2009 NBA Draft: Final Mock & Pre-Draft Thoughts

Less than three hours away from the 2009 NBA Draft as I post this. There is still a lot of flux as to what teams will do, even at the top of the draft. It looks like Griffin and Thabeet will go 1-2 in the draft at this point, and I think Rubio ultimately goes #3 - either to OKC or to the team that trades up with the Thunder. If Sam Presti & Co really want James Harden, then they should trade back with Minnesota to #5 and pick something else up and make the Timberwolves pay a bit more for Rubio. After that, it is a crapshoot, especially as it relates to point guards. At least two guys will end up falling out of the top 10 that did not appear to be available in the middle of the draft as of a few weeks ago, meaning a Charlotte, Detroit, or Chicago should gladly snatch them up. I have an odd feeling that we're going to see a busy night out of Indiana, as they've been too quiet for a team with so many long-term holes. Philly might make some noise too. Just hunches there, nothing factual.

Here is my final mock draft, for historical reference:

1. Blake Griffin (LAC)
2. Thabeet (MEM)
3. Rubio (OKC)
4. Flynn (SAC)
5. Harden (MIN)
6. Curry (MIN)
7. Hill (GS)
8. Evans (NY)
9. Holiday (TOR)
10. Clark (MIL)
11. DeRozan (NJ)
12. T. Williams (CHA)
13. Jennings (IND)
14. J. Johnson (PHO)
15. Derrick Brown (DET)
16. Blair (CHI)
17. Lawson (PHI)
18. Mullins (MIN)
19. Teague (ATL)
20. Daye (UTA)
21. Henderson (NO)
22. Maynor (POR)
23. Casspi (SAC)
24. Hansbrough (DAL)
25. Gibson (OKC)
26. Summers (CHI)
27. Mills (MEM)
28. Budinger (MIN)
29. McClinton (NY)
30. Green (CLE)

And for proof, even though you really can't read it:


The key early on is going to be Golden State at #7. The Warriors have a glut of wing players and almost HAVE to slide Monta Ellis over to the point guard spot to play all their guys (Jackson, Azubuike, Maggette, and Belinelli) at the 2 & 3. That would point towards drafting a post player like Jordan Hill to rotate with Biedrins and the Randolph/Wright lean meat sandwich. The problem? That's no good. I think Golden State would love to deal the #7, a young talent and part of their wing depth for a quality player to make a playoff run this year (see Davis, Baron). If they did this, the draft changes really fast.

The only really odd pick in my mock draft is Derrick Brown, the forward from Xavier, going at #15 to the Pistons. I loved that guy as a young freshman in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and really think some team is going to get a good player. So yes, that's a personal pick going that high. Danny Green going at #30 might be a bit weird too, but a quality spot-up shooter and versatile defender would help Cleveland a lot.

There will still be some trades this evening, of course, but one of the bigger ones went down around midnight - Shaq heading to Cleveland. I don't mind the one-year rental idea with the Big Diesel, but Cleveland has not solved its two biggest problems: defending the pick-and-roll and building a core around LeBron so he'll stay around long-term. They must find a way to not only re-sign Varejao, but also a versatile big man who can defend and move, but a wing player to take some pressure off LeBron. Trading Big Z and one of their 6-2 shooting guards (West, Gibson, Mo "All-Star Point Guard" Williams) would make that possible - but who wants that bag of potato chips?

And in breaking news, literally as I type this: Vince Carter has been sent to Orlando for Courtney Lee, Tony Battie's contract, and Skip to my Lou (Raefer Alston). More analysis as this deal becomes official, but my initial reaction was something to the effect of "hoooooly, I...I mean...ugh, OMG!!!"...Which roughly translates into "what a deal for Orlando - an energized Vince Carter returning to his home state of Florida and playing with talent for the first time since Jason Kidd & RJ - wow!"

Finally, a big picture point before we end this for the evening: beginning with this week's draft, this off-season is going to shape the next 5-7 years of the league. Though the draft itself is weak on talent, it is NOT weak on drama. This season, it also sets the table for a summer of moves that will give us a good indication of which teams are buying and selling. There are so many teams battling economic problems right now, many of which have been paying luxury taxes in the few seasons. These teams are looking to cut costs in any way possible, which means so guys are going to be readily available for trades. In fact, you're likely to see a few of the "3 quarters for a $1" trades this off-season as a team makes a desperate move. The residual effects are that the teams who acquire players being pawned off are setting themselves up to be very, very good for a number of years. Some team are instead setting themselves up to lure a marquee free agent or two next summer by putting talent in place to have around that player. You have others, like the Knicks, trying to clear as much cap room as possible to make a splash next summer with a guy or two from what could be the most star-studded free agent crop in NBA history.

Take the two most-recent blockbuster deals as examples. Cleveland had to upgrade its roster to try and keep LeBron after next season, so they wanted to make a deal or two for some "great" players (Shaq, Vince Carter, etc). And Phoenix, a major spender in the past years with their luxury tax issues, has made everyone available to the highest bidder (i.e. most saved salary) because owner Robert Sarver has apparently run out of money. Put a team like Cleveland with a team like Phoenix and that's how you ended up with Shaq next to LeBron in 2009. I would have preferred an extended Amar'e and a sign-and-trade Matt Barnes going to Cleveland for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, JJ Hickson, and Delonte West, but the Cavs took a less-risky approach.

