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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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Did anyone watch the Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks over the weekend? If you did happen to catch that game, you would have seen an exciting contest, and the Knicks actually playing great basketball. Huzzah!

Coincidentally enough, New York were missing a number of key players including, Stephon
Channing Frye.
Where is the love in New York asks Channing? (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
Marbury from the lineup, and here is the rub: the Knicks played some great basketball.

The team from Gotham hustled and flowed, with David Lee playing some major league, energy basketball. New York actually had the backs of each other and it was a pleasure to see – far removed from their alleged selfishness.

Even though the Knicks have been recently playing beautiful basketball, they’re still in the cellar, whilst paying Starbury an extravagant amount of cash. So, the question that needs to be asked: why does New York suck?

Let’s look at the case study of Zach Randolph, who was traded from Portland to New York, and Channing Frye, who moved in the opposite direction.

Frye, is playing for a young team that is a virtual playoff contender for at least the next decade, while, Randolph is stuck in the perpetual bleakness that is New York basketball.

Randolph was a force to be reckoned with during his time with the Blazers, but has found that the constant negativity surrounding his new franchise has sapped the spirit from the man. His situation has been made worse by the fact that his old team is doing so well.

Channing on the other hand is a picture of contentment, and it has to do with the fact that his new team plays hard for each other, while carrying the utmost respect for their squad.

“It’s all about the team,” he said. “Everybody’s got great attitudes, everybody’s in there working out and staying after and shooting.”

“I don’t think you see very many losing teams working out in August with 10 people,” he said. “Everybody’s committed to one thing.” (Beck, New York Times, 2008)

The culture of the Blazers locker that was relayed to Frye was one where individual statistics weren’t an issue, or how many shots a player is getting. It was all about the team.

Maybe, New York needs that sort of attitude as well. Not only should the Knicks players like each other, but care for one another also – a point that Frye was all too eager to make.

Today’s video is of the All-Star starters giving props to the fans that loved them so much.



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