It was four short years ago that Benny Feilhaber did this giving the United States the Gold Cup championship. Still fresh on the mind of American and Mexican soccer fans alike is what happened at the Gold Cup in 2009, with Mexico beating an American "B-Team" 5-0.
Well, Saturday night at 9 o'clock eastern time the winner of the last five Gold Cups will face off, with another title on the line. Here is how they stack up against each other.
How They Got Here
United States:
The United States finished play in Group C as the second place team. They beat Canada (2-0) and and Guadeloupe (1-0) while losing their first ever Gold Cup group play game to Panama (2-1). The United States then beat Jamaica (2-0) in the quarterfinals before exacting revenge on Panama (1-0) to reach the final in Pasadena.
The Yanks played largely uninspired soccer in group play seemingly going through the motions and still advancing. Jozy Altidore who is now injured provided the goal that ultimately saw the Americans through in the group stage.
The U.S. then shuffled the line-up a little going to a 5-4-1 formation and starting Alejandro Bedoya in place of Landon Donovan. Donovan came off of the bench in both the quarter and semi-finals making an impact on the game and setting up Clint Dempsey for the goal that would win the game against Panama.
The Americans have seemingly solidified their back line with Steve Cherundolo and and Eric Lichaj pushing up the wings and providing dangerous crosses and Captain Carlos Bocanegra anchoring the middle with Clarence Goodson (who is masterful in the air.) Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones have been finding a good mix of attack and defense at the midfield position while Clint Dempsey has been as dangerous as ever.
Mexico:
Mexico cruised through Group A play with a goal differential of +13 while beating up on El Salvador (5-0), Cuba (5-0), and Costa Rica (4-1). El Tri is undoubtedly the most talented team in this CONCACAF Gold Cup but they'll have to be in peak form to take down the Yanks.
In the Quarterfinals Guatemala struck first against the Mexican National Team going up 1-0 only to see Mexico score two goals to win the matchup. El Tri then played Honduras to a tie before tacking on not one, but two goals en route to the final.
The Mexican attack led by Chicharito (who some think will make the difference) of Manchester United and Giovani Dos Santos who spent much of last year on loan from Tottenham. Although starting Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is one of five Mexican National team players suspended his replacement Alfredo Talavera has stepped up with El Tri allowing only two goals in Gold Cup play.
How They Stack Up
With what is deemed a very important trip to the Confederations Cup on the line, this rivalry game will be at heights rarely seen. Both Mexico's and the United States defense has been solid throughout the Cup with Mexico's back four being rarely tested. However, the American's must feel a little more confident with Tim Howard in goal seeing as Alfredo Tevez had only one CAP before this Gold Cup competition.
The midfield battle will be interesting to see, but simply because of technical ability I lean towards giving Mexico the edge. Andres Guardado has an ankle injury leaving his status in the Mexican midfield in question, and the U.S. fans must be wondering if they'll see Donovan start over either Bedoya or Sacha Kljestan. Donovan has the experience and play making ability (especially in the counterattack) that the United States will need if they are to keep Mexico honest.
In the forward slot the United States are greatly outmatched. Chicharito has loads of talent and class scoring 20 goals in all competitions with Manchester United. Juan Agudelo who is expected to get the call up front for the Yanks is young, talented, and energetic but spends his days playing for the New York Red Bulls and not scoring to prolifically. That said, if the United States defense stays tight and moves together they can hope to contain Chicharito and count on Timmy if he ever slips through the cracks.
The Result
With the game in the United States that helps the U.S. side a little bit, but nobody will be surprised when the crowd is still pro Mexico. However this is a rivalry game and anything can happen, such as this. I expect nothing but a very close game and wouldn't be surprised to see either Mexico or the U.S. win a game 1-0 or 2-1.
@gbkcraw
Friday, June 24, 2011
2011 NBA Draft in Review
It is over. The 2011 NBA Draft ended in about the same amount of time it would take the 1st Round of the NFL Draft to end. There were foreigners, crazy trades, and stories of Ron Artest petioning for a name change. David Stern got booed and that other guy (Adam Silver) was super personable. So check it out, see how each team faired in the 2011 Draft!
Cleveland Cavaliers
Who Did They Draft? Kyrie Irving (1), Tristan Thompson (4), Milan Macvan (54).
The Cavs did what was expected of them by taking Kyrie Irving, out of Duke, with the first overall pick in the draft. From there, they surprised us a bit snagging Tristan Thompson at 4 when most thought they would take Jonas Valanciunas. Nobody is exactly sure why this happened, although Chad Ford was reporting that Cleveland was high on Thompson and there is the high risk Valanciunas isn't coming over this year. Thompson has a solid motor, and hits the offensive glass very well, but the question can be asked why snag a carbon copy of J.J. Hickson who averaged 16 points and 11 boards after January 1st. Macvan is a 6'9" guy who can stretch the floor a little bit but isn't expected to come to the NBA anytime soon.
Grade: B -- Taking Valanciunas would have filled a bigger need for the Cavs even if they did have to wait an extra year for him.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Who Did They Draft? Derrick Williams (2), Malcolm Lee (43).
What Else Did They Get? Brad Miller (From Houston), 2013 First Round Pick (From Houston)
The Timberwolves got the second most talented player in the draft (Williams), now all thats left is deciding what position he will play. Williams is a classic Tweener and has his work cut out for him at the Forward slot with Michael Beasley and Kevin Love also in the mix. They also snagged Malcolm Lee out of UCLA who they were thinking about taking with the 20th pick. Lee is an excellent perimeter defender, something the T-Wolves desperately needed.
Grade- B+ -- Might have been better off getting rid of the Number 2 Pick and seeing what they could get in return
Utah Jazz
Who Did They Draft? Enes Kanter (3), Alec Burks (12).
With everyone thinking Brandon Knight at Number 3 the Jazz decided at the last second to go with Kanter who might be the biggest wild card of the draft. Kanter couldn't play for Kentucky last year because he "wasn't eligible" and now it turns out nobody knows too much about him. Burks on the other hand is out of Colorado University and can flat out fill it up. He needs to work on his Perimeter shot, but the Jazz felt as if they needed a scoring guard, and in all likelihood they found him in Burks.
