays:

Chris Paul showing us why Miami Heat forward James Jones should never guard him.



We toss around the term "broken ankles" a lot in basketball, but this was almost legit.

Lebron James Nike Commercial 2010

It doesn't take much for Lebron James to receive criticism these days. His new Nike commercial will definitely generate buzz. It is a little surprising that he did a commercial like this, considering his image is tarnished in most peoples eyes. When your the villain, you don't have to worry as much about what people will say or think, so Lebron is free to be himself. I love the concept of the commercial and believe he is reminding us all, he is still in control.

NBA Preview

With the NBA kicking off next week, it is time for my 2010-11 NBA season preview. I can't think of another season that has been as anticipated as this year. Obviously, there has been a major shift in power from the West to the East. Just to name a few names...Carlos Boozer left Utah for Chicago, the Celtics added Shaq O'Neil, Delonte West and Jermaine O'Neil, Amare Stoudamire left Phoenix for the big apple,and the Miami Heat acquired Chris Bosh and Lebron James. We are coming off a summer that paid Joe Johnson over 120 million dollars over 6 years, Hakeem Warrick 18 million dollars over four years, Channing Frye 30 million dollars over five years,Rudy Gay roughly 82 million dollars over five years and Darko Milicic 20 millions dollars...so you get the point. For the last two years we have been hearing about a possible lockout season in 2011 and how crappy teams finances are but GM's had no problem dishing out these contracts. Funny how that works...

Anyway, without seeing a game yet, I'm going to assume we are about to witness some of the best basketball since Michael Jordan was with the Bulls. Without further ado, here are my season predictions...

MVP: Lebron James

A lot of people are assuming Kevin Durant is ready to take the NBA MVP crown. I would like to give everyone a reality check. Lebron James is the best basketball player on the planet. Please do not confuse that with the best winner on the planet. In terms of statistics on a night in and night out basis, there is no better player in the world. Kevin Durant is a great player and a rare talent but he does not have the all-around game that Lebron James has. Lebron will have better stats and a better record.

Defensive Player of the year: Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard will own the defensive player of the year award until he gets injured or old. He consistently is in the top of the rankings in rebounds and blocks. He is also a big name so he will always get the nod over players like Gerald Wallace and Josh Smith. The only hope is if one year Rajon Rondo steals it from him. If Howard could ever get his offensive game together, he would be a serious contender for the MVP award.

Rookie of the year: John Wall

This was a tough one. I love John Wall as a point guard and I also love his former teammate DeMarcus Cousins has a dominant big man. It should also be mentioned that Blake Griffin is entering his rookie season. The three of them will dominate the rookie of the year race but Wall will come out on top for two reasons. He plays point guard, which is the NBA's most popular position to date and he also plays on a team where he was handed the keys to the city. DeMarcus Cousins is a great talent but he will share minutes with the full front court the Kings have. Blake Griffin will dominate at the power forward position but he is surrounded by Chris Kaman, Baron Davis and Eric Gordon(had a breakout summer with USA team). John Wall will play with an uninterested Gilbert Arenas and a decent supporting cast of guys who wouldn't start on more than half of the teams in the NBA. Not to mention he is the point guard so he runs the show.

Most Improved Player: Michael Beasley

Call me biased but I think Michael Beasley will have a breakout season. All the pressure he has had is officially off his shoulders. When the Heat traded him, he was written off as a top young NBA talent. He was shipped to a confused franchise with no leader or franchise player. If anything, he will flourish just because there will be more shots available and he doesn't have to worry about Dwyane Wade giving him disgusted faces after every mistake.

Now for my NBA team rankings by conference. By no means is this how I think the playoff picture will turn out but it is how I rank the best teams in each conference. As we know from last year, the Celtics were the best team in the East but they did not play that way during the regular season. So keep that in mind...

Eastern Conference

1.Miami Heat
2.Boston Celtics
3.Chicago Bulls
4.Orlando Magic
5.Atlanta Hawks
6.Milwaukee Bucks
7.New York Knicks
8.New Jersey Nets
9.Charlotte Bobcats
10.Washington Wizards
11.Indiana Pacers
12.Philadelphia 76ers
13.Cleveland Cavaliers
14.Detroit Pistons
15.Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

1.LA Lakers
2.Oklahoma City Thunder
3.Utah Jazz
4.San Antonio Spurs
5.Portland Trailblazers
6.Dallas Mavericks
7.Houston Rockets
8.Memphis Grizzlies
9.LA Clippers
10.Phoenix Suns
11.Sacramento Kings
12.New Orleans Hornets
13.Denver Nuggets
14.Minnesota Timberwolves
15.Golden State Warriors

There you have it. Only time will tell what really happens.

