The NBA draft was last night. I felt that Chicago made the right decision in choosing Derrick Rose, as he has all the necessary skills to become a good point guard. I like his humble attitude and how he doesn’t mind not being ‘the man’ and knows when to distribute to his teammates and when to . He is very explosive off the dribble and will be a nightmare to guard in the NBA. His only supposed weakness is his shooting range, but that can usually be improved with more practice. But you can’t teach quickness and hops.

Michael Beasley went to Miami at No. 2. I think Michael Beasley will be a good player, but maybe not as good as everyone thinks. Although he’s listed at 6-10, he’s more like 6-8, according to the pre-draft workout records. I think he will be more like Carlos Boozer than a Tim Duncan. It made sense for Miami to choose Beasley since they’re desperate for rebounding and scoring, especially down low. Had the Heat chose O.J. Mayo, they would’ve had two combo guards in Dwyane Wade and O.J. Mayo. The overlap in talent, size, and skillsets would not benefit the Heat all that much, and the Heat’s number one priority is to win enough ballgames next season to keep Dwyane Wade from bolting to another team. So it was pretty clear from the get-go that Miami would take either Rose or Beasley, depending on who was still on board when it was their turn.

One team to be on the lookout in the next 2-3 years is the New Jersey Nets. They’re starting to put some good, young pieces in place (Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, etc)and are primed to make more moves this offseason. With Jay-Z as a part-owner, and New Jersey/New York being a large media market, the Nets have the potential to attract either Lebron James or Dwyane Wade when these players become free agents.

Westbrook at No.4 surprised me a bit. Yeah, he has potential to be pretty good, but you’re going strictly on potential, I think. I hope he doesn’t turn into a Darius Miles or Jonathan Bender. Even though Westbrook did go to school.

1. The Blazers made a mistake. Greg Oden reminds me of Ralph Sampson but with Ben Wallace’s rebounding and defensive prowess. He’ll be good but not great. On the other hand, Kevin Durant will be a big star someday and make Portland remember 1984 (when they picked Sam Bowie at no.2 instead of this guy named Michael Jordan, who went to Chicago at No. 3). Kevin Durant is a cross between KG and Kobe. Durant should’ve been the #1 pick.

2. Yi JianLian going to Milwaukee at No. 6? The Chinese population is near non-existent in Milwaukee. Not sure how he’s going to survive there. From what I’ve seen on YouTube, the dude can ball though! I would’ve liked to see him go to Golden State in a trade. That would’ve been perfect.

3. Ray Allen going to the Celtics will help the Celtics win more games next year, but there’s no shot of them winning a championship anytime soon. Hence, a losing proposition.

4. The Knicks did very well in this draft as they got Zach Randolph. As long as Isiah can tame him, they’ll do fine. Not sure why everyone’s wondering whether Randolph can coexist with Curry. Randolph can play the 4 while Curry can play center (his natural position).

5. The Hawks are a complete mess. For like the fourth year in a row, they selected a forward. They would’ve been better off putting ‘Nique back in a Hawks uni! They need to trade Josh Childress and maybe Josh Smith for a decent center or point guard.

6. Joakim Noah is a ‘tweener and doesn’t seem like an NBA player. At best, he will be a decent defensive player and maybe give you 8-10 points a night. I can’t see him scoring against the likes of Tim Duncan, KG, Amare, etc.

7. Corey Brewer will be a pretty good player. I like his overall game. Pretty versatile.

8. Al Horford shouldn’t have gone that high at Number 3. I just don’t see what these pundits see in him. He’s good, but not exceptional at anything or that athletic. I don’t think he can be ever be as good as Elton Brand, who has a similar game.

9. Trading for Jason Richardson for Brandon Wright was a good move on the Bobcats’ part. It would’ve taken at least 2-3 years to develop Wright. The Bobcats were in desperate need of veteran leadership. He and Okafor would make a good tandem.

10. Mike Conley Jr should’ve gone #6-10 instead of at #4. He’s quick, but can’t shoot the ball to save his life. But he can work on that.

Michelle Wie has gotta be the most overrated athlete in the history of sports. Yes, more than the Boz, Darko, Sam Bowie, and Shawn Bradley. I’ve never seen anyone so hyped up even before winning anything (she hasn’t won an event). She’s supposedly too good to play on the LPGA that she has to tee it up with guys. It’s been over 2 years and still nothing. Simply put, Michelle Wie is not a winner. I’m glad she’s at Stanford now (don’t ask me how she got in) and can find her true calling–maybe in sports medicine or marketing?

Cavs in seven.

Colts over Ravens: 27-17

Bears over Seahawks: 24-14
Eagles over Saints: 24 - 14

Chargers over Patriots: 34-24

I spent some time studying rosters for every NBA team and here’s what caught my eye.  The Orlando Magic probably have the most ‘balanced’ team in the league.  The Magic have improved the most this offseason.  Here’s why:

1.  Dwight Howard, only 20 years of age, has improved his offensive game considerably.  He actually has some post-up moves to go with his rebounds/blocks.  Did you see how he made Ben Wallace a non-factor last night? 

2.  Grant Hill looks healthy (and quick).  Still one of the better all-around players in the NBA.

3.  The supporting cast is not too shabby.  No glaring weaknesses. 

Prediction: If they stay healthy, they will at least make the Eastern Conference Finals. 

 

NBA Finals: Phoenix Suns 4, Chicago Bulls 2

Most improved teams: Orlando Magic in East (50-32); Houston Rockets (54-28) in West.

MVP:  LeBron James  

 

Tigers 4, Cardinals 2

 

AFC champ: Indianapolis Colts

NFC Champ: Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl Champ: Indianapolis Colts

in Floyd Landis’ piss in both Samples A and B–as confirmed today.  