Grade B+ -- The Jazz don't seem to want to hang onto Devin Harris, but they didn't seem to find anyone to replace him either. Still drafted the best on the board (Kanter) and another need in Burks.
Toronto Raptors
Who Did They Draft? Jonas Valanciunas (5)
Valancinuas is a 7 footer with a 9'3" reach out of Lithuania. He is a true center, who happens to be tough and a good rebounder making him the exact opposite of Andrea Bargnani. He is no doubt the Center of the future for this Raptors team, but the question is when is the future? Valanciunas is unlikely to come to the NBA this year because of contract issues, but he will be a gem when he does.
Grade- A -- Unfortunate that he won't be here immediately, but got what could turn out to be a dominant player
Washington Wizards
Who Did They Draft? Jan Vesely (6), Chris Singleton (18), Shelvin Mack (34th)
Vesely is a high flier who at 6'11" gets up and down the court very well and seemingly fits in with a point guard like John Wall. On top of him they add the best perimeter defender in the draft in Singleton who will be a lock down defender at THREE (maybe four) positions. They also added a guy in Shelvin Mack who is a player out of Butler who can be a spark off the bench providing instant offense.
Grade- A+ -- In my mind Washington had the best draft of any team, getting better at every position of need.
Charlotte Bobcats
Who Did They Draft? Bismack Biyombo (7), Kemba Walker (9)
What Else Did They Get? Corey Maggette (From Milwaukee), Cash Considerations (From Golden State)
The Bobcats did your classic "Get worse to get better" job in this years draft. They parted ways with Stephen Jackson (Milwaukee) and brought in Corey Maggette who they will expect just about nothing from. Bismack Biyombo is a 6'9" Power Forward who has been playing in Spain and was the first ever player to record a triple double at the Nike Hoops Summit. Kemba Walker is your ultimate winner who will struggle to be a pure point, but maybe that isn't what Michael Jordan and his Bobcats need.
Grade- A+ -- Richard Cho came over from Portland and has done a great job setting this Charlotte team up for the future.
Detroit Pistons
Who Did They Draft? Brandon Knight (8), Kyle Singler (33), Vernon Macklin (52)
Detroit secured the Point Guard of their future in Brandon Knight while drafting a couple other guys that fit the Detroit mold (TOUGH). All three picks are winners, which is good as they are stepping into a bad team.
Grade- C+ -- Sure they got Brandon Knight, but they missed out on Biyombo and Tristan Thompson which was Detroit's true need.
Sacramento Kings
Who Did They Draft? Jimmer Fredette (10), Tyler Honeycut (35), Isaiah Thomas (60)
What Else Did They Get? John Salmons
Jimmer is a solid addition for the Kings who need an immediate boost in ticket sales along with someone to pair up with Tyreke Evans. The Jimmer can hit from anywhere on the court, but will have to work to improve his defensive abilities as well as transforming to become more of a classic point guard. Tyler Honeycut is a small forward who passes the ball well and is of pretty good value at pick 35, while Isaiah Thomas is undersized but if given the opportunity could change the pace of the Kings offense.
Grade- C+ -- It wasn't the draft itself was bad, it was more swapping Salmons for Beno Udrih and moving down 3 spots in the draft.
Golden State Warriors
Who Did They Draft? Klay Thompson (11), Charles Jenkins (44)
What Else Did They Get? Jeremy Tyler (From Charlotte for Cash)
Klay Thompson is a great three point shooter out of Washington State, and Charles Jenkins is the closest thing to Jimmer Fredette in this draft. Those two picks add up to only one thing in the minds of many experts: the Warriors are set to trade Monta Ellis. Jeremy Tyler is very raw offensively but at 6'11" can jump out of the gym and make an immediate impact defensively.
Grade- B -- The Warriors need Thompson and Jenkins to be the real deal, because they are expected to have no cap space to work with under the upcoming CBA.
Phoenix Suns
Who Did They Draft? Markieff Morris (13)
Many people were surprised to here Markieff's name called before his twin brother Marcus. However by all accounts, Markieff is better defensively and a better rebounder than his little brother. Markieff also seems to have a more solid lock on a specific position (PF) while Marcus is a tweener.
Grade- C+ -- The Suns didn't do anything wrong, but with the Number 13 pick in this draft, it was hard to do something spectacular.
Houston Rockets
Who Did They Draft? Marcus Morris (14), Dontas Motiejunas (20), Chandler Parsons (38)
What Else Did They Get? Jonny Flynn
Marcus Morris is surely playing the Small Forward for Houston as Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes fill the Power Forward role. Dontas Motiejunas is a 7 footer who is a polished scorer but not exactly tough on the boards. He is also listed as a power forward which means the Rockets might look to move one of there other 8,769 players at the same position. Parsons is a 3 guard who can handle the rock and possibly play the role of Point Forward if he develops into a little tougher player.
Grade- B -- The Rockets are shopping Jonny Flynn and while they picked up some size, they are still lacking a true center.
Indiana Pacers
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? George Hill
The Pacers turned the Numbers 15 and 42 pick into George Hill which from the outside looking in is great for them. Hill is going to be the Point Guard of the Pacers future and after backing up Tony Parker in San Antonio he will be fully capable.
Grade- B+ -- I really like what the Pacers did packaging there 2 picks for Hill.
Philadelphia 76ers
Who Did They Draft? Nikola Vucevic (16), Lavoy Allen (50th)
Vuvevic is a 7 footer out of USC that projects to be solid at both ends of the court. Vucevic has a soft touch around the basket but also a little bit of range on his jumper and has a 7'5" wingspan which will help him as he defends bigger players. Allen who is a power forward out of Temple is a solid rebounder but probably won't contribute much.
Grade- B -- Vucevic will help the 76ers on both ends of the floor, although he won't turn into the star that many think they need.