This is how you become famous over night

Hit of the year

Austin Rivers

High school basketball star Austin Rivers recently signed with Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils. Rivers' name may be familiar to you because he is the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Rivers is currently the number one ranked player in the class of 2011 by ESPN. He has plenty of highlight videos on youtube but if you haven't seen any, this one will make you an immediate fan:

G.O.A.T

If your a fan of sports video games I'm sure you know NBA 2k11 hit the shelves yesterday, October 5th. There has been a lot of early hype about this game, so of course I reserved my copy and purchased it yesterday. I'm here to tell everyone to believe the hype. The game is awesome and easily the best sports game I have ever played (I've been playing sports games for over 10 years). This was not just an updated version of last years game with a few gimmicky features added like in most games. This is truly a brand new version of the 2k series with all the things fans loved in the previous versions plus more to love. If your a fan of basketball you will love the game. This is as close to real as a sporting game gets to date. If your more of an arcade style kind of person, don't buy this. This is not your type of game, trust me. I have found myself getting mad because little tricks I used to do in the past don't work anymore (like passing through two defenders to my man standing under the basket). Then I come to my senses and remember that wouldn't happen in real life. I'm not going to talk about the game anymore because no words I say can do it justice. Just go buy it!


And if your still not sold, I forgot to mention Michael Jordan is in the game...Enough said

I'm Back!!!

After a brief absence from the blogging world, I have returned with more personal insight on the sports world. Check back frequently because I will be posting new material several times a week.

I Don't Know If This Is Cool Or Creepy

My two cents about Lebron

It has been a couple of weeks and the smoke is finally starting to clear. If you thought you were dreaming, you weren’t. Lebron James really did take his talents to South Beach and join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Throughout his career I have been a loyal Lebron supporter, and I will continue to support him. No, I’m not an unreasonable fan that chooses to blindfold myself when it comes to his faults. I have no problem calling out LBJ, but in the end I will support him. With that being said, here is my two cents on Lebron’s departure from Cleveland and his arrival in Miami.

First, “The Decision.” It was a bad idea. Everyone knows it. No one outside of Lebron’s camp knows what the real intentions of the one-hour special were, and to be honest, I don’t want to know. It was nice that the money raised was donated to the Boys and Girls Club, but in my opinion, that was a bullsh*t attempt at covering up how egotistic the whole spectacle was. I’m sure the money they received was legitimate, but why bother with the cover-up? If you are convinced that you need a one-hour special to announce your plans for the future to the world, just do it. No need for a cover up.

All that said, I have no problem with Lebron doing something special to announce his decision. Although, I’m convinced that a half-hour special would have been much more appropriate.

Anticipation for “The Summer of Lebron” or “Lebron Free Agency 2010” has been building up for the last two years. In a year when names such as Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Rudy Gay, Joe Johnson, David Lee, Dirk Nowitzki and more were all free agents, Lebron was singled out and put above everyone else. Many people will argue that Dwyane Wade is the third best player in the NBA, but no one was calling this the “Dwyane Wade Free Agency” or even the “Lebron and Dwayne Free Agency.” This whole time all eyes were on Lebron. So of course, Lebron and his camp soaked that up and did what they thought would create the most publicity.

Athletes and agents announces their signing decisions through sports media informers and team informants. Lately, people have been announcing their decisions on Twitter, but that is getting old. Too many people have done it. So, if you’re a sport’s biggest name why not do something different, something new, something that will be remembered?

In comparison, if you are a follower of college football recruiting and high school football, you know that ESPN shuts down one of its channels for about 4-6 hours for a national signing day special. For all the top-150 players who have not yet signed with a team, they announce what school they will be playing for on national television. I understand that this is a bunch of future prospects and not just one person, but if athletes that haven’t proven anything past the high school level get to go on television and announce where “they are taking their talents,” why can’t arguably the world’s best basketball player have a one-hour program announcing where he is going?

Moving on to another part of the criticism I disagree with, many ask how could he do that to Cleveland? Why would he do that to Cleveland? After all Cleveland has done for him how could he do that? I think the one-hour program may have been a bit harsh for Cleveland fans to watch, but I don’t think it was the end of the world. Whether he announced it on TV, through Chris Broussard or Twitter, Cleveland was going to be hurt. Also, why should he feel bad for Cleveland or treat Cleveland any different then all the other teams that recruited him? He doesn’t owe Cleveland anything. He didn’t ask to play there, he was drafted. He gave Cleveland some of the best years of basketball it has ever seen, even bringing hopes of a championship. He brought business and revenue to the city, and gave out-of-towners a reason to visit. For anything Cleveland and the Cavaliers organization did for him, he did just as much (if not more) for them by becoming a basketball icon. Yes, he is leaving Cleveland behind and the city will most likely suffer dramatically from his departure, but he is his own man and the city shouldn’t rely on one person, especially an athlete.

On to my next issue…Since the media is portraying Lebron’s, “The Decision,” as a complete debacle, people are now questioning those who Lebron has surrounded himself with, specifically his management team. However, for seven years Lebron appeared to have been doing all the right things. Many people jumped on him for not shaking hands or showing up to talk to the media after Orlando eliminated the Cavs two years ago, but even that was forgiven by most. So, with seven misstep-free years, why is it now ok to judge Lebron’s character and business team? Lebron has enjoyed the pedestal that the media themselves placed him on. So, big deal, we should blame ourselves for making him larger than life.

