The NBA's ultimate dream machine has somehow come to fruition. ESPN worried aloud with great frequency that we might see Jazz v. Pistons or Spurs v. Cavs in the Finals. Instead, two exciting teams with rich histories that the casual observer is interested in are playing in the Finals.
I think way too much is made of the TV producers' wishes when talking about Finals matchups, but the history of this rivalry cannot be understated. Wys Grousbeck was heard last night after the Celtics game saying, "We're 8-2 against LA in the Finals." But the dominant Bill Russell Celtics and the Bird-Magic rivalry have nothing to do with this year's NBA championship. The organizations may be rivals, but history has no bearing on the outcome of Kobe vs. Pierce.
I'll provide some observations on each team and then dispense a prediction.
Celtics: Paul Pierce is the best player on the Celtics. KG is maybe the best complementary player of all time. He will never score over 30 even in a playoff game, but he'll give you great defense, blocks, boards, assists, and 20+ points. We've been waiting all playoffs to see KG dominate like he can on offense, but, for better and worse, he is content being a spoke in the cog that keeps the offense going and doesn't volume score. Ray Allen, after a flurry accusations of his demise, is back scoring about 17 a game; nothing fantastic, but not terrible either. Kendrick Perkins, I begrudgingly must admit, is actually a decent center alongside KG, though his short neck, constant scowl, and generally sour attitude are beyond annoying. Rajon Rondo is that guy on the other team that you figure you will have a match-up advantage on, but who ends up outplaying guys he has no business outplaying. His shot is not great and his lob passes are dangerous, but he is actually a very solid point. The rest of the Celtics are a bunch of mercenary role players. Eddie House can score, Sam Cassell can provide stability and ball-hog-ability, James Posey is a great defender (or so I've heard, I can't tell how good he really is on D), Leon Powe and Glenn Davis are serviceable big men, and PJ Brown has it in him to come up big in spots in one game per series.
The Celtics team defense is great. Watching them against Detroit, you see them making great rotations, doubling, and generally not allowing the opposition a lot of breating room. On offense, when their shooters are on and they're rebounding they look great, especially when Pierce takes control of the offense. The team is more comfortable scoring 90 than 100 and that is a weakness that LA may exploit (just like it did against San Antonio). The Celtics beat Detroit because of Paul Pierce, their defense, and their front line. They look better now than they did earlier in the playoffs.
Lakers: The Lakers have had so much internal improvement that some of the players on their team don't sound as good as they really are. Phil Jackson once again has created a team where roles are well-defined, the offense flows fluidly, and the team's defense is greater than the sum of its parts. Phil is a master motivator and knows how to use his players perfectly. The team has tight substitution patterns, players never seem tired, and the Lakers always exploit match-ups on the offensive end. The much-razzed Doc Rivers is also a good motivator and has to be a decent coach to get his team to the Finals, but Phil Jackson's 9 championships can no longer be ignored. He has always been accused of having the greatest players in the game on his team: Kobe, MJ, Shaq; and that accusation still rings true, but Phil's amazing job with this Laker team significantly weakens the "Phil's teams were already great argument" (remember before they got Gasol for free they had Bynum dominating). I don't know how great Phil or Doc's X's-and-O's are, but I can't imagine that Phil's are anything but top-rate. One final note on Jackson: Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan have never won a championship or gone to the championship without Phil Jackson.
As for personnel, you've gotta start with Kobe who is an unstoppable scorer with his extremely accurate jump-shot, elite-level athleticism, post-ups, and drives to the basket. He can basically score at will like MJ and LeBron can, and he has the killer instinct that those two have. Kobe's defense, too, is fantastic and his experience this past summer with Team USA clearly showed that he is the best player in the NBA. Maybe he's not as talented as LeBron, but he's a finished product right now that scores 30 points a game and gets about 6 boards and 6 assists. Add to Kobe a sometimes dominant (offensively) Pau Gasol, who Kobe frequently uses like he did Shaq on drive-and-dish alley-oops and you have a killer offensive combo. Gasol can score from 15 feet, is an elite finisher, and can catch the ball anywhere with his long arms and huge hands. Gasol's presence allows Lamar Odom to play the number 3 role that he relishes. Odom played this role briefly on the Dwyane Wade Miami Heat team he played on, and he absolutely excelled. Odom loves exploiting mismatches and he can really do it all. At times in his career he's been the biggest waste of talent in the NBA, but now he's scoring on post-ups and drives to the basket, playing great D, and generally stepping up when his team needs him. The guy is a 6'10" forward with a PG's handle and a smooth game. If he had more fire in his belly, he could've been one of the best players in the NBA. As is, he is among the top 3 number 3 guys in the NBA; he's arguably better than Rasheed Wallace, Mehmet Okur, and Ray Allen, though not better than Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili.
The Lakers Big Three (it will be a Big Four when Bynum comes back, though who knows how the rotations and chemistry will be?) are complemented by shooters and defenders. Sasha Vujacic is an energy guy and a deadeye shooter that keeps getting better. He's the Lakers' Barbosa, and he's arguably better than Leandro. Radmanovic is a great shooter, who infrequently performs well. Derek Fisher is a great three-point shooter and defender. Luke Walton is a highly skilled forward that can rebound, play D, and handle the ball. Roni Turiaf provides energy, defense, and rebounding. Jordan Farmar is a serviceable back-up point guard. Trevor Ariza is an athletic swingman, coming off an injury, who may see some minutes as a change-of-pace man off the bench.
Prediction: The Lakers have the better offense, better coach, and best player in the series. The Celtics have hungry veterans, great defense, and home field advantage. I don't foresee any scenario where the Celtics can win it. KG and Pierce in the least need to match the production of Pau and Kobe for the Celtics to have any chance. The Celtics have to slow the Lakers offense, something the Spurs and Jazz could not do. Further, the Celtics have to get great performances from Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and some of their role players.
I think the Lakers just have too many good shooters for the Celtics and Kobe is just too good to be stopped when he has Pau and Lamar at his sides. Imagine a Lakers lineup of Fisher, Kobe, Pau, Odom, and Vujacic. Who would the Celtics have to have on the floor to match them? Rondo could cover Fish, KG on Pau, Pierce on Kobe, then it get a bit difficult ... Ray Allen or Eddie House could cover Vujacic, but Vujacic is fast and would force those two to be honest on D. Lamar Odom would force the Celtics to heavily use James Posey, who I'm not sure can stop Odom. The Lakers could also put out a big line-up with Walton and Vujacic complementing their big three and the Celtics would have to have Rondo play Vujacic and Allen play Walton. Notice that Kendrick Perkins is now taken out of the equation, which would bite into the Celtics rebounding and interior defense.
The Celtics may be able to match-up, but Kobe and Phil are just too good. I think KG and Pierce (and Allen) are hungry to win a championship, but so is Kobe and Kobe is the best player in the game and has the best coach in the game. I don't think the Lakers offense can be stopped, but I believe that the Celtics can be stopped. The Lakers beat a very potent (on offense) Nuggets team 4-0, they beat a deep team with a great PG, All-Star PF, shooters and defenders in the Jazz, and beat the defending champs 4-1 whose big three is definitely better than the Celitcs big three. Duncan is better than KG, Parker beats Allen by a mile, and Ginobili and Pierce are similar talents. The Celtics, like the Spurs, have a veteran bench that includes some shooters and some big men. The Celtics may not be as broken down as the Spurs, but the Lakers have proven time and again in these playoffs that they can close-out any team in the NBA.
As for home field advantage, the Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, including 8-0 at Staples Center, where they haven't lost in two months. The Celtics have only lost once at home. I foresee, however, that it'll be 1-1 after 2, then 3-1 after 4 and the Lakers will win in 6. There will be a blowout or two in this series, but most of the games should be entertaining. I can't wait for tipoff on Thursday!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Great Brent Barry Quote
As you might imagine, the Spurs weren't exactly elated to hear that one day later, the NBA acknowledged a two-shot foul should have been called when Derek Fisher landed on Brent Barry with just over two seconds remaining in Game 4, when the Lakers led 93-91.
"Oh, thank you, that's a great help," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich deadpanned Thursday evening, before Game 5. "I'll send some flowers to the NBA."
The news prompted Barry to throw out a "Back to the Future" reference.
"That's awesome," Barry said, "because Doc Brown is waiting for me outside, and we're going to get in the DeLorean and fire up the flux capacitor and we're going to go back and shoot a couple of free throws."
Thursday, May 29, 2008
NBA Birthplace Map
The following links to a map of all NBA players' birthplaces. Fascinating.
http://ballhype.com/static/nba_birthplace_map/
http://ballhype.com/static/nba_birthplace_map/
Monday, May 26, 2008
Playoffs and the Sixers Future
In the ever-changing, yet remarkably predictable, landscape of the NBA playoffs, it now seems like we'll see the Celtics play the Lakers or Spurs in the Finals. I think the Celtics Game 3 win in Detroit was pretty definitive and that it showed that KG will not be stopped in his run to the Finals. On the other hand, though the Lakers looked great in LA, I really think that this series could go the full seven and it's anyone's guess who would win the final game.
One sad reality of the playoffs this year is that though we've seen a lot of great series, particularly in round two, not a lot of games were great. Teams would dominate at home and fold on the road. The San Antonio- New Orleans series was most pronounced in its pendulum swings. San Antonio- Phoenix should've been a great series, but instead it became the anticlimactic end of the Suns' run, which all came down to a few shots in Game 1. Now Mike D'Antoni is coach of the Knicks (what?), Shaq is the Suns' center, and Steve Nash will be asking for a trade in a matter of months.
This year's NBA has been highlighted by a struggle between the old guard (Pistons and Spurs) against the new (Celtics and Lakers). Though, the Celtics are more a team like the Heat were that will play great then fade real fast due to the age of their cobbled-together stars. The Sixers (!), Hawks and Cavs looked strong in the East this year--and will be strong in the future. Out West, New Orleans went from out of the playoffs to the number two seed, Portland somehow put together a decent season, and Utah and L.A. look like they'll be meeting in the playoffs for the next five years.