In the case of Orlando, they needed a good shooting guard to drive the ball and take pressure off Howard in the post. New Jersey has been shopping Carter for months in order to clear a ton of cap room for next summer. Done & Done. The Magic are potentially the favorite for at least the Eastern Conference title in 2009-2010 & the Brooklyn Nets now have plenty of money to woe co-owner Jay-Z's boy LeBron in the infamous summer of 2010.

Enjoy tonight's festivities. I'll be cranking on the live rundown, some CFA, potentially some beverages, and a lot of yelling I'm afraid. The 2009 NBA Draft: Who's Real?

2009 NBA Draft Preview: Bobcats

Continuing with this week's NBA Draft analysis, we'll take a look at the hometown Bobcats and their draft outlook real fast. But, before you look at the draft, you must first look at what's in place and the needs of the team.

Raymond Felton will receive a qualifying offer and return for at least one year, plus DJ Augustin (last year's first-rounder) remains at point guard. In fact, word is Augustin grew almost four inches this summer - he's now 5-7. A third point guard or a shooting guard who can play some minutes at the one will probably come via a small free agent signing this summer. Thus, point guard is set. The 2-guard spot is a different story, as incumbent starter Raja Bell was rumored to be headed to Golden State earlier this week. Even though that fell through, it still lets us know that the 'Cats are not sold on Bell or anyone else who might return as the shooting guard (Cartier Martin was a late-season addition). Gerald Wallace, the team's best player, returns at the small forward spot. Injury prone, in large part due to his aggressiveness, Wallace needs a capable backup who is a true small forward - not Juwan Howard, Boris Diaw, or Vlad Radmanovic moonlighting as a 3. The power forward position is lined by Diaw and Rad, both of whom are heavy on the offensive capabilities, but a bit low on the toughness/rebounding angle. Okafor and Desagana Diop are in the middle, with Nazi holding down the over-paid-and-never-play spot in the post.

So, the summary: no long-term solution at shooting guard, no real backup at the small forward spot, and the need for some defense and rebounding at the power forward. However, look closer at the roster...now envision what a bonafide NBA contender looks like...now think again about the Bobcats...now spit the barf out of your mouth...rinse...ok. Obviously Charlotte does not have the pieces in place to be successful in terms of competing for a title.

What the Bobcats need is a guy their opponent has to gameplan around defensively. Yes, that means a super-duper star. Okafor scores off dump-and-dunks and rebounds, Diaw scores off deep post isolation, Wallace scores on the break and at the line, and Felton scores when no one else will take a shot and he has to throw one up there. Raja Bell is aging at the shooting guard spot and should not be counted on for 70+ games this year, much less 82 and maybe the playoffs. I sincerely think Tyreke Evans can become a guy who the other team must plan around. In the short-term, he would be another guy who can't shoot (like Felton and Wallace) and his turnovers would drive Larry Brown nuts. Plus, he won't be on the board at #12. Regardless, I don't think the odds are high that Charlotte finds a team-changer at #12. Here is a list of the past fifteen years worth of #12 picks and the team who selected him:

2008: Jason Thompson (Sac)
2007: Thaddeus Young (Phi)
2006: Hilton Armstrong (NO)
2005: Yaroslav Korolev (Lac)
2004: Robert Swift (Sea)
2003: Nick Collison (Sea)
2002: Melvin Ely (Lac)
2001: Vlad Radmonovic (Sea)
2000: Etan Thomas (Dal)
1999: Alek Radojevic (Tor)
1998: Michael Doleac (Orl)
1997: Austin Croshere (Ind)
1996: Vitaly Potapenko (Cle)
1995: Cherokee Parks (Dal)
1994:Khalid Reeves (Mia)

Um, yeah. Not so much, huh? The two most recent guys have shown some promise, but it's early yet on both Thompson & Young. Not a single All-Star appearance on this list, unless you count Cherokee Parks' appearance on the NBA's All-Tattoo team. Oh, Robert Swift made an appearance too? I had no idea he was even still alive. For those of you scoring at home, that's 12,348 tattoos and ZERO All-Stars from the past 15 years worth of #12 picks. Log on to Basketball Reference and keep digging through the annals of drafts past; the #12 pick has not been kind to teams.

So what should the Bobcats do? Make a trade, of course. Either trade up or trade out. If there is a guy earlier in the draft that the team loves, then b-e aggressive and trade up for him. I'm not sold on Stephen Curry, but if they think he's the guy, then go get him. If it's Evans, go get him. Now, what would it take to trade up? Probably the #12 pick and one of the point guards - either a contractually extended Raymond Felton or DJ Augustin. Of course, it depends on how high you're trying to move up and who is targeted. After looking at that option, I don't think the pieces are there, nor the trade partner, to be able to move up and get a great player in this draft.

The other option is to trade the #12 pick and move back or out of the first round all together. Pair the pick with a bad contract (Nazi, Vlad, or Diop, in that order) and either get a good player or just the cap space in return. I personally don't love the idea of just moving back in the first round unless it gets rid of a contract too - there just aren't enough good players to be had. I'd much rather try to get a stud who can be good long-term. This idea is essentially what the team tried to do in 2007 in the Jason Richardson deal. The problem with that deal was two-fold: Richardson was not as good as they hoped, and neither were the parts around him. Now, the parts are a bit better, but finding the right player might be tough. Here's my point for the Bobcats - no more role players. No more above average guys. They need a stud, and they aren't going to find one at #12. Unless...