I’ve heard people say that Lebron isn’t who they thought he was. NEWS FLASH! Most of these athletes aren’t exactly how they are portrayed to be. We watch them play a sport and partake in a few interviews. Sometimes, we see an article with a few revealing quotes, but unless you actually hang out with these people, you don’t know them. Most of what you see is based on a public image created for the viewer, whether it be realistic or not. Lebron’s crew that everyone hates—they actually know him. His mom actually knows him, Chris Paul actually knows him, but we the fan do not. We know the super athlete that smiles a lot. In a professional environment do most people act the same way they do at home or with their buddies? Probably not.

On to my final issue…Why are people mad that Lebron chose to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? For the last five years, everyone has been saying that he needs a better supporting cast. So what is wrong with leaving Cleveland (the city that no other top free agents wanted to go to) and joining two of his good friends who happen to be elite players as well? Why should he stay in Cleveland or go to Chicago or build something in New York? Outside of Chris Paul, ESPN has reported several times that Dwyane Wade is one of Lebron’s best friends. Who wouldn’t want to play with their best friend, someone who they already have chemistry with, someone that has a championship and knows how to win?

Many people say that he should have wanted to beat Dwyane Wade and Bosh rather than play with them. It’s not like he still doesn’t have to beat Kobe in L.A., or KG in Boston, or Dwight in Orlando, or Derrick Rose (who I think is a top-five point guard in the league) in Chicago. The team that Miami has put together has only guaranteed publicity, not a championship. If Miami happens to win four or five of the next six championships, good for them. I don’t think it will make basketball any less entertaining, and I don’t recall people complaining when the Bulls dominated basketball year after year. The Bulls won six championships in eight years, and it could have been more if Jordan didn’t take a break. So if Miami dominates, good for them. And if this doesn’t pan out the way most people think it will, then good for the rest of the league. I personally think that they will win at least four championships just because Wade and Lebron will run teams out of the gym by themselves. Also, because Lebron can play and match-up against four out the five positions on the court, Miami will be a match-up problem for most teams.

Ok seriously, my final issue…The stats. Everyone wants to know about the stats. Can Lebron or Wade handle their stats taking a hit? Who will take the last shot of the game? How will Lebron and Wade mesh when they have the same skill set? First, just because they are together doesn’t mean their stats will take a huge hit. No, Lebron and Wade both won’t average 30 points, but they can both average in the high 20’s and still fill the stat sheet the way they have been doing. Who will take the last shot? WHO CARES! There are two of some of the best finishers in basketball on the same team. They could do eany-meany-miney-mo, or just give the ball to whoever is open. Seriously, with Lebron, Wade, and Bosh on the same team, how many games are really going to come down to the last shot? I’d say not many, and when the time comes I’m sure they’ll figure it out. Lastly, how will Lebron and Wade mesh when they have the same skill set? That question is not valid because they don’t have the same skill set. They are both freakish athletes and are at their best when getting to the rim. But obviously, that isn’t all they do. Wade is lightning fast, hence the nickname “Flash,” and he has developed a jump shot from anywhere on the floor. Lebron is a great passer for someone his size, and can play on the wing and in the post. Both play above average defense, are unselfish and love to get out on the break. Where is the problem here? I mainly focused on Lebron and Wade because those two are scary enough by themselves, and the addition of Bosh only makes things worse for opposing teams. If you found yourself asking any of the questions I have brought up in this article, maybe you should just admit that you are mad that Miami assembled a team of super stars in their prime. As for Lebron, I don’t agree with everything he has done in this process, but I am happy that he made his own decision based on his own preferences instead of making a decision based on what would have looked best to the public eye. I’m not a Miami Heat fan, but I like what they have done and I learned quickly to enjoy it because once the season rolls around, this will be very entertaining. On top of that, who knows when we will ever get to see something like this again.

That’s my two cents.

D.C. Fan

For those that support the sports teams of our nation’s capital, you have a lot to be happy about lately. I remember growing up with D.C. faithfuls who seemed to be disappointed year-round. The Capitals always stunk, the Redskins usually generated offseason buzz that sizzled out on the field a few months later, D.C. United wasn’t worth watching, the lack of a D.C. baseball team pushed desperate fans to adopt the Baltimore Orioles, and the Wizards, even at their best, were never a real contender.

However, 2010 marks a new day in DC. While much is still to be proven, the Washington locals are excited about the near future of their beloved teams.

This year’s NFL offseason started with a shocker in Washington. The division rival Philadelphia Eagles agreed to trade quarterback Donovan McNabb, an 11-year veteran and team leader, to the Redskins for a second round pick and a future third or fourth round pick. Seemingly every year there are discussions that McNabb will be shipped out of Philly, but I don’t think anyone expected him to be traded to a team in the same division, let alone a rival.

McNabb was not the only addition to the Redskins—Mike Shanahan returned to coaching after his brief time away from the game following his contract termination in Denver. Shanahan brings many years of playoff experience and a Super Bowl ring. He plans to develop a winner’s mentality in Washington, and with Shanahan and McNabb as the team’s leaders, Washington appears to be headed in the right direction.

