Jun

9

Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes’ 2008 NBA Mock Draft

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????????????????????????????Cleveland Cavaliers

Yesterday I covered the Washington Wizards’ draft needs and also projected who they would select with their first-round pick.? Today I will cover the Cleveland Cavaliers’ draft needs and will also predict who they will draft with their first-round pick.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Draft Position - #19

Needs - Shooting guard, center.? Truth be told, the Cavaliers need help just about everywhere.? And LeBron needs help immediately since he seems to be the only true scoring option - hence the need for a shooting guard.? I expect some trading activity between the Cavs and other NBA teams between now and the end of summer; I expect Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace and Joe Smith to have new addresses next season.? But first and foremost - the Cavs need another scoring option not named LeBron James.

Cleveland Cavaliers select: Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas

Tomorrow: Denver Nuggets

Jun

9

ESPN: Daily Dime For June 9th

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Jun

9

ESPN: KG Is Ready To Take The Show On The Road

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Jun

9

ESPN: Legler Provides Thoughts On Why Game 2 Went To The Celtics

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Jun

9

Dumars: Stuckey Not Going Anywhere

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???????????????????????????????????????????????????? Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars

Wow.? You know the Detroit Pistons are in “rebuild” mode when team president Joe Dumars says that guard Rodney Stuckey is the team’s “sacred cow”.? For the uninformed, “sacred cow” in NBA-speak means that a certain player or players are untouchable; that alone should provide plenty of water cooler conversations around Detroit and elsewhere as the Pistons attempt to re-tool for the 2008-2009 season.? Which brings up the obvious question: who stays and who goes?

  • Richard Hamilton.? While he brings his 20+ points game-in and game-out, he probably has the most trade value of all of the Pistons.? Scorers in the league are readily available - and at probably a lesser cost.? Methinks Dumars wants to obtain a scorer who actually plays defense as well as score.
  • Chauncey Billups.? Yes, he had a subpar series, but to be fair, he was injured - thus limiting his effectiveness on the court.? Billups and Stuckey would make an ideal backcourt duo, even if they’re “hybrid” guards.
  • Rasheed Wallace.? Let’s face it - Wallace’s time is over in Detroit.? While he provided 3-point shooting and some scoring, his antics no doubt got old with Dumars.? But I’m sure that there’s a team out there in need of a drama queen well past his prime.
  • Antonio McDyess.? A nice complementary piece?for the Pistons during his time there, I expect Detroit to release or trade him this offseason.

Those are the major players who are likely to be peddled this offseason.? For Detroit’s sake, I hope that they at least retain Billups.? But as far as the others, they may as well get maximum value for them since they, for all intents and purposes, are rebuilding for the future.? Who they draft this year will go a long way towards figuring out how soon that the Pistons will return to the playoffs again.? And there’s no doubt that the rest of the NBA have the Pistons on speed-dial; the Detroit Pistons summer sale begins this summer.

Jun

9

Lakers Stage Huge Comeback But Come Up Short Celtics Win Game Two 108-102

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The Boston Celtics got away with one Sunday night, and if they plan on winning the franchise’s seventeenth NBA Championship, they better have learned a lesson from the experience. The “Green Team” had a 24 point lead on the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter as they were up 95-71 with 7:54?remaining in the game. Everybody in the “New Garden“?believed the game was over including the “Green Team“. Big Mistake! Boston lost their intensity, and played complacently, and the Lakers took advantage. Los Angeles went on a 31-9 run, cutting the lead to 104-102 with 38 seconds left in the game. Clutch free throws?by Paul Pierce, and James Posey gave the Celtics the win 108-102, but it should?never have gotten that close. The Celtics lead the series 2-0, but the action now moves to the West Coast for the next three games. Boston will not get away with that lack of effort in the Staples Center down the stretch, and walk out with a win.?

Boston had such a huge lead because of three factors,?Celtics All-Star forward Paul Pierce who had another huge game as he scored 28 points,?in the victory. Reserve forward Leon Powe, who had some key performances during the regular season for Boston got some “National Love“? as he scored 21 points off the bench. The third factor was the defense that the Celtics played from the start of the second quarter, until they let their guard down in the fourth. Boston had effectively shut down NBA MVP Kobe Bryant until that run, he would end the game with a game high 30 points.

The Lakers came out playing well in the first quarter, as they took a 7 point lead early in the first quarter, but settled for a 2 point lead at the end of the period 22-20. Boston pulled ahead in the second quarter, as they walked into the locker room at the half with a 12 point advantage, leading 54-42.?The Celtics jumped?out to a 16 point lead after Pierce hit a 25 foot trey to give the “Green Team” a 62-46 lead with 8:19 left in the third quarter. Los Angeles rallied cutting the advantage to 68-59 as Pau Gasol hit an outside shot with 4:31 left in the period, and it looked like the momentum was swinging the Lakers way. Boston scored?the next 13 consecutive points, and soon it was an 81-59 contest with 35 seconds left in the quarter as Leon Powe drove the lane and put it?up and in for two. The Celtics led 83-61 at the end of the period, and the “New Garden“?reverberated with the chant of “Beat L.A.” But the building grew eerily quite as the Lakers mounted their come back in the fourth, before Pierce and Posey closed the game out at the line.

Paul Pierce showed no ill effects from his strained right knee, as he scored 28 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block in the Boston victory. Leon Powe scored 21 points, 2 rebounds, in just 15 minutes of playing time, Kevin Garnett recorded a double-double, as he scored 17 points, grabbed a game high 14 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Ray Allen also scored 17 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, Rajon Rondo scored just 4 points, but had a game high 16 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block.

Kobe Bryant got hot late for the Lakers as he scored 30 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals.?Pau Gasol recorded a double-double, as he scored 17 points, grabbed 10 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, Vladimir Radmanovic also registered a double-double, as he scored 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal. Lamar Odom scored 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists. Game three will be a home game for the Lakers Tuesday night with Boston leading the series 2-0.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net?

Jun

9

ESPN: Paul Pierce Leads Boston To Another Finals Victory

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