New York Knicks
Who Did They Draft? Iman Shumpert (17)
What Else Did They Get? Josh Harrelson (45, from New Orleans)
Shumpert is a 6'6" point guard who is a poor shooter, but finishes fairly well around the rim. Shumpert is projected to be a solid defender and with his size it is likely that he'll be able to guard more than just the point position. Shumpert has a lot of work to do to help this New York team on the offensive end of the floor though. Harrelson doesn't do much more than address a need for depth at Center.
Grade- D -- The Knicks needed perimeter defending, but why pass up Singleton who was the best defender in the draft.
Milwaukee Bucks
Who Did They Draft? Tobias Harris (19), Jon Leuer (40)
What Else Did They Get? Stephen Jackson (Charlotte), Shaun Livingston (Charlotte), Beno Udrih (Sacramento)
Milwaukee didn't do much to upgrade in the draft, although many are projecting Harris to be a sleeper pick. Leuer on the other hand is a 7 feet tall and can step out to the 3 point line and knock down jumpers. The Bucks did upgrade however by getting rid of Salmons and bringing in a better contract in Udrih and upgrading perimeter scoring with Stephen Jackson.
Grade- B -- If Harris turns out to be the sleeper he is projected as and the Jackson Udrih combo plays up to potential the Bucks improved through the day.
Portland Trailblazers
Who Did They Draft? Nolan Smith (21), Jon Diebler (51)
What Else Did They Get? Raymond Felton (Denver)
The Blazers lost Shooting Guard Rudy Fernandez on the night and also gave up Andre Miller. However a younger, quicker Felton should really help speed Portland up. Nolan Smith looks to be an excellent 6th man that could be Jason Terry- esque, but the question was posed is 21 to high for him? Diebler was the leading 3 point shooter in the history of the Big 10 and can really help space the floor.
Grade- C+ -- It's not who they drafted, its who they didn't draft. Kenneth Faried has a chance to be a special player in terms of rebounding the ball and defending and would have been a steal at 21.
Denver Nuggets
Who Did They Draft? Kenneth Faried (22)
What Else Did They Get? Andre Miller (Portland), Jordan Hamilton (26), Future 2nd Round Pick (Blazers, 2013, 2014), Chuckwudiebere Maduabum (56, from LA for future 2nd round pick)
The Nuggets did an excellent job in this draft. They added rebounding in Faried, a scoring threat in Hamilton, and an experienced, change of pace point guard in Andre Miller. Faried will hit the boards harder than anyone in the draft class, and as much as you've heard it..I'll say it again, he has a great motor. Hamilton is a guy that can score in bunches, but needs to work on his shot selection.
Grade- B+ Faried at 22 is a steal and getting rid of Felton for Hamilton and Miller is also.
Oklahoma City
Who Did They Draft? Reggie Jackson (24)
Sam Presti has been nothing short of genius in OKC, but this one is brought into question. Jackson is very similar to Russell Westbrook which is good, but creates a log jam at point along with Eric Maynor. Presti obviously has a plan, but I'm not quite sure what it is. He says Maynor is the Thunder's long term plans, so maybe Jackson will move to the 2?
Grade- C -- Maybe this ends up being a great pick, but for now it looks questionable.
Boston Celtics
Who Did They Draft? JaJuan Johnson (27), E'Twaun Moore (55)
The C's snagged a future 2nd round pick out of the Nets while acquiring Johnson, giving up Marshon Brooks to the Nets. Johnson is a very talented player whom the Celtics expect to improve under Kevin Garnett's tutelage. Moore isn't great at anything, but he is good at everything which leads many to believe at 55 he is a true steal.
Grade- B+ -- The C's weren't working with much, but they turned there limited resources into 2 players that fit the system very well.
Dallas Mavericks
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? Rudy Fernandez (Portland)
Fernandez is a relatively cheap fit for the Dallas system. He can stand around and shoot 3's like Peja did, and not be the same liability on the defensive end. This likely means either Peja or DeShawn Stevenson (or both) will be shown the door in Dallas. I like giving up the 26th and 57th pick for Fernandez who will be happier in Dallas than Portland.
Grade- B -- Hard to do much better than getting a cheap option that is a solid fit.
New Jersey Nets
Who Did They Draft? Marshon Brooks (25), Jordan Williams (36), Bojan Bogdanovic (31 from Miami & Minnesota)
The Nets traded up to get to Marshon Brooks who some are calling the next Kobe Bryant. Make no mistake, Brooks CAN fill it up, but he is NOT the next Kobe Bryant. They also snagged Jordan Williams who is a 6'9" center out of Maryland who will rebound the ball well but that is about it. Bogdanovic is a do it all forward who lacks athleticism and who I'm not sure will ever make a huge impact.
Grade- C+ -- Brooks can fill it up, but I'm not sure these three guys are keeping Deron Williams around after this year.
Chicago Bulls
Who Did They Draft? Jimmy Butler (30), Nikola Mirotic (23, from Houston)
Butler has a great story, and is the ultimate role player. He'll play hard, defend well, and thrive without the ball in his hands. Mirotic can play the 3 or the 4 and has decent range on his jumper and can drive to the basket.
Grade- B -- Disappointed not to see a Nolan Smith fall here the Bulls picked up the pieces by grabbing a great role player and adding depth to the front court.
San Antonio Spurs
Who Did They Draft? Cory Joseph (29), Adam Hanga (59), Kawhi Leonard (15 from Indiana), Davis Bertans (42 from Indiana)
Cory Joseph although picked too high in many minds is the choice to replace George Hill as the Spurs back up point guard while Adam Hanga will spend some more time overseas in what appears to be a decent risk by the Spurs. Leonard and Bertans don't seem like much in return for George Hill but surely the Spurs brass knows something we don't. Bertans fits into the mold of a Spurs player (great shooter and passer), and its still to be seen what San Antonio will do with the athletic Leonard.
Grade- B+ -- It's hard to give the Spurs front office to bad of a grade, especially when we see them saving money like they likely will with this deal.
Miami Heat
Who Did They Draft? Norris Cole (28)
Cole is a point guard out of Cleveland State who John Hollinger had rated as one of the better guards in the draft. He will add much needed depth to the Miami backcourt and for a relatively small price. Cole will be a member of the Heat for years to come.
