Monday, June 20, 2011
Cleveland to Take Irving
According to sources at ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers will use the number one overall pick on a middling PG with a ceiling of Mo Peterson. Which is good news for Cleveland, who will be in line to win the lottery again in 4-6 years. If I am a Cleveland fan, I cross my fingers that I can get Derrick Williams in this draft because Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard are not the keys to a championship.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
2011 NBA Mock Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft takes place on June 23, 2011. Assuming nothing is holding back that date, we proceed forward with a mock draft. These are picks based on projections, not based on the opinions of NBA Zone Press which desperately wants Minnesota to trade picks with Cleveland.
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| *Denotes pick received in trade |
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dallas Mavericks Win 2011 NBA Finals
To be perfectly honest, the Zone Press had Dallas losing every series of the playoffs. The roster didn't look much better than any other year. The addition of Tyson Chandler seemed important, but in the wake of James and Bosh, a Derrick Rose breakout, the Westbrook and Durant combo, and basically every other team, the Mavericks never seemed like the sure thing.
The first NBA Finals championship in Dallas Mavericks history had a number of "sure" things. Mark Cuban would run his mouth. Dirk would do something "soft." The rag tag bench and supporting cast would fall flat. Rick Carlisle would begin filming on a new movie about penguins. But all of those sure things changed this season. Twelve consecutive 50+ win seasons, and here we are with a championship. This can only lead to one conclusion. The Dallas Mavericks are the Atlanta Braves of Basketball. Years and years of consistent winning in order to pull out one title.
Still, what an incredible run to see this team come out as the champions with all the trials and tribulations of the offseason. This team is made up of some of the strangest pieces. The second leading scorer comes off the bench? JJ Barea looks like the 3rd pick at a YMCA pick up game. Shawn Marion.... everything about Shawn Marion. Most of all I like that Cuban's collection of overpriced centers finally paid off.
Congratulations Dallas, and you too Cleveland.
The first NBA Finals championship in Dallas Mavericks history had a number of "sure" things. Mark Cuban would run his mouth. Dirk would do something "soft." The rag tag bench and supporting cast would fall flat. Rick Carlisle would begin filming on a new movie about penguins. But all of those sure things changed this season. Twelve consecutive 50+ win seasons, and here we are with a championship. This can only lead to one conclusion. The Dallas Mavericks are the Atlanta Braves of Basketball. Years and years of consistent winning in order to pull out one title.
Still, what an incredible run to see this team come out as the champions with all the trials and tribulations of the offseason. This team is made up of some of the strangest pieces. The second leading scorer comes off the bench? JJ Barea looks like the 3rd pick at a YMCA pick up game. Shawn Marion.... everything about Shawn Marion. Most of all I like that Cuban's collection of overpriced centers finally paid off.
Congratulations Dallas, and you too Cleveland.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
"This is our Game 7."
Dirk Nowitzki knows. This is the Dallas Mavericks' Game 7. With the NBA Finals adopting the 2-3-2 style for its playoff games, the Mavericks need to win Game 5 because there is little hope that they can produce two straight wins in Miami if they were to lose.
**RANT ON: The media (yes, I am excluding myself from the group) often sites the winning percentages of teams that win Game 2 or Game 3 or Game 4 and so on. It is a trend that I strongly wish would stop out of its shear stupidity. Oh! The team that wins Game 5 in a split series goes on to win the series 83% of the time! If the teams were exactly even, the odds of team winning on accident would be 75%. If it were 50|50 for Game 6 and 50|50 for Game 7, then that is about expected. END RANT**
The Mavericks absolutely must win this game. I can't see a way where the Mavericks can figure out a way to score on Miami's home court, where, for some reason because Miami fans are the worst, the Heat seem to absolutely dominate.
The biggest question over Game 5 is Lebron. Or LeBlasfemy, as my quiet co-author would note. LeBrong dropped an awesome 8 points in Game 4. Even DeShawn Stevenson had something to say.
**RANT ON: DeShawn Stevenson didn't say anything that bad. He answered Jim Rome's question. What do you think happened with Lebron? I mean, he didn't say anything we all didn't see. I thought Lebron had been hypnotized. He was wondering around. If I would have seen him on the court, I would have found a police officer to help him find his parents. DeShawn, I warned you before the series started... But you are still OK with Zone Press. **RANT OFF
**RANT BACK ON: Lebron, what was that? Stop it. Let me see 25 of teams final 25 points again...**RANT BACK OFF
One writer made an interesting note as we approach game time. Every time the Heat win, they are winning it all. Every time the Mavericks win, "its a series." Well, if the Mavericks can win tonight, I can't wait for the next Game 7 even if Dirk thinks Game 7 is tonight.
