E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Vimu Subscription

NBA Loud - by Travis

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.

Vote

Shared on

NBA Loud

Travis Friends

Add Comments

Email this Post to a Friend

NBA Award Predictions.

December 4th 2007 13:08

Recently, Sports Insider, who is the other writer for NBALOUD put forward his picks for the major awards in the Association thus far. Well, it would only be fair that this writer should also put his neck on the line and make his predictions for the various plaudits the NBA gives out to its players.

Let’s start off with what we do agree with, and that is Manu Ginobili as the Sixth Man of the Year. This is a given, especially considering how well El Loco is playing coming off the bench. No, one even comes close.

Now, let’s move onto the more juicy part of this post. Besides El Loco as the best bench player, Sports Insider and, I, have differing choices for every other award available. Hey, this would be a pretty boring world if we all agreed on the same things.

Most Valuable Player: Dwight Howard

Kevin Garnett and LeBron James are definitely big time choices to take out the MVP, but for my mind, Dwight Howard is right now standing above all others.

What Orlando’s big man has been able to do on-court has been scary for all opposing teams. Some of the numbers that young, Dwight has been accumulating this season has been downright, mind boggling. Better yet, the Magic are actually winning and against some very impressive opposition.

Dwight as of this moment is roughly averaging 23 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks per game, whilst dominating down low in the manner that Shaquille O’Neal used to back in the day.

You heard it here first, folks. Jamario Moon for Rookie of the Year! (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)

Rookie of the Year: Jamario Moon

Jamario Moon doesn’t only have the coolest name in the league, but is the surprise packet in this year’s rookie class. Not only that, but Moon’s story is heart warming because after declaring his eligibility for the draft in 2001, and not being picked up, Jamario bounced around in various lesser leagues in America, finally grabbing a spot with the Toronto Raptors this year.

What has Moon brought to the table? Well, hustle, energy and a thirst for the game that makes all NBA watchers swoon. His numbers might not be eye catching, but his defensive intensity has been a revelation.

Kevin Durant might get all the love and praise, but has there been a more efficient rookie than Moon?

Most Improved Player: John Salmons

Playing for the Sacramento Kings these days is akin to being in a Soviet gulag in Siberia – no one can hear you scream.

This is a shame because two fantastic players are ballin’ in relative anonymity: Kevin Martin, and my pick for the Most Improved Player, John Salmons.

Never averaging more than nine points during his career, Salmons is now collecting a solid 14.5 points a game, whilst grabbing a very nice 4.4 boards per contest to boot.

In the rare chance that Sac-Town will be on television, keep an eye out for Johnny Bravo.

Defensive Player of the Year: Andrei Kirilenko

After a shocking ’06-’07 season, Andrei Kirilenko has rediscovered his love for the game and is once again playing stat stuffing basketball. Averaging 2.4 blocks a game he is showing off his defensive prowess for the entire world to see as well. Not, that we ever doubted his skills to lock down his opponents.

Although, his block numbers are very impressive, it is the intangibles that can’t be measured by raw stats that makes AK47 excel on defence – altering shots, poking away balls, and just being a general nuisance, makes Kirilenko my pick for the uber-defender in the NBA.

Not familiar with Jamario Moon? Check out this video and watch the ROY in action!

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Stanley - Category: Misc, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

Email this Post to a Friend

The Boston Celtics Lose Their First Game.

November 19th 2007 08:27

As sweet as the start from the Boston Celtics was, it wasn’t going to

Rashard Lewis gives Orlando an added dimension. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

last forever. Today, the Orlando Magic pipped the NBA’s newest glamour team, 104-102.

The Celtics have been the best shooting team in the league, thus, far, but were uncharacteristically off target, trailing by a previously unheard of 20 points in this contest. Up until the Magic conjured up their spell, Boston had been suffocating their opponents with the stingiest ‘D’ in the NBA.

Going into the fourth quarter, Boston was still trailing but made it a contest with, Paul Pierce missing a difficult jumper to force the game into extra-time.

"We're not perfect," said Kevin Garnett, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds. "We didn't think we were going to go 82-0. But we are a team of character. We do play hard. We do play together -- just not perfect." (Reed, AP, 2007)

Boston’s Big Three played fantastic basketball, but it wasn’t to be. For Orlando, Dwight Howard had a monster game with 24 points and six rebounds, and was ably assisted by new recruit, Rashard Lewis who chipped in with a further 22. Finally, Jameer Nelson also had a big game with 18 points, six assists and five rebounds to stun the Celtics. Orlando has shown in today’s game that they won’t be messed with either in the East.

Stephen ‘Action’ Jackson returned today from suspension for the Golden State Warriors and was right in the thick of it, scoring 17 points to help his team overcome the Toronto Raptors, 106-100.

G-State’s prodigal son, returned from a seven game suspension due to his guilty plea to a felony charge of criminal recklessness when he thought he was Jim West, desperado, and started firing his gun outside of a strip club last year. The Warriors, who have had an indifferent start so far in the season, would have breathed a sigh of relief that the craziest member of the squad is back.

Staying out west, the Chicago Bulls are currently on their massive annual road trip and coincidentally enough played the Los Angeles Lakers today. Why the coincidence? Well, because of the Kobe Bryant trade rumours!

Chi-Town has been a rudderless ship and they are fast slipping out of championship

Allow NBALOUD to introduce everyone to Beno Udrih! (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

contention. Kobe and the Lakers didn’t let up today, spanking the Bulls, 106-78.

One of the biggest revelations for L.A. this season has been the play of their bench, which has on more than one occasion been the difference maker. Today was no, exception, with five subs scoring in double figures. In fact, so good were the Laker reserves that they outscored the Bulls bench 73-31.

Performance of the Day.

Today’s player of the day isn’t a household name. In fact, many NBA fans would probably struggle to name this player because he is a) Slovenian and b) used to play his ball in San Antonio. Now, one might think that playing for the defending champs might get you at least some exposure, but this isn’t the case when you’re talking about the Spurs.

The uber-baller of the day, however, has moved on to the Sacramento Kings, which would get even less publicity than the Spurs!

Give up? Drum-roll, please: Come on down, Beno Udrih!

Udrih had 23 points, and six assists, as he led his new team to a win over the mighty Detroit Pistons, 105-95.

Congrats, Beno! You do have to wonder though at how much performances of the day he can muster up this season? Only time will tell.

The video on display in this post is of today’s top 10 plays!

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Stanley - Category: Games, Sacramento Kings

Email this Post to a Friend

Ron Artest Tries to Make Amends After his Arrest.

March 11th 2007 08:54

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.