The future of the NBA is bright, but the future of the Sixers is murky. This year, the Bulls were out of the playoffs in the East; with Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, I can't imagine they'll miss the playoffs again. The Pistons, Celtics, Magic, and Cavs should be there again barring a tragic injury. The Sixers, Hawks, Wizards, and Raptors will be fighting for the last three playoff spots with teams like the Bucks, Bobcats, Nets, and Knicks, who all could be greatly improved. If the Sixers make a big signing and add a good player through the draft, they should maintain their playoff position. But that's not guaranteed. Larry Brown and Mike D'Antoni will make the Bobcats and Knicks, respectively, better. The Nets should be better next year. The Bulls will definitely be a lot better.
The team the Sixers are most like right now is the Hawks and, on paper at least, the Hawks look better right now. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Al Horford are a better core three than Andre Miller (who may be gone soon), Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young. We have Lou Williams, they have Marvin Williams. The Hawks are really a good point guard and a smart coach away from being a great team in the East. Then again, they could also easily become the Clippers-East with a bevy of talent that leaves town due to dysfunctional team management.
The Sixers may have made the playoffs this year, but they were not even a .500 team. They have a major hole at power forward. Their center is extremely inconsistent and frequently boneheaded. They lack depth at point guard, power forward, and center.
I'm not trying to go negadelphia on everyone here, but though the future's bright we have a long way to go. The Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, Blazers, Spurs, Cavs, Pistons, Celtics, and Magic all must be leapfrogged to get to where we want to be. I can see it arguably happening in an East where the Celtics and Pistons won't be great for very much longer, but the West will be very, very tough for years to come. The Sixers could be the next Pistons... but right now they look like the next Wizards or Magic: a team with some great pieces (Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas, Andre Iguodala), but just enough holes to make it a perenially mediocre squad. We haven't even gone through Year One of the Ed Stefanski Era, but we must all understand that, playoffs aside, this team has a long way to go.
One sad reality of the playoffs this year is that though we've seen a lot of great series, particularly in round two, not a lot of games were great. Teams would dominate at home and fold on the road. The San Antonio- New Orleans series was most pronounced in its pendulum swings. San Antonio- Phoenix should've been a great series, but instead it became the anticlimactic end of the Suns' run, which all came down to a few shots in Game 1. Now Mike D'Antoni is coach of the Knicks (what?), Shaq is the Suns' center, and Steve Nash will be asking for a trade in a matter of months.
This year's NBA has been highlighted by a struggle between the old guard (Pistons and Spurs) against the new (Celtics and Lakers). Though, the Celtics are more a team like the Heat were that will play great then fade real fast due to the age of their cobbled-together stars. The Sixers (!), Hawks and Cavs looked strong in the East this year--and will be strong in the future. Out West, New Orleans went from out of the playoffs to the number two seed, Portland somehow put together a decent season, and Utah and L.A. look like they'll be meeting in the playoffs for the next five years.
The future of the NBA is bright, but the future of the Sixers is murky. This year, the Bulls were out of the playoffs in the East; with Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, I can't imagine they'll miss the playoffs again. The Pistons, Celtics, Magic, and Cavs should be there again barring a tragic injury. The Sixers, Hawks, Wizards, and Raptors will be fighting for the last three playoff spots with teams like the Bucks, Bobcats, Nets, and Knicks, who all could be greatly improved. If the Sixers make a big signing and add a good player through the draft, they should maintain their playoff position. But that's not guaranteed. Larry Brown and Mike D'Antoni will make the Bobcats and Knicks, respectively, better. The Nets should be better next year. The Bulls will definitely be a lot better.
The team the Sixers are most like right now is the Hawks and, on paper at least, the Hawks look better right now. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Al Horford are a better core three than Andre Miller (who may be gone soon), Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young. We have Lou Williams, they have Marvin Williams. The Hawks are really a good point guard and a smart coach away from being a great team in the East. Then again, they could also easily become the Clippers-East with a bevy of talent that leaves town due to dysfunctional team management.
The Sixers may have made the playoffs this year, but they were not even a .500 team. They have a major hole at power forward. Their center is extremely inconsistent and frequently boneheaded. They lack depth at point guard, power forward, and center.
I'm not trying to go negadelphia on everyone here, but though the future's bright we have a long way to go. The Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, Blazers, Spurs, Cavs, Pistons, Celtics, and Magic all must be leapfrogged to get to where we want to be. I can see it arguably happening in an East where the Celtics and Pistons won't be great for very much longer, but the West will be very, very tough for years to come. The Sixers could be the next Pistons... but right now they look like the next Wizards or Magic: a team with some great pieces (Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas, Andre Iguodala), but just enough holes to make it a perenially mediocre squad. We haven't even gone through Year One of the Ed Stefanski Era, but we must all understand that, playoffs aside, this team has a long way to go.
The Euro Lakers
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Eurolakers-080525
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ford on Mayo
Draft Watch: Is Mayo the No. 2 pick?
CHICAGO -- The debate continues to rage in Chicago Bulls country about the No. 1 pick.
I spoke with John Paxson on Thursday and you can listen to the entire interview here on the podcast.
Paxson was adamant that the Bulls haven't made up their minds and won't decide what to do until they see both Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose work out. So whomever you put atop your mock draft, you have a 50 percent chance of saying "I told you so" to someone.
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AP Photo/Don Ryan
It's possible O.J. Mayo could find himself in Miami, paired with Dwyane Wade.
But after talking to Paxson, I think the theoretical guy he's describing -- the player who is a leader, who makes people better, has great character and can be a franchise player -- sounds like Rose. Paxson denied this on the interview, but more and more people in the league seem to be coming to the conclusion that this is Rose's pick to lose.
If the Bulls take Rose No. 1, that leads to an interesting scenario with the Heat at No. 2. Sources say the Heat want Rose, too, but if he's not on the board, a source familiar with the Heat's thinking told me that the team is interested in O.J. Mayo and think he might be a great fit in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.
I'm not sure why the Heat are shying away from Beasley, as he would be a good fit in Miami. But I see why Miami likes Mayo. While Rose is a pure point guard, his lack of a jump shot would make him a somewhat less than ideal fit alongside Wade. Yes, the Heat would have the most athletic backcourt in the league, but without much outside shooting.
Mayo, on the other hand, is an excellent shooter with deep range. He also has enough point guard skills to run a team like Miami, especially with Wade, a combo guard, also handling the ball a lot. Mayo's basketball IQ and age (he'll be 21 in November) also make him a little more NBA-ready than Rose right now.
For several years NBA teams have ranked Mayo as the top prospect in his draft class. After a shaky start for USC, he came on strong at the end of the season. And he has looked awesome in his Chicago workouts with Tim Grover.
Mayo's Clinic
Chad Ford watched O.J. Mayo work out on Thursday, and will have a report on the highly-regarded draft prospect in the coming days.
If the Heat decide Mayo's the guy, they may be able to swing a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Seattle Supersonics or Memphis Grizzlies that would give them both Mayo and an extra piece of the puzzle. I think all three teams would give up something significant for the chance to move up and draft Beasley.
• I've gotten quite a bit of feedback from NBA GMs on our first mock draft of the year -- enough that I'll be making some adjustments on Monday.
Here's a sneak preview of one of the things I'm hearing:
Everyone is telling me that I have DeAndre Jordan too low. While there were several sources disputing the rumor that Jordan has a top-five commitment (the word now is that he's supposed to be working out for the Grizzlies at No. 5, the New York Knicks at No. 6, the Charlotte Bobcats at No. 9 and the Indiana Pacers at No. 11), everyone said they'd be shocked if Jordan were to slip out of the top 10 on draft night. Currently we have him at No. 14 to Golden State, but that will probably change.
"He's just too big and too talented to slip that far," one GM said. "There are a lot of risks with him, but big guys with that talent just don't slip that far."
• The first round of invites for the Orlando predraft camp went out on Thursday. I am still compiling the list of who was invited and who wasn't and will get it to you when I have it. More interesting was the physical-only invite list, which we have.
Each year the NBA invites a select group of players to Orlando for physicals. Normally this group just goes through some testing (height, weight, vertical jump, strength training), a medical physical and some light drills. This list is usually the first indication of the players the league thinks are the best in the draft.
A league source told me that there are 12 players on the list at the moment: Beasley, Rose, Mayo, Brook Lopez, Jerryd Bayless, Danilo Gallinari, Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, Jordan, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and D.J. Augustin. That also happens to be our Top 12 in our Top 100.
Among the names to be left off the list so far are Joe Alexander, Kosta Koufos, Marreese Speights, Donte Greene and Darrell Arthur. But the league has been known, in the past, to offer more spots as we get closer to the camp.
• Trade rumors keep coming hot and heavy, though most of them are aren't worth repeating.
But here's one intriguing one I heard today: The Cleveland Cavaliers could trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and the No. 19 pick to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal.
It's an interesting idea, but when I called team sources to find out if there was any truth to it, they shot it down as bogus.
Still, I'd watch both teams closely. I think the Pacers will move O'Neal this summer if they can, and I think the Cavs are definitely going to try and strengthen the supporting cast this summer for LeBron's sake. A healthy O'Neal could be a big boon for the Cavs, and head coach Mike Brown, formerly with the Pacers, should know how to get the best out of him.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
ESPN Chad Ford Chat
Chat with Chad Ford
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Ford covers the NBA and NBA Draft for ESPN Insider and also makes appearances on ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS.
Send your questions to Chad now and join him right here in The Show on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET!
Ford Archive: Chats | Columns
Buzzmaster: Hey everyone. We just heard from Chad. He's delayed until 2 p.m. ET. He's waiting for OJ. Chad Ford: Aloha everyone. Sorry I'm late. I'm in Chicago doing a feature on O.J. Mayo. It took a little longer than expected. Let's roll ...
Chad (Santa Maria): Is it a bad sign that the Lakers fell behind by 20 or a good sign that they came back to win?
Chad Ford: Both. I think every year we count the Spurs out prematurely. As they showed in Game 1 ... they are going to make this a series. Psychologically, I think it was a big win for the Lakers. Now they know that even when they play badly, they can still beat the Spurs. I picked the Lakers in 7 and I'm sticking with that pick.Boyd (Salt Lake City): I just don't understand how you could pick Detroit in 6? Boston beat them 2 out of 3 in the regular season (and the win by Detroit was on some VERY questionable officiating in the 4th)Billups only shot 39% percent against the Celtics ?(Despite everyone saying how hard he killed Rondo-not true.)And Garnett routinely destroys Rasheed Wallace-EXPLAIN YOURSELF ! (I command you.)
