Alongside the 2008-2009 NBA schedules, which were released yesterday, the NBA's national television broadcasts were also announced. After scouring the listings it is pretty clear that D'Antoni or no D'Antoni the Association or the TV network execs involved are not trying to shine any bright lights on this Knickerbocker bunch. The Knicks have been completely left off the national broadcast schedule for next season. Apparently, you cannot play Knicks basketball on national television. The Knicks aren't scheduled to be TNT next season. And, they aren't turning up on the ESPN/ABC calendar either.
Knicks Fan A: How come the Knicks can't do that on television?
Knicks Fan B: I don't know.
Perhaps it was the memory of last season's wood-shedding by Boston that was beamed by TNT to homes across the country that is responsible for this omission. Although, I have to say that the performances delivered by Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley that night are some of the best I've ever heard in broadcasting. Still, it is possible that such ineptitude violated some sort of FCC regulation about athletics that I'm not aware of. That's totally possible.
Brett Favre is a New York Jet I fell asleep watching the 11:30 episode of The Simpsons on Fox last night. The television played as I slept and no doubt random bits of syndicated sitcoms and infomercials crept into my dreams as the night slipped towards day. I slept soundly, however, through all of that. Until 5 am when one of the hosts Fox's morning news show uttered the words "Favre is coming to Gang Green."
With those words I was up with start. Or at least I thought I was. Was I dreaming? Was I having a nightmare? Had this Brett Favre debacle really "concluded" with his private jet jetting from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Long Island? Or was he headed straight for Cleveland to start tonight's preseason game against the Browns? Hoping to establish the reality of the words I thought I heard from the television I groggily moved over to my desk and the computer. And, there it was. An email from the NY Jets trying to sell me a Brett Favre jersey. Then I knew it was real. No dream, no matter how bizarre or how lifelike, would be able to conceive of the money-grubbing ways of the modern professional sports club. IF the Favre jersey was on sale then the deal was real. I guess it should have been more shocking that they weren't advertising half-price No. 10 shirts in the same email.
And that's the second-part of this deal. Chad Pennington is likely gone. In that regard, this is a sad day for Jets fans. Even if some of them are too trusting of television announcers (who lament Chad's lack of arm strength with the same rote fervor that they celebrate everything about Favre) to fully realize how much his leadership and smart play have meant to this team since he was drafted by Bill Parcells. But, we can talk about Chad's legacy in green later. This morning the story is all about the three-time NFL MVP and sure-fire Hall of Famer who the Jets received from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a conditional draft pick. I believe that right now the pick is fourth rounder but becomes a first rounder if No. 4 takes more than 80% of the team's snaps. Or something like that. It seems the Jets bested the Tampa Bay Bucs in this contest by allowing that the conditional pick to slide all the way down the first round if certain performance incentives were met.
So how do I feel about this? Two weeks ago I said that if the Jets weren't going to give the keys to Chad Pennington then I would rather see the guy who led his team to the NFC championship game line up under center than Kellen Clemons. Two weeks ago I was ready for Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum to go for it. The offseason infusion of veteran talent, especially on the offensive line, makes this team in win-now mode more than last year's 4-12 record would indicate. And, two years ago they were in the playoffs. Under Pennington. Of course, the last two weeks have been the sports-news equivalent of water boarding as we've all felt that we were literally drowning in stories and opinion about Favre and the Packers. My opinion of the gunslinger surely suffered a bit over that time. But not nearly as much as my opinion of the folks who run the Packers. Not only did they refuse to play the guy who brought them to the brink of last year's Super Bowl but they did so in such a way as to heap unbelievable pressure on the untested player they have tapped to succeed him. Anyway, the fact that I've already spent these wee hours of the morning scouring Craigslist for Jets tickets means that I must be on board with this move. And, at the very least, it should be pretty interesting to hear NYC work itself into a fervor about this over the next few days.
OK, back to sleep. And, at this point, I hope Favre is still here when I wake up.
2008-09 New York Knicks Schedule Is Released (featuring Road Game at SEATTLE...)
OCTOBER Oct. 29 Miami Oct. 31 @ Philadelphia October’s Must-Attend Home Game: The Home Opener against the formerly-hated and currently-mostly-apathetic-towards Miami Heat is the obvious choice, and not solely because it's the only home game of the month. Although that was a strong factor in the choice. The No. 1 pick of the 2008 draft, forward Michael Beasley, will be in town along with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion. Oh, and Stephon Marbury could be a member of the Heat, too. Of course, no matter which locker Starbury emerges from the Garden should be 1992-rocking-and-1994-rolling in Game 1 of the D’Antoni/Walsh era.
NOVEMBER Nov. 02 Milwaukee (Like the Hornets of two years ago and the Sixers of last year this Bucks team could turn out to be a much better ticket than anyone would have thought. With the acquisition of Richard Jefferson, the continued presence of Michael Redd, the re-signing of Andrew Bogut and the addition of everyone’s favorite Mandarin-speaking rookie forward Joe Alexander I might actually be looking forward to a Bucks game. Weird) Nov. 05 Charlotte (This will mark the first return of former Knick coach Larry Brown to the Garden since his ill-fated run of employment in these parts.) Nov. 07 @ Washington Nov. 09 Utah (Perhaps emulating the state from which this club hails, there is just nothing alluring or interesting about this date on the schedule even though I know the Jazz are a good/great team with a top-flight point guard in Deron Williams. I should be excited about seeing them but there is no excitement. Just like in Utah.) Nov. 11 @ San Antonio Nov. 12 @ Memphis Nov. 14 Oklahoma City (I believe this will be the History Channel's Benedict Arnold Night to honor the league's newest and most turncoat ballclub. There is a part of me that wants to organize league-wide boycotts against the Oklahoma City Bombers (oh, wait, is it too soon?) and there is another part of me that just wants to go watch Kevin Durant play ball.) Nov. 16 Dallas (Yeah, they've got Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry. But, blah. I think the whole let's-all-together-now-get-Kidd-to-Dallas-to-get-him-a-ring routine from last year really soured me on this bunch. Dirk is a force and worth the price of admission and Kidd still runs a good fast break but this isn't a must-see game for me anymore. That being said, I'll probably be there.) Nov. 18 @ Boston (This is about the time in the ill-fated '07-'08 campaign when the Celtics shellacked the Knicks by a zillion in Boston to officially make the season a league-wide joke.) Nov. 21 @ Milwaukee Nov. 22 Washington (Near the very top of my players-I-would-pay-to-watch list is Gilbert Arenas of the Wizards. He went down with his surgery-requiring knee injury just before the Wiz came to town last year. Hopefully we'll get to watch him this time around.) Nov. 25 Cleveland (Just above Agent Zero on the aforementioned PIWPTW list is Lebron James. Last time he set foot on the Garden floor he dropped 50 and got hugged by a fan running across the court.) Nov. 26 @ Detroit Nov. 29 Golden State (I've been heading out for Golden State in recent years, partly because of Baron Davis and partly because my girlfriend is from the Bay Area. Is Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis enough of a draw? Probably. And even if they're not, the fact that I shelled out for one of those gold "We Believe" Warriors shirts for a certain someone, who doesn't have too many places to where it, means that I'll probably be there.) November’s Must-Attend Home Game(s): Although the franchise formerly from Seattle is making its first Garden appearance and features a bevy of young stars, I’ll be passing on the faithless organization (at least for this pick, I admit there is a good chance I’ll be at the game) and looking elsewhere. And, since it's Thanksgiving time of year, which is a time for overindulging, WWOD? offers up a double helping of Must-Attend Games. The Washington-Cleveland set towards the end of the month is pretty darn good. Not only do we get two of the best and brightest (Arenas and LBJ) but we also get two teams that the Knicks have played tough in recent outings.
DECEMBER Dec. 02 Portland (This will be NYC’s first look at the top pick of the ’07 draft, the afro-hawked Greg Oden. The Blazers, featuring last year's surprise All-Star Game standout Brandon Roy, rookie Jerryd Bayless and Oden. I think this team has moved into the top-tier of must-see teams in the NBA for me. Perhaps replacing some old guard squads like Dallas and Detroit.) Dec. 03 @ Cleveland Dec. 05 @ Atlanta Dec. 07 Detroit (Almost every season I find myself squeezing a Pistons game into my ticket package but at this point I got to say that I’m not overly psyched to go see them. In spite of the fact that I will argue that Rasheed Wallace may be the best player in the league I can't really get too thrilled to see these guys any more. Especially not on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Even though it's been talked about at length in recent seasons it's still true: these guys just don't show up to play hard every single night. Exhibit A: They were walloped by 89-65 last January in their first MSG appearance.) Dec. 09 @ Chicago Dec. 10 @ New Jersey Dec. 13 @ Sacramento Dec. 15 @ Phoenix Dec. 16 @ LA Lakers Dec. 19 Milwaukee Dec. 21 @ Boston Dec. 26 Minnesota Dec. 28 Denver (One of the hoopsters that I’ll always pay money to see is Allen Iverson. The handful of times that I got to see top-flight Marbury (who was a Knick for a little while, I swear) battle against AI were awesome. Iverson is one of the guys in the Association most definitely even better in person. Only sitting in the stands can you realize just how tiny he is compared to the opponents he’s running circles around. That being said, this was a much more attractive ticket at the start of last season when the Nuggets still had Marcus Camby lining up at the 5 and looked a legit contender in the West. Now, they look like one-trick pony whose best draw in this town might be former Knick Renaldo Balkman.) Dec. 30 @ Charlotte December’s Must-Attend Home Game: With nine of 13 games on the road this month there isn't a whole lot to choose from. Still, the pick is clear: The first game of the month against the Blazers is the last appointment game of 2008. And, thankfully it comes earlier enough in the month that you won’t have to alter your Christmas-shopping plans or use all your Christmas-shopping money buying $17 beers and $78 pretzels at MSG.