If the Bobcats keep the #12 pick, they need to take Earl Clark, upon availability. Not Terrence Williams, not Gerald Henderson, not a midget point guard. Why? He has the upside to turn into a great player, and fairly soon. Clark is 6-10 and a combo forward out of Louisville. He has decent handle, good range, rebounds pretty well, and can impact the game on both ends. His shot is a bit streaky and he's too light to play the 4-spot right now, but the major knock on him is supposedly his motivation/intensity. Not so much in a "I'm too cool for school and won't try hard" way, but more like a "I just don't show a ton of emotion" way. I was personally sold on Clark for a while as a decent player, but really warmed up to him after reading this analysis. (If you like the NBA, click that link. Just a fantastic, in-depth piece.)

Clark's skillset lends itself to becoming a face-up 4-man down the road. He'll add strength and some weight as a result of the NBA-level workout regiment, so I think the issue of being a bit too light will fix itself in a year or two. At the 4-spot, Clark immediately becomes quicker than many guys trying to guard him, providing the matchup problems that we discussed yesterday in regards to Tyreke Evans. As his shot improves and bigs have to guard him closer, the driving lanes will open up and you suddenly have a tough matchup. His ceiling is something like a Rashard Lewis, but more physical defending and rebounding. Clark definitely is not in Lewis' class as a shooter right now, but he could evolve into that type of guy. For now, Clark can play behind Wallace at the 3-spot and move over to the 4 occasionally. In three years? Maybe you have a stud.

Hopefully the Bobcats make a good decision with this pick. I'm fine with drafting Clark or trading the pick, especially if it unloads a bad deal or two. Unfortunately the Bobcats have apparently made a promise to Clark's collegiate teammate, Terrence Williams, to draft him at #12 if he's still there. That's awesome, considering Chad Ford said today on his ESPN Podcast with Bill Simmons that Williams carried a Barbie bookbag in college and "reminds him mentally of Ron Artest...minus the attacking fans thing, of course" (fast-forward to the 58-minute mark or so). I'll keep the liquor close by Thursday night in case this scenario unfolds. Goooooo Bobcats.

One more update coming pre-draft, with my mock draft and some bigger picture impact of this draft. Then, we'll hit up the live rundown during the draft. And I can't wait. Ain't I...

Top 5 Tuesday: The Best Player in the 2009 NBA Draft

Making a return this week is a modified Top 5 Tuesday, of course having to do with Thursday's NBA Draft. Today, I present my case for the player I feel will be the best in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Bobcats are currently slotted to select 12th in the first round. For two months, I've been operating off the assumption that the 'Cats would not move up in the lottery (they didn't) and would be choosing 12th. I was hoping that maybe my guy would have bad workouts or pull a muscle or something so he would fall to 12th (where no doubt the Fightin' Bob Johnsons would pass him over for a midget), but it has not happened. The guy I love? The guy I wish Charlotte could select? Tyreke Evans, the freshman guard from Memphis. Why? I'm so glad you asked. The five reasons:

1) He is not a point guard. A shooting guard with handle? Yes. A shooting guard that really can't shoot right now? Yes again. But NOT a point guard. So, don't compare him to other point guards in this draft or currently in the league. To me, he can play either guard spot, which should be viewed as a good thing. Ultimately, though, I see him as a 2-guard and a darn good one. Why is this so important? Because it will enable him to score the basketball, get to the line, and distribute when he can, as opposed to trying to run a team.

2) He is not a problem child. He had a bit of a reputation in high school. Not OJ Mayo, not Lance Stephenson...but supposedly selfish. I didn't see that at Memphis this year. What I did see though was a kid who slid into the point guard spot ten games into the season and led his team, as a freshman, to 26 straight victories. Scoring the ball, dishing the ball, pressuring the ball - Tyreke had it covered. Not only does that reputation seem to be dispelled, Evans actually appears to be a good teammate who makes the guys around him better.

3) He is solidly built and ready to play. He does, however, need to invest in either a draw string or some better drawers. You don't have to wait on the strength needed to play in the league with Evans, as he's already strong and ready for the 82-game grind. So many young players in the draft in recent years have not been physically ready to play; skills for sure, but not the body. Evans is not one of those players. For a guy who predicates his game on being able to go to the hoop (at this point, his best offensive strategy since he can't hit the outside shot consistently), he should be able to finish at the rim and absorb contact with ease.

4) Evans can play the all-around game. Defensively, I see Tyreke able to stay in front of point guards and be physical with them. He's also quick enough to bother a shooting guard. He plays the passing lanes pretty well and will be a terror on the fast break once he steals the ball. I don't see him becoming a lockdown type of defender, but instead an athletic thief like the guy whose game he resembles. That guy...