Chad Ford: I think the Pistons have been a better playoff team than the Celtics. I think they have more depth. They're rested. And they've been here before. Most of this Celtics team hasn't. I do think the Celtics are very, very talented ... but I still see the Pistons pulling this out in 6. I think they'll win Game 2 and roll from there.Johnny (LA, CA): I don't understand the Beasley fascination. He's not big enough to dominate down low like Amare Stoudemire so basically he is going to do most of his work facing the basket. If that's the case then there's no question you take Rose which I'm confident the Bulls will end up doing.
Chad Ford: Personally, I think Derrick Rose is the best player in the draft. So ... I feel you. But ... Beasley is great and he's probably a better fit on the Bulls now. I think he'll be better in the post than you give him credit for. Rebounding is the one stat from college that almost always translates. The big worry about Beasley isn't really talent ... it's the off the court stuff. What kind of kid is he? Will he work hard? Does he have the maturity to be a No. 1 pick? Those are the questions that could scare the Bulls off Beasley. But on talent? The kid's an incredible basketball player who's game should translate well to the pros.Mike (Miami, Fl): How significant do you think Rose being a chicago native will be on the Bulls decision with the first pick, and if they do take rose, is there a chance miami trades for hinrich and drafts beasley?
Chad Ford: It's significant. There's a groundswell of support for Rose here in Chicago. He's a great kid and should be a dominant point guard in the pros. He's a big upgrade over Hinrich. It will be tough to trade Hinrich because of his contract. I can't see Miami giving up the No. 2 pick for Hinrich, even if the Bulls threw in another prospect like Noah or Ty Thomas.Jeremmy (Chicago): Chad, I think you're a little too harsh on Tyrus Thomas. He wasn't handled well by the previous coaching staff and hasn't had many opportunities to play. In spite of that, he's still just 21, he's played well when he starts, and he's shown brilliant flashes. If the Bulls have trouble deciding who to choose, they should draft Rose to keep Thomas in the picture.
Chad Ford: This is a good point. If Rose was the pick and the Bulls brought in an offensive mastermind (like Mike D'Antoni ... oops) then a combo of Rose, Gordon, Deng, Thomas and Noah would have been off the charts. Rose will help Thomas if they play the right style.Steve (New York): Do you think D'Antoni is re-thinking his signing with the Knicks now that the Bulls have the #1 pick? If that had been known before the lottery do you think it would have made a difference in his decision?
Chad Ford: I'm sure he is. I asked him that question on lottery night. We have the video of his reaction on the site. With Rose and D'Antoni the Bulls would've been great. However the Bulls are the biggest losers here. D'Antoni was the perfect coach for them ... I still don't understand how they slipped away.Andrew (Hollywood, FL): Pat Riley has made it clear that Rose is at the top of his board. What do you think the future looks like if Rose goes first and the Heat take Beasley?
Chad Ford: Good. I think Beasley would be a good fit on the Heat. I think he can play with Marion and Wade. However, it sounds like given the choice, they might opt to trade the pick or ... I'm hearing they'll also seriously consider O.J. Mayo. He's here working out with Dwyane Wade. I think they'd actually be a better combo in the backcourt than Wade-Rose because O.J. can really shoot the ball.Mick (SF): Chad - Outside of Beasley and Rose, who has the potential to be "special"? Mayo? Bayless?
Chad Ford: Mayo. No question. He's suffered from such extreme expectations. I watched him for two days, spent a lot of time talking to him and I'm blown away. As far as basketball goes ... he really has it all. I think he'll be good enough to play point on the right team, but even if he doesn't, he really can score. As a person, I was impressed. I've heard all the bad stuff, but what I saw was a very intelligent, respectful and humble kid who is working his butt off. I think he's misunderstood. I know he's had a few issues in high school -- but honestly how many kids do you know that haven't had any issues in high school? I think he's a clear top 3 pick ... he might even crack into the No. 2 conversation with Miami.Eric - NYC: Well - it seems as there is no shot the Knicks get OJ Mayo. Is DeAndre Jordan a possibility? He's perfect for the 3 year 'rebuilding'.
Chad Ford: He's the highest risk-reward player in the draft. He has the physical tools to be a Dwight Howard type player ... but I'm not sure he has the work ethic. The rumor is that he's already got a Top 5 promise ... so that would exclude the Knicks. I'm just not sure Donnie Walsh is really willing to gamble on him.Chris (St. Paul, MN): Do you realize what you've just done with your response to Andrew from Hollywood? You've actually given me hope for my Wolves and the draft i.e. 1-Rose, 2-Mayo, 3-Beasley. Why did you do this to me? You're cruel. Now I have hopes.
Chad Ford: With the third pick in the draft ... Kevin McHale selects Kosta Koufos. Nobody can shatter your hopes like McHale.Jeremy (Eugene,OR): Would the Twolves really pass on Mayo to draft Lopez? Seems like a pretty big reach
Chad Ford: I've heard that the three guys they like are Lopez, Mayo and Gallinari. Lopez fits a need ... but Mayo is the best fit and an upgrade, in my opinion, over Rashad McCants and Randy Foye. Gallinari is the wild card. He's good ... it's just a question of how good. He'd be a good fit there.Finn (Seattle, WA): So after your piece on Mayo, has he changed your Mock Draft? I'd love to see the SOnics get him at 2. With he and Jeff Green, the Sonics have the potential to be a very solid defensive team. Agree?
Chad Ford: For me ... I'd take O.J. over Bayless ... but a lot of NBA guys disagree. Bayless may be a little bit more ready to play the point guard ... though watching O.J. I think he's under rated as a point guard. On a team like Seattle, he'd be very good next to Durant.Krish (Memphis): Chad, love the chats and posts. PLEASE tell me that the Grizzlies are not the team that has promised DeAndre Jordan the 5th pick. I think he's going to be terrible (and I also think OJ Mayo is going to just be average). Kevin Love is the right choice for them.
Chad Ford: Maybe they'll package the pick and Mike Miller for more expiring contracts and late first round picks. Who knows what the Grizzlies will do. They really need a big, but the best players available right now are probably guards. Anthony Randolph would be intriguing.Chris (Minneapolis, MN): "Rebounding is the one stat from college that almost always translates." Kevin Durant?
Chad Ford: Ummm.. I have no idea what the Sonics were thinking when they put KD at the two guard position. That explains his poor rebounding stats, not his ability.Martin LA, CA: Kevin Love to me is the surest thing in the draft... You know exactly what you gonna get and what he needs to be around to be good.. He would be perfect paired with a Dwight Howard
Chad Ford: Surest thing? Really?? I like Love. I like him even better now that he's lost some weight and become more explosive. But he's average height and just average athletically. That makes him a question mark. But if we're talking basketball IQ, strength and skill then yeah, Love is great. I think he'll get a strong look from the Bobcats and Pacers in the lottery.D (Indiana): why isn't Speights more highly regarded? I hope the bobcats consider him at 9!
Chad Ford: He should be. He's 6-11. athletic, can score in the post and he's got a better than expected perimeter game. I worry a little bit about his feel for the game and rumors that he isn't the most motivated guy ... but what I saw in Vegas .. he's working really hard at the moment.jon (new york): chad, realistically, what are the knicks options at 6?
Chad Ford: Trade is probably the best. Gallinari is probably second. They'd love Rose, Mayo or Bayless, but I don't see any of them getting to No. 6. Bad luck for the Knicks.Justin (Milwaukee): Where do you see Michael Redd being traded this summer?
Chad Ford: If the Bucks go with a shooting guard like Eric Gordon ... yes. Redd has value and they Bucks need to retool. I think he, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams are the three guys who could be sent packing.Seth (Los Angeles, CA): Hey Chad, if the Bulls select Derrick Rose do you think the Clippers should make an offer for Kirk Hinrich? Maybe sign and trade Maggette?
Chad Ford: That's an option. But again Hinrich's deal isn't great. I think they'd have to get more ... and Maggette wouldn't be the guy they'd target. Brand would be.Jason (Brooklyn): How serious are the Nuggets about shopping Melo? What kind of offers are out there?
Chad Ford: Sounds like he's on the block along with everyone else in Denver. There will be lots of interest in Melo ... the Nets obviously have interest. I think the Bucks will too. Knicks for sure. The Nuggets want to cut payroll and obviously get a higher pick in the draft. The Nets have some pieces to make that happen. The Bucks may be in a better position to do it.Ben (Charlotte): What's the best option for the Bobcats at #9? Kevin Love seems like a player who could thrive under Larry Brown, but is there a trade out there the Cats could make w/ their pick? Could GW + #9 = Carmelo?
Chad Ford: Last time I checked, Larry Brown and Carmelo Anthony hated each other. Remember their Team USA run-in? Love is an obvious fit and the Bobcats need rebounding. However, can they really afford to take two unathletic players in the lottery (remember Adam Morrison Bobcat fans?). Love's knee problems also will raise red flags. What they really need is a center (Okafor's better at the four) or an upgrade at the point (Westbrook would be a good compliment to Raymond Felton).JB Portland: What is Joe Alexanders upside? Who could he compare to in the NBA?
Chad Ford: He's one of the BEST athletes in the draft. He's still just scratching the surface of his talent. As far as comparisons go ... not an obvious fit but maybe Shawn Marion without the rebounding.Dan (NYc): Chad- An an international antitrust case, what level of domestic involvement is necessary before a foreign plaintiff has standing to sue in a U.S. court?
Chad Ford: Yeah ... I wasn't paying that close attention in law school. I teach more international conflcit resolution that takes place outside the courtroom. What's the answer Dan, I'll post it.Steven (Toronto): We know Brook Lopez has a ton of potential but what about his brother? Is he a "what you see is what you get" or does he have untapped potential still?
Chad Ford: I think some teams feel that Robin is a safer pick because you know what he is ... a hustle guy who could be a Varejao type player in the league. Brook is clearly a better offensive player .. but is he good enough to be a great pro? I think his ceiling is probably closer to Chris Kaman's. Not bad, but not Dwight Howard either.GREG - GI, NY: Fran Frascilla (sp?) said that Danilo Gallinari could be the best player in the draft. is he smoking something or is this kid the next Euro star?
