Jun

5

ESPN: Friends And Rivals: Kobe And K.G.

Filed Under ESPN Reports, NBA PLAYOFFS | Leave a Comment

Jun

5

ESPN: Kobe Bryant: From Then To Now

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Jun

5

Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes’ 2008 NBA Mock Draft

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????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Phoenix Suns

Yesterday I covered the Golden State Warriors’ draft needs and also projected who they would select with their first-round pick.? Today, I cover the Phoenix Suns’ draft needs and will predict who they will draft with their first-round pick.

Phoenix Suns

Draft Position - #15

Needs - Small forward, center.? The Suns are and will remain a run-and-gun team.? And because of that, they need some athletic forwards on their team.? Grant Hill is on his last legs (unfortunately), Brian Skinner is more an enforcer-type, which leaves Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw as their only true option sat forward.? And who backs up Shaq at center?? Skinner?? Ummmm no.? Diaw?? Hardly, although the Suns have him listed at center and forward.? Stoudemire could play center in a pinch but it isn’t his true position.

Phoenix Suns select: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia

Tomorrow: Philadelphia 76ers

Jun

5

Draft Prospects Excited About Chance To Play For Knicks

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?????????????????????????????????????????New York Knicks

That’s right, folks - the headline is not a typo or a misprint.? There are actually NBA draftees who are looking forward to getting drafted by the New York Knicks, according to Bill Eichenberger of The Sporting News; the players in question?? Forward Joe Alexander of West Vorginia and Chase Budinger of Arizona.? The pair, according to Eichenberger, exuded excitement and enthusiasm after a workout Wednesday at the Knicks’ training facility.? Both players put it simply - the system that new coach Mike D’Antoni (high-octane offense) is suited for them.

Both Alexander and Budinger think they will be drafted anywhere between #6 and #20 in the first round, and ironically - or not - they made New York their first stop.? Alexander mentioned that the Knicks talked to him about playing power forward in their system to take advantage of his ability to play the inside game; on the flip side, Budinger said that the Knicks have him being either a small forward or shooting guard.? Alexander and Budinger, not surprisingly, were put through shooting drills at the Knicks’ workout.?

Whether their workouts impressed D’Antoni isn’t known right now, but other draftees are scheduled to visit the Knicks’ facility for workouts - names such as: UCLA guard Russell Westbrook, Nevada center JaVale McGee, Georgia guard Sundiata Gaines and Arkansas center Steven Hill.? I posted here at Slam Dunk Central what needs the Knicks will have at draft time and who I project them to draft with their first-round pick; to view my 2008 NBA?mock draft, click here.?

Jun

5

It’s Back To The Future As Celtics Host Lakers In Finals

Filed Under NBA PLAYOFFS, SDC COMMENTARY | 2 Comments

It started when I woke up Saturday morning, I was remembering songs and artists I had not thought about for years. Huey Lewis,?Simply Red, Billy Squire, Toni Basil.? It has been the strangest experience. The Go-Go’s, The Thompson Twins, Culture Club, David Lee Roth. It is like a never ending soundtrack in my head. LoverBoy, Styx, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper. Finally I came to the realization what was causing it, I had gone “Back To The Future” after 21 years things in the NBA were as they should be. The Boston Celtics will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.

Although the rivalry between the team from?New England, and the Inventors of Showtime,?go back to the 1960’s, the era that is most celebrated are the 1980’s. From 1980-1987 only two teams represented the Eastern and Western Conference?in the Association. In the West it was the L.A. Lakers, and the Houston Rockets, the East was represented by the Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers. From 1980-1987 only three teams won a NBA Championship, Los Angeles won in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987. Philadelphia won their lone Championship in 1983. Boston would win in 1981, 1984, and 1986. The Celtics who would win 16 NBA Championships in the first 30 years of my life, have not won for the last 22.

The Lakers of course have had plenty of good times?since, what with the Shaq and Kobe teams giving Lakers fans lots of glory. The Celtics however have wandered in the desert for the last 22 years. They got close a few years ago as they lost to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals. But that team was soon dismantled, and the “Green Team” were onto yet another rebuilding plan.

Boston had a terrible year last season, and then got no luck what so ever in the lottery. (By the way for you “NBA Conspiracy Theorists“?if the Lottery is rigged why did the Celtics not get Tim Duncan or Greg Oden?) Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers looked like defeated men after the results were revealed. But for the first time in his career as Director of Basketball Operations, Ainge showed that same gutsy attitude he had as a player. He re-made his team, bringing in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, and strong bench players like Eddie House, and James Posey. He rolled the dice on an inexperienced point guard in Rajon Rondo and came up big.

I like the Celtics in seven games in this series. I think we are all going to be in for a treat these next couple of weeks, as we truly see the best from both conferences. Can the Celtics defense shut down Kobe and Pau? Will Garnett, Allen, and Pierce earn the title “The Big Three“? I for one and looking forward to finding out!

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