5) is Dwayne Wade - a scorer who excels with the ball in his hands, yet can also set teammates up. I like to just refer to that as a "creator" and not worry about what position he starts the game at. I've also seen the Larry Hughes comparison, as well as Jamal Crawford. And yeah, I can see both of those, too. But Evans' ceiling is D-Wade. I'm serious. Following his freshman year of college at Marquette, Wade's game was probably quite similar to Evans' game. No, Wade did not run the point position for his team (they had Travis Diener), but he did spend a lot of time with the ball in his hands to create. Flash also had no jump shot to speak of, which remained the knock on him all the way through the 2003 NBA Draft. In fact, critics point to that as his "weakness" today. And what a weakness it is: Wade only scored 30.2 points/game this year, leading the league. In today's NBA, with the hand-check rules in place, a premium is placed on guys who are quick and have a good handle for their position. Not just point guards, but any player who is able to attack the rim against slower defenders. Evans will be just that type of player, as is Dwayne Wade. Either way, if Evans does not reach to D-Wade heights (again, let me stress this: his CEILING, the absolute best he can be, is Wade), I still think he's a starter in this league and a multiple-time All-Star.

What is your feedback? Who is the best player in this draft? You don't have to leave five reasons why, a few will do. But let's hear it - who do YOU like and what do you think of Evans?

As of today, it would take a ridiculous happening for the Bobcats to get a hold of my homie Tyreke at #12. He will not last past New York at #8 and probably goes before that. So, what position does that leave the Bobcats in? Tomorrow, we'll take a look at just that.

In the meantime, figure out what dance you'd do in the circle.

2009 NBA Draft Preview: Overview

The NBA Draft is coming up this Thursday night: let's preview it. But, not just today. Every day, a brief blog entry on the draft. Because I love ya'll so much.

Everyone says this draft is full of bad prospects and no talent. I personally think the ceiling on a number of players is limited, but the floor may be as well. Most of these early first-rounders will at least be rotation players in the league, as opposed to total busts. Therefore, the draft should be better in quality than the 2000 & 2001 drafts to which it has been compared.

That being said, there are not too many potentially great players to be had. Even the consensus #1 pick, Blake Griffin, is probably not the stud player for an NBA Championship-caliber team. An All-Star, sure, but I don't see him in the Karl Malone category as he has been likened to. I see flashes of Amare, an occasional Mailman, and a bit of Horace Grant all rolled into Griffin. Not bad company, so it is easy to see why he's the best talent in this draft. Keep in mind too that he dominated college basketball this year, to a much greater extent than Derrick Rose, Greg Oden, Andrew Bogut, or some of the other recent collegiate #1's (those guys were great in college, Bogut won player of the year like Griffin; but seriously, Griffin was a man among boys this year). This domination hopefully lends itself to an aggressive confidence and the drive for Blake to become great.

Other than Griffin, there are a few players I really like early on. James Harden should be solid for 12 years or so: cerebral, efficient game with good length and the ability to improve. Jordan Hill will be a good rotation guy for some team, but I don't see an All-Star in the making. I also can see him falling down the lottery board to the 10th pick or so this Thursday - just a hunch. I really liked Johnny Flynn at Syracuse this season, but he might be a bit overrated in the mid-lottery. I'd rather take Lawson or Teague ten picks later than Flynn early on. After that, not much else in the lottery. Oh, there is one guy I absolutely love...but more on him tomorrow. That's right, he gets his own entry.

As for the players I don't so much love? Hasheem Thabeet. He has no offensive game whatsoever and will absolutely be a liability for his team when they have the ball. Furthermore, he is NOT going to rebound in the NBA. The guy has no mass and is not quick enough to beat opponents to the ball. If 6-5 DeJuan Blair can ride him out and knock him on the chest to the tune of 23 & 20, then imagine what Dwight Howard would do to Thabeet? They compare him to Mutombo, but Dikembe was much more athletic at this same stage, in my opinion.

Who else? Stephen Curry. I've seen him in person, he is amazing. He is savvy, he is tough, he is a better ball handler than you think. But, he also took a lot of bad shots, is still only 6-3, and is not an NBA-level defender. Unfortunately, the love affair teams apparently have with this guy and the clamoring to select him at #3 or #4 pretty much sums up this draft - it's just not that good at the top. He might actually be the fourth best guy in this draft. The problem is a team is committed to paying him the same amount of #4 overall pick money as any other year in the draft.

A few late-first round sleepers on the "yay" list: Earl Clark, Chase Budinger, Psycho T (duh), & Derrick Brown. Second rounders: Toney Douglas, Dionte Christmas, Josh Heytvelt, Danny Green, Chris Johnson, & Wesley Matthews.

That's it for today, brief and generalized. I leave you with links to an emerging artist out of DC named Wale. He dropped "Nike Boots" on us earlier this year and his collaboration with Lady Gaga "Chillin" is out now & I'm kinda obsessed. Different sound, quite popular here in the VA and in the District. Enjoy.

Top 5 Tuesday x2: DMB & 311

I have been waiting for this day for 3+ years now. But a new Dave Matthews Band album AND a new 311 album on the same day? Unprecedented. A new album is the culmination of years of creativity for the artist. Hopefully, both of these albums will subsequently provide years of listening enjoyment for us, the fans. In honor of this historic double-decker album drop, let's double our Top 5 Tuesday pleasure and get ready to count down the five best tracks from both Dave Matthews Band & 311.