Chad Ford: I know one NBA scout who agrees with him. So he's not alone. But ... honestly I think his lack of great athleticism keeps him from being able to be an elite player in the league. A lot of scouts compare him to Toni Kukoc. Toni was a very good NBA player ... but he wasn't a superstar. Rose and Beasley and O.J. for that matter have superstar potential.Kyle (OH): Any chance Eric Gordon slips to the Pacers? Would they take him even if a PG was still on the board?
Chad Ford: Probably not, but if he did, they'd be crazy not to take him. He'd give them the shooting and athleticism that Jim O'Brien currently lacks in the back court. As far as PGs, Westbrook and Augustin are the only two that might be there. Tough call ... Westbrook is the better athlete and defender, Augustin is a much better playmaker, but undersizedSteve, Los Angeles: I saw something about the Sixers looking to get Zach Randolph...I would think Donnie Walsh would move him or Curry in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. Will it? Can either of those two possibly be traded?
Chad Ford: If Walsh can trade them ... he will. Randolph would fit a need for the Sixers ... but at what price? He's over paid and has too much baggage.Matt (ATL): Chad, Now that Lindsey has removed himself from consideration, who do you think the Hawks will/should hire as their new GM? Also, will the owners insist that the new GM keep Woodson as head coach? thanks
Chad Ford: I think they have to re-open the search. Go after Pacers GM David Morway ... Donnie Walsh's right hand man in Indiana. He's the next best thing to Donnie.Cameron (San Diego, CA): What are your thoughts on Chase Budinger? In a recent mock draft, ESPN has him falling into the 20's. At the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, experts projected him as a lottery lock. Can he fall that far and who can you see picking him up?
Chad Ford: He's a great athlete and a good shooter, but he doesn't really have a mid range game, isn't a great defender and doesn't always assert himself. I think he's in danger of slipping. I think his range is 13 to 22. Chad Ford: I've got to run everyone. Let's do this again next week. I'll be in Orlando at the pre-draft camp. Should here lots of great trade rumors there.Spitzer on the Bulls Draft
If the Bulls put a gun to my head and said I had to draft someone, I would pick Michael Beasley and get a 20-10 nightly threat at the 4. If given the choice, however, I would pull a Boston Celtics and attempt to create a package to trade down and get some top-notch talent.
Think of the young talent the Bulls have now - Hinrich, Hughes, Gordon,Deng, Gooden, Tyrus Thomas, Noah and that's WITHOUT the #1 pick in the draft - either Rose or Beasley (on a side note, it's insane to see when each of the players on their team were drafted - I believe that's a #7, #8, #3, #6, #2, #2, and #9 overall pick in their respective drafts in their rotation). They have a perfect combination of young talent, expiring contracts, and, of course, a fantastic draft pick to make a splash this offseason.
If the Bulls solely select either Rose or Beasley, they'll still be muddling in mediocrity or slightly above that for several years. If they draft Rose, they'll still lack a dominant scoring big man, and if they draft Beasley, they don't have an all-around great point guard (I don't believe Hinrich qualifies).
The Bulls have an enviable assortment of young talent after having jettisoned Ben Wallace and Joe Smith, thereby getting younger, quicker, and cheaper. All the pieces are set for them to take a gargantuan step forward in the race for supremacy in the East; only a couple savvy transactions are needed by the Chicago front office, and glory can return once again to the United Center.
Think of the young talent the Bulls have now - Hinrich, Hughes, Gordon,Deng, Gooden, Tyrus Thomas, Noah and that's WITHOUT the #1 pick in the draft - either Rose or Beasley (on a side note, it's insane to see when each of the players on their team were drafted - I believe that's a #7, #8, #3, #6, #2, #2, and #9 overall pick in their respective drafts in their rotation). They have a perfect combination of young talent, expiring contracts, and, of course, a fantastic draft pick to make a splash this offseason.
If the Bulls solely select either Rose or Beasley, they'll still be muddling in mediocrity or slightly above that for several years. If they draft Rose, they'll still lack a dominant scoring big man, and if they draft Beasley, they don't have an all-around great point guard (I don't believe Hinrich qualifies).
The Bulls have an enviable assortment of young talent after having jettisoned Ben Wallace and Joe Smith, thereby getting younger, quicker, and cheaper. All the pieces are set for them to take a gargantuan step forward in the race for supremacy in the East; only a couple savvy transactions are needed by the Chicago front office, and glory can return once again to the United Center.
Jasner on the Sixers
Phil Jasner: Sixers should make Thaddeus Young untouchable
* A team that wins 40 games and is farther away from Detroit and Boston in the NBA East than it wants to admit should have no untouchables in the trade market.
But, to me, the Sixers have one:
Thaddeus Young.
If the Sixers' prize rookie of 2007-08 continues on his upward path, he should be the starting small forward for the foreseeable future and as good a candidate as any to blossom into an All-Star. He plays hard and, for the most part, strong; he will get better - and increase his range - as a shooter, making him a difficult matchup for opponents. If, situationally, they choose to go small, he can move to power forward, as he did frequently during his maiden voyage.
Still, that creates another issue . . .
* Assuming they re-sign Andre Iguodala, where does he fit?
He's not a traditional shooting guard; in fact, his perimeter shooting has been the most inconsistent element of his game. I'd like to believe he can improve in that area, and if taking hundreds of shots every day in the offseason is all it takes to make a difference, I'm certain he will do that. But all of those shots in an empty gym won't be the same as trying to get open against the Pistons' defense. It's like trying to get past the VIP ribbon at a posh club; you need credentials to get in. It would be significantly easier for him if he had a couple of sniper teammates stationed on either side of the floor. And while it's nice to think that Young and Lou Williams can help in that area, it would be helpful to see at least one credible new face.
* As for re-signing Iguodala, I agree that should be a top priority, as long as the price is right. He had a fine season, then saw his limitations somewhat exposed in the six-game, first-round series against the Pistons. I won't just write him off as a potential No. 1 guy, because he might yet grow into one, but he hasn't gotten there yet. Would he make that jump if he had a back-to-the-basket post player who could score and rebound, not to mention a legit three-point threat?
But what if other teams, despite his restricted free-agent status, show interest? Wouldn't the Sixers have to listen to potential sign-and-trade scenarios? And wouldn't they have to be
verrrrry careful of not losing a major chunk of the culture and chemistry they have been nurturing?
* Despite what you might have read elsewhere, there doesn't seem to be any reason to rush into discussions about an extension for Andre Miller. As excellent as Miller was, emerging as the team's MVP, he's 32 and has a year remaining on his contract. There's no reason to believe Miller's skills will drop off as he approaches 33, but they say that when it happens, it can sometimes happen fast.
For now, Miller represents an expiring $10 million contract at the end of next season, and - depending on circumstances - a huge chip at the next trade deadline. On the other hand, if he gets off to a start that rivals the level of this season, I wouldn't be surprised by an in-season extension.
Still, to me, the more pressing problem is . . .
* Despite the development of Williams, there is no viable backup point guard on the roster, and there definitely needs to be an option in the event of a drop-off or injury with Miller.
Williams is an energy guy, a power boost off the bench, playing in bursts at either backcourt position. As much as I like unrestricted free agent Kevin Ollie as a possible emergency piece, locker-room voice and mentor, they need a young point guard who can play some minutes in the rotation and big minutes if necessary.
* Have I mentioned being verrrry careful about the culture and chemistry developed under coach Maurice Cheeks? If the Sixers don't want to offer Cheeks a long-term extension, I would suggest adding 2 years to his deal, keeping him under contract for a total of 3, and I would suggest paying him more than the $2.5 million reportedly due next season. In a profession that doesn't exude stability, that would give Cheeks the security - and clout - necessary to help maintain the attention of his players.
* One last thing: Everything they do this offseason is critical for another, bottom-line reason. Their strong, encouraging finish in 2006-07 didn't translate into box office results for much of 2007-08. Even this season's emergence and two somewhat stunning playoff victories over the Pistons didn't have that effect on the Game 6 playoff crowd. I don't think the team's marketing and sales people want to start from scratch next season. They need an improved product to sell:
Thad's Lads: Grow With Us.
The Andres: The Next Step.
Mo, Mo, Mo: The Future Awaits.
OK, OK, I'll stop now. *
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Bulls to Interview Eric Snow for Head Coaching Job
File this under, you know you signed a guy for too many years when .....
PS Larry Brown also wants Snow on his staff.
PPS Can't wait to see the Snow Snort of Joy on the sidelines next year.
PS Larry Brown also wants Snow on his staff.
PPS Can't wait to see the Snow Snort of Joy on the sidelines next year.
Chicago Wins the Draft Lottery!
How many picks does this city deserve?
By my count, they got Tyrus Thomas (coulda been LaMarcus Aldridge) AND Joakim Noah from the Knicks, Michael Jordan courtesy of the Blazers, and now they have the number one pick drop in their laps!
What the hell??!!
It's not my fault that they drafted "college talent" like Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich with their high picks. But now they'll have a starting 5 of Rose, Gordon/Hughes, Deng, T. Thomas, and Noah OR Hinrich, Gordon/Hughes, Deng, Beasley, and Noah. When you look at it that way, it's actually a tough choice 'cause the team with Rose on it will be pressed to score. Meanwhile, after falling ass-backwards into a championship three years ago (!), Miami has the number two pick, Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade after the Suns did them a favor by taking on Shaq. Have I mentioned that when ESPNEWS showed that the Heat were willing to trade Shaq (the day before the Suns swooped in ), I raked my mind and couldn't imagine a team that both had the cap space available for Shaq and was competitive enough for him to agree to go there. Then, the Suns decided to dump Marion and Marcus Banks (who was burning a hole in their pocket) for Shaq. All this AFTER selling draft picks that could've been Andre Iguodala and Rajon Rondo, trading guys like James Jones and Kurt Thomas for nothing, and then signing Marcus Banks (who sucks) to a big deal.
Meanwhile, Jerome James is still collecting money from the Knicks for putting a trashbag on his body and claiming he's a "garbage man" that collects all the boards a few years back when he was on the Sonics. Dignity is overrated, right?.....
By my count, they got Tyrus Thomas (coulda been LaMarcus Aldridge) AND Joakim Noah from the Knicks, Michael Jordan courtesy of the Blazers, and now they have the number one pick drop in their laps!
What the hell??!!