Grade: A -- For what the Heat were working with, they addressed a need without giving up much. (Future 2nd round pick, cash considerations)
Los Angelas Clippers
Who Did They Draft? Trey Thompkins (37) Travis Leslie (47)
Both of these former Georgia Bulldogs were good finds for the Clippers in this draft. If Thompkins will muscle up and work on his conditioning he will be a talent down low for the Clippers and Travis Leslie will add another explosive dunker to what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting teams in basketball.
Grade: B -- If Thompkins pans out he's a great pick. Leslie, well he's going to be competing with Blake Griffin in a dunk contest very soon.
Los Angelas Lakers
Who Did They Draft? Darius Morris (41), Andrew Goudelock (46), Ater Majok (58)
What Else Did They Get? Future 2nd Round Pick (Nuggets)
L.A. added a shooter in Goudelock and a very good passing point guard in Darius Morris. If Morris improves his jumpshot he could become a very solid starting point guard for the Lakers and with Steve Blake and Derek Fisher ahead of him on the depth chart I expect him to get some time. Ater Majok spent a year at UCONN, however he doesn't seem like a guy that will play or make a difference.
Grade: C+ -- The Lakers weren't working with much but I like what they snagged in Darius Morris.
New Orleans Hornets
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? Between 700,000 and 750,000 Dollars (Knicks)
The Hornets sold their 45th pick (Josh Harrelson) to the Knicks for a little cash.
Grade: B- -- A franchise in need of revenue gets money.
Atlanta Hawks
Who Did They Draft? Keith Benson (48)
Benson is a soft center, and I'm not sure how that helps the Hawks who face Dwight Howard on a regular basis. While he was productive in college I don't expect that to carry into the NBA.
Grade- D -- Mark my words, "He will NEVER make an impact"
Memphis Grizzlies
Who Did They Draft? Josh Selby (49)
Who is Josh Selby? That is the question on everyones mind. Is he the superstar we saw in high school, or the incredibly average talent we saw at Kansas in his Freshman year. Either way the Grizzlies did something smart by taking a high risk high reward pick when they had nothing to lose.
Grade- A -- Selby has character issues, but when it is all said and done he is uber talented
Orlando Magic
Who Did They Draft? DeAndre Liggins (53)
What Else Did They Get? Justin Harper (32 from Cavs)
With the only picked they owned the Magic didn't add much offensively but they grabbed a guy that can defend three positions. Perimeter defense never hurt anyone, especially that late in the draft. The Magic also gave up 2 future 2nd round picks for Harper, who is a sharpshooting big man who has drawn Rashard Lewis comparisons.
Grade: B+ -- The Magic got a stretch the floor big guy which could make it harder to double team Howard and a defensive role player in Liggins.
The only thing left is to get the CBA figured out where we can watch all these rookies play.
@gbkcraw
Cleveland Cavaliers
Who Did They Draft? Kyrie Irving (1), Tristan Thompson (4), Milan Macvan (54).
The Cavs did what was expected of them by taking Kyrie Irving, out of Duke, with the first overall pick in the draft. From there, they surprised us a bit snagging Tristan Thompson at 4 when most thought they would take Jonas Valanciunas. Nobody is exactly sure why this happened, although Chad Ford was reporting that Cleveland was high on Thompson and there is the high risk Valanciunas isn't coming over this year. Thompson has a solid motor, and hits the offensive glass very well, but the question can be asked why snag a carbon copy of J.J. Hickson who averaged 16 points and 11 boards after January 1st. Macvan is a 6'9" guy who can stretch the floor a little bit but isn't expected to come to the NBA anytime soon.
Grade: B -- Taking Valanciunas would have filled a bigger need for the Cavs even if they did have to wait an extra year for him.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Who Did They Draft? Derrick Williams (2), Malcolm Lee (43).
What Else Did They Get? Brad Miller (From Houston), 2013 First Round Pick (From Houston)
The Timberwolves got the second most talented player in the draft (Williams), now all thats left is deciding what position he will play. Williams is a classic Tweener and has his work cut out for him at the Forward slot with Michael Beasley and Kevin Love also in the mix. They also snagged Malcolm Lee out of UCLA who they were thinking about taking with the 20th pick. Lee is an excellent perimeter defender, something the T-Wolves desperately needed.
Grade- B+ -- Might have been better off getting rid of the Number 2 Pick and seeing what they could get in return
Utah Jazz
Who Did They Draft? Enes Kanter (3), Alec Burks (12).
With everyone thinking Brandon Knight at Number 3 the Jazz decided at the last second to go with Kanter who might be the biggest wild card of the draft. Kanter couldn't play for Kentucky last year because he "wasn't eligible" and now it turns out nobody knows too much about him. Burks on the other hand is out of Colorado University and can flat out fill it up. He needs to work on his Perimeter shot, but the Jazz felt as if they needed a scoring guard, and in all likelihood they found him in Burks.
Grade B+ -- The Jazz don't seem to want to hang onto Devin Harris, but they didn't seem to find anyone to replace him either. Still drafted the best on the board (Kanter) and another need in Burks.
Toronto Raptors
Who Did They Draft? Jonas Valanciunas (5)
Valancinuas is a 7 footer with a 9'3" reach out of Lithuania. He is a true center, who happens to be tough and a good rebounder making him the exact opposite of Andrea Bargnani. He is no doubt the Center of the future for this Raptors team, but the question is when is the future? Valanciunas is unlikely to come to the NBA this year because of contract issues, but he will be a gem when he does.
Grade- A -- Unfortunate that he won't be here immediately, but got what could turn out to be a dominant player
Washington Wizards
Who Did They Draft? Jan Vesely (6), Chris Singleton (18), Shelvin Mack (34th)
Vesely is a high flier who at 6'11" gets up and down the court very well and seemingly fits in with a point guard like John Wall. On top of him they add the best perimeter defender in the draft in Singleton who will be a lock down defender at THREE (maybe four) positions. They also added a guy in Shelvin Mack who is a player out of Butler who can be a spark off the bench providing instant offense.
Grade- A+ -- In my mind Washington had the best draft of any team, getting better at every position of need.
