Jun

16

Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes’ 2008 NBA Mock Draft

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???????????????????????????????????????????????San Antonio Spurs

Yesterday, I covered the Houston Rockets’ draft needs and projected who they would draft with their first-round pick.? Today I cover the San Antonio Spurs’ draft needs and will also predict who they will select with their first-round pick.

San Antonio Spurs

Draft Position - #26

Needs - Center, point guard.? The Spurs, just on age alone, are an aged team with eight?players with 10 or more years of service in the NBA - which could mean that the team may need a bit of an overhaul.? Tim Duncan is a forward - let’s establish that fact once and for all.? That leaves a sizable void at center (Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas and Ian Mahinmi).? Point guard is a bit of a concern, as well as there’s really no one to back up Tony Parker (Damon Stoudemire and Jacque Vaughn?? Puh-leeze!!).

San Antonio Spurs select:?Alexis Ajinca, center, France

Tomorrow: New Orleans Hornets?

Jun

16

Will “Big Baby” Take His First Steps In The Finals In Game Six?

Filed Under NBA PLAYOFFS, SDC COMMENTARY | 2 Comments

In the column that I wrote just before the NBA Finals began, It?s Back To The Future As Celtics Host Lakers In Finals?I predicted the Boston Celtics to win the series in seven games. After Boston won game four in stunning fashion, coming back from a 24 point deficit? to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers?97-91, I amended my prediction. I told my friends, both in and out of the media, that the Celtics would win the series in six games. I could not fathom that Lakers star, and NBA MVP Kobe Bryant would allow the “Green Team” to dance on his floor.? Of course the?Lakers ended up with the victory Sunday night, but it was more the Celtics losing the game, than Los Angeles winning it. Boston had to rally back twice from double digit deficits, and they played sloppy ball in the third quarter. The Celtics who had owned the third quarter for the first four games of the series, committed six turnovers and went into the final 12 minutes of the game down by 9 points.

The fact that Los Angeles did not display the urgency to win in game five, makes me even more secure in saying Tuesday night will be? the night that Boston earns their seventeenth NBA Championship. (Please allow me to make a quick aside. If you are a regular reader of mine, you are well aware of the disdain I have for Jeff Van Gundy in the broadcast booth. I have written many times, that the former coach adds very little insight into broadcasts, and has made more than his share of ludicrous statements. But I have to give Van Gundy credit for? his work in game five, he was spot on in his criticisms. So coach, I tip my hat to you!)

Monday afternoon I got a call from an old buddy from Boston, who is not in the media, but is a Celtics die-hard fan. He asked me a? very intriguing question; did I think that with Boston starting center?Kendrick Perkins sidelined with a shoulder injury, would Boston coach Doc Rivers have the guts to either start, or bring in as a substitute Glen “Big Baby” Davis in game six? My response to my friend was that, I feel veteran P.J. Brown would get the start, but I would love to see the rookie get some time in the game. The question is will Doc Rivers have the confidence in his second round pick to put him into the most important game of the Celtics season?

In my opinion it is a no lose situation. As much as Boston wants to end the series in six games, if necessary game seven would be played in Boston. Even if, the Lakers shock the world Tuesday night, there is no way they can win three straight games against Boston, especially with two games in front?of the rabid Celtics fans. If I am Doc Rivers early in the?second quarter, I would insert Davis into the game. Who do the Lakers have who can match up against the “Big Baby”? Pau Gasol certainly is not strong enough, I don’t think even Lamar Odom is. Turiaf is too small, and we all saw that Chris Mihm was totally ineffective in?game five. With Andrew Bynum sidelined since January, ironically this would the one time that the Lakers could use Kwame Brown!

The upside far out weighs the negatives in this situation. Give “Big Baby” a shot early on, if he is a liability, yank him after two to three minutes. But I believe, as my friend from Boston does that Davis could be a weapon for Boston Tuesday. Plus look at the way you would accelerate his growth pattern, if the experiment is successful. Davis would have that much?more confidence at the start of next season.

Life is a?series of risks, we take our lives in our hands each time we cross the street. But you have to again weigh the pros and the cons. I truly believe?that the positive far out number the negatives. So Doc take a chance Tuesday night, let “Big Baby” take his first steps in the Finals. One day we all may look back on that moment, and say that is when a great NBA career?was started!

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net


Jun

16

ESPN: NBA Daily Dime: Finals Game 5

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Jun

16

Trio Of Tar Heels To Forego Draft, Return To School

Filed Under Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central, Slam Dunk NCAA | 1 Comment

??????????????????????????????????????University of North Carolina

For reasons only known to them (although my guess is that they weren’t projected to be selected very high in the 2008 NBA Draft), University of North Carolina basketball players Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green - according to Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com, have opted to drop out of the 2008 NBA Draft and return to Chapel Hill for another collegiate season.? Wanna bet that Tar Heels coach Roy Williams is as happy as a pig in slop knowing about this?? Because of this development, one must consider North Carolina heavy favorites to win the ACC and perhaps win the NCAA tournament.? Green had told FoxSports a while back that he was leaning towards returning to school, while Lawson and Ellington had a more difficult decision to make.

Jun

16

Melo To Play For US National Team

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?????????????????????????????????????????? Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony

Not exactly a big secret or surprise for that matter, but according to the Baltimore Sun, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has been selected as one of 12 players to represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.? Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, besides penciling in Anthony for the USA national team, added, “In the last year, I thought he took a half-step back.? I have no idea why, but obviously, I’ve read the reports about how he might be traded and about some of the little things that have gone on.? But there’s a lot of stuff I’m not [privy] to.? But we need to establish Carmelo as the same guy that we had the last two summers.? I want to put his last NBA season behind him.”

One would imagine that Colangelo and Anthony will want to get together so they can be on the same page as team chemistry will be key to any aspirations the USA team harbor towards grabbing the gold in China.?Anthony’s take on his appointment to the USA national team?? “I don’t feel like I took a half-step back on the court; maybe off the court.? I’m very excited about representing my country, my team, my family and my fans in this year’s Olympics.? I [have] been waiting on this opportunity for four years.? Mr. Colangelo, you have nothing to be worried about because I’m ready.”? I certainly hope so Carmelo because word starts locally and spreads abroad - even in Beijing.
?

Jun

16

NBA Postgame: Effort Key As Lakers Win Game Five

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Jun

16

Clippers’ Livingston Resumes Basketball Activities

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Eighteen months of intensive rehabilitation appears to have paid dividends for Los Angeles guard Stanley Livingston; according to Jonathan Abrams of the Los Angeles Times, Livingston has been cleared by medical personnel to resume basketball-related activities.? Lately, he has played a pair of one-on-one games and apparently his knee is strong enough to where he can actually dunk a basketball; despite the obvious progress, Livingston more than likely will not be cleared to play in the Las Vegas summer basketball league.?

While all of this is good news for Livingston and the Clippers, one hurdle remains to be hurdled - he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.? The team, mindful of Livingston’s condition, will see how he progresses before they take the plunge and make a long-term commitment.? There’s also the very real possibility that the Clippers will attempt to re-sign Livingston, but at a lower price tag, assuming they do not sign him at a salary starting at $5.8 million.


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