It's not my fault that they drafted "college talent" like Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich with their high picks. But now they'll have a starting 5 of Rose, Gordon/Hughes, Deng, T. Thomas, and Noah OR Hinrich, Gordon/Hughes, Deng, Beasley, and Noah. When you look at it that way, it's actually a tough choice 'cause the team with Rose on it will be pressed to score. Meanwhile, after falling ass-backwards into a championship three years ago (!), Miami has the number two pick, Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade after the Suns did them a favor by taking on Shaq. Have I mentioned that when ESPNEWS showed that the Heat were willing to trade Shaq (the day before the Suns swooped in ), I raked my mind and couldn't imagine a team that both had the cap space available for Shaq and was competitive enough for him to agree to go there. Then, the Suns decided to dump Marion and Marcus Banks (who was burning a hole in their pocket) for Shaq. All this AFTER selling draft picks that could've been Andre Iguodala and Rajon Rondo, trading guys like James Jones and Kurt Thomas for nothing, and then signing Marcus Banks (who sucks) to a big deal.
Meanwhile, Jerome James is still collecting money from the Knicks for putting a trashbag on his body and claiming he's a "garbage man" that collects all the boards a few years back when he was on the Sonics. Dignity is overrated, right?.....
Summer Bloggin'
Summer bloggin',
Havin' a blast!
Summer bloggin',
Happened so fast!
I met a lottery crazy for me!
WNBA girls--cute as can be!
Summer bloggin',
Happened so fast,
Oh ah and the TNT nights!
Oh well oh well oh well oh ooo,
Tell me more tell me more did Chuck pay off his debt?
Tell me more tell me more is Chase Budinger a good bet?
Havin' a blast!
Summer bloggin',
Happened so fast!
I met a lottery crazy for me!
WNBA girls--cute as can be!
Summer bloggin',
Happened so fast,
Oh ah and the TNT nights!
Oh well oh well oh well oh ooo,
Tell me more tell me more did Chuck pay off his debt?
Tell me more tell me more is Chase Budinger a good bet?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The All- Philly Team by David Young
Don't you wish Kobe was a Sixer? Sheesh, I know I do. Because, gosh golly, I wish NBA ballers tried something old-fashioned for once and played for their hometown teams. Actually, I guess that puts Kobe in Italy somewhere, but anyhoot... Major liability issues aside, there should a summer exhibition league of the major US metro areas called "The City League." It could be like 8 teams: NY, LA, Chicago, Philly, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Baltimore -- all comprised of locally-bred talent. I think they do a similar thing in Australia with rugby or something, and the Aussies eat it up like kangaroo jerky. Hell, the coaches could even be local-yocals. And if the league is a success, throw whole countries into the mix like: Turkey, Serbia, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Argentina, China, and Turks and Caicos. Jah rastafarI. Is Josh Howard from Turks and Caicos? He should be. Oh man, this league would have some crazy stacked rosters like the new Six Stacker buttermilk pancakes platter from IHOP -- this towering stack of awesome features six of our fluffiest, oversized buttermilk pancakes topped with two poached eggs, banana, and extra gravy! It's a real super yummy crowd pleaser... or super yummy individual pleaser if you're Seth Raivetz. Oh, and it comes w/ side of breakfast meat of your choosing! *breakfast MEAT does not include scrapple, Seth -- $5.99 for a limited time... I got the munchies real bad.
This is just a running list of Philly players. Feel free to contribute:
Kyle Lowry - PG Memphis -- Cardinal Dougherty
Hakim Warrick - PF Memphis -- Friends Central
John Salmons - G Sacremento -- Plymouth Whitemarsh
Marc Jackson - C -- Roman ???
Rasul Butler - SG New Orleans -- Roman
Kobe Bryant - SG Los Angeles Lakers -- Lower Merion Technical Institute?
Aaron McKie - G Grizzlies -- Simon Gratz ???
Matt Carroll - SG Charlotte -- Hatsboro-Horsham
Rasheed Wallace - PF Detroit -- Simon Gratz
Richard "Rip" Hamilton - SG Detroit -- Coatesville
Ronald "Flip" Murray - SG Detroit -- Strawberry Mansion
Jameer Nelson - PG Orlando -- Chester
Malik Allen - C Dallas -- Shawnee (South Central NJ)
Steve Smith - SG Philadelphia -- Northeast High
Mardy Collins - SG New York -- Simon Gratz
Malik Rose - PF New York -- Overbrook
Cuttino "Cat" Mobley - SG Los Angeles Clippers -- Cardinal Dougherty
*The name that excites me the most on this list is Kyle Lowry. I'm a fan of his game. Future Sixer?
Other professional players of note:
Dajuan Wagner -- some polish team
Mustafa Shakur -- some polish team
Steve Smith -- SG -- Northeast High ???
Lynn Greer -- PG -- E&S
*Dajuan Wagner (Camden, NJ) and Mustafa Shakur (Friends Central, PA) are currently playing for the same Polish team -- Prokom Trefl Sopot. They are the only American players on the roster.
Played college ball in Philly area:
Delonte West
Eddie Jones
Tim Thomas
RIP:
Eddie Griffin - PF Houston -- Roman
Here's more on the Philly/Poland b-ball connection:
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080306_Philly_basketball_players_are_at_play_everywhere.html
This is just a running list of Philly players. Feel free to contribute:
Kyle Lowry - PG Memphis -- Cardinal Dougherty
Hakim Warrick - PF Memphis -- Friends Central
John Salmons - G Sacremento -- Plymouth Whitemarsh
Marc Jackson - C -- Roman ???
Rasul Butler - SG New Orleans -- Roman
Kobe Bryant - SG Los Angeles Lakers -- Lower Merion Technical Institute?
Aaron McKie - G Grizzlies -- Simon Gratz ???
Matt Carroll - SG Charlotte -- Hatsboro-Horsham
Rasheed Wallace - PF Detroit -- Simon Gratz
Richard "Rip" Hamilton - SG Detroit -- Coatesville
Ronald "Flip" Murray - SG Detroit -- Strawberry Mansion
Jameer Nelson - PG Orlando -- Chester
Malik Allen - C Dallas -- Shawnee (South Central NJ)
Steve Smith - SG Philadelphia -- Northeast High
Mardy Collins - SG New York -- Simon Gratz
Malik Rose - PF New York -- Overbrook
Cuttino "Cat" Mobley - SG Los Angeles Clippers -- Cardinal Dougherty
*The name that excites me the most on this list is Kyle Lowry. I'm a fan of his game. Future Sixer?
Other professional players of note:
Dajuan Wagner -- some polish team
Mustafa Shakur -- some polish team
Steve Smith -- SG -- Northeast High ???
Lynn Greer -- PG -- E&S
*Dajuan Wagner (Camden, NJ) and Mustafa Shakur (Friends Central, PA) are currently playing for the same Polish team -- Prokom Trefl Sopot. They are the only American players on the roster.
Played college ball in Philly area:
Delonte West
Eddie Jones
Tim Thomas
RIP:
Eddie Griffin - PF Houston -- Roman
Here's more on the Philly/Poland b-ball connection:
Draft Response by David Spitzer
I love the DJ Augustin in college, but I don't like him on the sixers for 2 reasons:
1) He's very undersized, and if we're thinking of starting Lou Will anytime in the near future, the two of them would be waaaaaay too small as a tandem in the backcourt.
2) Personally, somewhat related to his lack of size, I think Augustin has a game that will not transfer very well to the pros. He was destroyed by bigger, more aggressive point guards (think Derrick Rose in the Elite 8). Additionally - and I know there's no way to prove or disprove this - I've seen a ton of Texas games and I feel like a majority of the 3's he hit while at Texas were right on the line. Essentially, I don't think he in fact has a great NBA-range jump shot.
If you're thinking PG in this draft, DEFINITELY try and get Jerryd Bayless out of Arizona. He has probably the best court vision of anyone in college basketball right now, and he is a great shooter who will translate well into the pros. He'll probably go in the top 5 or 10 though, so it looks like drafting him is not a possibility.
Regarding Kevin Love, he's not the type of player we need. He essentially is a Reggie Evans+ (meaning he is undersized and a good rebounder, but he has more range than Reggie and a capable jump shot). Still, he's not the type of player the Sixers need, since he scores most of his buckets similar to Thaddeus on put-backs and garbage points. He's not a big guy you can run your offense through.
1) He's very undersized, and if we're thinking of starting Lou Will anytime in the near future, the two of them would be waaaaaay too small as a tandem in the backcourt.
2) Personally, somewhat related to his lack of size, I think Augustin has a game that will not transfer very well to the pros. He was destroyed by bigger, more aggressive point guards (think Derrick Rose in the Elite 8). Additionally - and I know there's no way to prove or disprove this - I've seen a ton of Texas games and I feel like a majority of the 3's he hit while at Texas were right on the line. Essentially, I don't think he in fact has a great NBA-range jump shot.
If you're thinking PG in this draft, DEFINITELY try and get Jerryd Bayless out of Arizona. He has probably the best court vision of anyone in college basketball right now, and he is a great shooter who will translate well into the pros. He'll probably go in the top 5 or 10 though, so it looks like drafting him is not a possibility.
Regarding Kevin Love, he's not the type of player we need. He essentially is a Reggie Evans+ (meaning he is undersized and a good rebounder, but he has more range than Reggie and a capable jump shot). Still, he's not the type of player the Sixers need, since he scores most of his buckets similar to Thaddeus on put-backs and garbage points. He's not a big guy you can run your offense through.
Draft Lottery Tonight at 8PM on ESPN
As far as I can tell this will either be a decent draft or a top-heavy but deep draft.
Derrick Rose looks to be astounding. There are also some lesser known talents that could be good.
From the Sixers perspective, Kevin Love, DJ Augustin, or one of a number of big men could help them. I think there are about 10 known commodities in the draft and the rest is a bunch of Euros, young big men from college, and role players. At number 16, I think we could get a good PG (if Augustin drops), potentially good PF, or high risk-high reward PF/C. The known commodity guys are mainly small forwards, and we could go in that direction even though we've already got Carney, Young, and Iguodala.
Derrick Rose looks to be astounding. There are also some lesser known talents that could be good.
From the Sixers perspective, Kevin Love, DJ Augustin, or one of a number of big men could help them. I think there are about 10 known commodities in the draft and the rest is a bunch of Euros, young big men from college, and role players. At number 16, I think we could get a good PG (if Augustin drops), potentially good PF, or high risk-high reward PF/C. The known commodity guys are mainly small forwards, and we could go in that direction even though we've already got Carney, Young, and Iguodala.