Charlotte Bobcats
Who Did They Draft? Bismack Biyombo (7), Kemba Walker (9)
What Else Did They Get? Corey Maggette (From Milwaukee), Cash Considerations (From Golden State)
The Bobcats did your classic "Get worse to get better" job in this years draft. They parted ways with Stephen Jackson (Milwaukee) and brought in Corey Maggette who they will expect just about nothing from. Bismack Biyombo is a 6'9" Power Forward who has been playing in Spain and was the first ever player to record a triple double at the Nike Hoops Summit. Kemba Walker is your ultimate winner who will struggle to be a pure point, but maybe that isn't what Michael Jordan and his Bobcats need.
Grade- A+ -- Richard Cho came over from Portland and has done a great job setting this Charlotte team up for the future.
Detroit Pistons
Who Did They Draft? Brandon Knight (8), Kyle Singler (33), Vernon Macklin (52)
Detroit secured the Point Guard of their future in Brandon Knight while drafting a couple other guys that fit the Detroit mold (TOUGH). All three picks are winners, which is good as they are stepping into a bad team.
Grade- C+ -- Sure they got Brandon Knight, but they missed out on Biyombo and Tristan Thompson which was Detroit's true need.
Sacramento Kings
Who Did They Draft? Jimmer Fredette (10), Tyler Honeycut (35), Isaiah Thomas (60)
What Else Did They Get? John Salmons
Jimmer is a solid addition for the Kings who need an immediate boost in ticket sales along with someone to pair up with Tyreke Evans. The Jimmer can hit from anywhere on the court, but will have to work to improve his defensive abilities as well as transforming to become more of a classic point guard. Tyler Honeycut is a small forward who passes the ball well and is of pretty good value at pick 35, while Isaiah Thomas is undersized but if given the opportunity could change the pace of the Kings offense.
Grade- C+ -- It wasn't the draft itself was bad, it was more swapping Salmons for Beno Udrih and moving down 3 spots in the draft.
Golden State Warriors
Who Did They Draft? Klay Thompson (11), Charles Jenkins (44)
What Else Did They Get? Jeremy Tyler (From Charlotte for Cash)
Klay Thompson is a great three point shooter out of Washington State, and Charles Jenkins is the closest thing to Jimmer Fredette in this draft. Those two picks add up to only one thing in the minds of many experts: the Warriors are set to trade Monta Ellis. Jeremy Tyler is very raw offensively but at 6'11" can jump out of the gym and make an immediate impact defensively.
Grade- B -- The Warriors need Thompson and Jenkins to be the real deal, because they are expected to have no cap space to work with under the upcoming CBA.
Phoenix Suns
Who Did They Draft? Markieff Morris (13)
Many people were surprised to here Markieff's name called before his twin brother Marcus. However by all accounts, Markieff is better defensively and a better rebounder than his little brother. Markieff also seems to have a more solid lock on a specific position (PF) while Marcus is a tweener.
Grade- C+ -- The Suns didn't do anything wrong, but with the Number 13 pick in this draft, it was hard to do something spectacular.
Houston Rockets
Who Did They Draft? Marcus Morris (14), Dontas Motiejunas (20), Chandler Parsons (38)
What Else Did They Get? Jonny Flynn
Marcus Morris is surely playing the Small Forward for Houston as Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes fill the Power Forward role. Dontas Motiejunas is a 7 footer who is a polished scorer but not exactly tough on the boards. He is also listed as a power forward which means the Rockets might look to move one of there other 8,769 players at the same position. Parsons is a 3 guard who can handle the rock and possibly play the role of Point Forward if he develops into a little tougher player.
Grade- B -- The Rockets are shopping Jonny Flynn and while they picked up some size, they are still lacking a true center.
Indiana Pacers
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? George Hill
The Pacers turned the Numbers 15 and 42 pick into George Hill which from the outside looking in is great for them. Hill is going to be the Point Guard of the Pacers future and after backing up Tony Parker in San Antonio he will be fully capable.
Grade- B+ -- I really like what the Pacers did packaging there 2 picks for Hill.
Philadelphia 76ers
Who Did They Draft? Nikola Vucevic (16), Lavoy Allen (50th)
Vuvevic is a 7 footer out of USC that projects to be solid at both ends of the court. Vucevic has a soft touch around the basket but also a little bit of range on his jumper and has a 7'5" wingspan which will help him as he defends bigger players. Allen who is a power forward out of Temple is a solid rebounder but probably won't contribute much.
Grade- B -- Vucevic will help the 76ers on both ends of the floor, although he won't turn into the star that many think they need.
New York Knicks
Who Did They Draft? Iman Shumpert (17)
What Else Did They Get? Josh Harrelson (45, from New Orleans)
Shumpert is a 6'6" point guard who is a poor shooter, but finishes fairly well around the rim. Shumpert is projected to be a solid defender and with his size it is likely that he'll be able to guard more than just the point position. Shumpert has a lot of work to do to help this New York team on the offensive end of the floor though. Harrelson doesn't do much more than address a need for depth at Center.
Grade- D -- The Knicks needed perimeter defending, but why pass up Singleton who was the best defender in the draft.
Milwaukee Bucks
Who Did They Draft? Tobias Harris (19), Jon Leuer (40)
What Else Did They Get? Stephen Jackson (Charlotte), Shaun Livingston (Charlotte), Beno Udrih (Sacramento)
Milwaukee didn't do much to upgrade in the draft, although many are projecting Harris to be a sleeper pick. Leuer on the other hand is a 7 feet tall and can step out to the 3 point line and knock down jumpers. The Bucks did upgrade however by getting rid of Salmons and bringing in a better contract in Udrih and upgrading perimeter scoring with Stephen Jackson.
Grade- B -- If Harris turns out to be the sleeper he is projected as and the Jackson Udrih combo plays up to potential the Bucks improved through the day.