JANUARY Jan. 02 Indiana Jan. 04 Boston (The Champ is Here. The Champ is Here. Last January's game between the Knicks and Boston (the first meeting in NY after the Cs massacred us up in Boston) got pretty heated as Pierce and Richardson almost came to fisticuffs in the tunnel.) Jan. 06 @ SEATTLE (The schedule released by the NBA and available on the Knicks website actually still lists this game AT SEATTLE. Considering how poorly-handled and reputation-injuring the entire Sonics-to-Oklahoma City fiasco has been to David Stern and the NBA you would have thought that they would have been a bit more careful about catching typos like this one. UPDATE: This game has been changed on the team's website to @ Oklahoma City Jan. 08 @ Dallas Jan. 10 @ Houston Jan. 12 @ New Orleans Jan. 14 vs Washington Jan. 16 @ Washington Jan. 17 Philadelphia Jan. 19 Chicago (The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matinee -always one of my favorite games to go to and drink too much at since it's the middle of the day and I'm not at work- features WWOD?'s college-crush Derrick Rose, the currently disgruntled Ben Gordon and the newly enriched Luol Deng.) Jan. 21 Phoenix (Steve Nash, Shaq and the rest of D'Antoni's former club will be in town. Last time they were here a Knicks' father died (Mr. Marbury). Hopefully this time the only thing that will die will be a little bit our dignity.) Jan. 23 Memphis (This Grizzlies team has about ten thousand guards to go along with Pau Gasol's kid brother and Arthur out of Kansas but they are a team that I'm really keen on seeing play this season. Rudy Gay has already emerged as star-in-the-making and OJ Mayo will be making his first Garden appearance as a pro.) Jan. 24 @ Philadelphia Jan. 26 Houston Jan. 28 Atlanta Jan. 31 @ Indiana January's Must-Attend Home Game: Tough pick to start the new year. The obvious child here is Boston. After all, they're the defending NBA champions. But I'm going to tap the Houston Rockets only NY appearance for this honor. WIth local boy Ron Artest coming home (and other local boy Rafer Alston also coming home) along with Yao and Tracy McGrady this team should be a force in the West. Provided they can stay healthy. Ever since Jeff Van Gundy was coaching this side and Patrick Ewing was assistant-coaching it I've had an affinity for them. Of course, in my mind I have totally severed any connection between the Yao-Rockets and that team that beat the Knicks in the 1994 Finals. I hated that team. Let's not delve any further here lest I lose my enthusiasm for this game.
FEBRUARY Feb. 02 LA Lakers (After seeing the turnout for former Memphis guard Juan Carlos Navarro last season, I expect Spaniards to pack the Garden when Pau Gasol comes to town. I also expect sympathizers with sex criminals to show there support for Kobe. Also, reports are coming in that Andrew Bynum's knee could actually be healed in time for this game.) Feb. 04 Cleveland (Return of the King. The second installment of the '08-'09 Cavs/Knicks series in which New York fans in attendance each contribute whatever cash is in there wallet to LBJ's 2010 salary.) Feb. 06 Boston (The Champ is Here! Again.) Feb. 08 @ Portland Feb. 10 @ Golden State Feb. 11 @ LA Clippers Feb. 17 San Antonio (Nothing says "Happy Birthday Me" or "Belated Valentine's Day Gift" like a boring, fundamentally sound basketball team in town.) Feb. 20 Toronto Feb. 22 @ Toronto Feb. 23 Indiana Feb. 25 Orlando Feb. 27 Philadelphia (Target Center, Minneapolis, MN)* Feb. 28 @ Miami February's Must-Attend Home Game: Jeez, this month is loaded with top-flight teams coming in. I might consider just setting up camp in one of the bathroom stalls for that first Lakers-Cavs-Celtics week of Black History Month. Then you bring the old stalwarts from the Alamo up mid-month, before bringing in Elton Brand (newly of Philly) to turn the calendar page. Reluctantly, I must admit that the hardest ticket will probably be the Lakers game. Does that mean it's the pick for February? Nope, I'm going with Lebron James and the Lebronaliers playing that Friday night. Yeah, Boston may be the title holders but LBJ is transcendent.
MARCH Mar. 04 Atlanta (In year's past the Knicks ticket office has done just about everything in their power to stick you with a Hawks game whenever you buy a multi-game ticket plan. After their impressive showing in Round One of the playoffs against the Celtics (they took them to seven games) I might no look for a way out of it.) Mar. 07 Charlotte Mar. 08 @ New Jersey Mar. 10 @ Milwaukee Mar. 11 @ Detroit Mar. 13 @ Minnesota Mar. 15 @ Cleveland Mar. 18 New Jersey Mar. 20 Sacramento Mar. 21 @ Orlando Mar. 23 Orlando Mar. 25 LA Clippers (Baron Davis - big, strong and bearded - is another player I pay to watch. I live about as far from Los Angeles as possible and still be near a team - yes, Boston beats the Knicks at this too - and even I can feel the excitement he brought to this second-fiddle club.) Mar. 27 New Orleans Probably the No. 1 game on my ticket list right now for the whole season. Hell, I might even be rooting for the Hornets and wearing my Chris Paul shirt.) Mar. 28 @ Charlotte Mar. 30 @ Utah Mar. 31 @ Denver March's Must-Attend Game: Hands down it's the 3/27 game when the should-be MVP Chris Paul and the Hornets come to town. No contest.
APRIL Apr. 04 vs Toronto Apr. 05 @ Toronto Apr. 07 @ Chicago Apr. 08 Detroit Apr. 10 @ Orlando Apr. 12 @ Miami Apr. 15 New Jersey (Target Center, Minneapolis, MN)* April's Must-Attend Home Game: It's the game against Toronto to be played (in New York) on the 41st anniversary of MLK's assassination (in Memphis). Not only could Toronto be pretty darn good if Chris Bosh (who just absolutely capitol-K capitol-ILLS the Knicks) and Jermaine O'Neal (who in a seemingly by-gone era used to do the same) can figure it out in the frontcourt, but if all goes to well for the Knicks then this game could decide whether or not D'Antoni's club can sneak into the playoffs as an 8-seed. It's an All-East month for the Knickerbockers which figures to be a good thing if they do find themselves in a position where the games and the standings matter for more than lottery positioning.
*I have no idea why this schedule says the Knicks are playing two "home" games in Minneapolis. More to follow.
Monsters Are Among as the End-of-Days Nears, Apparently
Be afraid. Very afraid. Seemingly each day there are reports of terrifying beasts rising from the sea or descending from the stars. Make no mistake. We are under attack. By Monsters. And not cuddly, witty monsters with paper-mache skeletons and felt teeth. No, we're not under attack from any sort of cookie-loving creature or pansexual ticklish consumer products. We're under attack from mutated, sea dogs with dino-beaks and razor-sharp teeth. And, they're starting their conquest of the Eastern seaboard from Montauk, Long Island. Yup, the monster hordes are headed for the Hamptons. The last place us simple-minded humans would have expected. I first heard about this washed ashore creature-corpse on Tuesday when the WWOD? Special Correspondent for Monster Issues forwarded me a link to a story in Gawker. From there, I did some digging and confirmed the location of some sort of high security government facility on an island not too far off the LI coast where this cutey washed up.
Those living in the vicinity of the US Governments' highly secretive and openly biohazarderrifc Animal Disease Research Center on Plum Island have long thought that dangerous and terrible experiments were going on there, both in terms of the treatment of animals as well as the existence of highly contagious disease possibly being used to create biochemical weapons. Or Monsters. Rumors have swirled (read: I've found them written on the Internet) that both West Nile Virus (which first appeared on US soil on Long Island and in nearby Queens in 1999) and Lyme Disease (which was first recognized as we know it today after several cases turned up in Connecticut, not too far from Plum Island) first appeared after being released, accidentally or otherwise, from this complex.
Since we are talking about a monster in this cynical day and age there are varying responses: Some say hoax and others say this is a prodigious blogger.
And if sea monsters weren't enough to get you to rent a copy of Monster Squad to brush up on your beast-fighting incantations then maybe this crazy beast-pig-gorilla, which was born in China (yeah, that place is totally safe for our most finely-tuned athletes), will do the trick. It is clear the Rapture is upon us. The four horsemen are in the saddle and the seventh seal is about to be opened. I'll see you in Hell. Or, out at the Hamptons!
UPDATE: "This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions... Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria!"