Your role young reader is going to be a little bit different than normal. See, DMB & 311 are probably my two favorite rock-ish bands. So, I am essentially counting down the five best songs of my favorite artist(s). You, therefore, will do the same. In the "Comments" section (we need more comments people, this is slowly starting to grow), I need you to 1) identify your favorite musical artist, 2) provide a brief summary of why you like them, and 3) name your five favorite songs by that artist, in order. To serve as a sample:

Artist: 311

Why: Chad Sexton is a fantastic drummer, they are the best band I have ever seen live, they have provided years worth of bonding between myself and one of my best friends (helllllo Jason Howie), & their music is consistent - great melodies, some throw-down mixed with some mary jane chill, and a side of reggae funk. Love it.

My 311 Top 5:

5) Champagne (7th track off From Chaos) - sounds like a good song to toast to at a wedding to me

4) Don't Stay Home (11th track off 311) - kicking drum intro, really tight song

3) Applied Science (6th track off Grassroots) - the drum solo song. Played live at every concert, includes an extended solo for Chad Sexton and a joint-percussion section with the rest of the band. You think that's not making the top 5? Take the time to click the link on this one to get a taste of a live show. Awesome.

2) Beautiful Disaster (4th track off Transistor) - love the guitar rift and the general feel of this song.

1) All Mixed Up (4th track off 311) - yes, a mainstream track. I can't help it. Just love the flow of the verses, it has a hip-hop reggae feel to it. Chorus is solid and I dare you to play it at a bar and not see people singing along. I never skip it on the ipod.


Artist: Dave Matthews Band

Why: Carter Beauford is one terrific, bass-akwards drummer, their songs are complex & intricate, there are few things better than chillin at a Dave concert, & I never get tired of listening to them.

My DMB Top 5:

5) Pantala Naga Pampa/Rapunzel (1st & 2nd tracks off Before These Crowded Streets) - played together, and oh so creative. Best track off the best DMB album. But boy, does Halloween give it a run for its money.

4) Grey Street (2nd track off Busted Stuff) - the harmonies on this one, lots of energy, and it's great live.

3) #41 (5th track off Crash) - the #41-Say Goodbye-Drive In, Drive Out trio of songs is what caught my ears the first time I heard this album. Dad gave it to me for Christmas because some people had recommended it as something I might like. He didn't know I actually "hated" Dave Matthews Band because I did not like the song "Crash". Naturally, he gave me not only that song, but the entire album. Turns out I kind of liked it. And then it grew on me. And then it became an entry for Top 5 Tuesday. Carter's high-hat work and the live jam on this one put it in the list.

2) Dreamgirl (1st track off Stand Up) - I just love it.

1) Ants Marching (7th track off Under the Table and Dreaming) - very popular song across the masses. Encompasses all things DMB, in my opinion, and is just a fun song.

(For the record, the next five DMB tracks would be Drive In Drive Out, Say Goodbye, Recently, Grace is Gone, and Halloween, in no order).

There you have it, twice the Top 5 Tuesday fun. Hit it up with your favorite artist and your personal top 5. I've gotta run - two albums to pick up and play.

Know that we will always be down, down...

Top 5 Tuesday: Favorite NBA Players To Watch

This week's Top 5 Tuesday has to be NBA-related, given the ridiculously fun conference finals series currently going on. As I type, the Orlando Magic have taken a 3-1 series lead on Cleveland. Yes, you read that right. And I still think the Cavs have a good chance to win the series. Anyway, I think most people can agree that the top five players in the league right now are, in some order, King James, Black Mamba, Flash, CP3, and D-12 (although I'd debate Howard's inclusion). I thought about trying to rate the top five playoff moments I've ever seen, but figuring out which five Michael Jordan moments to include was a bit redundant. So, I am electing to go with your Top 5 NBA Players to Watch. It might be guys who hustle, guys who dunk, guys on your favorite team(s), or what have you. The only stipulation is that it must be a CURRENT NBA player (thereby eliminating Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Tim Kempton). My choices:

Honorable Mention: Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon (when he's hot), Baron Davis (when he cares), Tim Duncan (a former top 5 guy, but getting a bit older).

5b) Kevin Durant: There is no doubt in my mind that he will be in the Top 5 next year. Of course, that requires me actually being able to watch him on television. I saw the AFKATSS (Artists Formerly Known As The SuperSonics) play two times all season, and will need some more Durant time to adequately elevate him to Top 5 status. Either way, I too developed a man-crush while he was at Texas and love his ability to score in every way from every spot on the floor.

5a) Lebron James: Everyone loves him, and rightfully so. He is only down a bit on my list because he's just so physically imposing that it is almost unfair sometimes. Apparently only the Magic have figured out how to slow down the guy. His passing, weakside shot-blocking, and thunderous dunks are unmatched.

4) Brandon Roy: LOVED him in college at Washington and begged Bob's Cats to pick him in the draft. Naturally, they chose Adam Morrison instead (since he was not even the best collegiate player in his state at Gonzaga and he cried. Excuse me, she cried) and continue to search for a go-to-guy to score down the stretch from the wing. Go figure. Anyway, Roy does everything well and is a really tough dude. I enjoy the Trail Blazers mostly because of him and am looking forward to watching them grow up. He's just a gritty, clutch player.

3) Carmelo Anthony: Again, LOVED him in college. Saw him play early that season in Madison Square Garden and fell for his polished offensive game in the NCAA Tournament. He is such a phenomenal scorer for the Denver Nuggets, another young team that has been fun to watch grow. I find 'Melo frustrating at times because he can lose focus and not hustle back; on the flip side, I find him incredibly talented and efficient scoring the ball. My favorite part of his game is the smoothness - no one else like that in the league right now.