The Nationals started the season with an astonishingly good record, surprising most. D.C. fans have become accustomed to poor baseball, as the Nationals general managers consistently traded away any proven talent for young prospects. These one-sided trades often led to empty seats at Nationals Stadium and a city full of disgruntled fans. This year it appears that bad fortune has finally left the Nationals dug out. For the first time in the team’s five-year tenor, the Nationals have the chance to finish the season above .500. After a fast start, the wins haven’t come easy for the hometown team, but all is not lost based on rookie Stephen Strasburg’s 14-strikeout debut in June. Unfortunately for the Nationals, Strasburg can’t pitch every game, and even if he could, that may not be enough because the bats have not been swinging lately for the Nats.

Outside of Strasburg, the Nationals had the pleasure of holding the number one draft pick this year. They decided to take highly heralded 17 year-old Bryce Harper. At just 17, Harper stands at 6’3 and weighs a solid 205 lbs. He has remarkable power for someone his age and many call him the Lebron James of baseball.

Currently at 43-58, winning just three of their last 10 games, it appears the Nats are taking a step in the right direction and will likely surpass their abysmal 59-103 record from last season. Things may not be great right now, but the future is bright.

The rebirth of hockey has hit the metropolitan area in the last couple of years also. Die-hard fans have been on a roller coaster ride over the last ten years, watching the Caps go from being a playoff contender in the early 2000s, to completely rebuilding a few years later (in 2004 the team tied for the second worst record in the NHL), to becoming a consistent title contender for the last three years.

The last decade has represented two eras for the Capitals. The new era is led by hockey sensation Alexander Ovechkin, who has lived up to all the expectations of a number one overall pick.

Over the last three seasons, the Capitals have seen an improvement in their overall record, finishing 28-40-14 in 2006-07, 43-31-8 in 2007-08 and improving to 50-24-8 in 2008-09. This year, the Caps posted the best regular season record in franchise history, finishing 54-15-13, and advancing to the playoff quarterfinals.

The city of Washington is in desperate need of a championship, and as it stands, the Capitals are the most likely team to bring one home.

The Washington Wizards are looking to start a new era of their own.

In recent years, the Wizards have seen early exits out of the playoffs, particularly when they ran into the “Cleveland Lebrons.” The former Cleveland all-star has shattered Wizard fan’s hopes and dreams several times, ranging from the creation of the infamous “crab dribble” to the release of Jay-Z’s song about DeShawn Stevenson’s underachievement.

Apparently the Wizards’ solution to last year’s playoff woes was to avoid it completely and not even make the playoffs this year.

Mid-season, the franchise player Gilbert Arenas pulled a gun out on teammate Javaris Crittenton over an alleged money dispute. After weeks of poor publicity and ill-handled press conferences, Arenas was ultimately punished with a short stint in jail and a season- long suspension.

However, that was just the beginning. When it rains, it pours, and Washington felt like Seattle this season. It was time to rebuild, so off went Jamison to Cleveland. Then Caron Butler and “Brenda” Haywood were packaged together and shipped to Dallas. In return, the Wizards received expiring contracts and role players.

With no star and no identity, the Wizards finished 26-56. Did I mention the team’s long-time and loved owner, Abe Pollin, died at the age of 86? Pollin owned the Wizards for 45 years before he died last November.

At this point the Wizards needed a blessing from the basketball gods, and luckily for them, their prayers were answered. The team won the NBA lottery and selected college-standout John Wall. Wall is an amazing talent and will be the Wizards first true point guard in a long time; and with the NBA slowly becoming a point guard-driven league, Wall will excel.

Unlike Kwame Brown, the Wizard’s 2001 first pick bust, Wall is a can’t miss, no risk and high reward type of prospect. At 6’4 with superb athleticism and passing ability, Wall should be the floor general for the Wizards the next 12-15 years. He is truly the real deal. It won’t be a quick turnaround, but behind Wall, the Wizards are preparing themselves to be a contender again in the near future.

Being a Washington sports fan can be frustrating at times, but for now things don’t look so bad. Hopefully, the near future will bring a championship home to D.C.

Franchise Year 2

So it turns out that I won our draft competition with a total of 30 points to Justin's 28. To recap, we each created a mock draft predicting the order in which the NBA executives would choose the players of the draft class of 2010. For every pick that was spot on, we awarded 3 points. For a pick that was one slot too high or low - 2 points, and for a pick two slots away - 1 point. We only mocked the first round and I won for a third time out of our four total contests the last four years.

Second order of business...

Justin won the first year of our Franchise competition in which we each chose five players from the 2009 draft who we thought would be particularly successful at the next level and charted their statistical prowess. We based scoring on each team of five's cumulative marks in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and three-pointers made with respective team win totals as a tie-breaker. Justin's team won five categories to my one making him the year one Franchise champion.

Justin's team included Tyreke Evans, James Harden, DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Terrence Williams.

My team included Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, Gerald Henderson and a reach on Patty Mills that failed to pan out - to say the least.