What I don’t get is how someone in this year’s Tour de France is so dumb as to take steroids despite last year’s allegations that Lance Armstrong probably had used steroids in the past (has not been confirmed).  And the worst part is how Landis vehemently denies having used steroids.  “My body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone…I drank a lot of Jack Daniel’s…I was dehydrated, etc”. 

I can’t wait to hear his new explanation…wouldn’t surprise me if his defense went like this:

LANDIS:  ”Well, they must’ve mixed up my samples with Barry Bonds’ and Mark McGwire’s.” 

PERSON OF AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE:  “Mr. Landis, we’ve conclusively determined that the urine in the samples belongs to you, through DNA testing.”

LANDIS:  “I swear I didn’t take no DNA!”

 

Just kidding about the girls (i’ll save that for another conversation).  Since some have commented on my last post. 

I sometimes kick myself for not getting the STI (additional 13k) back in 2003, but looking back, it would have been the incorrect move since I made a career switch a year earlier from science to corporate life (the transition phase was buying used textbooks for really cheap at libraries and book fairs across Florida and Georgia and selling them online for a profit).  I had only been in the company for 4 months then and was on the bottom of the pay scale.  The money I saved that day eventually went to pay for my sister’s college tuition–a much better investment.  So in the end, I’m happy with the decision not to go with the STI. 

I’ve got my eyes on possibly another Subaru, a VW GTI (sport), Audi A4/S4, Saab 9-3 Sport, Lexus IS 250/350 (manual transmission only in the 250…).  A car with personality that’s also not on everyone’s wish list (BMW, Mercedes, etc). 

I’ll need to replace my stock brake pads (front and rear) with some aftermarket (Axxis Ultimates) ones for better braking.  After that, get my stereo fixed (hasn’t worked since late 2003). 

I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I do like wearing soccer apparrel (preferrably without team logos).  Usually very lightweight and breathable for outdoors stuff and not too thuggish-looking (unlike basketball apparrel) for casual wear.  But I sense that Italy will win on Sunday. 

While the officiating during the Finals wasn’t all that great (though not nearly as bad as that of the SuperBowl), what did the Mavs in was their passive play in the second half of Games 3,4, and 6, where they just settled for the jump shot.  The fact that they didn’t drive to the basket all that much also meant that they missed out on some opportunities to get some calls, since the odds of a player driving to the basket getting a call is greater than someone taking a jump shot (the article on 82games misses this point).  The ‘touch’ foul in Game 5 was questionable, although I thought the call in Game 6 where they called a foul on Nowitzki when it seemed like Wade initiated the contact was more dubious.      

Maybe it started with poor rebounding which meant less fast breaks (the Mavs’ offense is built on medium-fast tempo).  It was ripe for the Mavs’ taking, considering how ineffective Shaq was in the series.  If Dirk had been a tad more aggressive on the offensive end down the stretch (not sure why he was seen guarding Wade towards the end of ballgames…a clear mismatch), perhaps the Mavs probably would’ve won the series.  

I personally wasn’t a big fan of the J.J. Redick selection (especially coming off a DWI).  DeShawn Stevenson (who they’re trying to re-sign) is a pretty good defender though, so maybe that’s a good balancing act?

 

I can’t remember the last time there were 3 (out of possible 4) game 7’s in the second round of the NBA playoffs.  With Miami being the only team so far to advance, you have to wonder if they’re actually at a disadvantage compared to the teams who end up winning game 7 of their respective series…

Some predictions:

San Antonio over Dallas

Detroit over Cleveland

LA Clippers over Phoenix.

Word has it that ‘Nique’s been voted to the Hall of Fame (he got robbed last year…).  More impressive than his scoring ability (9th all-time scorer in NBA history) and highlight-reels was that when he tomahawk-dunked on your noggin, he wouldn’t taunt or stare you down afterwards.  I’m not joking when I say that when it becomes official (that he’s in the Hall of Fame), it’ll will go down as one of the most significant events of my life. 

And in other news:  Go George Mason!!!

 

 

I’ve been watching Super Bowls since 1986 and Sunday’s game was by far the worst officiated game in all of sports that I can remember. While the Seahawks had many miscues on offense, it seemed like every call went against them and the timing couldn’t haven’t been worse–just when the Seahawks were gaining momentum. We know that dropped balls and other miscues can often be a case of nerves and you have to wonder if had the poor calls not been made, some of those miscues may not have happened because Seattle probably would’ve gained confidence and not get all jittery that they screw up. And over 100 million viewers got to see what a joke Instant Replay is. Especially if certain calls can’t be challenged. Instant Replay assumes that the refs are unbiased, well, if the refs were biased, if the replay shows undeniable evidence, then it’s a lot harder for them not to overturn, but if the replay doesn’t 100% refute the call on the field, then the biased ref could just let the call on the field stand.

It’s not that hard to imagine the possibility of some sleight-of-hand. All it takes is a phone call before the game and an offer (econ 101–everyone has their price). There are so many ways for the officials to cheat. Probably the most common way is to blow the whistle on trivial or borderline events, especially when you see that the team you don’t want to win for whatever reason (most likely due to cha-ching) just scored a touchdown or gained big yardage all the way down to the one yard line.

If it can happen to Sumo Wrestling, it could happen in the NFL.

We ought to be reminded of the words of Agatha Christie, the mystery fiction writer:

“Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.”

Those refs oughta be put in jail or at least fired from the NFL for their gross incompetence.

I’m feeling the same way as I did back in Super Bowl XXXVI (that year, I predicted that the Patriots–the big underdogs–would pull out an upset against the Rams and win by a field goal. I was right). That’s why I’m betting on the Seahawks.

Seahawks 21, Steelers 17