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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.

This video shows how Rose can affect the game as he will become a solid NBA-PG.

# 2

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

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 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

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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Tony Parker Player Profile.

June 20th 2007 01:29

Manu Ginoibili, Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker with the NBA Championship Trophy.

The Big 3 for the Spurs celebrate the fruits of their labor. (Image from nba.com)

The NBA Finals came and went at a blink of an eye and what did we learn? San Antonio continues its low key run of excellence, Cleveland and the LeBrons aren’t ready for the big time just yet, while Tony Parker was the MVP. Speaking of Mr. Eva Longoria, what else do we know? He’s French, and, um, he is going to marry one of the most luscious women in the world.

Fear no more NBALOUD readers because we are going to give you a lowdown on Mr. Parker. We’ll begin with the formalities:

Date of Birth: 17 May, 1982.
Height: 6’2” (188cm)
Draft: 2001 (28th overall)
Points Per Game: 15.6
Assists Per Game: 5.4
Rebounds Per Game: 3.1
Steals Per Game: 1
2 Time NBA All-Star
2007 NBA Finals MVP

There are certain people in this world that no matter what they do their number always gets called up in the game known as ‘life bingo’ – Tony Parker is one of those individuals. Born in Belgium and French raised, TP was the progeny of an American father, who was a handy basketball player in his own right and Dutch model, mother. You could just envision his life being full of peaches and cream growing up.

Young Tony, like most European kids, was obsessed with soccer but began to love basketball in earnest watching Michael Jordan do his thing and dominate the NBA for over a decade. Parker would often sneak out of bed in the middle of the night to watch the Bulls title runs and the mould was set, he was hooked on the wonderful game of hoops.

A further turning point was when in 1996, Parker, and his family visited Chicago and got to

Everybody should ask Tony to buy them a lottery ticket. (Image from nba.com)

see the Bulls practice and than some: “My uncle got me, my brothers, and my cousin in to see the Bulls practice. We spoke with Scottie Pippen and we even took a picture with Jordan!” writes Parker on his website. (TP9.com, 2007)

Prior to his life in the NBA Parker started off playing for France in the 2001 European Championship and Paris Basketball Racing in 2000. Tony became a blip on American basketball radar screens during the 2000 Nike Hoop Summit where he put on a star performance with 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds and 2 steals in 30 minutes of basketball, whilst competing against some of the top young talents in the US.

Nominating for the NBA in 2001 Tony worked out with the Spurs who initially rejected the slight Frenchman. Gregg Popovich had the European bias that was still very much prevalent at that stage, and didn’t like the fact that the young point guard wasn’t down with physical contact.

Although, the competitive spirit and blinding speed made the Spurs gamble on Tony and he was on his way to NBA stardom. Coach Gregg Popovich was initially extremely hard on his young charge, often calling him out and deriding his performances. For any fan that is familiar with NBA basketball Popovich is a famously hard task master and perfectionist.

Even after winning a Championship, the Spurs were ready to make a trade for Jason Kidd in 2003. The trade fell through, and this proved to be the impetus for Tony Parker to improve after the personal slight of trying to get him replaced as the starting floor general.

He hasn’t looked back since.

During his rookie season Parker led San Antonio in steals and assists, whilst making it to the 2001 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Oh, and continuing the charmed life theme that seems to permeate through Parker’s existence he also scored a Championship in his first year of play. He would go on to win another two more, as alluded to earlier, including the one from this season, while notching up a Finals MVP becoming the first foreign player to do so. Lucky bastard!

Perhaps his biggest achievement was winning the hand of Eva Longoria. Can we say this one more time? Lucky bastard!

The video for today is one of Tony Parker showing off his skills in the Finals. Check it out, yo!

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, San Antonio Spurs

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Ref that Challenged Tim Duncan to a Fight is Suspended by the NBA.

April 18th 2007 07:04

Talk about the wiggity, wild, wild, west! The most intensive battle right

Mickael Pietrus did it all for the Warriors today. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

now is the one for the eighth and final spot for the playoffs between the Clippers and Warriors. Both teams did what they were supposed to do today and win their respective games against some impressive opposition. It all now boils down to the very last day of the season to sort out this drama!

Golden State have waited 13 years to get back into the playoffs and thought they were as good as there when they beat the Dallas Mavericks, 111-82. Actually annihilated would be the more appropriate term.

Mickael Pietrus led the way for the Warriors with 22 points and Matt Barnes chipped in with an additional 19 points to put Golden State on the edge of the abyss of a much valued playoff spot.

The win from G-State may have seemed impressive especially the final margin of victory but Dallas rested their stars in what was to them a meaningless game. For the Warriors on the other hand this was do or die and they have to sweat it out for one more night.

