Draft Recap

After I heard that the Nets and Bucks had put together a deal sending Yi to New Jersey and RJ to Milwaukee I began to get excited.  Yi was the reason Varejao wouldn't accept a trade to the Bucks.  FIrst because they play the same position and would compete for minutes and second because his agent Dan Fegan represents them both.  Also, with the addition of RJ it seemed that perhaps Redd was able to be moved with less of an immediate impact on the roster.  Although it now seems as if the Bucks could be keeping that expensive pair intact in hopes of competing in next year's East.  Once the draft got going and passed deep into the lottery the hopes of the Cavs moving their pick began to dwindle.  With JJ Hickson's name being called at 19 I was immediately curious.  While I had heard of Hickson and had seen him play, being a huge UNC and ACC fan, I didn't really know too much about him as an NBA prospect.  I understand the choice as it adds depth and youth the Cavs elderly frontline, but to me it does not appear that the pick will make a noticeable difference for 2 or 3 years.  The Cavs were also able to add two second round picks.  When I originally heard this I was hoping at least one of them was CDR or Bill Walker each of which are legitimate first round talents.  Of course they weren't, but instead Ferry had managed to obtain Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun from Kansas.  Again these additions are understandable as the Cavs frontline has only a couple years left, but still I do not see a whole lot of potential in either of these picks.  Now I have read a couple of articles this morning that say they are satisfied with the picks and excited to add much needed youth in the frontcourt.  This is usually followed with a comment that resembles 'the Cavs cannot live in constant fear of LeBron and must take the player that makes most sense now and in the future.'  In response to this sort of comment I have this to say.  How is it being fearful of LeBron to realize that the only legitimate chance that the city of Cleveland has had to win a sports championship in the past decade is for the Cavs right this very instant.  The future is now and if that sort of attitude isn't embraced by the Cavs front office LeBron will leave to "greener" pastures without first winning at least one NBA title in Cleveland.  To me this has nothing to do with being afraid of LeBron, but possibly being afraid of losing the only opportunity the Cavs could ever have at winning a World title.  

In other news William Scott, my top ranked player from Team One's South showcase in Atlanta, GA last July, was drafted in this year's June draft by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round.  

Match Made in Heaven

Well David Stern's wish is well perhaps Dick Bavetta's command.  After a grueling month of playoff action the Lakers and Celtics have begun the 2008 NBA Finals.  Now while I am not saying that these two teams do not deserve to be here, as both are two of the best teams in the game today.  However, what annoys me is the drama "manufactured" around the Celtics run to the finals.  In fact, it hasn't been since the 1987 Lakers won it all that a team had more than 8 playoff losses on the way to the championship.  Seems fitting right, the Celtics avenge their 1987 loss to the Lakers with a remarkable playoff run that saw the  Celtics potentially lose the most games for an NBA champion since that 1987 season.  This is what annoys me exactly.  That sounded stupid didn't it.  Right, who cares that the Lakers were last team to lose more than the 8 games already lost in the playoffs by the Celtics and still win it all?  For that matter who cares that the Andrew Bynum was not even born when the Lakers and Celtics last played in the Finals.  To me this is a failed attempt by the NBA to drum up extra excitement about the series.  Don't get me wrong I am sure that Lakers and Celtics fans the world over care passionately about this rivalry, but my point is that Cavs, Spurs, and casual NBA fans do not.  My second issue with this years playoffs gets back to my original point about the drama and suspense set up around the Cs.  So when was the last time the team with the best regular season record was a "surprise" to get to the finals.  It seems like every step of the way the Celtics have been made out to be an underdog or at least a shaky favorite.  Whether it was the excitement that the Hawks could knock them off or the expectations for the Pistons to send them home.  To me it seems a combination between officiating and pr that has created all of this.  The pr is obvious with ESPN running 24/7 creating the sports opinions of many viewers.  Further, much has been made about the drastic differences between home and road games in this years playoffs.  The easiest explanation is the manner of the officials with regard to the home team.  Anyway, the Celtics have won the first two games in a somewhat convincing fashion so it will be interesting to see how the series turns when they head back to LA.  With the Celtic's playoff road record as it is this season along with Pierce's knee injury this series could have just begun....

I will update tomorrow with Indians and Cavs reports and continue to post constantly with new content.  

For now I will lead you with this quote from LeBron James " Besides, dude's fakin' "