Renaldo Balkman is a Knickerbocker no more. He has been traded to the Denver Nuggets for two players and a future draft pick (but more about those things later). He ain't coming back to the Garden any more than once next season, unless the Knicks face the Nuggets in the Finals. Obviously. But before us stalwart few remaining Knicks fans start collecting stray dreadlocks for our hope chests and pre-heat the ovens for another batch of Mrs. Finkle's cookies - Look, they're little basketballs! - let's take a good look at Balkman's numbers in his two seasons treading the boards in the Mecca.
2006-2007 Games: 68 Games Started: 1 Minutes Per Game: 15.6 Points Per Game: 4.9 Shot %: 0.505 Free Throw %: 0.567 Rebounds Per Game: 4.3 Steals Per Game: 0.8 Assists Per Game: 0.6 Turmovers Per Game: 0.72 Fouls Per Game: 2.10
2007-2008 Games: 65 Games started: 0 Minutes Per Game: 14.6 Points Per Game: 3.4 Shot %: 0.489 Free Throw %: 0.432 Rebounds Per Game: 3.3 Steals Per Game: 0.7 Assists Per Game: 0.6 Turnovers Per Game: 0.57 Fouls Per Game: 2.0
In spite of the fact that the second-year small forward was a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden, Balkman's numbers in a Knicks uniform were poor and actually got worse during his sophomore season. The long-haired Balkman was a player for whom the numbers don't tell the story. Sort of. The small forward out of South Carolina, who was roundly and enthusiastically booed when Isiah Thomas selected him with the 20th pick in the 2006 NBA draft, become a fan favorite due in part to his frenetic hustle and his high-flying finishes. The energy that Balkman visibly played the game with was a much-needed counterpoint to the joylessness which seeped from the floor in so many first quarters before derision flowed from the crowd during so many second quarters. So, perhaps some measure of Balkman's popularity sprung from the same place as the unfettered and unchecked devotion for every back-up quarterback in every NFL city that is home to a loser in November. Like those clipboard holders, Balkman never played enough to be tainted by the suckitude that enveloped every major member of the rotation. He was the breath of fresh air. He had long hair and he seemed distinct from the starting five and even from the core bench players, Robinson, Lee and Jeffries.
As a fan of the 2006-2008 Knicks it was, for several reasons, easy to like Balkman. He made you feel like he was trying. He made you feel like he was caring. He made you feel like something exciting might happen when he played. And, as fans we really needed to feel those things during the last two seasons. Although Balkman didn't often make you feel like the team would win, he did make any game in which he was playing something that you could bear watching. Or, at least, something you could bear watching more easily.
But remember what I said earlier about the numbers not telling the whole story with this guy? Well, neither do your eyes. Or your feelings. Just as he wasn't as bad as his numbers show, Renaldo Balkman wasn't as good as the way most of us felt about him. In the Bill James/sabermetrics/Moneyball sense, Balkman may have been somewhat of a mirage. He didn't really produce. He just looked like he wanted to more than some of his teammates looked like they wanted to. At the end of the day, it's rather damning to say that a young player couldn't get a firm grip on major minutes for the past two incarnations of New York City's home team! But Balkman never did grab hold of any major minutes. Old, undersized veteran power forward Malik Rose started more games than Balkman last season. And, so did rookie small forward Wilson Chandler, who seems to jump ahead of Balkman in the estimation of both Isiah Thomas as well as Mike D'Antoni.
Therefore, Balkman may have been more important to the fans than he was to the game plan. But no matter how you slice it. Balkman is gone. And I'll miss him. Even if it might not read like it, I liked this guy. A lot. The high point of the 2007-2008 season was the second home game of the season (yeah, that was when this team peaked) when Balkman's defense on Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony turned the tide in an enervating, come-from-behind win. He played hard in that game. He totally turned the tide against one of the game's premeir scorers and looked like he was going to be the lock-down defender that would guard the other team's best player on a nightly basis. But that never really panned out. Not surprisingly, I put most of the blame on Isiah Thomas's doorstep. The deposed Knicks despot never stayed with Balkman the way he did with Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries. He didn't nurture him or force-feed him minutes. He seemingly forgot about him for stretches both during games and between them. And, Balkman didn't always handle this well. I can remember attending a few games deep into the season, during a run when his minutes were way down, and Balkman was not really all-the-way there. He never ventured farther than the periphery of a huddle and mostly kept to himself at the end of the bench. He was shooting the breeze with Randolph Morris and Jerome James and paying more attention to the skits on the big screen the words in the huddle. Now, when given a choice between whatever cliches Isiah Thomas might have been offering in the huddle and the top-notch MSG in-game entertainment then I would likely have made the same choice.
(Ed note: We'll be back later to look at who came back in this trade and what happens next)
Steve Nash was the engine of Coach D'Antoni's Seven Seconds or Less offense in Phoenix. Derrick Rose was the college point guard out of the University of Memphis that every Knicks fan coveted heading into the draft lottery. So, Donnie Walsh went out and signed Chris Duhon away from the Chicago Bulls? Yup. Duhon has signed a two-year pact reportedly worth $12 million.
Duhon enters his fifth NBA season as a member of the New York Knickerbockers. The first four seasons of his professional career where all spent with the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him early in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft. During his time in Chicago he was the primary back-up to Kirk Hinrich and the third wheel in the Hinrich-Ben Gordon back-court. In each of his four seasons in the Second City he ranked second on the team in assists behind Hinrich. The 2005-2006 season was Duhon's most successful campaign; he averaged 8.7 points and 5 assists per game. The following season, Duhon was an integral part of the Bulls team that won the first playoff series since Jordan was still in town.
The Louisiana-born Duhon played under Coach K at Duke University from 2000 through 2004. He was a the ACC Freshman of the Year after his debut campaign and was the starting point guard on the 2001 National Champion squad. He surprised a lot of people by not opting to enter the draft immediately after cutting down the nets in Minneapolis and (sort of) paid the price when he was a second round pick in 2004 rather than the sure-fire first-rounder he was being touted as in the aftermath of the Duke title. Still, Duhon flourished, mostly, during his remaining years in Durham, NC. He was named team captain and finished his career as the school's all-time leader in steals (300) and minutes played (4,813). When he hung up his college high-tops he was also second in school annals in assists (819). With 123 wins against just 21 losses, he was also the second winningest player in Duke and ACC history, behind Shane Battier (who had 131 wins to his credit). He was also the only ACCer to record 1,200 points, 800 assists, 475 rebounds, 300 steals, and 125 three-point shots. In other words, Duhon was a very, very good collegiate basketball player
As of today we don't know if he is the Knicks starting point guard (though he seems to think he is), a pass-first back-up or just someone else that Donnie Walsh is throwing at the wall to see if he sticks. And, what does this mean for Stephon Marbury? Is a buyout imminent? Is he going to be traded to a team looking for a cap space after next season? Is he going to be a backup behind Duhon, a guy with a per game average of 6.9 points and 4.5 assists?
(Believing that you can learn a lot about any culture by sifting through what it discards WWOD? will take a periodic look at what sports items have been relegated to the discount racks of the world.)
The second in WWOD?'s three-part series Better Know Your (NEW) Head Coach gets a tremendous assist from the fine folks at the even finer Phoenix Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun. The sun-tanned denizens of the valley of the sun were kind enough with their time too answer a deluge of questions that I sent them. And, they did so with a generosity and insight that amazed me. They are very good at what they do. So, read on and, all-together-now, get to Better Know Your Head Coach.
WWOD?: Vizzini always told us, "Go back to the beginning." So let's do just that. How on Walt Clyde Frazier's green Earth did the New York Knicks end up with Mike D'Antoni? One minute we were all talking ourselves into Mark Jackson (who we love for his St. John's and Knickerbocker history but who has also never even held an assistant coaching position on a high school team) and the next minute we're signing up the 2004-2005 NBA Coach of the Year and arguably the most innovative hoops mind of the past decade. How did this happen?
Bright Side of the Sun: Sometimes guys are so good at one thing that they start believing their pub and refuse to change. D'Antoni is that guy.
You first have to understand that he was an NBA nobody when he lucked into the Phoenix job after the Suns fired Frank Johnson a few weeks into the 2003-04 season. What you won't read is that Johnson was fired not so much for his poor record but because of a sex scandal that made him unacceptable to the puritanical Jerry Colangelo. So really, D'Antoni can thank Frank's wandering pecker for his big break and the irony is that he is again replacing a head coach with his own "woman problems". Mike D of course did amazing things in Phoenix and for the league in general and he (and Nash) turned the Suns into a contender.
His public failings – lack of defensive focus and poor player development – are well documented but from my cheap seat his real failing is his stubbornness.But before I slam him, let me also debunk another myth about the Suns. Seven Seconds or Less (7SOL) didn't die in early February when Shaq came to town. That system died when the Suns lost to the Spurs in the 2007 playoffs. It wasn't the suspensions that killed the Suns; it was the inability to adjust to playoff basketball against defensive teams that were able to defend in transition and slow the game to a grind.
D'Antoni recognized this and spent all of the 2007-08 season slowing the Suns down and learning to run an execution style half court offense. This meant more ball handling duties for Hill and Diaw and less of a dependence on Nash to create everything. It was a fairly encouraging development in the eyes of yours truly. The problem was that while he was able to adjust the offense to a more slow down half court game, he wasn't willing to adjust defensively and play bigger, slower less talented players so that the interior defense and rebounding improved.
