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NBA Loud - by Arnold

The 2008 NBA Draft

July 1st 2008 03:49
I’d like to post about the previously finished NBA Draft. A lot of trades were completed/proposed making this years draft exciting and noteworthy. In this first post I will be going through the top five picks and thereafter with updates and all you need to know up to the minute stats and transactions.

Let’s get this post draft analysis going with the first overall pick for the Chicago Bulls DERRICK ROSE. Rose out of Memphis has a solid NBA body and can take the punishment as a player in the paint. He will mold himself into whatever type of player his team needs him to be as evident by the video below. He is one of the most ready-type players to enter the league. A truly solid addition to any team, kind of makes me think of the miss of Jay Williams. In which whom the Bulls took as the savior type PG years ago before he had his motorcycle accident stifling his promising career. With this pick Chicago puts themselves back into contention for a playoff spot in the East.


Derrick Rose #1 NBA Pick 2008
This video shows how Rose can affect the game as he will become a solid NBA-PG.




# 2
Michael Beasley #2 NBA Pick 2008
Undoubtedly the Miami Heat selected MICHAEL BEASLEY out of Kansas State. This PF needs no introduction to basketball fans as his huge wingspan makes up for any negativity about his height at the four spot. One of the perfect teams for Beasley to go to, I think his character issues would only become apparent if he were to have to battle with a solid proven veteran for his starting spot. He will be going in battling Udonis Haslem who has seen his stock drop as he needs to create more of his own offence. The heat I am sure are not finished in tweaking their team for the 08/09 season. Marion though will alleviate any concerns of the rookie being overmatched down-low as he is almost like an extra PF out there sometimes with his rebounding efforts and hustle in trying to make the right plays.





# 3
OJ Mayo #3 NBA Pick 2008
Minnesota at the third spot went with OJ MAYO, who I have seen and been hearing about for a good number of years. Mayo will be a solid two as at 6’4” 200lbs he is limited in selected positions, but this guy is just a born scorer and if he ends up in Grizz-town, look for him to team up with Rudy Gay as Mike Miller was moved with Memphis making the choice to let him go after he admittedly carried the Grizzlies last season at times. In return Minnesota looks to get #5 Kevin Love. I am in love with this deal as the T-Wolves send Antoine Walker also to MEM. Minnesota gets the scoring they desperately need and character guys, to build around. I know what fans may be thinking and no this isn’t the second coming of Wally World, Mike Miller is a gamer playing all three spots from 1-3 for the Grizz and did whatever was asked, as he became a versatile and proven scorer, unlike streaky Szczerbiak.





# 4
Russell Westbrook #4 NBA Pick 2008
Russell Westbrook a surprise at number four as the top three had virtually been decided weeks beforehand. Westbrook though an unexpected pick is an explosive guard that will do well in this league especially when Seattle gets all the parts and can continuously run up and down with Durant and Green. The Sonics clearly want a guard that can break down the D and get up and down the court at breakneck speeds. They have found that guy with Westbrook. People want to compare him to NBA champion Rajon Rondo and maybe Monta Ellis, he is long and skinny and extremely athletic, time will tell if he can make the right passes for a long career with Durant by his side.




# 5
Kevin Love #5 NBA Pick 2008
Care of NBADraft.net
Memphis picks Kevin Love at the number five spot and in turn will be sending him to Minnesota in the deal outlined in the third pick paragraph. Love is solid, not an athlete like the Grizz love at the four spot, but the T-Wolves just need ballers in which Kevin is for sure. Down-low he will be helped by Al Jefferson for sure on defense. Also he will have a great passer in Mike Miller to get the ball to him in good spots. I like Kevin Love on a solid team a rebuilding team he may flourish or sink as he’ll need to create his own offence and may struggle with the speed of the NBA at first.
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Suns and Spurs players fight.
Did someone say 'Royal Rumble'? (Photo by Getty Images)


LeBron James bought the sexy back into basketball today, while New Jersey’s big three failed to fire which ultimately proved costly for their playoff aspirations. Cleveland obviously won today, 87-85, and is now just one win away from progressing to the next round.

It was all Bron-Bron for the Cavs, scoring 30 points, snatching nine rebounds and handing off seven assists – one might say that this was a Jason Kidd-esque type performance. The real Jason Kidd failed to stand up though with an atrocious shooting night managing to only score five points, which was not tempered by the fact that he had a career playoff-high 17 boards.

New Jersey’s other two superstars didn’t fare any better with Vince Carter shooting 6-for-23 from the field, whilst Richard Jefferson joined the brick-fest with a 3-of-12 shooting night. U-G-L-Y. What does that spell? Well, NBALOUD readers are a smart bunch so we don’t need to insult your intelligence by giving you the answer to this no-brainer of a question.

Shockingly for the Nets they still could have won this game as the scoreline would suggest, but they could only manage a paltry three field goals in the final quarter, and fumbled their final shot which would have tied the contest. Just imagine what might have been if they played competent basketball?

This loss would sting for the Nets because it was there for the taking, even when the team
Steve Nash wants to fight Robert Horry.
Steve Nash wants to get physical with Robert Horry, but not in the way that Olivia Newton-John sang about. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
played the most horrendous basketball imaginable.

Game 4 of the Phoenix/San Antonio series ended with fireworks when with 18 seconds left in the game Robert Horry for the Spurs decided to foul Steve Nash hard. The formerly floppy haired Canadian didn’t appreciate this treatment one bit and decided he’d try and physically charge ‘Big Shot Rob’. Stevie Wonder didn’t need to worry because Raja Bell had his back and was already doing the mob hit on the Godfathers behalf.

This series already had a lot of tension to begin with as evidence by the cut on Nash’s nose from Game 1, Manu Ginobili copping a black eye in Game 3, and finally Amare Stoudemire calling out the Spur’s as a dirty team. The hate is palpable on both squads, which means a great basketball spectacle for NBA fans! Huzzah!

Here is Stevie Wonder’s reaction to the forearm that sent the little Canadian flying into the scorer’s table: “I know you have to roll with the punches literally a lot of the time," Nash said. "I felt like that was uncalled for. It's hard to always take the high road.” (White, AP, 2007)

Horry was sent packing after the foul and there might be more suspensions in order when a number of Suns players left the bench during the final second fracas. Leaving the bench to get into a bit of slap and tickle is a big no-no in the NBA.

Oh, in case anyone was wondering the Suns won, 104-98, and the series is now tied at two-a-piece. Game on!

Today’s video illustrates how combative the Suns/Spurs series has been with the blood of Steve Nash being spilled, literally. Watch how Stevie Wonder scored that rather attractive cut on his nose.


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