**RANT ON: The media (yes, I am excluding myself from the group) often sites the winning percentages of teams that win Game 2 or Game 3 or Game 4 and so on. It is a trend that I strongly wish would stop out of its shear stupidity. Oh! The team that wins Game 5 in a split series goes on to win the series 83% of the time! If the teams were exactly even, the odds of team winning on accident would be 75%. If it were 50|50 for Game 6 and 50|50 for Game 7, then that is about expected. END RANT**
The Mavericks absolutely must win this game. I can't see a way where the Mavericks can figure out a way to score on Miami's home court, where, for some reason because Miami fans are the worst, the Heat seem to absolutely dominate.
The biggest question over Game 5 is Lebron. Or LeBlasfemy, as my quiet co-author would note. LeBrong dropped an awesome 8 points in Game 4. Even DeShawn Stevenson had something to say.
**RANT ON: DeShawn Stevenson didn't say anything that bad. He answered Jim Rome's question. What do you think happened with Lebron? I mean, he didn't say anything we all didn't see. I thought Lebron had been hypnotized. He was wondering around. If I would have seen him on the court, I would have found a police officer to help him find his parents. DeShawn, I warned you before the series started... But you are still OK with Zone Press. **RANT OFF
**RANT BACK ON: Lebron, what was that? Stop it. Let me see 25 of teams final 25 points again...**RANT BACK OFF
One writer made an interesting note as we approach game time. Every time the Heat win, they are winning it all. Every time the Mavericks win, "its a series." Well, if the Mavericks can win tonight, I can't wait for the next Game 7 even if Dirk thinks Game 7 is tonight.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Tyson Chandler Rebounds By Himself
Tyson Chandler has received some unjust criticism for his low rebounding numbers over the last few weeks. After watching the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, I have to say I completely understand his inability to get a rebound. With Dirk playing the 4, Dallas has nobody else crashing the boards. Jason Kidd/JJ Barea are no Rajon Rondo on the boards. Shawn Marion and Jason Terry take a YMCA approach to rebounding... shrug and watch.
Tyson, I want to exonerate you from the criticism. With triple box outs and Joel Anthony following you everywhere, do your best to keep the ball alive and maybe it will fall into the hands of one of your spectating teammates.
Tyson, I want to exonerate you from the criticism. With triple box outs and Joel Anthony following you everywhere, do your best to keep the ball alive and maybe it will fall into the hands of one of your spectating teammates.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Ricky Rubio Taking His Talents to Minneapolis
After a couple of years of dragging his feet in Spain, Ricky Rubio plans to make an enterance into the NBA next season. While there are still a number of hurdles in the way, including actually getting him out of his current contract, Rubio is primed to come to Minnesota.
When Rubio first declared for the NBA draft, he was a bit of a celebrity. After playing very well in the Olympics for Spain, Rubio had a reputation for dishing out crazy passes. It was the dream to see every elite dunker matched up with Rubio. Naturally, David Kahn completely fumbled by drafting both Rubio and Jonny Flynn back to back. (Also: don't forget the draft of Ty Lawson even later in that first round). Unsurprisingly, Rubio decided to stay put for awhile.
Now the attitude is a little different. Rubio didn't grow up in the game as much as some NBA scouts hoped. Now he comes over with little fan fare. Rubio does finally give Minnesota what it needs. And, scouts are saying that his game is better suited for the NBA.
With Rubio coming, this puts an interesting twist on the NBA draft. If the Cavaliers pick Derrick Williams with the number one pick (they should), then I think the Timberwolves should trade the pick. If Minnesota can trade the pick to the Cavaliers at the 4 spot, then Cleveland can get both Williams and Irving. Minnesota can then hope to grab Enes Kantor at the Center position. With Rubio, Kantor, Love, Beasley, Johnson, and Randolph, all of sudden Minnesota could be looking up.
When Rubio first declared for the NBA draft, he was a bit of a celebrity. After playing very well in the Olympics for Spain, Rubio had a reputation for dishing out crazy passes. It was the dream to see every elite dunker matched up with Rubio. Naturally, David Kahn completely fumbled by drafting both Rubio and Jonny Flynn back to back. (Also: don't forget the draft of Ty Lawson even later in that first round). Unsurprisingly, Rubio decided to stay put for awhile.
Now the attitude is a little different. Rubio didn't grow up in the game as much as some NBA scouts hoped. Now he comes over with little fan fare. Rubio does finally give Minnesota what it needs. And, scouts are saying that his game is better suited for the NBA.
With Rubio coming, this puts an interesting twist on the NBA draft. If the Cavaliers pick Derrick Williams with the number one pick (they should), then I think the Timberwolves should trade the pick. If Minnesota can trade the pick to the Cavaliers at the 4 spot, then Cleveland can get both Williams and Irving. Minnesota can then hope to grab Enes Kantor at the Center position. With Rubio, Kantor, Love, Beasley, Johnson, and Randolph, all of sudden Minnesota could be looking up.
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