2) Chris Paul: I HATED him in college. He played on two great teams at Wake Forest, harassed the Heels on numerous occasions, and whined more than his fair share. He also did this. I figured he would go to the NBA and be a good, but not great, point guard. Now, I am a big Raymond Felton guy, and I like Deron Williams too. But, there is no argument about the best point guard from the 2005 draft. It is Chris Paul, a gap, then the debate begins. CP3 is faster than fast, pokes and prodes the opposing defense better than anyone other than Steve Nash and Ron Jeremy, and drops dimes like I drop rhymes (see?). Paul can score when needed and is one of the best pick pockets in the NBA. Paul is also a terrific team leader and seems to will his teammates to a higher level. There are few guys this competitive in the league, and his refuse-to-lose mentality is what sets him apart from his peers and puts him this high on my list.

1) Mark Madsen: because of this.

Ok, fine. The real #1?

1) Dwayne Wade: I do not care for the Heat, nor have I cared for many of their marquee players since Wade entered the league. That should illustrate the level of respect and admiration I have for D-Wade's game. This guy absolutely KILLS himself every. single. night. for his team. One injury-riddled season in 2007-2008 led them to the lottery. A full--strength D-Wade led them to an overachieving 5-seed. He is as personable a player as the Association has, a good guy off the court. He can do anything on both ends of the floor. But, it is the will to win and his 110% all the time that puts him tops on my list.

Alright, that's it for this week's Top 5 Tuesday. Later on this week, a look at three types of baseball. Next week's Top 5 will take place on a holiday on sorts, so get ready for a double-decker of analysis.

Holla atcha boy.

Top 5 Tuesday: Ladies (Revised)

Um...so did we know that Hayden is 19? As in, "Hi, my name is Hayden, I'm cute and all, but I'm only 19."

Oops.

New rule for my personal Top 5: you gotta not be too young for me (intentional double-negative, thanks). You can decide for yourself what that limit is, but she definitely crosses the line for Top 5 status. That's just not gonna work, ya'll. And next time, somebody of the male gender please let me know these things and police my postings/Top 5 lists.

As I mentioned, Hayden was a recent addition to the list. So, Hayden my dear, you gots to go. Maybe when I'm 35 and you're 27, that's alright. But I'm not in to changing diapers or having you show an ID to get into an R-rated-movie. And I would enjoy a glass of merlot if we ever had dinner...but you could not partake. So...um...wow, this is kinda awkward...I just think it's best if we stay friends and see other people (preferably those who are "of age" in my case).

Hey, it could have been worse.

Let's just go ahead and move Shakira up to the number 4 slot. And moving into fifth place, none other than my favorite American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood. The blond beauty from Oklahoma rocks the country music scene and rocks my world. Oh lil country girl. Insert gigantic picture here for emphasis:

Recap: Out with the way-too-young Hayden, in with the near-perfect Carrie. Revised Top 5: Carrie Underwood (5), Shakira (4), Alicia Keys (3), Scarlett Johannson (2), Jessica Alba (1). Lock it in.

Down down do your thang...

The Inaugural Top 5 Tuesday: Celebrity Crushes

It's here. The gimmick column that will take over the world. Cue the music as The Blue Team presents: Top 5 Tuesday. The premise is quite simple. I make a list of my "Top 5 _____" and you read it. Then, you tell me how stupid I am. The catch is this: when you comment on my choices, you have to provide your own Top 5 as well in the comments section. Not in great detail or description, but at least give me your list. And then, let the debate ensue from there.

I joke often about how no one in their right mind would read my craptastic blog. But, I think there is actually a decent number of you who read this, either via Facebook or linked from Twitter. Therefore, my hope is that this concept will provide you a good reason to read at least once a week and provide feedback. This is a bit similar to the Facebook rankings that a user can generate, but I appreciate more discussion and a better array of topics.

This week's Top 5 will feature the debate that started it all: Who are your Top 5 "Celebrity Crushes"? The criteria is open to your interpretation. It can be the Top 5 you would marry, sleep with, eat dinner with, discuss politics with, or what have you. Also, you can decide what constitutes a "celebrity". My cousin Whitney posed this question at Thanksgiving a few years ago and my entire family sat with great consternation developing our lists. It is now a standard question we ask folks, expecting them to have a response ready (or at least be able to come up with one fairly quickly). Failure to do so is met with tremendous disdain from our family. I asked a friend a few weeks ago and was met with such intense pondering that I had to allow him a few weeks to get back to me.

Anyway, let's roll. Here's my list for Top 5 Tuesday: Celebrity Crushes

5) Shakira. Beautiful, she can dance, she can sing, she can whisper sweet nothings in Spanish, and her hips...oh, her hips. I really think my favorite quality of Shakira is that she is probably not in your top 5. She's well-known, I promise, but I rarely hear her mentioned as one of the hottest women out there. She is a total package, in my opinion, and I like that you don't hear about her all the time. Although, you did hear "Hips Don't Lie" all the time; the song was apparently the most played song ever for a one week period.