In the first two years of his reign the Suns could get away with being small because they were so fast and so explosive. When they gave that up they no longer could afford that weakness. And that lead to the Shaq gamble. Right idea. Wrong player.
He and the Suns should have brought in a big guy like Diop and kept Marion or at least traded Marion for the same kind of defensive athletic big along with picks, young talent, etc. Instead D'Antoni insisted on a big that could rebound and defend but also be a threat in his beloved offense. That insistence lead to $40m worth of reputation that couldn't defend away from the hoop, couldn't hit a free throw and could barely score from 2ft in the post. Sure, the Suns GM and owner signed off on this but it was D'Antoni's refusal to consider other options that lead to it and D'Antoni was the biggest advocate for the trade.
And as the final straw of D'Antoni's hard-headedness was his refusal to bench an injured Grant Hill in the first 3 games of this year's Spurs series. He hadn't used enough depth and variety in his rotations to prepare the team to play without Hill and he personally couldn't get it through his head that Hill wasn't able to deliver. He waited until game 4 to adjust and by then it was too late.
Finally, when Kerr came to him and asked that he spend a full 30 minutes per practice on defensive schemes and rotations and consider playing a deeper rotation ala Detroit he decided that was too much intrusion and interference and left for the Big Apple.
It was time for a change for all involved.
WWOD?: Should whatever went down in Phoenix to catalyze this coaching change concern Knicks fans or should we just be happy to pick up the pieces?
Bright Side: I have no idea but I am curious to see how things work out for D'Antoni in New York. History shows that great coaches can adjust and can be successful in different places. In the next year or two we will find out if D'Antoni is really a great coach or a guy that had the perfect storm of an innovative system and Nash, Amare and Marion to run it.I can't think that after the Brown and Isaiah debacles that the Knicks could have done any better. You can only go up from there. The true test will come in a few years if the Knicks actually get competitive to see if Mike can get over the hump.
One thing is clear though – he is in a place where he's got some room to fail and so does Terry Porter. That wouldn't have been the case if he had stayed in Phoenix. Freedom to fail and lowered expectations should let D'Antoni and the Suns (and Suns fans) enjoy the next season or two a lot more then the last one which was a joyless pressure cooker for all involved.
WWOD?: What was your first reaction to the news that D'Antoni was on the way out? Was the writing on the wall? It seemed sort of shocking from afar. We ran a poll of potential coaching candidates (which included employed coaches known to be on the proverbial hot seat) and D'Antoni never even entered the conversation.
Bright Side: It was no surprise. There was talk at the end of last season that if he couldn't get it done that a change might be in order. And as the season progressed and it became clear that he wasn't going to do the things everyone agreed he needed to do that he was in trouble. In December, he and Kerr had a fight over direction which leaked out as well. They both said all the right things, but the writing was on the wall that they weren't on the same page.
Then during the Spurs series there were some very public signs. After game 1, D'Antoni "blamed" the Suns offense and Kerr "blamed" the defense and as the series went on Kerr and Sarver refused to openly support him and I think Amare quit on him as well. He was a non-factor in games 4 and 5.
WWOD?: What was the feeling in Phoenix when the word spread that D'Antoni was out? We always got the impression that he and his team were well liked. Was this the case?
Bright Side: Mixed I guess. We had quite the debate about it over at Bright Side of the Sun.
Fans everywhere are driven by expectations. As the Suns went from crap to contender all was well. As they got closer and closer to the ring the expectations increased so when he wasn't able to deliver then things turned.
I am guessing Yankee's fans know a thing or two about that and clearly watching some recent D-Backs/Mets games the boo's at Shea are expressing the same thing – frustration at an underperforming team.
WWOD?: Which players currently in Phoenix do you think would have an interest in playing for their old coach in the Garden? Which would the Kerr consider letting loose? Ditto for the assistant coaches?
WWOD?: Well, we already know that Brother Dan and Phil Weber are going to the Knicks. You can have them. Nothing special there other then loyalty to the boss.
As for players – well, this is a much larger can of worms of course and I don't have the time, energy or brain power to think through all the possible trade possibilities.
Obviously, the two guys that benefited most from the D'Antoni's were Barbosa and Diaw. He protected and coddled both of them and most Suns fans feel that he didn't get the best out of either.
I am ready to trade Barbosa to get back either a backup PG or backup Center that really is good enough to start about 40 games b/c that's about all you can expect from Shaq. I don't know that the Knicks meet either of those needs (don't even think about sending us Marbury or Curry).
So unless its some kind of multi-team deal, I wouldn't hold your breath for either of those guys.
And frankly, I am not in favor of letting Boris go despite his issues. There are very few players that can do what he can do on both ends of the floor and perhaps with Porter he will be better motivated and utilized.
I think Barbosa has pretty much peaked in his career as far as potential. He's not a PG and he can't cover anyone. Don't you already have that guy? Or seven of them?
WWOD?: Speaking of former pupils of the Italian master: Do you have any insight as to how Marbury might be feeling about reuniting with D'Antoni? Do you think that there is any way that Shawn Marion is sitting in Miami and thinking about heading north?
Bright Side: No comment.
WWOD?: What was the best thing about having D'Antoni as your coach (excluding his mustache)? What aspect of coaching in the NBA was he best at?
Bright Side: Mike D is a great at media, fan and sponsor relations. He can be funny and charming and "articulate". Have fun with that.
WWOD?: What was the worst thing about having D'Antoni as your coach (excluding his mustache)? What aspect of coaching in the NBA was he worst at?
Bright Side: See question 1 – stubbornness.
WWOD?: I've read 7 Seconds Or Less seven (or less) times since Walsh introduced D'Antoni. Is the sort of access that D'Antoni granted to the SI writer for that book indicative of his relationship with the press? In recent years, the Knicks organization has been compared to the Communist bloc when it comes to freedom of the press.
Bright Side I have to think that Donnie Walsh as part of his coming to NY is going to address that and in turn Mike D will be giving the opportunity to tear down the wall. If not, he's not going to last very long behind the Iron Dolan Curtain.
WWOD?: And lastly, what is the deal with the 'stache? Does it have powers? Will it steal my girlfriend?
Bright Side: I predict with Mike so close to Madison Ave, the mustache will be the new craze to sweep the nation just like the return of bell bottoms and long hair.
I would start work on mine now if I would were you.
The best team won Euro 08 by playing the best football. And they were the best team precisely because they played the best football. It wasn't their physical size or their experience or their resolve to avoid defeat that propelled them to the top. And, it surely wasn't their unflinching and dogged attention to defending that won it for them either. This wasn't the San Antonio Spurs. Or Italy. Of course, the Spanish had all of those one-dimensional qualities (except for size) in spades but it wasn't any singular thing that did it. They were just more talented and they just played harder and smarter throughout the run of the tourney. And their determination and fortitude were matched by a degree of creativity and improvisation that showed why proper football (as opposed to American football) is referred to as "The Beautiful Game."
It sounds simple but it a rare thing for a major sporting event to end this way.
In the 2004 edition of this same Euro tournament the Greeks shocked the footballing world with an audacious run to the title. They put ten men behind the ball at almost all times and counterattacked their way to an upset win over Portugal in the Final. The Greeks showed steely nerve and rock-solid confidence in grinding out 1-0 victories (which is the score that saw them through the quarters, semis and the final) but no one was confusing them with being the very best team in Europe. They were just the team who game-planned their way through a six-match competition. They employed a type of "negative" football that sought to negate their opponents advantages in skill and pace by slowing the game to a crawl. And it worked. This same tactic saw Italy all the way to the World Cup title in 2006 and has earned the Azzuri the reputation of being a "tournament team." Whether or not that (the idea that they are built for grueling, hard-to-watch, foul-and-flop-filled victories rather than flowing artful displays of the beautiful game) is true it can go without saying that such a game-plan turns off casual fans in this country with the same exactitude as a midweek NHL game hidden on that VS channel.
Of course, one team's style and previous body of work should not gift them a title or disqualify them from it. The Italians rightfully won the 2006 World Cup. The Greeks courageously won the 2004 Euro. The St. Louis Cardinals surprisingly won the 2006 World Series (despite an 83-78 regular season record). To take nothing away from the legitimacy of these titles, there is a marked difference, especially in international football, between a team going out to play their own game and a team going out to stop another team from playing theirs. And the problem (or not, depending on were your allegiance is) is that this "negative" footballing works. It allows teams like Bolton in the English Premiership to give fits to an intricate passing side like Arsenal. In the NBA it also has something to do with the fact that the Phoenix Suns never made it past the San Antonio Spurs under Mike D'Antoni in spite of the fact that their free-flowing style of play was far and away the most visually pleasing to watch during those seasons. Were the Suns unable to get over the hump because they just weren't as good as the Spurs or because the Spurs were content to deploy a bulldog like Bruce Bowen or Robert Horry to slow the game down like the Greeks in Euro 04?