Portland Trailblazers
Who Did They Draft? Nolan Smith (21), Jon Diebler (51)
What Else Did They Get? Raymond Felton (Denver)
The Blazers lost Shooting Guard Rudy Fernandez on the night and also gave up Andre Miller. However a younger, quicker Felton should really help speed Portland up. Nolan Smith looks to be an excellent 6th man that could be Jason Terry- esque, but the question was posed is 21 to high for him? Diebler was the leading 3 point shooter in the history of the Big 10 and can really help space the floor.
Grade- C+ -- It's not who they drafted, its who they didn't draft. Kenneth Faried has a chance to be a special player in terms of rebounding the ball and defending and would have been a steal at 21.
Denver Nuggets
Who Did They Draft? Kenneth Faried (22)
What Else Did They Get? Andre Miller (Portland), Jordan Hamilton (26), Future 2nd Round Pick (Blazers, 2013, 2014), Chuckwudiebere Maduabum (56, from LA for future 2nd round pick)
The Nuggets did an excellent job in this draft. They added rebounding in Faried, a scoring threat in Hamilton, and an experienced, change of pace point guard in Andre Miller. Faried will hit the boards harder than anyone in the draft class, and as much as you've heard it..I'll say it again, he has a great motor. Hamilton is a guy that can score in bunches, but needs to work on his shot selection.
Grade- B+ Faried at 22 is a steal and getting rid of Felton for Hamilton and Miller is also.
Oklahoma City
Who Did They Draft? Reggie Jackson (24)
Sam Presti has been nothing short of genius in OKC, but this one is brought into question. Jackson is very similar to Russell Westbrook which is good, but creates a log jam at point along with Eric Maynor. Presti obviously has a plan, but I'm not quite sure what it is. He says Maynor is the Thunder's long term plans, so maybe Jackson will move to the 2?
Grade- C -- Maybe this ends up being a great pick, but for now it looks questionable.
Boston Celtics
Who Did They Draft? JaJuan Johnson (27), E'Twaun Moore (55)
The C's snagged a future 2nd round pick out of the Nets while acquiring Johnson, giving up Marshon Brooks to the Nets. Johnson is a very talented player whom the Celtics expect to improve under Kevin Garnett's tutelage. Moore isn't great at anything, but he is good at everything which leads many to believe at 55 he is a true steal.
Grade- B+ -- The C's weren't working with much, but they turned there limited resources into 2 players that fit the system very well.
Dallas Mavericks
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? Rudy Fernandez (Portland)
Fernandez is a relatively cheap fit for the Dallas system. He can stand around and shoot 3's like Peja did, and not be the same liability on the defensive end. This likely means either Peja or DeShawn Stevenson (or both) will be shown the door in Dallas. I like giving up the 26th and 57th pick for Fernandez who will be happier in Dallas than Portland.
Grade- B -- Hard to do much better than getting a cheap option that is a solid fit.
New Jersey Nets
Who Did They Draft? Marshon Brooks (25), Jordan Williams (36), Bojan Bogdanovic (31 from Miami & Minnesota)
The Nets traded up to get to Marshon Brooks who some are calling the next Kobe Bryant. Make no mistake, Brooks CAN fill it up, but he is NOT the next Kobe Bryant. They also snagged Jordan Williams who is a 6'9" center out of Maryland who will rebound the ball well but that is about it. Bogdanovic is a do it all forward who lacks athleticism and who I'm not sure will ever make a huge impact.
Grade- C+ -- Brooks can fill it up, but I'm not sure these three guys are keeping Deron Williams around after this year.
Chicago Bulls
Who Did They Draft? Jimmy Butler (30), Nikola Mirotic (23, from Houston)
Butler has a great story, and is the ultimate role player. He'll play hard, defend well, and thrive without the ball in his hands. Mirotic can play the 3 or the 4 and has decent range on his jumper and can drive to the basket.
Grade- B -- Disappointed not to see a Nolan Smith fall here the Bulls picked up the pieces by grabbing a great role player and adding depth to the front court.
San Antonio Spurs
Who Did They Draft? Cory Joseph (29), Adam Hanga (59), Kawhi Leonard (15 from Indiana), Davis Bertans (42 from Indiana)
Cory Joseph although picked too high in many minds is the choice to replace George Hill as the Spurs back up point guard while Adam Hanga will spend some more time overseas in what appears to be a decent risk by the Spurs. Leonard and Bertans don't seem like much in return for George Hill but surely the Spurs brass knows something we don't. Bertans fits into the mold of a Spurs player (great shooter and passer), and its still to be seen what San Antonio will do with the athletic Leonard.
Grade- B+ -- It's hard to give the Spurs front office to bad of a grade, especially when we see them saving money like they likely will with this deal.
Miami Heat
Who Did They Draft? Norris Cole (28)
Cole is a point guard out of Cleveland State who John Hollinger had rated as one of the better guards in the draft. He will add much needed depth to the Miami backcourt and for a relatively small price. Cole will be a member of the Heat for years to come.
Grade: A -- For what the Heat were working with, they addressed a need without giving up much. (Future 2nd round pick, cash considerations)
Los Angelas Clippers
Who Did They Draft? Trey Thompkins (37) Travis Leslie (47)
Both of these former Georgia Bulldogs were good finds for the Clippers in this draft. If Thompkins will muscle up and work on his conditioning he will be a talent down low for the Clippers and Travis Leslie will add another explosive dunker to what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting teams in basketball.
Grade: B -- If Thompkins pans out he's a great pick. Leslie, well he's going to be competing with Blake Griffin in a dunk contest very soon.
Los Angelas Lakers
Who Did They Draft? Darius Morris (41), Andrew Goudelock (46), Ater Majok (58)
What Else Did They Get? Future 2nd Round Pick (Nuggets)
L.A. added a shooter in Goudelock and a very good passing point guard in Darius Morris. If Morris improves his jumpshot he could become a very solid starting point guard for the Lakers and with Steve Blake and Derek Fisher ahead of him on the depth chart I expect him to get some time. Ater Majok spent a year at UCONN, however he doesn't seem like a guy that will play or make a difference.
Grade: C+ -- The Lakers weren't working with much but I like what they snagged in Darius Morris.