4) Hayden Panettiere. Miss Claire Bennet herself is my "hero". She is also the newest addition to my personal top 5. Cute, personable in interviews, and short. Like it all. She is a bit on the young side though, a major drawback. However, it was obviously only a drawback from being a bit higher on this list, not nearly enough to put her off it completely. She is set for the big screen with "I Love You, Beth Cooper", which comes out this July. While I highly doubt I will ever set foot in a theater to watch it, I would surely enjoy her appearance in such a film. Yee haw.

3) Alicia Keys

She is an unbelievable singer, first of all. Second, I love her versatility: braids, straight hair, afro. Third, she is 100% woman. This chic does not mess around: she's politically active, involved in charitable organizations, and her lyrics are consistent with who she is. All adds up to a spot in my Top 5.

2) Scarlett Johansson. She kind of came out of nowhere in my mind, as I can't remember much about her becoming a celebrity hottie. The first time I truthfully can recall Scarlett was in "The Island", which came out in 2005. I mean, check out her IMDB. One would think that a celebrity of her status and respect among the male population would have been in a few more mainstream films or TV shows to gain exposure. Whatever. Point is, she is number 2. Which can only leave...

1) Jessica Alba. I felt like I "discovered" her on the show "Dark Angel", which aired through my junior and senior years of high school. None of my peers knew about her or the show. Oh, but I did. She obviously grew in recognition from there, staring in a number of well-known films. She has always been praised more for her beauty than her acting skills, which I attribute more to just how stunning she is than her lack of ability. She recently got married and became a mom, so I guess she's technically also number one on the "Hot Moms" list as well. I forsee her slipping from the number one spot on my list at some point, but it's going to take a new lady to do it. Namely, my wife.

That wraps up this week's "Top 5 Tuesday". So, now it's your turn. Who's your top 5? And yes, ladies, you can list your top 5 guys. We'll get to man crushes another week I'm sure, but the idea is to list the opposite (or attracted to) sex for this list. Now, go for it.

She got a body like a Coke bottle, face like a super model...

Back Like Jordan, Wearing the 4-5

I felt like I deserved a break following the NCAA Tournament string on regular updates, so...I took one. However, I have learned many things since April 7th. Let's make a list:

I've learned that there are few feelings as a sports fan like representing your school or team following a championship. There are many a proud alumus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but even moreso when proud of the University of National Champions. Working and living in Blacksburg, VA means there are few people who agree with my preference of school, as maroon and orange is clearly the chosen institution. I'd say the collective disdain for my UNC paraphernalia has only increased in the last month. And dang do I love it. (*insert shirt poppin' here*)

I learned Firefly + Lemonade = A John Daly (or Arnold Palmer for adults). We know this. However, when short on lemonade, substitute Sierra Mist and dial back the necessary mixer ratio just a bit. Delish.

I learned that if you are a female and you're going to wear sweatpants that say "Paws Off" on the butt, you had better have buns that anyone would want to put their paws on to begin with. It happened at the gym, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

I learned that there is absolutely no way the NBA will allow the Lakers to lose game 7 against Houston. If they can't get it done themselves, then the officials will provide all the help necessary.

I re-learned how quality Third Eye Blind is. A very simple, pop-rock band of the late nineties, their songs continue to be catchy and melodic. I rarely skip them on the ipod.

On a related note, I learned that any pop track with a drumline beat and a sultry female singer is always a winning situation on the ipod. That means "London Bridge", "Hollaback Girl", and "Love Me or Hate Me". And yes, you just learned that my musical taste can indeed sometimes be questioned, and rightfully so. Most people would classify those as guilty pleasures; the problem is, I don't feel guilty.

I learned that Bill Simmons is finally coming around and has now acquired a multiple-TV setup in his newly constructed Man Cave (he called it an "office". Sports Guy, admit it: it's a Man Cave). Rhino provided us with the multiple-TV opportunity full-time during our sophomore year by sacrificing his desk in our dorm to put another TV on. We upgraded to three off-campus and I went with 3.5 for a few years myself. Glad The Sports Guy has caught up. Simmons' sounds like it is of high-quality. Don't worry, I'm going to upgrade soon too.

I learned that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are freakin' awesome. Not so awesome, apparently, was my comment that Carolina was causing me "caniac arrest". Come on people, I thought it was clever. *crickets*

I learned that bar golf is indeed a fun evening, even if you think you have strep throat (I didn't, but daggum did I feel like crap).

I learned that I really, really don't care about horse racing. And here's why: I don't bet, so I have no horse to root for. And to me, with no rooting interest, most sports are not worth my watching. Andre Aggasi retires, I don't have a rooting interest in tennis...I don't watch tennis. I couldn't name ten boxers currently fighting, have no favorites...I don't watch boxing. There is never a reason for me to pull for one horse over another, unless there is one vying for the Triple Crown, so I have no rooting interest. I think that is why I love all college sports so much. In most cases, Carolina has a team worth rooting for, so I naturally have a "dog in the fight" per say. Maybe I've learned that I need to start betting on horse racing so I can get into it. Someone call me when Roy Williams or Tyler Hansbrough buys a thoroughbred.

I've learned that I am indifferent towards the Boston Celtics. A New England area fan I am not, clearly. However, the Red Sox are the only team in the area I really find myself rooting against for no reason. The Celtics just don't really tick me off, nor do they inspire me. This is somewhat odd, considering most elite teams are bound to spark an interest one way or the other in me. But, the C's just don't do it. I pulled for Chicago against them, mainly because I plan on driving the Derrick Rose bandwagon sometime soon, but I could care less otherwise.

