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NBA Loud - by Travis

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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An emotional Ron Artest in today's press conference. (AP Photo/Sacramento Bee, Bryan Patrick)


Want any further evidence that athletes get too much of a free pass in our sports loving society? Look no further than Ron Artest who was arrested five days ago on suspicion of domestic violence against his wife tearfully apologising for his behaviour and begging to be let back into the Kings fold.

Now, as a law student the presumption of innocence is paramount in the society we live in so we won’t pass judgement on Ron-Ron until he comes before a Court of law. The Kings had excused Artest from all mandated activities following his arrest and in today’s press conference be apologised to his wife and stated that he let his family down.

Fighting back tears he made further apologies to the Sacramento organisation and the NBA in general for his behaviour in the last few days; “I definitely want to apologise for my behaviour even to the ... whole NBA, all the players, because the league is doing so well right now ... and Ron Artest once again is in the media for something other than basketball and I apologise.” (Davis, AP, 2007)

Ron-Ron’s wife made an emergency call on Tuesday night alleging that Artest slapped her in the face and grabbed her repeatedly causing visible injuries on her hand and leg.

The news conference was arranged to make the announcement that Artest will be back in uniform for the Kings tomorrow against Denver and to publicly pledge that he would do everything in his power to repair his personal life. Ron-Ron has even volunteered his services to groups in the Sacramento area that deal with domestic violence.

“I definitely stumbled by what happened with my family, and I took a step back as being a father and a husband, and I'm looking forward to the day when I can make that right," he said.” (Davis, AP, 2007)

It must be said that Artest hasn’t been charged with any crime or misdemeanour as yet and the Kings haven’t publicly stated any action to be taken in regards to Ron-Ron if formal charges are laid. Artest will be arraigned on the 22nd of March on suspicion of domestic violence and the use of force in preventing an individual from reporting a crime.

In much more savoury news, we turn our focus onto the basketball court where both Steve Francis and his New York Knicks have all of the sudden stopped sucking and come out all guns blazing. The Franchise – is it safe to bestow this moniker on him once more? Hit a game winning 3-pointer on the buzzer to seal a 90-89 win against the Washington Wizards.

Francis finished his wonderful night with a 26 point and seven rebound performance that was capped off with the game winning basket. Furthermore, the once widely derided Knicks have tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York can give a big thanks to Steve for putting them in a somewhat plum position.

Today’s clip is a gem with part one of a two part series of Charles Barkley versus Godzilla. Visit NBALOUD again tomorrow for the conclusion.



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