Astounding Discoveries by David Young
As many of you know, I've been studying ancient Chinese texts for quite some time now. Yesterday, while performing a routine inventory of my ancient scroll collection in my temperature-controlled storage facility, one of these extremely rare, rice paper scrolls slipped from my hand. Smack! The fragile document hit the floor and unraveled at my feet. Glaring down in frustration at the uncoiled scroll's myriad Chinese characters strewn before me, I found something simply astonishing. It's my pleasure to share with you this astounding discovery.
As you can plainly see, one of the ancient Chinese characters (no longer in use) written on this scroll looks eerily similar to that of the Houston Rockets logo. It's no accident. I have to give credit to the Rockets' marketing department for the brilliant logo concept. With Yao Ming as the face of the franchise, it makes perfect sense to create a team identity easily digestible by the expansive and rapidly growing Chinese fan base. And, of course, red works pretty well too...
Euro Aversion
My buddy Dave commented on the Billy King post about BK's "Euro Aversion." I want to make the case here for drafting foreign players.
If you look at the best teams in the league, they are littered with great foreign talent. The Spurs stayed awesome by plucking Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili late in drafts. They have consolidated by adding Fabricio Oberto, Tiago Splitter, Ian Mahinmi, Beno Udrih, and others. The Lakers have Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic, and Vladimir Radmanovic. The old Kings had Peja and Vlade. Today's Jazz have Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur. The Suns have Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa.
What's strange is that the Eastern teams, save the Nets, Pistons and Raptors, have basically been averse to foreign talent--to their own detriment. Yes, Andrea Bargnani is no stud. But plenty of great players in the NBA--from Dirk Nowitzki to Thabo Sefalosha, not to mention Yao Ming--hail from overseas. Most of the foreign players have a specific skill set: they know how to play the offensive team game well, many of them can shoot, and few of them are great defenders. Guys like Gasol and Ginobili are absolutely unstoppable at the international level.
Teams ignore these players to their own detriment. Not every international star is a boon, many are busts. But we could say the same about high school or even college stars. Jiri Welsch, Korleone Young, and Trajan Langdon do not a good team make. But Yi Jianlin, Lou Williams, and Al Horford are the future of the NBA. To ignore any source of talent is catastrophic. The Raptors were able to piece together a very good team by simply plucking international talent that other teams had ignored. What team couldn't use Anthony Parker's (picked by the Sixers) shooting or Jorge Garbajosa's savvy? Jose Calderon will be one of the hottest commodities on this year's free agent market.
Every team needs guys who can pass and shoot, who know how to play the team game. European and South American players are particularly adept at these skills. The best teams in the West--the Suns, Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Rockets, and Jazz--all employ them heavily. In the East, the Nets and Raptors have decent foreign players and the Pistons famously drafted Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony and now appear to be once bitten, twice shy. The Spurs strategy of staying great by drafting foreign players late in the draft has served them extremely well. Few other teams have caught on. The Spurs even had to draft-and-trade (for salary cap reasons) Luis Scola and Leandro Barbosa to competitors because of the dearth of scouting on these players. How can so many teams be dropping the ball?
If you look at the best teams in the league, they are littered with great foreign talent. The Spurs stayed awesome by plucking Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili late in drafts. They have consolidated by adding Fabricio Oberto, Tiago Splitter, Ian Mahinmi, Beno Udrih, and others. The Lakers have Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic, and Vladimir Radmanovic. The old Kings had Peja and Vlade. Today's Jazz have Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur. The Suns have Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa.
What's strange is that the Eastern teams, save the Nets, Pistons and Raptors, have basically been averse to foreign talent--to their own detriment. Yes, Andrea Bargnani is no stud. But plenty of great players in the NBA--from Dirk Nowitzki to Thabo Sefalosha, not to mention Yao Ming--hail from overseas. Most of the foreign players have a specific skill set: they know how to play the offensive team game well, many of them can shoot, and few of them are great defenders. Guys like Gasol and Ginobili are absolutely unstoppable at the international level.
Teams ignore these players to their own detriment. Not every international star is a boon, many are busts. But we could say the same about high school or even college stars. Jiri Welsch, Korleone Young, and Trajan Langdon do not a good team make. But Yi Jianlin, Lou Williams, and Al Horford are the future of the NBA. To ignore any source of talent is catastrophic. The Raptors were able to piece together a very good team by simply plucking international talent that other teams had ignored. What team couldn't use Anthony Parker's (picked by the Sixers) shooting or Jorge Garbajosa's savvy? Jose Calderon will be one of the hottest commodities on this year's free agent market.
Every team needs guys who can pass and shoot, who know how to play the team game. European and South American players are particularly adept at these skills. The best teams in the West--the Suns, Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Rockets, and Jazz--all employ them heavily. In the East, the Nets and Raptors have decent foreign players and the Pistons famously drafted Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony and now appear to be once bitten, twice shy. The Spurs strategy of staying great by drafting foreign players late in the draft has served them extremely well. Few other teams have caught on. The Spurs even had to draft-and-trade (for salary cap reasons) Luis Scola and Leandro Barbosa to competitors because of the dearth of scouting on these players. How can so many teams be dropping the ball?
Cheeks Wants Randolph?
This was forwarded to me by my man Rami under the title "ew":
*Zach Randolph* | Knicks
If *Maurice Cheeks* stays put, look for him to pester Philly's president to acquire *Zach Randolph*, who has the goods to provide everything the ahead-of-schedule Sixers are offensively lacking in the low docks.
Contrary to common belief, Cheeks and Randolph had great respect for each other in Portland. -- New York Post
<http://www.nypost.com/seven/05202008/sports/browns_gotta_stop_catering_to_lebron_111713.htm?page=0>
There are multiple reasons why this story sucks and here they are:
*Zach Randolph* | Knicks
If *Maurice Cheeks* stays put, look for him to pester Philly's president to acquire *Zach Randolph*, who has the goods to provide everything the ahead-of-schedule Sixers are offensively lacking in the low docks.
Contrary to common belief, Cheeks and Randolph had great respect for each other in Portland. -- New York Post
<http://www.nypost.com/seven/05202008/sports/browns_gotta_stop_catering_to_lebron_111713.htm?page=0>
There are multiple reasons why this story sucks and here they are:
- The New York Post publishes a lot of trash about the NBA and 99.99% of it doesn't transpire.
- Zach Randolph's contract is enormous. According to Hoopshype.com, Randolph has 3 years and about $48 million left on his contract. I don't think adding someone with such a bloated contract is in our plans.
- If there is any truth to this story, it is disgusting. Randolph is a terrible player and human being. He has been known to put up stats on crappy teams, but he cannot play defense and he is basically a joke in the NBA. Would a guy that looked like him with his skill set sans the terrible attitude work for the Sixers? Maybe. But I think Zach Randolph is NOT the guy.
Lottery vs. Playoffs
As a fan of the Sixers, the past few years I must admit that I've caught myself rooting for losses. The more losses, I thought, the better pick the team will get. The better pick the team will get, the better chance we'll have of winning a championship in the future.
This season reminded me that there are really two ways to improve a young team: going to the playoffs or getting a lottery pick in the draft. The playoffs test young players like nothing else can. You get to see if the guys that look like superstars in the regular season can rise to the occasion in the playoffs. Who chokes? Who doesn't? Who rises to the challenge? Who crumbles?
The Sixers playoff run didn't exactly expose Andre Iguodala as a bad player, but it did highlight his limitations. It didn't exactly show that the Sixers' playing style doesn't work, but it did show our problems in the half-court. I learned from the playoffs that the team needs another scorer and post help; that Andre Miller may be our best player; that Samuel Dalembert is still frustratingly inconsistent; that Thaddeus Young will definitely be a stud in a year or two; and that the Sixers really need a few more pieces.
If I had known that we could make the playoffs, perhaps I would've rooted for the Sixers more loudly early in the season. But the team was boring to watch and seemed to be going nowhere. Mo Cheeks and Billy King were playing "veterans" like Reggie Evans, Kyle Korver and Willie Green and ignored the gold on the bench: T. Young, R. Carney and Lou Williams. Once the team changed its style and started to improve, people came back to watch. I know many Sixers' fans have been accused of being fair-weather fans but it's a lot to ask of someone to watch a team that plays a boring style badly. The past few years were sloppy and unwatchable. The team now has new life.
The thing is, were the Sixers to have missed the playoffs, would it have been worthwhile--like last year--to play hard and get a lower lottery pick? I guess that it can be argued that the Sixers "finished strong" last year and that it "carried over" into this year. But the early season results from this team don't show that. We lucked out by getting Thaddeus Young, but let's be honest: Kevin Durant or Al Horford would've been much better. With everyone tanking left and right last year (including the media's new darlings: the Celtics), it may have been a lost cause to join the group. But the effect of high picks on NBA teams cannot be underestimated. Utah and New Orleans are where they are today because of the point guards they snatched high in the draft. Tim Duncan was a number one pick that has led the Spurs to 4 championships in 9 years. The Hawks and Bulls, though not great drafting teams, have been able to accrue great talent through high draft picks. The Blazers look like the next in line to take the Western crown with Greg Oden and Brandon Roy leading the charge.
The Sixers have drafted very well, as I noted in a previous post. Andre Iguodala fell in our laps when the Raptors chose the dynamic Rafael Araujo. Thaddeus Young was clearly undervalued in last year's draft, as was Lou Williams when we grabbed him late in the second round a few years' back.
It's a tough line to walk when you want to either suck badly or make the playoffs in the NBA, but those are really the two ways to improve your team: improve internal personnel or gain great external people. A team like New Orleans is the perfect example of how to build through free agency and the draft. They dumped Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn, signed Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic, and drafted David West and Chris Paul. Atlanta also dumped its superstars many years ago and now has a stable of amazing talent led by Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson. Teams like Memphis and Minnesota are now trying to follow the New Orleans example. Rather than dumping AI for cap space, the Sixers chose a different route and now have a more battle-hardened group of youngsters due to the aid of Andre Miller. But whether this team improves greatly or plateaus will have to do with how it walks the tightwire between the lottery and the playoffs.