What a nail biter!

Golden State’s rivals for the final spot in postseason proceedings the Los Angeles Clippers also beat much lauded opposition in the Phoenix Suns, 103-99.

With a playoff spot more than assured this game was also meaningless for the Suns but had vast ranging ramifications for the Clips. However, unlike the Mavs the Suns key players didn’t have the luxury of a rest day, still having to front up and play. But the passion wasn’t obviously there.

Elton Brand led the way with a big 21 points while the Brazilian Bullet Leandro Barbosa paced

This is the face that got an NBA ref suspended. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

the suns with 22. Steve Nash had 12 assists for Phoenix.

After a flat performance in the last game the Clippers needed this win in a big way and they got it.

So, it has now come to the final day where the Clippers need to win against the Hornets and hope that the Warriors lose at Portland to see who will reign supreme.

Let the madness begin!

Speaking of insanity the conclusion to the fight between Joey Crawford and Tim Duncan took another turn today when the ref was the one that was tossed out indefinitely by the league due to his conduct in regards to the Big Fundamental.

Crawford who is the most experienced active ref in the NBA will not see any postseason action and will have to meet up with Commissioner David Stern as to why he should be reinstated.

Stern stated as following the reasoning why he has taken such a drastic course of action: “Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted," Stern said in a statement. "Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities.” (AP, 2007)

The previous event that Stern referred to was during the 2003 Western Conference Finals involving ironically enough the same teams as this latest flap – the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, which saw then coach of the Mavs Don Nelson and his assistant Del Harris get tossed out of the game. This was the result of Crawford calling four technical fouls in the first 10 minutes of the contest!

It is with great sadness that we won’t have a final showdown between Crawford and Duncan but we can only hope that they’ll meet in a dark alley somewhere in San Antonio and settle this dispute once and for all.

In tribute to the newly minted bad ass of the NBA and ref slayer Timmy Duncan today’s clip is one involving the man in question with Kevin Garnett in an amusing commercial.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, San Antonio Spurs

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NBA Ref Wants to Fight Tim Duncan.

April 17th 2007 12:37

Contrary to popular belief Tim Duncan is not a robot. Repeat: Tim

Fight, fight, fight, fight! (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Duncan is not a robot and is actually a human being full of flesh and bones. How do we know? He was laughing, yes, laughing on the bench which scored him a second technical foul from referee Joey Crawford earning the Big Fundamental an ejection.

This is where things get interesting as one might say.

Let’s backtrack for a moment shall we? Timmy copped the first ‘T’ for complaining to Crawford that the refs missed a foul committed on him and the first one was probably deserved.

The second technical is a different matter. Crawford seemingly gave the ‘T’ to Duncan without any provocation, whilst he was sitting on the bench, and roughly one and a half minutes after the first technical foul.

Duncan was on the bench laughing it up with teammate Robert Horry when the unbelievable transpired with the ejection.

This was only the second time that Timmy was kicked out of a game in his illustrious, yet far from colourful career. After the game Duncan stated that he believed Crawford had a problem with him and that he insisted the only dialogue that transpired between the two after the first technical was a line of questioning in regards to a foul he believed he was on the receiving end of.

After that came the bombshell revelation – Duncan added further that Crawford challenged the 7-foot basketball behemoth to a fight; “He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?' “Duncan said.”If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem

NBALOUD believes that Joey Crawford can beat Tim Duncan in a fight *cough, cough* (Image from Wikipedia)

with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?' (Wojnarowski, Yahoo!, 2007)

Talk about fightin’ words from little Joey Crawford.

As always there are two sides of the story and Crawford in his statement to the press had a different recollection of events while trying to defend his seemingly insane decision of ejecting Duncan who believed he didn’t do anything to warrant an ejection; “That's his opinion. He said nothing when he was walking off the court and he called me a piece of [blank]? Is that nothing? He's complaining. He was constantly complaining. He was complaining when he was on the court. Then he got on the bench and kept doing the same stuff. So I just ejected him.” (Wojnarowski, Yahoo!, 2007)

It should be noted to anyone who isn’t familiar with NBA basketball that Tim Duncan is one of the classier and quiet guys in the league. He isn’t demonstrative or particularly colourful towards the public and the media, but apparently he is a witty guy in private. So, the accusations directed at Crawford give room for pause because he doesn’t take such actions lightly.

We can only hope that Crawford is in charge of a Spurs playoff game and that the fight does transpire. What a sight that would be!

Today’s video is of the aforementioned events. NBALOUD reports, you decide. Oh, those words made me shudder just writing them.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, San Antonio Spurs

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