The plan is to drop two players and add three each year until our rosters have ten players a piece. Each year we will count the cumulative totals of each team's statistics to determine the winner for that year. Stats from previous years will not count in determining the winner for each year. For instance, last year's totals will not have any affect on this year's competition.

Last year we selected our players before the draft, however, this year we opted to make selections after the draft but before summer league moving forward.

Team Justin dropped Sam Young and Dejuan Blair while adding Evan Turner, Derrick Favors and Al-Farouq Aminu. This gives Team J a 2010 roster of Evans, Harden, Williams, Turner, Favors and Aminu.

Team Chad dropped Gerald Henderson and Patty Mills (who I still think has a chance to be a solid pro) while adding Demarcus Cousins, Wes Johnson and Luke Babbitt. Thus, the Team C 2010 roster includes Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Wes Johnson, Luke Babbitt and Demarcus Cousins.

First over picks are not available to be drafted in the Franchise competition.

If you're scoring at home, the overall competition score is now 3-2 in favor of Team C (3 draft comp wins for Team C versus 1 draft comp. win and 1 franchise year win for Team J.)

Basketball Notes

Well "Lebron Day" has come and gone. King James rocked the sports world by leaving Cleveland to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The move made sense but for some people it was hard to accept. Depending on who you ask, Lebron James is the biggest name in basketball. You would think players would lineup to play with one of the leagues biggest stars but that wasn't the case. In fact, Lebron couldn't even talk his good friend Chris Bosh into coming over to Cleveland. There is no way I am the only person that thinks it is weird that Lebron had to leave his team (a team that has had the best regular season record two years in a row) in order to feel he could seriously compete for an NBA championship. Regardless of the decision, I support the road Lebron has taken. He showed that it is not all about money (he is not taking a max deal) and he is truly most concerned about winning. I find it funny that everyone got on Lebron for never winning a championship but now that he puts himself in a serious position to win a championship for the next five years, a lot of people are mad that he sacrificed being the superstar (it has been labeled a cop-out). I guess you can't please everyone, oh well. We will see how Miami surrounds their big three.

Bill Simmons posted an article today and if you haven't read it yet, you should take a look.

So what happens to the Cavs now?
For the past seven years we have heard about Lebron James weak supporting cast. So with James headed to South Beach, what does this mean for the Cavs. At this point they have no franchise player and no one to fill James role, so I suggest they start over. They possess several assets that many competitive teams may be interested in. I say they shop the whole team and try to accumulate young talent and draft picks. This is a team with no nucleus and with all the big named free agents signed, it appears the Cavs are the biggest loser this summer. Their owner should put up a clearance sign that says "everyone must go." Who knows they could land high school sensation Harrison Barnes, who many scouts have compared to Kobe Bryant. You never know, the basketball can't possibly just leave this team in the dark, something positive should come from this (optimistic thinking).

Lastly, what are the chances Shaq is calling Lebron and Wade asking for one more shot?

Time Capsule

Here is a link to an article I wrote for NBA.com about four years ago.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/difference_makers_070921.html

Interestingly enough, four of these guys stuck in the league. One of them, Amir Johnson, was even successful enough to "earn" one of the most outrageous of this summer's ridiculous contracts, signing with the Toronto Raptors for five years and $34 million. In any case, I'm proud to say I saw something in these fellows even as they struggled through the muck of D-league play.

Image of the Week

The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Wesley Johnson with the fourth overall pick in last weeks draft. I'm not sure if Johnson has superstar potential but he definitely has a unique style. Check out his draft day outfit.

Final Mock Draft

My commentary in my last mock was fairly lengthy, so I’m going to keep it short this time. If you read the last one, you know what I think about each of these players.

1. Washington Wizards – John Wall PG
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner SG
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors PF
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – DeMarcus Cousins C
5. Sacramento Kings – Wesley Johnson SF
6. Golden State Warriors – Greg Monroe PF/C
7. Detroit Pistons – Ed Davis PF
8. LA Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu SF
9. Utah Jazz – Luke Babbitt SF
10. Indiana Pacers – Avery Bradley SG/PG
11. New Orleans Hornets – Paul George SF
12. Memphis Grizzlies – Patrick Patterson PF
13. Toronto Raptors – Ekpe Udoh PF
14. Houston Rockets – Cole Aldrich C
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Xavier Henry SG
16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Gordon Hayward SF
17. Chicago Bulls – Larry Sanders PF
18. Oklahoma City – Daniel Orton C
19. Boston Celtics – Dominique Jones SG/PG
20. San Antonio Spurs – Hassan Whiteside C
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Eric Bledsoe PG
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Damion James SF
23. Minnesota Timberwolves – Elliot Williams SG
24. Atlanta Hawks – Kevin Seraphin PF/C
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Craig Brackins PF
26. Oklahoma City Thunder – Quincy Pondexter SF
27. New Jersey Nets – James Anderson SG
28. Memphis Grizzlies – Mikhail Torrance PG/SG
29. Orlando Magic – Armon Johnson PG
30. Washington Wizards – Jordan Crawford SG