In a sporting world increasingly obsessed with an "any given Sunday" ethos it is increasingly rare to see a highly entertaining competitive tournament among world-class sides where the classiest side in the world wins out. In fact, the very idea of the best team just winning seems almost unsportsmanlike. We are bred to respect a victory born of grit and guile (see Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl) more than one born of supreme skill and consistency. The phrase "may the best team win" seems more like something that an arrogant and likely cheating Zabka-esque villian, with a shock of blond hair and weightlifting gloves, snidely says to the underdog hero before the climactic contest in a John Hughes-era movie than it does an honest desire to see a team (like Spain in Euro 08) actually win on the merits of being the best. Moreover, in a world of small-market versus big-market teams and college football/basketball recruiting controversies - where the accumulation of talent is uneven - it can seem like a cop-out to root for the more talented teams to win. We usually don't want the best team to win.
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is built on just this sort of intrigue. Most fans can't wait for the "better" teams to be beaten by the lesser ones. We revel in the Cinderella-run of a team like George Mason in in 2006 even though that costs the basketball-watching public a chance from seeing a UConn/Florida matchup in the Final Four that would have pitted the region's #1 team against the team that would go on to win the NCAA tournament. Similarly, even casual sports fans took notice when Fresno State recently pulled off a shock win in the 2008 College World Series. The Fresno State Bulldogs won their game's most significant trophy after wrapping a season during which they lost 29 games. Yes, they did win the College World Series but, no, they're not the best that college baseball has to offer. Not even close. But that doesn't not make them champions.
Thankfully Spain was able two satisfy seemingly disparate desires with the Euro-clinching 1-0 win over Germany yesterday in Vienna. They were the best team by leaps and bounds and they were not one of the traditional powers. Not really. They were the perennial underachievers who had not lifted an international trophy in 44 years. The were the also-rans. They were forever the bridesmaids. The were the buddy who you would let hang out with your girlfriend when you're not around because you know he wouldn't have it in him to try anything. The Spanish were always talented and artful but seemed to lack the cutting edge when it counted most. They were diminutive play-makers who excelled at the club level but were destined to be muscled off the ball by larger players from Italy and Germany and England and France when the game was in the balance.
And, in the Final when the more physically imposing German side lined up across the pitch? The Spanish never flinched. There wasn't a single Spanish player who lost his composure when German midfielder Michael Ballack seemingly lost his mind from the moment he saw his own blood and went stomping around the field in Vienna begging to be sent off with each late challenge and needlessly dirty foul. While Ballack whined to the officials and recklessly flew around the field the Spanish just moved the ball from side to side, dominating possession. They played with greater strength and confidence. They were playing positive football and they were playing to win on their terms. After a while the identity of their opponent became inconsequential. They were playing the Spanish way. They were playing beautifully. I fully expected Germany to net a goal at some point during the match but never doubted that Spain would have had the wherewithal to go atop again. They were almost always in the ascendance (save about ten total minutes throughout the match) and Fernando Torres was too strong and too fast for the defense and the passes sent on to him were too incisive and too direct to be parried away before he could run on to them.
With a night's sleep since the Final it seems that Spain's dash through Euro 08 was even more dominant than we gave them credit for as it was unfolding. The Spanish were one of only three teams (along with the Netherlands and Croatia) to win all three matches in the group stage. And, they were the only side to win each game that they took the field in. Well, the penalty shootout win over the Italians is actually considered a tie by FIFA. With the Spaniards tying Italy in the game itself and then advancing on penalties. But, anyone who watched the game knows the Spanish deserved the win and were the better team in that clash. By far. The Spanish also scored the most goals in the tournament, netting 12 in six games. They took the most shots (111). They took the most shots on goal (61). They had the tournament's leading goalscorer, David Villla (4). They had the tournament's assist leader, Cesc Fabregas (4). They also were fouled more than any other team (107). And, they committed more fouls than any other side (108). They had more assists (11) than any other team. On the other end of the pitch they conceded the fewest goals per game in the tournament, allowing .5 per contest, and had the tournament's most impressive goalkeeper, Iker Casillas (Italy's Buffon may still be the best in the world but Casillas' showing in the penalty shootout makes him the class of this tournament). And, not surprisingly they placed the most players on the All-Tournament team, with nine representatives. And, of course, the Spanish side was led by the Euro 08 Most Outstanding Player, Xavi Hernandez, who plays his club ball for Barcelona. The total team effort was so thoroughly impressive that when talking about this team Xavi is perhaps the fourth or fifth name that comes up in any discussion.
Most indicative, in my opinion, of the Spanish domination and strength was the fact that they placed 4 midfielders on the All-Tournament team (along with two strikers, two defenders and the team's goalkeeper). The one and two touch passing between the bevy of midfielders in the center of the park was mesmerizing. Whether you were watching from the comfort of your sofa or were an opposing player trying to get a foot in on the ball, you were mesmerized. Each star had his moment to shine. Not only does this show the depth of talent currently in the national side but it speaks to the way in which these players were deployed by coach Luis Aragones. It was refreshing to watch a skipper successfully using his roster after watching a bewildered Raymond Domenech squander the French team's chances with his mis-picked lineups and ill-timed substitutions and Phil Jackson do his part to submarine the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. I mean he played Chris Mihm! In the Finals. Against Paul Pierce (pictured driving by a statuesque Mihm), Kevin Garnett and the Celtics!
Entering Euro 08 the number of Spanish midfielders was considered a weakness by some. Who would pair with whom? How would the egos of those not in the starting eleven affect the rest of the squad? These were rational questions given the mercurial nature of top-flight athletes. Remember Scottie Pippen pulling himself from that game in the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals when he realized that he wouldn't get the final shot for the Chicago Bulls? Or Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf shocking his countrymen by pulling himself from the team before this tournament because he was not assured a starting role? There was no such dissension amongst the Spanish players. Fabregas eagerly took to his super-sub role and was a game-changer from the bench. Meanwhile, Marcus Senna, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Villarreal player, was the least sexy choice (when compared with Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas) and least Spanish (he was born in Brazil) to deputize in the center of the pitch but he proved an inspired choice by Aragones. Senna held his team's shape at all times and disrupted the opposition's best player while his fellow midfielders spread themselves about and made frequent forays into the attacking third of the field. In fact as this team turns its sights southward towards South Africa and forwards towards 2010 it is Senna who will be the hardest player to replace.
Even including the relatively ancient Senna, Spain was the second youngest team in the tournament (Russia was the youngest). With so much going for them they are perfectly poised to either regain their reputation as underachievers at the World Cup in two years time or to start a run of dominance that will go on for the duration of this generation's (the Cesc/Torres group who should be together through the 2014 World Cup) international careers. At the very least, they will have lifted the Euro 08 trophy and pushed the needle of world football back towards the beautiful and away from the tactical.
While counting down the minutes until ESPN's NBA draft guru Chad Ford released the fourth iteration of his NBA mock draft a few weeks ago, I was struck by a moment of inspiration. I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the sink, and when I came to I had a revelation! A vision! A picture in my head! A picture of this!
I saw a bright and shiny world free of Chad Ford's bright and shiny smile. I saw a loose confederacy of sports bloggers reveling in our collective obsession. To make this Ford-less dream a reality I've conducted the 2008 WWOD? NBA Blogger Mock Draft with the help and patience of the many fine writers devoted to sports blogging around the US of A (and oddly enough a Suns blogger in Italy). This blogger mock draft runs like the real-live NBA draft happening Thursday night, with each team's or city's blogger making a draft pick in the same order (determined by the draft lottery) that the real-life team officials will do so.
It always seemed to me that most of mock drafts were created by monolithic know-it-all voices and therefore have nothing to do with the real draft, which involves constituencies from every NBA city who live and die (and are employed by) their team and don't care if it makes for a better story if Player Z plays in City Y. Well, it seemed like that until now.
In the immortal words of Pete Venkman, "I love this plan. I'm excited to be a part of it." And I hope you are too.
Part One: The "Lottery" Picks
#1: Chicago Bulls, represented by C. Casson of Bull Riding: The Pick: Derrick Rose, out of the University of Memphis The Reason For: I have seen plenty of good scorer's and I do believe Mike Beasley will be one, but the hardest positions in the draft to cover are the center and point guard position. Derrick Rose is a truly unique point guard with extraordinary athletic gifts. They simply don't make them like Derrick Rose too often. The Pick Bull Riding doesn't want: To say I don't want a player on my team is harsh because as long as they're bringing something to the table on both ends of the floor, than I'm happy. If anything, I wouldn't want a guy who isn't going to come in and leave it on the floor every night, which is a rarity in today's game. You just don't find guys too often anymore, that you can say at the end of a game, "OK, that guy came out here and did everything possible to try and get his team a win."
#2 Miami Heat, represented by The South Florida Fan Blog: The Pick: Michael Beasley, out of Kansas State University The Reason For: This decision was pretty much like clockwork (though I fully expect the Heat to make the clock work for all its seconds). Prevailing wisdom has Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley as the premier players in this draft, so we were content to take whichever one remained. Though Rose would have been a better fit, we are quite pleased with Beasley, whose mammoth freshman performance at Kansas St. dwarfed even Kevin Durant's highly publicized showing last year in the same conference. Sure, Beasley has a quirky personality. So what? That should just make the Madden 2009 games with Udonis Haslem all the more invigorating! The Pick The South Florida Fan Blog doesn't want: O.J. Mayo. The Reason Against: Unlike Beasley, there are some legitimate character issues at play here. This, from a guy who takes pleasure in emulating black holes, considers himself a Hollywood starlet, and puts the shade in shady characters. No thanks. The Blogger and the Blog: I'm ASponge of The South Florida Fan Blog, the voice of the eloquent (if we deserve such an epithet) fan for all Miami-area sports teams.
