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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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Carlos Boozer: Punch Drunk Love.

September 22nd 2007 07:56

The attention that players such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Yao Ming and Steve Nash garner, you’d think that they were the only decent ballers that ply their trade in the league. Sure, the aforementioned guys are marquee names, but there are a multitude of unheralded players out there that definitely deserve more love from the public.

There are many reasons as to why some players will never capture the public’s imagination, such as they might not be flashy, personable, presentable, or they just happen to ply their trade in a small market. Salt Lake City, home of the Utah Jazz would fit into the last categorisation, which is a shame because it is home to two of the best young players in the NBA – Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.

We here at NBALOUD have covered Deron before, so it’s the Booze which will be getting love from this space today.

Date of Birth: 20 November, 1981.
Height: 6’9” (206cm)
College: Duke
Draft: 2002. 35th Pick overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2nd round.
Points per Game: 15.8
Rebounds per Game: 9.8

Carlos Boozer is proof of how inexact the science of drafting players is when it comes to forecasting which players will excel and those who fail. The Booze is a classic example of a second round draft pick that has come good.

In fact, Carlos’, story is a classic triumph of the spirit type tale.

Alaska wouldn’t be the first place one envisions as a state that would produce excellent

We're drunk on the Booze here at NBALOUD. (Image from nba.com)

basketball talent. Truth be told, it would probably be one of the last states anyone would expect an NBA all-star to hail from, but the Booze has defied that belief and than some.

Growing up in Juneau, Alaska, Boozer would give glimpses of basketball greatness when he led his high school team to consecutive titles, whilst being named as basketball player of the year in Alaska on three occasions. Not bad when you consider that there are only four years in an American high school career.

Um, let’s stop with the underestimating because everyone else does with Carlos – his high school career was kickass!

Further proof of the Booze’s basketball chops came in the form of the Duke Blue Devils, who are a collegiate ball superpower, and recruited Carlos heavily. You don’t really turn down the basketball pedigree of Duke, and Carlos wisely didn’t.

The college career of the Booze was solid, but unspectacular. He finished his time at Durham as Duke’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and named as a third team All-American and First Team All-ACC. Bravo, Booze.

Drafted by the Cavs, Carlos would become an integral part of the James gang, doing the type of grunt work down low that all teams value. In his time with Cleveland, the Booze averaged a solid 15 points and 11 rebounds, whilst being hard as nails down the post.

Cleveland understood how valuable Carlos was and wanted to re-sign him desperately. However, it was during Boozer’s contract renegotiations when they made a fatal error in judgement. It was alleged that if the Cavs released Boozer from the final year of his contract, he would re-sign with the team, allowing him to make more money.

Well, the Cavs should have realised that when a player of Carlos’ calibre is available, many suitors are going to make big money offers and the Jazz were that team. Signing, on the dotted line of a massive $70 million contract, the Cavs chose not to match Utah’s offer and watched their big man fly the coop.

The name Carlos Boozer was about as popular as syphilis in Cleveland after these shenanigans. Casting the Booze as a villain was a sad turn of events because he is known as a popular and decent guy.

After a sputtering start in Utah, Carlos would have his career year with the season just past. Winning player of the week awards and being named as a first time all-star capped off a stellar season for Boozer. He also had career highs in points (41) and would lead the Jazz deep into playoff contention.

Carlos Boozer had arrived.

For anyone who wants to know more about Carlos, check out today’s video.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, Utah Jazz

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Derek Fisher gives up Basketball for his Family.

July 3rd 2007 10:51

One of the most dramatic stories during this year’s playoffs that this space unfortunately failed to cover was when Utah Jazz guard Derek Fisher, after spending the day with his sick daughter, and with little rest, then played a starring role against the G-State Warriors in a dramatic Western Conference semi-final contest. Fisher, the veteran Jazz player is a good man, whose 11 month old daughter is battling a rare form cancer in her left eye, called it a day with the Jazz releasing him from his contract so he could care for his daughter.

Derek hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of playing ball again but naturally the health of his daughter is of paramount importance, “Life for me outweighs the game of basketball…When it comes to decisions related to them. I do what’s best.” (White, AP, 2007)

Tatum Fisher was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancerous tumour in her left eye and there is a danger that it could spread throughout her body. Retinoblastoma is so rare that only 350 cases are diagnosed each year. Derek Fisher bravely fought hard on the basketball court, whilst attending to his daughter, oftentimes battling exhaustion in trying to balance his career and family.

Although there was a possibility that Fisher could have continued on playing while taking care

Derek Fisher does the right thing by his daughter. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)

of his daughter, the man commendably made the right decision stating that he is solely focused on his family and that they make him the player he is – playing on while his daughter is ill was not an option.

We can only hope the best for Derek and his family.

Vince Carter as reported earlier on this space opted out of his contract but was always expected to re-sign with the team and it apparently has come to fruition. An anonymous tipster has revealed that the Nets are about to offer a four year contract worth around $60 million.

The reason why the deal is still hush-hush is due to the fact that under NBA rules contracts cannot be signed until the first day of the free agency period.

VC was undoubtedly a stud for the Nets averaging 25.2 points in the regular season, but was a dud for them during the playoffs. In fact he continued on a history of poor play during the postseason, which spelt doom for New Jersey because as great as Jason Kidd was, he could not have done it all himself.

Carter most notably made crucial errors against the Cavs in the Eastern Conference semi-finals costing the Nets, whilst being a no-show for Game 6 where he had more turnovers than baskets. Still, the man does put bums in seats.

Yesterday we showed the video of Greg Oden’s workout, now here is Kevin Durant’s.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, Utah Jazz

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