This season reminded me that there are really two ways to improve a young team: going to the playoffs or getting a lottery pick in the draft. The playoffs test young players like nothing else can. You get to see if the guys that look like superstars in the regular season can rise to the occasion in the playoffs. Who chokes? Who doesn't? Who rises to the challenge? Who crumbles?
The Sixers playoff run didn't exactly expose Andre Iguodala as a bad player, but it did highlight his limitations. It didn't exactly show that the Sixers' playing style doesn't work, but it did show our problems in the half-court. I learned from the playoffs that the team needs another scorer and post help; that Andre Miller may be our best player; that Samuel Dalembert is still frustratingly inconsistent; that Thaddeus Young will definitely be a stud in a year or two; and that the Sixers really need a few more pieces.
If I had known that we could make the playoffs, perhaps I would've rooted for the Sixers more loudly early in the season. But the team was boring to watch and seemed to be going nowhere. Mo Cheeks and Billy King were playing "veterans" like Reggie Evans, Kyle Korver and Willie Green and ignored the gold on the bench: T. Young, R. Carney and Lou Williams. Once the team changed its style and started to improve, people came back to watch. I know many Sixers' fans have been accused of being fair-weather fans but it's a lot to ask of someone to watch a team that plays a boring style badly. The past few years were sloppy and unwatchable. The team now has new life.
The thing is, were the Sixers to have missed the playoffs, would it have been worthwhile--like last year--to play hard and get a lower lottery pick? I guess that it can be argued that the Sixers "finished strong" last year and that it "carried over" into this year. But the early season results from this team don't show that. We lucked out by getting Thaddeus Young, but let's be honest: Kevin Durant or Al Horford would've been much better. With everyone tanking left and right last year (including the media's new darlings: the Celtics), it may have been a lost cause to join the group. But the effect of high picks on NBA teams cannot be underestimated. Utah and New Orleans are where they are today because of the point guards they snatched high in the draft. Tim Duncan was a number one pick that has led the Spurs to 4 championships in 9 years. The Hawks and Bulls, though not great drafting teams, have been able to accrue great talent through high draft picks. The Blazers look like the next in line to take the Western crown with Greg Oden and Brandon Roy leading the charge.
The Sixers have drafted very well, as I noted in a previous post. Andre Iguodala fell in our laps when the Raptors chose the dynamic Rafael Araujo. Thaddeus Young was clearly undervalued in last year's draft, as was Lou Williams when we grabbed him late in the second round a few years' back.
It's a tough line to walk when you want to either suck badly or make the playoffs in the NBA, but those are really the two ways to improve your team: improve internal personnel or gain great external people. A team like New Orleans is the perfect example of how to build through free agency and the draft. They dumped Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn, signed Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic, and drafted David West and Chris Paul. Atlanta also dumped its superstars many years ago and now has a stable of amazing talent led by Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson. Teams like Memphis and Minnesota are now trying to follow the New Orleans example. Rather than dumping AI for cap space, the Sixers chose a different route and now have a more battle-hardened group of youngsters due to the aid of Andre Miller. But whether this team improves greatly or plateaus will have to do with how it walks the tightwire between the lottery and the playoffs.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Allen Iverson
As a Sixers' fan, I lived and died with Allen Iverson. I loved his never-say-die attitude, the fact that Stephen A. Smith would always describe him as "mercurial," and his intense playing style.
Iverson's legacy, however, has been tarnished by the obvious evidence coming out of Denver that he is not what we thought he was. In Philly, we always believed that we were one guy away from becoming a championship team. But we came to realize that Iverson worked best with a bunch of nobody bruisers who played defense and deferred to him on offense. If Larry Brown recognized the existence of the three-point shot, and maybe signed someone who could shoot it, perhaps the Sixers would've won the Finals one year. Then again, it's hard to argue that the Sixers could ever have overtaken the Laker or Spur Dynasties.
I spent a large part of my life rooting for AI and defending him from those who thought he was a me-first pretender. Iverson DID lead the league in scoring and steals a few years, and he did take his team to the Finals, putting him way ahead of clowns like Stephon Marbury and even (for now) superstars like Tracy McGrady. But his career suffered from motivation problems throughout. In his early career he was iconoclastic and wouldn't go to practice or listen to coaches. In his later career he lost the motivation to win at all costs and starting putting up seasons where he averaged about 30 points but his team plain sucked and was unwatchable. Philly fans blamed this state of affairs squarely on Billy King, but Iverson also was a very tough player to build around.
The evidence from Denver is quite convincing. George Karl, though a horse's ass, is universally recognized as a good coach. Carmelo Anthony is an excellent player. So is Marcus Camby. Yet Iverson and Anthony combined to create a team that got swept by the Lakers and managed to play like a bunch of junkyard hoodlums. Iverson, an amazing individual talent, completed the capstone course in proving that he's a great one-on-one player who can't play in a team setting. He is the paradigmatic player who succeeded by doing it alone and now can't play well with others. His attitude and presence are amazing, but on the court he can never be part of a team that is greater than the sum of its parts (other than that one Finals team that was built specifically to favor Iverson's strengths while masking his weaknesses).
Iverson suffers from being a six-foot-tall two-guard who never made the transition to being a true point. To that end, he was always a matchup problem for his own team. He also always "got his" and his teams one when others fell in line. The problem is that AI doesn't fit into the team concept. Other than his successful run with Larry Brown, Iverson has been mired in mediocrity and a bevy of great statistical performances that yielded few wins (see: his rookie season; this year).
I loved Allen Iverson, but now that he's not on the Sixers it's just wonderful to watch a team that shares the ball and doesn't suffer from being weighted down with egotistical superstars. Allen Iverson was a great player, and some of his best years were squandered in Philly by Chris Webber, Billy King, and Glenn Robinson, but we can no longer say that the Sixers failed him. Iverson also failed the Sixers.
Iverson's legacy, however, has been tarnished by the obvious evidence coming out of Denver that he is not what we thought he was. In Philly, we always believed that we were one guy away from becoming a championship team. But we came to realize that Iverson worked best with a bunch of nobody bruisers who played defense and deferred to him on offense. If Larry Brown recognized the existence of the three-point shot, and maybe signed someone who could shoot it, perhaps the Sixers would've won the Finals one year. Then again, it's hard to argue that the Sixers could ever have overtaken the Laker or Spur Dynasties.
I spent a large part of my life rooting for AI and defending him from those who thought he was a me-first pretender. Iverson DID lead the league in scoring and steals a few years, and he did take his team to the Finals, putting him way ahead of clowns like Stephon Marbury and even (for now) superstars like Tracy McGrady. But his career suffered from motivation problems throughout. In his early career he was iconoclastic and wouldn't go to practice or listen to coaches. In his later career he lost the motivation to win at all costs and starting putting up seasons where he averaged about 30 points but his team plain sucked and was unwatchable. Philly fans blamed this state of affairs squarely on Billy King, but Iverson also was a very tough player to build around.
The evidence from Denver is quite convincing. George Karl, though a horse's ass, is universally recognized as a good coach. Carmelo Anthony is an excellent player. So is Marcus Camby. Yet Iverson and Anthony combined to create a team that got swept by the Lakers and managed to play like a bunch of junkyard hoodlums. Iverson, an amazing individual talent, completed the capstone course in proving that he's a great one-on-one player who can't play in a team setting. He is the paradigmatic player who succeeded by doing it alone and now can't play well with others. His attitude and presence are amazing, but on the court he can never be part of a team that is greater than the sum of its parts (other than that one Finals team that was built specifically to favor Iverson's strengths while masking his weaknesses).
Iverson suffers from being a six-foot-tall two-guard who never made the transition to being a true point. To that end, he was always a matchup problem for his own team. He also always "got his" and his teams one when others fell in line. The problem is that AI doesn't fit into the team concept. Other than his successful run with Larry Brown, Iverson has been mired in mediocrity and a bevy of great statistical performances that yielded few wins (see: his rookie season; this year).
I loved Allen Iverson, but now that he's not on the Sixers it's just wonderful to watch a team that shares the ball and doesn't suffer from being weighted down with egotistical superstars. Allen Iverson was a great player, and some of his best years were squandered in Philly by Chris Webber, Billy King, and Glenn Robinson, but we can no longer say that the Sixers failed him. Iverson also failed the Sixers.
Rachel Nichols is the Worst
When Rachel Nichols first appeared on ESPN, I thought "She's annoying, I'm sure we won't be seeing much more of her." Like the now slender and plastic Wendy Nix before her, I figured that an annoying, mink-haired idiot like Nichols who told a sports story like a 12-year-old girl explaining how she's going to torment her latest enemy wasn't going to last. But she has. Now you can't watch ESPN without being subjected to this woman. It's patently absurd.
Every story she tells sounds exactly the same. She uses the same inflections and tones, and always ends with her "I know what you don't know" smirk at the end. She could be talking about famine in Myanmar or Eddie Jones' jockstrap, everything has the same arc, smirk, and disgusting red hair attached to it. Everything she says sounds like she thinks she's revealing something awesome. "I asked Marc Cuban what he thought of the new Jumbotron and he said, 'All's well that end's well.' This is Rachel Nichols reporting from Dallas." Her singsongy tone rapes each word as it comes out of her mouth, and every mundane detail is smirked at as if she just discovered that penises fit into vaginas and she's explaining this discovery to all of us.
I will continue to trash on ESPN in later blogs, but for now, let's leave Rachel the worst of the bunch. That is, until I get to Stephen A. Smith, Around The Horn, and that toad named Mike Tirico.
Note to reader: PTI is a good show, and I find favor with Dorothy Burke's sultry/deadpan announcing style this week (who the hell is she?) .
Every story she tells sounds exactly the same. She uses the same inflections and tones, and always ends with her "I know what you don't know" smirk at the end. She could be talking about famine in Myanmar or Eddie Jones' jockstrap, everything has the same arc, smirk, and disgusting red hair attached to it. Everything she says sounds like she thinks she's revealing something awesome. "I asked Marc Cuban what he thought of the new Jumbotron and he said, 'All's well that end's well.' This is Rachel Nichols reporting from Dallas." Her singsongy tone rapes each word as it comes out of her mouth, and every mundane detail is smirked at as if she just discovered that penises fit into vaginas and she's explaining this discovery to all of us.
I will continue to trash on ESPN in later blogs, but for now, let's leave Rachel the worst of the bunch. That is, until I get to Stephen A. Smith, Around The Horn, and that toad named Mike Tirico.