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves, represented by TwolvesBlog.com: The Pick: O.J. Mayo, out of the University of Southern California The Reason For: After Beasley and Rose, O.J. is undoubtedly the most talented prospect left. The Wolves would be out of their minds to pass on him. The Pick TwolvesBlog doesn't want: Brook Lopez The Reason Against: He may as well be called "Bust" Lopez. There's no way he's worth the #3 pick. The Blog:TWolvesBlog.com is the most-visited Timberwolves website on the internet. We feature multiple daily updates with all the latest Wolves news and original articles, as well as podcasts and a very active forum community.
#4 Seattle Supersonics, represented by SonicsCentral/Save Our Sonics: The Pick: Jeryd Bayless, out of the University of Arizona The Reason For: While there are conflicting reports out there that would have the Sonics selecting Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, or Eric Gordon the odds on favorite still has to be Bayless. The Sonics are in need of a point guard who can mesh with young stars Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Furthermore the lack of aggression and penetration on the part of their guards has been a big factor in their terrible play in recent years. Bayless is a natural fit but the Sonics could go several directions and should select best player available. The flexibilty of Durant and Green will allow the pair to play any combination of the 2,3, or 4 positions and the new draft choice should be able to find a role in the offense no matter what position they play. PG However remains the biggest single need on the roster. The Pick SonicsCentral doesn’t want: Eric Gordon The Reason Against: At 6'3 he lacks the height to be an effective shooting guard in the league and with a top 5 pick teams should be wary of drafting players who lack the physical tools to be dominant at their position. If the Sonics are infatuated with Gordon they should trade down to acquire him in the 6-10 range. The Blogger and the Blog(s): I am Brian Robinson and I operate SonicsCentral and am a co-founder of Save Our Sonics, attempting to retain professional basketball. Over the last 5 years I have been accredited media for the Sonics, developed strong organizational relationships, appeared on hundreds of sports and news radio shows nationwide as well as television appearances. Additionally I served as a developmental consultant for tmobile.nba.com. As the co-founder of SaveOurSonics I have worked closely with and against team ownerships and the league corporate offices, represented the fans in testimony before the Washington State Legislature, and assembled more than 10,000 members to SaveOurSonics, conducting multiple events including a courthouse rally of more than 3000 Sonics fans this month.
(and, since the Sonics fans need to be heard now more than ever, I decided to let them pick twice. Sort of)
#4 Seattle Supersonics, represented by SeaTown Sports: The Pick: Jerryd Bayless, out of the University of Arizona The Reason For: Jerryd Bayless would be able to be a significant contributor right off the bat. The point guard situation in Seattle is bad. Luke Ridnour has been horrible ever since Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis left. Earl Watson isn't the floor commander a point guard needs to be. Bayless and Kevin Durant would form one of the top young backcourts in the NBA. The Pick SeaTown Sports doesn't want: Kevin Love. The Reason Against: Believe it or not, Jerryd Bayless isn't the consensus pick, and in ESPN's Chad Ford's latest mock draft, he has the Sonics taking Love. Although he is one of the most NBA-ready and the most fundamentally sound players in the draft, the Sonics would make a big mistake by taking him. The Sonics can't draft a player in the front line when their back court needs the most help. Besides, Kevin Love is almost a clone of Nick Collison in my opinion. The Blogger and the Blog: Kevin Cacabelos Senior Editor/Writer at SeaTown Sports.
#5 Memphis Grizzlies, represented by 3 Shades of Blue: The Pick: Kevin Love, out of the University of California, Los Angeles The Reason For: Who can utilize a "slow white guy with weight issues" better than Memphis, one of the fattest cities in America (BBQ Nachos rule!) that already employs the "running in wet concrete" stylings of Darko Milicic and Jason Collins? Besides, just think about how much mileage fans of other teams will get out of the frontcourt pairing of Rudy Gay and Kevin Love. In all seriousness though, Kevin Love is exactly the kind of player that the Grizzlies have been missing over the past few years -- a tough, fiery competitor with a wide range of skills who will exploit every advantage he is given. The Pick 3 Shades of Blue doesn't want: Danilo Gallinari. The Reason Against: As hard a time as Memphis will initially have in accepting a "slow, fat, white guy" as their top draft choice, if you go with a "white European whose game is predicated on finesse" to that mix so quickly after the Pau Gasol fiasco, then there is liable to be a riot in downtown Memphis. It's not that I don't think that Gallinari is talented and skilled (because he is), but he's not what most Grizzlies fans are looking for at this point, even if he turns out to be the next Dirk Nowitzki. The Blogger and the Blog: Joshua Coleman and 3 Shades of Blue.
#6. New York Knicks, represented by What Would Oakley Do?: The Pick: Joe Alexander, out of West Virginia University The Reason For: I'd like to say it wasn't just that NCAA Tourney game against Duke. But that wouldn't be totally true. I'd like to say that it wasn't just that Big East tourney game against UConn. But that wouldn't be entirely true either. And, most of all I'd like to say that my rationale for making this pick has nothing to do with something as predictably foolhardy as "tremendous upside." Alas, all three of those things are largely behind this pick. With my March man-crush Derrick Rose off the board and the two players that I would have been unable to pass, Beasley and Mayo, gone as well I can't help but tap Alexander. Some would say it was a reach but with Milwaukee poised to nab him two picks later I don't think so.
This thought process all started when I saw highly touted Italian player Dalino Gallinari slotted into the Knicks spot by the preeminent Chad Ford in his initial mock draft. To be honest, I liked the idea of getting a steal (which any risk/player ends up being if you're right) at the small forward position. The Knicks have been looking for a star at the #3 spot since Bernard King's knee injury. Most importantly, I agreed with Chad Ford that the Knicks should go away from the point guard position once we missed out on Rose or Mayo. There are two reasons why the Knicks should draft a small forward (barring a trade for the two PGs already mentioned). The first is that all the other top-ranked guards in this year's draft class are combo guards whose ships have had their profiles lifted by the rising waters surrounding Derrick Rose in the NCAA and Chris Paul in the NBA. Those two made the point guard position sexier than it's been since Isiah and Magic were starting the All-Star Game. Those two are "true" point guards and always have been. Those two are not shooting guards in point guard bodies. And, neither is Steve Nash, who ran D'Antoni's offense in Phoenix. But, you know who is a combo guard? Stephon Marbury. And a pretty darn good one, actually. If that's what we're looking for (and, in the long term, it is most decidedly not) then we're all set.
Forgetting about Marbury (if just for one sweet moment), it was thinking of Nash that made me finally settle on Alexander. Thinking about Nash made me realize the second reason the Knicks should not draft a point guard. Mike D'Antoni never developed a young point guard in Phoenix, he signed Nash as a free agent after the Mavericks figured out he was too old. Not to win MVP Awards. In fact, one of the point guards D'Antoni actually drafted in Phoenix, before trading him away, was Nate Robinson. Incidentally, D'Antoni's Suns also drafted Rajon Rondo only to trade him as well. So, this is a long way of saying that I don't think D'Antoni's strong suit (or main interest) is developing point guards even if he is a great point guard coach. I think he wants to bring in someone like T.J. Ford (or not, but you know what I mean) or just see what the PGs already on his roster can do with his offense. I think what he really needs unique athletic freaks like Shawn Marion to run his offense and I think Alexander is just that sort of explosive player.
Also on the plus side of the ledger for Alexander in D'Antoni's book, he went to West Virginia University (in D'Antoni's home state) and speaks Mandarin (D'Antoni is bilingual as well). Those two things should have gotten him in the Knicks coach's good graces. And, if those two things don't then the fact that his dunks are youtube gold and competitive spirit has been the only thing more impressive at pre-draft workouts around the league than his freakish athleticism.
And it's this athleticism that puts Alexander ahead of my Gallinari, the Italian small forward that Ford decked out in orange and blue all month long. These two guys play the same position are about the same height and are high upside guys. The knock on Gallinari is his athleticism. The knock on Alexander is that his handle and long distance shot need to be more consistent. Well, I think you can't teach Gallinari's deficiency while Alexander has years to hone his. Therefore I go with a small forward with two first names. Yup, another thing that I shouldn't like about him. Except I do. The Pick WWOD? doesn't want: Any player in the draft listed 6-10 or above. That means Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Deandre Jordan, Alexis Ajinca, Kosta Koufos, Anthony Randolph or anyone else whose height was a virtual lock to get them this far (to the draft) since they were 15 years old. The Reason Against: If the Knicks are drafting a player who needs some polishing then I don't want him to be a plodding seven footer or a willowy pivot who needs to put on weight or even an overweight and undersized post player. So I don't want these guys. I want agile, springy and strong dudes who can move around and want to run right over other peoples faces. I want the guy who claimed his team was going to beat Duke in the NCAA tournament and who told a reporter in Detroit that he was the best prospect in a star-studded workout. I want Joe Alexander. The Blog: If you blogged here, you'd be home right now.