New Orleans Hornets
Who Did They Draft? Nobody
What Else Did They Get? Between 700,000 and 750,000 Dollars (Knicks)
The Hornets sold their 45th pick (Josh Harrelson) to the Knicks for a little cash.
Grade: B- -- A franchise in need of revenue gets money.
Atlanta Hawks
Who Did They Draft? Keith Benson (48)
Benson is a soft center, and I'm not sure how that helps the Hawks who face Dwight Howard on a regular basis. While he was productive in college I don't expect that to carry into the NBA.
Grade- D -- Mark my words, "He will NEVER make an impact"
Memphis Grizzlies
Who Did They Draft? Josh Selby (49)
Who is Josh Selby? That is the question on everyones mind. Is he the superstar we saw in high school, or the incredibly average talent we saw at Kansas in his Freshman year. Either way the Grizzlies did something smart by taking a high risk high reward pick when they had nothing to lose.
Grade- A -- Selby has character issues, but when it is all said and done he is uber talented
Orlando Magic
Who Did They Draft? DeAndre Liggins (53)
What Else Did They Get? Justin Harper (32 from Cavs)
With the only picked they owned the Magic didn't add much offensively but they grabbed a guy that can defend three positions. Perimeter defense never hurt anyone, especially that late in the draft. The Magic also gave up 2 future 2nd round picks for Harper, who is a sharpshooting big man who has drawn Rashard Lewis comparisons.
Grade: B+ -- The Magic got a stretch the floor big guy which could make it harder to double team Howard and a defensive role player in Liggins.
The only thing left is to get the CBA figured out where we can watch all these rookies play.
@gbkcraw
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Dwyane Wade and the Demise of the Miami Heat
Nearly a year ago LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh got together and had a party announcing the arrival of the Miami Heat's dynasty. LeBron spoke of winning not just 1 or 2 championships, but upwards of 7 titles. While LeBron's words were excellent for Heat fans to hear and for the NBA's T.V. ratings, I'm not sure that he thought before he spoke.
No, I'm not talking about how much of the Heat's cap space (whatever the cap will look like with the new CBA) is locked up into three players, I'm not talking about the ongoing circus around the team, I'm not talking about how the organization elected to surround them with guys that they picked up at the local Y. I'm talking about Dwyane Wade, the oldest of the "Big 3" and a guy whom I believe will physically break down before that oh so elusive 8th title.
As we all know Wade is a seemingly fearless, reckless player who gets to the lane at will but gets absolutely abused for it. ( They even made an advertising scheme off of it: Fall Down 7 Get Up 8 .) The way Wade gets to the bucket is very reminiscent of the way that one Allen Iverson played the game. Iverson played (plays) with a certain reckless abandon, however that reckless abandon only saw him play a full 82 games twice in his career.
Dwyane Wade similar to AI has yet to play a full 82 games maxing out at 79 games in 2008-2009. While Wade is larger in stature than Iverson it is somewhat evident that they have similar playing styles in the fact that they are both streaky outside shooters, who attack the basket with a grace and fervor rarely seen in the league. They both go to the line at a solid clip and are uber quick on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
That said, why not look to the past (Iverson) to predict the future (Wade) at least in terms of physical demise and the breakdown of the body. We'll look into games played and minutes played before Iverson's physical drop off and do the math to see where in Wade's career that will put him. (I deemed Iverson's physical drop off the 2008-2009 season when all of his numbers dropped off the charts, even if it was partially because of the Detroit system.)
Iverson (pre drop)- 12 seasons / 829 Games/ 34, 555.4 Total Minutes
Wade (to date)- 8 Seasons/ 547 Games/ 20,567.2 Total Minutes
Wade (22) came into the league a year older than Iverson (21), so we will assume that being a year older works to his disadvantage. If Wade plays 4 more seasons like his most recent for the Heat (76 games, 37.2 MPG he will add on 11,296 minutes to his total. We can somewhat safely assume Wade will get injured and miss 20 to 25 games more than normal so we'll say he plays 50 games at 37.2 MPG. That adds another 1,862 minutes to his total meaning this is how the numbers stack up at the end of the 2015-2016 season:
Iverson (pre drop)- 12 seasons / 829 Games/ 34, 555.4 Total Minutes
Wade (2015-2016)- 13 seasons/ 901 Games / 33,725.2 Total Minutes
Let's assume Wade loses his step going into that 16-17 season. Will it be worth the Heat resigning Wade's breaking down body? If not the "Big 3" will have won a total of 5 titles, but you'll have to imagine they get beat in at least one 7 game series between now and then. The Heat win 4 titles, maybe. Not quite what LeBron said.
However, Wade has multiple options to avoid the fate of Allen Iverson. Wade at 6'4"has the ability to do things much more Michael Jordan like than Iverson ever had the blessing of doing. Jordan extended his Bulls career by at least two years by doing two things: wanting IT more than anyone, and developing a mid-range/ back to the basket game that was near unstoppable. Dwyane Wade has the talent, the ability to re-invent himself.
The only question left to ask is: Does he have the drive to re-invent himself?
He'll have to if he want's LeBrons predictions to come true.
@gbkcraw
No, I'm not talking about how much of the Heat's cap space (whatever the cap will look like with the new CBA) is locked up into three players, I'm not talking about the ongoing circus around the team, I'm not talking about how the organization elected to surround them with guys that they picked up at the local Y. I'm talking about Dwyane Wade, the oldest of the "Big 3" and a guy whom I believe will physically break down before that oh so elusive 8th title.
As we all know Wade is a seemingly fearless, reckless player who gets to the lane at will but gets absolutely abused for it. ( They even made an advertising scheme off of it: Fall Down 7 Get Up 8 .) The way Wade gets to the bucket is very reminiscent of the way that one Allen Iverson played the game. Iverson played (plays) with a certain reckless abandon, however that reckless abandon only saw him play a full 82 games twice in his career.