Note to reader: PTI is a good show, and I find favor with Dorothy Burke's sultry/deadpan announcing style this week (who the hell is she?) .
Hawks GM Billy King
So Larry Brown is promoting Billy King to be the new Hawks GM. Luckily (for them), they're presently not considering adding a new BK to replace the old one (Billy Knight).
That said, I think it's important to recount that Billy King was a horrible GM. He's done a decent job of remaking his image by kissing up to ESPN and taking credit for the Sixers turnaround this year (which had a lot to do with the change in playing style and Korver trade both executed by Ed Stefanski).
Now, I think we can all agree that Billy King was a decent drafter. He drafted Andre Iguodala (though over Al Jefferson), Thaddeus Young, and great second-round finds Kyle Korver, Lou Williams and Willie Green. He also snagged Sam Dalembert late in the first round (though picked him over Tony Parker). Hindsight is 20-20 with the draft, so I don't think it's too fair to blame GMs for passing on guys. I prefer to look at where they drafted and what they got, and generally Billy King did well with that. The only caveat here is that BK has a strong aversion to European players. Every time the Sixers drafted a Euro I knew he'd be traded. This turned out well with guys like Jiri Welsch, but I don't know why we dealt Kyrylo Fesenko to the Jazz. The very fact that a team with strong Euro scouting like the Jazz or Spurs wants someone should tell you that he has a strong chance of being good. The Sefalosha-for-Carney trade on draft day was a bad one and further exhibited BK's love of college players and aversion to Europeans.
Now, BK drafted well, but he also fell in love with his players, which admittedly is easy to do. The big contracts he gave to Eric Snow and Aaron McKie after the Sixers championship run are a case in point. Those two are still collecting coin while wearing business suits in the NBA. I applauded BK at the time for his loyalty to the guys that helped him succeed, but those two were broken down and had limitations to begin with. The big deal he gave Kenny Thomas later was a joke. His signing of Willie Green to a loyalty deal after Green had sat out a year with an ACL injury was absurd. Essentially he gave Green the same deal he would've given him before he was hurt. Further, Green was a guy that few teams wanted. In the playoffs this year, Green looked good at times, but he's really not a starting NBA "2." BK freaked out and caved when Sam Dalembert threatened to try to get a contract in Atlanta. At the time, I understood the logic. Dalembert was an athletic center who had a lot of potential. In the NBA, all centers are overpaid (see: Foyle, Adonal). I think that BK was actually learning when he signed Green and Korver to moderate deals.
King's biggest failure came in trades. Specifically, he and Larry Brown traded draft picks like they were water, ruining the Sixers' chances to ever build themselves up with youth. Brown instigated a trade of a first-round-pick for Jerome Moiso (no, he's not a baseball player) and gave a pick to Golden State for the rights to take on Derrick Coleman. We even gave a pick to Atlanta for the thrilling journey that was the Glenn Robinson year. The trades for broken down, unmotivated Glenn Robinson and Chris Webber were particularly haunting. The Robinson deal was the beginning of the end. Keith Van Horn was traded in a multiple team deal, along with a first-rounder, for Glenn Robinson whom Allen Iverson immediately declared an awesome partner. Robinson proved surly, sat out a year, was often injured, and just plain quit on the Sixers. Chris Webber would soonafter do the same. The Sixers tried valiantly, after getting to the Finals, to keep it together by getting Matt Harpring (whom they stupidly didn't even try to re-sign), then trading Dikembe Mutombo for Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch (which would've been a good deal had MacCulloch not turned out to have a neurological disorder and KVH not been dealt for Big Idiot).
In the end, Allen Iverson played out his last days in Philly with a broken-down and terrible Chris Webber rather than a bevy of young players who could've complimented him and Iguodala. Iverson has his problems: he's a dyed-in-the-wool one-on-one player. But the team the Sixers fielded in the first half of their championship(-losing) run that featured Toni Kukoc and Theo Ratliff suited him very well. Larry Brown ran most of those players into the ground that season as Ratliff, Tyrone Hill, Eric Snow, and Aaron McKie did not look the same after that season.
In conclusion, Billy King was a bad GM because of his bad trades and bad contract-management. He fell in love with his own players and was more concerned with being loyal to them than with executing deals that make good business sense. As much as it's great to be known as a nice guy and to maintain good relations with your players, negotiating contracts is a business matter and with the salary cap loyalty cannot be the top priority. Good NBA teams know when to cut the chord with players and know how to maintain a team by building with youth. Compare this year's Suns to this year's Pistons. Both teams have aging stars, but the Suns frittered away their draft picks and made a pretty bad deal in the Shaq trade. The Pistons have Tayshaun Prince, Jason Maxiell, and now Rodney Stuckey to build on (among others). Even the Celtics were shrewd in building through youth then knowing when to take a big deal to maximize the worth of their assets.
Though Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Jeff Green for Ray Allen and Big Baby doesn't look too good right now.... But that's a story for another day....
That said, I think it's important to recount that Billy King was a horrible GM. He's done a decent job of remaking his image by kissing up to ESPN and taking credit for the Sixers turnaround this year (which had a lot to do with the change in playing style and Korver trade both executed by Ed Stefanski).
Now, I think we can all agree that Billy King was a decent drafter. He drafted Andre Iguodala (though over Al Jefferson), Thaddeus Young, and great second-round finds Kyle Korver, Lou Williams and Willie Green. He also snagged Sam Dalembert late in the first round (though picked him over Tony Parker). Hindsight is 20-20 with the draft, so I don't think it's too fair to blame GMs for passing on guys. I prefer to look at where they drafted and what they got, and generally Billy King did well with that. The only caveat here is that BK has a strong aversion to European players. Every time the Sixers drafted a Euro I knew he'd be traded. This turned out well with guys like Jiri Welsch, but I don't know why we dealt Kyrylo Fesenko to the Jazz. The very fact that a team with strong Euro scouting like the Jazz or Spurs wants someone should tell you that he has a strong chance of being good. The Sefalosha-for-Carney trade on draft day was a bad one and further exhibited BK's love of college players and aversion to Europeans.
Now, BK drafted well, but he also fell in love with his players, which admittedly is easy to do. The big contracts he gave to Eric Snow and Aaron McKie after the Sixers championship run are a case in point. Those two are still collecting coin while wearing business suits in the NBA. I applauded BK at the time for his loyalty to the guys that helped him succeed, but those two were broken down and had limitations to begin with. The big deal he gave Kenny Thomas later was a joke. His signing of Willie Green to a loyalty deal after Green had sat out a year with an ACL injury was absurd. Essentially he gave Green the same deal he would've given him before he was hurt. Further, Green was a guy that few teams wanted. In the playoffs this year, Green looked good at times, but he's really not a starting NBA "2." BK freaked out and caved when Sam Dalembert threatened to try to get a contract in Atlanta. At the time, I understood the logic. Dalembert was an athletic center who had a lot of potential. In the NBA, all centers are overpaid (see: Foyle, Adonal). I think that BK was actually learning when he signed Green and Korver to moderate deals.
King's biggest failure came in trades. Specifically, he and Larry Brown traded draft picks like they were water, ruining the Sixers' chances to ever build themselves up with youth. Brown instigated a trade of a first-round-pick for Jerome Moiso (no, he's not a baseball player) and gave a pick to Golden State for the rights to take on Derrick Coleman. We even gave a pick to Atlanta for the thrilling journey that was the Glenn Robinson year. The trades for broken down, unmotivated Glenn Robinson and Chris Webber were particularly haunting. The Robinson deal was the beginning of the end. Keith Van Horn was traded in a multiple team deal, along with a first-rounder, for Glenn Robinson whom Allen Iverson immediately declared an awesome partner. Robinson proved surly, sat out a year, was often injured, and just plain quit on the Sixers. Chris Webber would soonafter do the same. The Sixers tried valiantly, after getting to the Finals, to keep it together by getting Matt Harpring (whom they stupidly didn't even try to re-sign), then trading Dikembe Mutombo for Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch (which would've been a good deal had MacCulloch not turned out to have a neurological disorder and KVH not been dealt for Big Idiot).
In the end, Allen Iverson played out his last days in Philly with a broken-down and terrible Chris Webber rather than a bevy of young players who could've complimented him and Iguodala. Iverson has his problems: he's a dyed-in-the-wool one-on-one player. But the team the Sixers fielded in the first half of their championship(-losing) run that featured Toni Kukoc and Theo Ratliff suited him very well. Larry Brown ran most of those players into the ground that season as Ratliff, Tyrone Hill, Eric Snow, and Aaron McKie did not look the same after that season.
In conclusion, Billy King was a bad GM because of his bad trades and bad contract-management. He fell in love with his own players and was more concerned with being loyal to them than with executing deals that make good business sense. As much as it's great to be known as a nice guy and to maintain good relations with your players, negotiating contracts is a business matter and with the salary cap loyalty cannot be the top priority. Good NBA teams know when to cut the chord with players and know how to maintain a team by building with youth. Compare this year's Suns to this year's Pistons. Both teams have aging stars, but the Suns frittered away their draft picks and made a pretty bad deal in the Shaq trade. The Pistons have Tayshaun Prince, Jason Maxiell, and now Rodney Stuckey to build on (among others). Even the Celtics were shrewd in building through youth then knowing when to take a big deal to maximize the worth of their assets.
Though Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Jeff Green for Ray Allen and Big Baby doesn't look too good right now.... But that's a story for another day....
Ed on the Sixers
Sixers' new GM Ed Stefanski on what to do for next year.
I especially like that he says he's not afraid of changes.
Let's recount the changes that most fans want to see:
http://www.nba.com/sixers/features/stefanski_interview_080507.html
I especially like that he says he's not afraid of changes.
Let's recount the changes that most fans want to see:
- A Power Forward (e.g., Elton Brand)
- A Shooter
- A back-to-the-basket Power Forward
- Improved Shooting from the Existing Players
- Trading a young player for some post help (I think Lou Williams and Willie Green are tradeable)
- Adding a young Point Guard (my sense is that Andre Miller won't be here after next year and either way we need someone to back him up and be the PG of the Future)
- Adding more size in general (Calvin Booth is our back-up C, Jason Smith is not great, Dalembert is frustrating)
http://www.nba.com/sixers/features/stefanski_interview_080507.html
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