#7 Los Angeles Clippers, represented by ClipsNation: The Pick: Eric Gordon, out of Indiana University The Reason For: If Elton Brand (very likely) and Corey Maggette (a possibility) both return for next season, the Clippers four best players will be front court players. Meanwhile, their projected starting point guard (Shaun Livingston) has not played basketball in almost 17 months, and the collection of journeymen points who ended the season on the roster (Brevin Knight, Dan Dickau and Smush Parker) are something less than awe-inspiring. As for the other guard spot, Cat Mobley will turn 33 before the start of the season and is coming off the worst season of his pro career, and there aren't any other shooting guards currently signed. So while the old saying goes that you draft the 'best player available', the Clippers needs in the backcourt would seem to be an overriding concern. Fortunately, Eric Gordon may well meet both criteria. A great perimeter scorer with almost unlimited range and an incredible first step, possessing the body of an NFL linebacker, Gordon actually tested out as MORE athletic (better in sprints, agility tests, jumping ability and strength) than the supposedly super-athletic Jerryd Bayless and Russell Westbrook at the Orlando pre-draft combine. So he's big, he can score, and he's a great athlete. In addition, he was projected as high as the top three of this draft as recently as February. So what happened? A wrist injury and a coaching scandal at Indiana contributed to a dismal last month to his college career. The Clippers are hoping that those issues are long behind him, and that he can be the explosive perimeter scorer they've lacked for so many years. The Pick ClipsNation doesn't want: D.J. Augustin The Reason Against: Point guard is arguably the Clippers' bigger need, and it's highly unlikely that Gordon can make the transition to NBA point. But, DJ Augustin, the best pure point guard left on the board, is a stretch with the seventh pick. And while he would no doubt be an improvement over Brevin Knight, the idea of two point guards under 6 feet tall is a little hard to take. Livingston at 6'7" mitigates that problem of course, but the Clippers must fact the possibility that he could still be a long way from playing. I just don't think you can have your top two point guards both be height-challenged. The Blogger and the Blog: ClipperSteve of ClipsNation.com.
#8 Miwaukee Bucks, represented by The Bratwurst: The Pick:Russell Westbrook, out of the University of California, Los Angeles The Reason For:Westbrook is the best player available at this point. The Bucks despite having two guards under long-term contracts, clearly could use another good guard rotation. With John Hammond and Scott Skiles in town, I think Michael Redd and Mo Williams both have a decent chance of falling out of favor for not playing hard. That said, maybe drafting a guard motivates Redd and Williams to work hard. The Pick The Bratwurst doesn't want: Brook Lopez The Reason Against: With no other rebounder in the starting five outside of Bogut, it's a little dangerous to take a weak rebounder/strong scrorer with a shoot happy backcourt. The Blogger and the Blog: Jeramey Jannene of TheBratwurst.com
#9. Charlotte Bobcats, represented by Queens City Hoops: The Pick: Brook Lopez, out of Stanford University The Reason For: As long as he's better than Nazr, I'm happy. The Blog:Queen City Hoops.
#10. New Jersey Nets, represented (sort of, but without their consent) by NetsDaily: The Pick: Danilo Gallinari, out of Italy The Reason For: Some fellow who goes by the handle of Dumpy over at this blog says that the Nets would ideally draft Westbrook or Gallinari at this spot. The Blog: Like I said, this pick was gleaned from my readings over at NetsDaily. No one from the site ever returned my emails nor did anyone from the only other Nets blog I found (the one that really didn't want Gallnero).
#11. Indiana Pacers, represented by Indy Cornrows: The Pick: D.J. Augustin, out of the University of Texas The Reason For: The Pacers desperately need a point guard who can lead the team and, well, actually play. Augustin may have some size limitations but he knows how to lead a team from the point, pushing the ball into the hands of scorers as well as running the pick 'n roll in the half court. The Pick Indy Cornrows doesn't want: DeAndre Jordan Why: Despite his physical gifts I'm a little leary of his drive to be a great basketball player. He's young and his game is immature so maybe in time he'll be great but the Pacers need help now. Going the project route hasn't worked out lately. The Blogger and the Blog:Tom Lewis aka Cornrows.
#12. Sacramento Kings, represented by Sactown Royalty: The Pick: Anthony Randolph, out of Louisiana State University The Reason:: There's a 1-in-2,000,000,000,000.5 chance he becomes the greatest of all-time. The Pick Sactown Royalty doesn't want: Trent Plaisted. Really, I'm breezy besides that. The Reason Against: Becuase he's Trent Plaisted, man. The Blogger and the Blog: Tom Ziller and Sactown Royalty.
#13. Portland Trailblazers, represented by Sean from OregonLive: The Pick:Brandon Rush, out of the University of Kansas. The Reason For: Working with the best of what's left on the board, the Blazers elect to bring in the most versatile player on both ends of the floor. After working out for the Blazers last weekend, GM Kevin Pritchard openly stated his affinity for players who come out of big programs (and it doesn't hurt when that player recently won a National Championship at KP's alma mater). The Blazers are already loaded at the small forward position with Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw and James Jones, but Pritchard sees Rush's versatility as allowing him to contribute at positions 1 through 3. With the addition of both Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez to the mix, the Blazers don't need someone to make a major splash immediately, although, as KP has stated, Rush will be able to step in a contribute immediately. And head coach Nate McMillan has shown he's immune to rushing (pun intended) rookies into playing time. Pritchard has also made it clear he would like to add speed and defense to the backcourt rotation, both of which Rush will bring. The Blazers are entering a championship window and a long-term project (like many of the big stiff left) are not in Portland's plans. Pritchard is a man who likes to stack his assests and with the 13th pick, adding another asset to the mix gives the best GM in the league another weapon and further his Prtichslapping of the association. The Blog and the Blogger: Sean Meagher covering the Blazers over at OregonLive.
(and just because most people I know can't get enough Portland Trailblazers anaylsis they will be awarded to two picks. Sort of.)
#13. Portland Trailblazers, represented by Deceptively Quick: The Pick: Brandon Rush, out of the University of Kansas The Reason For:He brings length, athleticism, winning, and perimeter defense. He is competent enough offensively to keep the opposition cognizant of his existence. These types of adjectives are commonly applied to humans described as "critical role players," and such humans seem to help win championships. When you conceptualize NBA Brandon Rush, think Tayshaun Prince-ish (assuming a hopefully similar personality conducive to NBA productivity) with a less disturbing silhouette and a more hilarious hair cut. For a team like Portland that already has foundational franchise players in place, such an addition seems a natural complement. Of course, all this lacks the flair of what we come to expect from a Kevin Pritchard draft. Nonetheless, Rush is a healthy option that will likely be available should a sexy trade or seven not materialize on draft night. Watch and discuss. The Blog:Deceptively Quick brings you Blazers news and more from the Finnish Underground. Or something.
#15. Phoenix Suns, represented by the Sons of Steve Nash: The Pick: Mario Chalmers, out of the University of Kansas The Reason For: For once the Suns will draft a player they can use and not simply pick some talent and ship him somewhere else for future picks or cash considerations as they did with Loul Deng, Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez. The Suns' biggest needs are (1) find a back up point guard to play at least 15 minutes a game; (2) add some defense to the team and (3) find someone who can play right now, as the Suns are looking at a 2-year window. Plus Chalmers reminds a bit of Terry Porter, solid defender, good shooter and ready to play with a 3-year experience at a top-level program like Kansas. So, Mario, welcome to the Valley! The Blogger and the Blog: Steve Fan of Sons of Steve Nash.
#16. Philadelphia 76ers, represented by The 700 Level: The Pick: DeAndre Jordan, out Texas A&M University The Blogger and the Blog: Enrico founded The 700 Level, a Philadelphia-based sports website for those who love their Philly sports but don't take things too seriously.
#17. Toronto Raptors, represented by Raptors HQ: The Pick: Alexis Ajinca, out of France The Blog:RaptorsHQ isn't simply a spot for stats and updates though, the HQ prides itself on its great community of readers who make the site what it is.
#18. Washington Wizards, represented by Bullets Forever: The Pick: Maureese Speights, out of the University of Florida The Reason For: Outside of Kevin Love, Maureese Speights looks good. He's the third-best rebounder of the [big man] group, behind Love and Jason Thompson, who played in a small conference. He's also a very efficient scorer (62 TS%) with his back to the basket, and that'd add a really nice dimension to our second team. He doesn't get to the free throw line enough, and he turns the ball over more than I'd like, but his rebounding strength and ability to score efficiently outweigh those concerns. He's also young, so he might be our best chance of getting a true impact big in the middle of the first round. The Pick Bullets Forever doesn't want: Just say no to Robin Lopez. The Reason Against: His rebounding, which I thought was a strength, is a major red flag, and he turns it over even more than Speights.
#19. Cleveland Cavaliers, represented by Cavalier Attitude: The Pick: Chris Douglas-Roberts, out of the University of Memphis The Reason For: Anyone who watched the Cavs-Celtics series knows that Cleveland has defense and rebounding down. They just need somebody other than LB to put the ball in the basket. CDR does that, and he's versatile in how he does it. His high basketball IQ would allow him to fit in almost right away. He doesn't fill a positional need for the Cavs, but he helps them get more scoring from the supporting cast, which is what this team sorely needs. The Pick Cavalier Attitude doesn't want: Kosta Koufus The Reason Against: Cleveland's frontcourt is known for being way too soft. Way too soft. Even after losing to the Cavs in the '07 ECF, Detroit players thought that the Cavs were still too soft despite beating them. You won't hear them say that about the Spurs or Celtics. Koufus is finesse, and the Cavs need strength up front. I'd take Marreese Speights here, but he went a pick earlier to the Wizards. The Blogger and the Blog: Amar Panchmatia, senior writer at Cavalier Attitude.