Chad's Mock 2.0

Chad's Mock 2.0

1. Washington Wizards - John Wall - PG - Kentucky

Wall is the closest prospect to a "sure thing" in this year's draft. The comparisons between Wall and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose are overdone simply because the league is experiencing an influx of long, athletic point guards right now. Wall supporters who have argued that he is a better shooter than Rose should look no further than their college stats. Rose shot slightly better from the field and the three point line by percentage in his one year stint at Memphis than Wall in his year at Kentucky. This is cause for some concern as Rose is still far from a consistent shooter after two years in the league but has superior athleticism compared to Wall to supplement while he improves. In any case, I think Wall will be 10-15 year starter in the league barring injury, however I do not expect him to be the transcendent force that many have made him out to be.

2. Philadelphia 76ers - Evan Turner - SG/SF - Ohio State

As disappointing a season as the 76ers had in 2009-10, they are a talented, athletic team that may only be one or two pieces away from a playoff run in 2010-11. If trade rumors surrounding the Sixers and their second overall pick are not true, I expect Philadelphia to select Turner who could be the missing piece in the Philly backcourt. Though Turner is slightly less athletic than the ball handling wings that he has earned comparisons to (think Tracy McGrady in Orlando) his ability to score and create for teammates and willingness to take big shots should immediately take scoring pressure off of Iguodala who hasn't exactly lived up to the billing of Franchise Player status.

3. New Jersey Nets - Derrick Favors - PF - Georgia Tech

He might be Dwight Howard, he might be Kwame Brown, he might be Tyrus Thomas. We won't know for another three years, but for now the Nets will keep their fingers crossed.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson - SF - Syracuse

I love this guy. If Rubio ever shows, Johnson will excel and could be a future all star.

5. Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins - PF/C - Kentucky

Cousins will be a star at the next level. Often hovering around 20 minutes a game in college, Cousins was still dominant enough to glean SEC Freshman of the Year honors in addition to a first team All-SEC selection and first team All America recognition. Cousins' point and rebound per minute numbers were through the roof and he was just as pivotal to Kentucky's success in 2009-10 as fellow freshman Wall. Cousins will soon be one of the best rebounders in the Western Conference and offensively he should fit right in with his exceptional hands and strong outlet passing. Though many worry about Cousins' weight and body fat percentage I contend that his size will work more to his advantage at the shrinking NBA center position. Cousins' "character issues" have been blown out of proportion in an era where the smiling faces of young stars such as Lebron James and Dwight Howard have cast a negative light on players who play with a mean streak. That mean streak combined with Cousins' exceptional skill, good feet and defensive IQ will provide for a long career for Cousins. Like Tyreke Evans last year, the Sacramento Kings will get a steal with their top five pick this summer.

6. Golden State Warriors - Al-Farouq Aminu - SF/PF - Wake Forest

The Warriors finally got it right with a first round pick taking rookie sensation Stephon Curry with the seventh overall pick last June. This year the Warriors will grab a wingman for Curry and Monta Ellis' up and down scoring fests who can get out on the break and finish as well as add rebounding and toughness to the young team. Aminu is a particularly good fit in that he played in a similarly high octane offense last year alongside athletic, shooting point guard Jeff Teague at Wake where they and Bulls forward James Johnson elevated the team to a top nation ranking at one point. I was even more impressed with Aminu when I watched him dismantle Greg Monroe in a lopsided high school matchup two years ago that was billed to be epic and turned out to be a complete clinic. With a series of one and two dribble pullups as well as fast break dunks and inside post moves Aminu destroyed Monroe on national television culminating in a facial in traffic that left Monroe forever posterized in my mind. Something tells me the Warriors might take a stupid risk on UNC forward Ed Davis who seems to be the second coming of Brandan Wright, another former Tar Heel and failed Warriors pick. Wishful thinking makes the pick Aminu here.

7. Detroit Pistons - Greg Monroe - PF - Georgetown

General Manager Joe Dumars has been one of the most confusing executives in the league as of late. Recently his move to spend near-franchise money on two reserves in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva has left Pistons fans both perplexed and disappointed. The Pistons are in dire need of a floor leader as Rodney Stuckey hasn't exactly panned out as the point guard of the future he was chosen to be with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Unfortunately this pick is about ten slots too high for Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe who may be this draft's most underrated player. I'm putting Greg Monroe here simply because I can't seem to peg him as a logical fit for any of the teams above this pick and yet I can't see him falling out of the top ten. I would feel sorry for Monroe had he not been such a monumental disappointment for the G'town Hoyas over the last two years. On the bright side Monroe has been quoted as saying that best case he'd like to be a Lamar Odom type player in the league. $90 million over ten years and zero all star appearances, can't argue with that kind of career. Let's just move on.