On the other hand, I learned that I am on the Denver Nuggets bandwagon. I like Chauncey Billups, I've always liked Carmelo (and taken crap for it), and have defended Kenyon Martin countless times (and taken TONS of crap for it). Give me an aggressive, thuggish, aggravating team with a good on-court leader (Billups) over a pretty, flopping, bitchy-yet-talented team (ahem, the Lakers) any day.

I learned that Derek Lowe is still a really good pitcher. If only the Braves had anybody who could hit for power in a slow-pitch softball league, much less MLB.

I learned that if you eat hard-boiled eggs one night and fart in the shower the next day, the shower will quickly be filled with the smell of eggs. I would like to learn why this does not happen with all other foods. Wouldn't it be nice to fart the smell of chocolate chip cookies or vanilla ice cream? But no, just eggs. Why God, why?

Finally, I learned that there are few things I despise more than public displays of affection at the gym. A guy and girl put on quite the PDA fest last week and I nearly barfed my lunch up. To make matters worse, they stole a bench I was using, and proceeded to stay on it and play kissy face for ten minutes. Grrr.

There is a lot coming up here on The Blue Team. Hopefully the Canes will continue to be a topic for about another month, plus we've got the LeBron Invitational Tournament to finish up. The NBA Draft will, as usual, be of interest, especially with four Tar Heels and a Hokie among the potential draftees. Also, this Tuesday will commence the debut of what I hope will be a regular theme for this forum, one that elicits reader interaction and debate. Finally, there is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence coming up on June 2nd, almost like a comet or something. Try not to pee yourselves in breathless anticipation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, you're far too kind...

Let's All Go Hump Brett Favre's Leg

It is 11:12pm EST on Wednesday night. I am watching the Rockets and Lakers in game 2 and decided to flip over to SportsCenter during a commercial real fast. The reason? To catch extended highlights and analysis of the two overtime Stanley Cup Playoffs games from earlier this evening, specifically the Hurricanes and Bruins. The show opened with Celtics/Magic highlights, as it probably should. The NBA is definitely more popular than the NHL across the majority of the Sportscenter audience, plus the Celtics are a cornerstone franchise defending their title. No problem. NHL highlights follow, opening with the Capitals/Penguins contest. The Pens won this game 3 matchup in overtime, and the series pits Crosby versus Ovechkin, who are the league's marquee superstars. Again, no problem. So naturally, the next set of highlights would be the Hurricanes/Bruins game 3 overtime contest, right? Nope. Let's talk about Brett Favre potentially un-"retiring" for the 432nd time to join the Minnesota Vikings. PROBLEM.

ESPN, seriously: I DON'T CARE ABOUT EFFING BRETT FAVRE. Call me when either a) the NFL season starts; or b) he appears on the Minnesota Love Boat II. I absolutely, positively could care less about whether or not a geriatric, washed-up Brett Favre comes back next year. We've had to listen to speculation, day-by-day reporting, and ficticious scenarios involving him for the past five years. Will he retire? Will he come back? Who will he be traded to? Can they make the playoffs behind The Great Brett Favre? Will he stay retired? Will he ask for extra mustard on his hot dog? What kind of puppy will he buy (oh wait, that wasn't Favre)? I'd say the percentage of people who really give a crap about Favre coming back (again) is limited to about sixteen Packers fans who just want to see him keep playing (and further tarnishing a legacy that was nearly unmatched), for their chief rival nonetheless, and the Minnesota Vikings contingency who want anyone but Tavaris Jackson behind center. Seriously, they might take Joakim Noah, Ellen Degeneres, Barney the Purple Dinosaur, or Yoda over Jackson at this point. In the meantime, we have to hear about Brett Favre before a playoff hockey game that involves the number one seed Boston Bruins losing to fall behind in the series to an underdog Carolina Hurricanes squad? Really ESPN? Really?

And, to make matters worse, as I typed the above sentence, we made it to 11:30pm. Still no Canes/Bruins. We've had baseball (Red Sox, Yankees, and the Mets/Phils game that was on - wait for it - ESPN earlier tonight), some decent news on Toledo basketball's point-shaving scandal, and a Terrelle Pryor interview. And, of course, a Sportscenter Reset on the Brett Favre story. That's right folks, TWO Brett Favre segments before overtime hockey highlights. FML.

My point is this: ESPN has a monopoly, so they can cover whatever they deem newsworthy. I know this, you know this. However, they have a nasty habit of latching on to a story they find particularly interesting and just oversaturating us with "news" and analysis. Far too much of it is speculative, and they will inevitably bury the supposed story into the ground. Barry Bonds and his alleged steroids, A-Rod and his alleged steroids, Terrell Owens, Brett Favre, etc. Give me more highlights. Give me more analysis of actual games and strategies. Do not create a story where there really is not that much to report, and, for goodness sake, do not force particular athletes and your collective agenda down our throats. I do not tune in for a running diary of Brett Favre. FYI, ESPN.

It is now 11:44pm and I finally have my Canes highlights. And yet, I am too worked up and pissed off to enjoy them. Thank you, ESPN Sportscenter, for ruining a perfectly calm, enjoyable evening of sports for me. I'm off to shoot BB's at my old Brett Favre Starting Lineup figures. Peace.