#20. Charlotte Bobcats, represented by Queen City Hoops*: The Pick: Darrell Arthur, out of the University of Kansas *Queen City Hoops previously selected Brook Lopez with the ninth pick in the draft.
#21. New Jersey Nets, represented (again, sort of) by Nets Daily: The Pick: Roy Hibbert, out of Georgetown University The Reason For: Just like the eleventh pick in this mock draft, this choice of Hibbert is based on the views of some fellow by the moniker of Dumpy over at NetsDaily.
#22. Orlando Magic, represented by Believing in Magic: The Pick: Kosta Koufos, out of THE Ohio State University The Reason For: Orlando is in need of a bigger point guard, a more dynamic shooting guard and a big man to compliment Dwight Howard. From a value perspective, Koufos is a steal for Orlando. His versatility on offense and size should give Orlando one of, if not the most formidable big man combo in the NBA for years to come. As polished as Koufos is on offense already, he will only get better and he has the ability to draw defenders away from Howard in the post. The Pick Believing in Magic doesn’t want: With players that are left on the board, I would hate to see the Magic select Bill Walker from Kansas St. In this draft, Chris Douglas-Roberts is off the board but if he is available at 22, I think it would be a huge mistake for Orlando to select him. Both players are G/F’s who are athletic and have a lot of potential, but neither one would fit in Orlando’s system, despite both players filling a need. The Blogger and the Blog: I am Brendan Sonnone, writer for Believing in Magic and Jaguars Journal at MVN.com. I also have contributed to dozens of other websites, including AOL.com and About.com, as well as Scout.com. Sports journalism has long been a passion of mine, and I am pursuing my dream of becoming a sports journalist at the University of Central Florida. I have lived in Orlando for most of my life and have grown up with the Magic and am forever dedicated to them, through good times and bad. Covering the Magic has been an excellent experience and the more I write about them, the closer I feel to the team, which is all any fan can ask for.
#23. Utah Jazz, represented by my best guess (because this team has fewer bloggers than Salt Lake City has people of color): The Pick: JaVale McGee, out of the University of Nevada The Reason For: In the run-up to the draft all you heard about was how they were going to take Hibbert. And, I don’t think that was just a PR move to make them seem, um, you know friendlier to large African Americans. I think it is the truth and that they want a big. They’ve got no interior presence from the center position. Okur can be great for stretches but he is a jump shooter and the lesser Collins brother is, well, he is the lesser Collins brother. Since Hibbert is off the board already I awarded them the next biggest thing. And a guy who has lived in Nevada and might be vaguely prepared to live in Utah.
#24. Seattle Supersonics, represented by SeaTown Sports: The Pick: Serge Ibaka, out of The Congo The Reason For: A solid talent at the power forward position. He will be able to improve and develop his game overseas. The Sonics will bring him over to the U.S when there is a roster spot available The Pick SeaTown Sports doesn't want: Jason Thompson. The Reason Against: Underdeveloped at the center position, while Swift, Petro, and Sene are all already under developed. The Blog:SeaTown Sports also selected for the Sonics earlier in the draft at the 4-spot.
#25. Houston Rockets, represented by The Dream Shake: The Pick:Courtney Lee, out of Western Kentucky University The Reason For: Because there is no way this actually happens. If Lee is still there I will do cartwheels tonight. He's 22 and not some 1 and done guy that won't contribute for 2 more years. The Rockets have 3 needs, 1. Get a new PG, 2. Get a SG/SF that can spell TMac and Battier and 3. Get a suitable backup for Yao, someone that can learn, help now and be traded later if we can't sign them. Lee addresses need 2 very well. He's 6'5 so he has decent size and has a good shot. Hell, he even can shoot free throws, something we at the Dream Shake really appreciate (See Tmac this year and any Chuck Hayes shot). He's not a fantastic ball handler, but I just lived through the Luther Head era, so he'll probably look like CP3 in comparison. I think I would really like the Courtney Lee era, maybe Tmac will even give him some of his old pointers on getting to the hole The Pick The Dream Shake doesn't want: Anyone that is French, even if Tony Parker comes into the draft, no freaking thank you! I just do not want anything to do with projects from countries that wave the white flag whenever they get a chance. Or those that don't get that while Eva Longoria is hot, she's 10 years older than you and you are a millionaire basketball player and can bang just about anything you want. The Reason Against: If I have to explain that to you I'll have Tommy come back there and hit you on the head with a tack hammer... The Blogger and the Blog: Lee Grammier is a Rockets and Houston sports fan for life (Also, Hook 'em Horns!) and can be found at The Dream Shake.
#26. San Antonio Spurs, represented by WWOD?*: The Pick: Nicolas Bautum, out of France The Reason For: He's young and quick (which they desperately need) and and French (which they clearly love) and probably already super-tight with Tony Parker. He also stopped working out or answering calls from other teams after working out with the Spurs. *Since there is only one legit Spurs blog out on the Interwebs and I couldn't track the writer(s) down.
#27. New Orleans Hornets,** allegedly*** represented by At the Hive: The Pick: Robin Lopez, out of Stanford University The Reason For: In reading up on what the Hornets need I noticed that some sort of physical front court presence was a high priority. If Hilton Armstrong is out of fashion in the Big Easy then Lopez should be in. He could end up being a steal at this point in the first round and is a strong guy who knows through and through that he is on the floor to get rebounds and hustle. The bizarre symbiotic division of labor that he and his brother has instilled a knowledge of his role into him and as long as their isn't some weird twin-inferiority complex that we don't know about then he will be perfectly suited to contributing to a good team off the bench.
And, still to come.... #28. Memphis Grizzlies, represented by 3 Shades of Blue #29. Detroit Pistons, represented by Pistons Podcast
And, in doing what I'm about to do I may create a paradox and tear the fabric of space and time (see, I knew this had something to do with a flux capacitor): I'm posting the Celtics No. 30 pick before posting the two immediately before it because, well, because it's already 6 PM, I don't have the other two picks yet and the C's pick (the last of the round) is a well-thought through pick that should be available to all those draftniks undoubtedly reading this as they watch the events unfold tonight. Hopefully neither the Grizzlies nor Pistons reps are planning on snagging this kid. I think not and that's ultimately why I felt it was not a hell-worthy trespass to post slightly out of order.
#30. Boston Celtics, represented by Green Bandwagon: The Pick: Ante Tomic, out of Croatia The Reason For: Not to be obnoxious but I was a little busier this year watching the Celtics dominate opponents and take names later. As a result I'm not as up to date with the draft prospects as I should be. However, that's not to say I did not cram for this mock draft. First there are Boston's needs – a back up point guard with handle and a back up center, particularly if P.J. Brown decides to retire. Unfortunately, Ben Q. Rock of Third Quarter Collapse explains how rare it is to get impact players in the bottom third of the first round. Taking in consideration the fact that point guards and centers take a while to develop and a roster that is built to win now means Boston's chances of filling its holes through the draft are not good. That's why it may make sense to follow Chad Ford's recent prediction and draft Ante Tomic. As Ford noted he could continue to develop in Europe and join the C's in a couple of seasons. Furthermore, the Celtics would draft their first Croatian since Dino Radja. This is exciting for several reasons. 1. I can call him the Croatian Sensation. No losers there. 2. If Tomic joins the team and it does not work out he could still reenact the Radja/Todd Day fight with a player to be named later. Tomic could even go as far to say, "I do not like this 'player to be named later.'" 3. In yet another ode to Radja Tomic could demand a trade to a team located in a warm weather city and someone within the Celtics organization could pull a Rick Pitino and quip, "We explained to him that it's not Club Med." Scratch that. Not cool. The Pick Green Bandwagon doesn't want: The other Lopez brother if he falls that far, which to be fair he is not expected to do. The Reason Against: Well for starters I don't even know his first name. And even though he is praised as a hustle player that does the dirty work he terrifies me. The Blogger and the Blog: Jim Weeks grew up in Massachusetts. He runs Green Bandwagon and though he has no reason to and expects to be mocked, still believes in Gerald Green.
**At The Hive and the Hornets still get their pick in this draft because the draft pick wasn't moved until after this draft had begun. You see, once we crossed the threshold into the 2008 WWOD? NBA Blogger Mock Draft then we were no longer bound by the realities of your real world. Got it?
***Because the clock was winding down and certain mock drafters were not available (or, rather, still humoring me as they had been kind enough to do for the past few days) I made this pick on behalf of the At The Hive. I did my best to make the choice based off their own opinions on their own website. But they may totally disagree, all the same. If time permits I'll get their actual pick in place.
THAT Being Knicks Basketball
Knicks Fan A: How come the Knicks can't do that on television? 
Although, I have to say that the performances delivered by Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley that night are some of the best I've ever heard in broadcasting. Still, it is possible that such ineptitude violated some sort of FCC regulation about athletics that I'm not aware of. That's totally possible.
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