8. Los Angeles Clippers - Paul George - SF - Fresno St.

Some things just make sense. The Clippers have had a gaping hole at the small forward position since the departure of free throw line resident Cory Maggette and have lacked consistent perimeter shooting, well...forever. Enter widely unknown prospect George, a long, athletic small forward in the Rudy Gay mold. George has said himself that he believes he has the ball handling skills to play shooting guard in the NBA if necessary as well as small forward and he has proven his long range shooting touch. George shot 91 percent from the free throw line in his sophomore year, a tremendous asset at the next level.

9. Utah Jazz - Patrick Patterson - PF - Kentucky

Patterson almost certainly would have been drafted higher following his sophomore or freshman seasons at Kentucky but instead chose to return to play for one of the most talented Wildcats teams ever. By opting to do so, Patterson probably forfeited a sizable amount of first year cash but may have guaranteed a much more lucrative career in the long run. Staying at Kentucky and playing in John Calipari's wide open system allowed Patterson to develop range on his jump shot among other developments (24 made three pointers in his junior year versus 0 in his first two seasons). Look for Jerry Sloan and co. to make another safe pick and brace themselves for the almost certain departure of Carlos Boozer at power forward.

10. Indiana Pacers - Xavier Henry - SG - Kansas

In 2009-10 two-guard Brandon Rush had the lowest PER of any player in NBA history who led his team in minutes played for one season. With that said, the Pacers won't be looking to replace Rush with Henry, but rather add depth to a position that currently includes Dahntay Jones and Luther Head. Likewise, Henry also provides much needed insurance for star small forward Danny Granger whose current backup is the talented but oft injured Michael Dunleavy. I see Henry as a quality reserve in the NBA rather than the future star many have predicted him to become.

11. New Orleans Hornets - Ekpe Udoh - PF/C - Baylor

Udoh was one of the pleasant surprises of an exhilarating March Madness in 2010. By leading Baylor in a surprising run to the Elite Eight, Udoh guaranteed his selection as a lottery pick. Udoh's high energy, shot blocking and athleticism will make him a bonafide defender at the next level though he is offensively mainly a finisher. Udoh will benefit greatly from the ability of star point guards Chris Paul and Darren Collison to create in traffic. Udoh will be another quality career reserve of good value at double digits in this draft.

12. Memphis Grizzlies - Ed Davis - PF - UNC

Unfortunately Davis is still mostly a mystery as his sophomore season for the Tarheels, which was expected to be his breakout year, was curtailed by injury. Davis has been compared to every long athletic PF from Amare Stoudemire to Brandan Wright. The Grizzlies have plenty of depth at the guard and small forward positions so they will look to add another explosive rebounder and high flyer down low to complement back to the basket bangers Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.

13. Toronto Raptors - Luke Babbitt - SG/SF/PF - Nevada

Very seldom do I jump on the bandwagon of a European American (white) draft prospect. This year I'm driving the Babbitt bandwagon. Be it the Dirk Nowitzki hair-do, the trademark jab step, or the insane shooting averages (22 ppg on %50 shooting from the field, %42 from the three-point line and %92 from the charity stripe) this guy strikes me as a sure thing at the next level. At 6'9" and 225 pounds Babbitt has the size to bang bodies in the paint to complement his ridiculous shooting abilities, as evidence by his 9 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Furthermore his flashy style and mean streak should translate to competitive success at the next level. With Demar Derozan and Babbitt flying on the wings, the Raptors' point guard of the future (whomever that may be) will be pleased.

14. Houston Rockets - Cole Aldrich - C - Kansas

The tragic truth is that Yao Ming's career as a dominant player at center may be over. The uber talented Yao has already surpassed most of our expectations for a 7'6" Chinese center who was once compared favorably to Gheorghe Muresan. Now its time for the Rockets to start planning for the future as the team's current center is the offensively handicapped Chuck Hayes. The Rockets have efficient and willing scorers in PG Aaron Brooks, SG Kevin Martin, SF Trevor Ariza and PF Luis Scola, so they don't need a scorer at the position, but simply a non-liability will do. Look for GM Daryl Morey will extend his streak of choosing disciplined and effective non-stars in the draft. Look for Aldrich to use his lottery money to replace his front teeth.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - Avery Bradley - G - Texas

The Bucks had surprising success by adding rookie point guard phenom Brandon Jennings,

savvy, scoring swingman John Salmons and rookie head coach Scott Skiles to a healthy and productive Andrew Bogut. Bradley will replace longtime incumbent Michael Redd at shooting guard who has suffered career threatening injuries in each of the past few seasons. Redd will depart as a free-agent this summer leaving Bradley the opportunity to become the team's new go-to long range shooter. Bradley only stands 6'3" but boasts 6'7" wingspan that should allow him to play both guard positions as a pro. Defensively Bradley is quick and disruptive, a bonus to his extensive offensive repertoire that include the best shooting stroke of any player in this draft.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Gordon Hayward - SF - Butler

Though I fully expect Wolves GM David Kahn to trade this pick either to move up into the top four or to help add an already proven veteran, I can't see Hayward falling any further after his NCAA heroics of just three months ago. Hayward will still be a project as he needs to add muscle to his slight 6'9", 211 pound frame and toughness to his mostly finesse playing style. Likewise, to have any success at the next level, Hayward will have to improve on his long range shooting as his 3-point shooting percentage inexplicably fell from 45 % in his freshman year to 29% as a sophomore. In any case, the Wolves will likely either trade this pick or look for overseas help at point guard (just kidding... kind of).