Dwyane Wade similar to AI has yet to play a full 82 games maxing out at 79 games in 2008-2009. While Wade is larger in stature than Iverson it is somewhat evident that they have similar playing styles in the fact that they are both streaky outside shooters, who attack the basket with a grace and fervor rarely seen in the league. They both go to the line at a solid clip and are uber quick on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
That said, why not look to the past (Iverson) to predict the future (Wade) at least in terms of physical demise and the breakdown of the body. We'll look into games played and minutes played before Iverson's physical drop off and do the math to see where in Wade's career that will put him. (I deemed Iverson's physical drop off the 2008-2009 season when all of his numbers dropped off the charts, even if it was partially because of the Detroit system.)
Iverson (pre drop)- 12 seasons / 829 Games/ 34, 555.4 Total Minutes
Wade (to date)- 8 Seasons/ 547 Games/ 20,567.2 Total Minutes
Wade (22) came into the league a year older than Iverson (21), so we will assume that being a year older works to his disadvantage. If Wade plays 4 more seasons like his most recent for the Heat (76 games, 37.2 MPG he will add on 11,296 minutes to his total. We can somewhat safely assume Wade will get injured and miss 20 to 25 games more than normal so we'll say he plays 50 games at 37.2 MPG. That adds another 1,862 minutes to his total meaning this is how the numbers stack up at the end of the 2015-2016 season:
Iverson (pre drop)- 12 seasons / 829 Games/ 34, 555.4 Total Minutes
Wade (2015-2016)- 13 seasons/ 901 Games / 33,725.2 Total Minutes
Let's assume Wade loses his step going into that 16-17 season. Will it be worth the Heat resigning Wade's breaking down body? If not the "Big 3" will have won a total of 5 titles, but you'll have to imagine they get beat in at least one 7 game series between now and then. The Heat win 4 titles, maybe. Not quite what LeBron said.
However, Wade has multiple options to avoid the fate of Allen Iverson. Wade at 6'4"has the ability to do things much more Michael Jordan like than Iverson ever had the blessing of doing. Jordan extended his Bulls career by at least two years by doing two things: wanting IT more than anyone, and developing a mid-range/ back to the basket game that was near unstoppable. Dwyane Wade has the talent, the ability to re-invent himself.
The only question left to ask is: Does he have the drive to re-invent himself?
He'll have to if he want's LeBrons predictions to come true.
@gbkcraw
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The 2011 Monstars
Sometime in his career Michael Jordan found the time to act in a movie that hit the Big Screen in November of 1996. However we rarely acknowledge the other NBA Players that took time out of their schedules to play a much smaller role in "Space Jam."
As a child I enjoyed watching the Mavericks for one reason and one reason only, Shawn Bradley. He was good for a couple baseline 15 footers, clumsily running into guards attacking the rim, and of course at least one collision with the floor per game. The only criteria for replacing Bradley on the Monstars was the following: Tall, White, Awkward, Nice Mid-Range Game. Now survey the landscape of the NBA, and with the exception of Brian Scalabrine nobody else fits the criteria. Big Z has had a relatively successful NBA career and is currently chasing his first ring with the Miami Heat right now. But like Bradley, I couldn't imagine a worse pick/bigger waste of space for this Monstars team than Ilgauskas.
So there you have it, your 2011 Monstars. A squad that would definietely give Kobe (2011 MJ) and Bugs a run for their money. The ball is in your court (pun intended) Warner Brothers.
To pay tribute too (and make fun of) the other five players that played a major role as the "Monstars" I'll delve into who your Monstars would be if Space Jam was remade starting tomorrow.
While it is very tempting to break down who your Monstars would be by pointing out that Rajon Rondo and Chris Bosh look like aliens and thus would be perfect candidates for your 2011 Squad, I'll be a little less superficial and take stats and playing styles into consideration.
1996 Monstar: Muggsy Bogues
2011 Monstar: Earl Boykins
Bogues was a tiny 5'3" that averaged nearly as many assists (7.6) as points (7.7) per game over his 15 year career. While Boykins is nowhere close to as talented as Muggsy, he is the closest thing we have in height at 5'5". Boykins has only averaged about 2.5 assists over his career, but like Bogues has managed to survive in a league of giants for over a decade. It's safe to say that Boykins skill set would suffice in setting up the rest of his star studded Monstars, while providing good cheap laughs simply because of his size.
1996 Monstar: Larry Johnson
2011 Monstar: Joe Johnson
Larry Johnson was coming off a career in year in 95-96 (20pts, 8 rbs, 4 ast), and while Joe Johnson has put up better scoring numbers than that the players are semi-comparable. This past season Joe averaged just over 18 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds very similar to Larry's stats in his pre- space Jam season. Both players have the last name Johnson, rode career years to big raises, and never give you a shot at a championship if they are your best player. Larry was 6'6" while Joe is 6'7" but both handle the ball well which is key for a Monstars team that deploys the strategy that size will win. (Seriously, what if they had added another guard instead of Bradley? Maybe a 3 point shooter to stretch the floor? No way MJ and crew win that game.)
1996 Monstar: Charles Barkley
2011 Monstar: Kevin Garnett
Sure KG at 6'11" has a solid five inches on the 6'6" Barkley but everything else adds up. KG can score the basketball at a rate similar to Chucks, and also rebounds at a rate similar to Barkley's. However, Garnett brings a defensive presence to the floor, something which Barkley never did for his '96 Monstars. More importantly, both players have big mouths and are great "lead Monstars" in terms of personality. The only downside to including Garnett is that you might have to change the movie rating to PG-13 because he tends to scare small children.
1996 Monstar: Patrick Ewing
2011 Monstar: Amare Stoudemire
I can't keep the city of New York from having a star in this game, especially with some of the similarities these two share. Ewing was a 7 footer who had a wonderful back to the basket game but could also put the ball on the floor for a dribble or two before punishing a helpless defender with a monster jam. Stoudemire at 6'10" thrives off of posterizing less athletic and smaller defenders and like Ewing has never won a championship. Moar importantly, who wouldn't love seeing Alien-Stoudemire running around wearing glasses like Amare?
1996 Monstar: Shawn Bradley
2011 Monstar: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
So there you have it, your 2011 Monstars. A squad that would definietely give Kobe (2011 MJ) and Bugs a run for their money. The ball is in your court (pun intended) Warner Brothers.
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