17. Washington Wizards - James Anderson - SG - Oklahoma State

With the trade in place for Hinrich, Wizards should go after players that can finish Wall's passes. James Anderson was one of the best scorers in the country.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder - Daniel Orton - C - Kentucky

The Thunder will leap at the chance to add a young and talented post player to compete for backup minutes behind starter Nenad Krystic. It's a very simple job for Orton. Set screens for Kevin Durant, throw outlet passes to Russell Westbrook, get out of the way and collect your paycheck.

19. Boston Celtics - Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Marshall

The Celtics will continue to harp on toughness and shot blocking by adding the reigning NCAA leader in blocks. Whiteside and his 7'7" wingspan denied 5.4 attempts a game in just 26 minutes per contest while improving offensively throughout the season.

20. San Antonio Spurs - Kevin Seraphin - C - Guyana

Seraphin is the highest rated foreign prospect. The Spurs are the Spurs. Let's not outthink ourselves.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Damion James - F - Texas

Genius GM Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder grab another league-ready, underrated commodity in James. Likewise, the Thunder add a backup flex forward for all-world superstar Kevin Durant as well one of only two projected first rounders who averaged a double-double collegiately last season.

22. Portland Trailblazers - Elliott Williams - SG - Memphis

After leaving Duke following his freshman year Williams showed the country what he could do as the primary scorer in a more free wheeling offense. Williams averaged 18 points per contest including several highlight dunks like this one from his one year at Duke. Williams' athleticism combined with a scorer's mentality should provide the Trailblazers with a serviceable backup to all-star Brandon Roy as current backup Rudy Fernandez has expressed an interest to leave Portland this offseason.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Larry Sanders - C - VCU

Sanders is a project at this slot in the draft. Many have noted that Sanders did not begin playing organized basketball until high school which leads scouts to believe that his ceiling for improvement is very high. I see Sanders in the D-league. No relation, by the way.

24. Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Jones - G - South Florida

Jones is probably the most explosive scorer in this draft and one of my favorite prospects. Jones averaged 21.4 ppg as a junior at South Florida including consecutive games of 46, 28, 37 and 29 point performances during a four-game Bulls winning streak capped by victories over Big East stalwarts Pittsburgh and Georgetown. The Hawks will be losing perennial leading scorer and starting shooting guard Joe Johnson to free-agency this summer and will be elated to welcome the streaky and uber-competitive Jones to the mix.

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Eric Bledsoe - PG - Kentucky

Bledsoe is another one of my favorite guys on the board. Bledsoe entered his sole college season as a highly touted and intensely recruited point guard out of Alabama that could have acted as the starting point guard, if not focal point, of just about any NCAA offense. By opting to go to Kentucky, Bledsoe did so with the understanding that he would be playing off guard as a complement to all-world point guard John Wall. Though Bledsoe was statistically outshined by fellow Wildcats Patterson, Cousins and Wall, he cemented his status as a future pro by showing off other assets of his game including his incredible athleticism, relentless on-ball defense and consistent outside shooting touch. Kentucky coach John Calipari often went out of his way to remind the media that Bledsoe was one of his fiercest competitors and rightfully so. Mike Conley's new backup will give him fits in Grizzlies practices.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Stanley Robinson - SF/PF - Connecticut

'Length' and 'athleticism' are words that swirl around Thunder draft picks each year. Incidentally these are always the first two words associated with Robinson. Unfortunately, for his entire college career the third word was always 'potential'.

27. New Jersey Nets - Armon Johnson - G - Nevada

The Knicks have explicitly expressed interest in moving into the first round to take Johnson, a tweener guard who shot less than 24 percent from the college three-point line in his Robin season to Luke Babbitt's Batman at Nevada. Add that he averaged less than one steal a game in 35 minutes of play. Sounds like a winner. Not.

28. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Crawford - G - Xavier

Crawford is a high percentage shooter and high octane scorer as either a wing or a big point guard. Crawford proved to be gutsy crunch time performer on a national stage with awe inspiring late-game play in the NCAA tournament. Mock drafts are a total crap shoot at this point and Crawford was one of my favorite college players in 2009-10.

29. Orlando Magic - Lance Stephenson - G/F - Cincinnati

Stephenson will be a much better pro than he was college player for his single season at Cincinnati. You heard it here first.

30. Washington Wizards - Solomon Alabi - C - Florida State

At this point in the draft teams are throwing darts in the dark. Alabi has the physical gifts to be a goal protector on the defensive end but seriously lacks offensive prowess. Alabi, much like the Wizards, is a work in progress.

Image of the Week

The lead story of game four of the NBA Finals was the Celtics bench outplaying the entire Lakers team. Anyone watching will never forget Big Baby Davis celebrating an and one, with a flex and slobber. Truly unforgettable...

P.S. Can Nate Robinson look any smaller?