Thoughts on the NBA Draft

So the other day I posted a non-biased, fact based piece on the 2014 NBA Draft. In this article, I will be posting some of my views on the draft, particularly some of the selections made by the teams.

Their fate has already been sealed - No matter how different their games are, no matter how far their careers drift apart, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker will be compared for the rest of their career due to them being in the same draft class. In my opinion, Wiggins will be more popular with fans due to his flashy dunks, but I can see Parker becoming a very underrated player. Only time can tell whether the Cleveland Cavaliers made the right pick.

76ers select injury-ridden big man... Again - In the 2013 draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Nerlens Noel, a promising centre who had to miss a season due to injury problems. In the 2014 draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Joel Embiid, a promising centre who has to miss a season due to injury problems. Am I the only one getting deja vu? The 76ers seems intent on taking risks in drafts, and whether they will be worth it or not is yet to be seen. However, even if they do get Embiid and Noel healthy at the same time, what will they do with them? They will have 2 centers, with only one spot on the team. Either way, one player will be upset at his minutes.

What was wrong with Exum? -  The question most Orlando Magic fans will be asking about their team's selection after this year's draft. Given the 4th pick, the stage was set for them to select Dante Exum, a highly praised guard from Australia. Also, with Arron Afflalo leaving the club in a trade a few days before the draft, Exum seemed like the perfect substitute. But instead, they selected Aaron Gordon, a power forward from Arizona. No disrespect to Gordon, he seems like a solid prospect, but it looked like Exum would be better suited to the Magic.

Will Shabazz shine in Miami? - One draft day trade saw point guard Shabazz Napier move from the Charlotte Hornets to the Miami Heat. With plenty of guards already on the roster, this move made sense for Charlotte, and Miami have been chasing after Napier for months, with him reportedly being LeBron James' favourite player in the draft. Critics of Miami have always said that the point guard role needs to be improved, with Mario Chalmers being deemed unfit for the position. Shabazz may apply some pressure onto Chalmers, or even take his place in the team. Or he could be ignored by Erik Spoelstra and pushed to the bench, much like Norris Cole has been.

"With the next pick in the NBA draft, the NBA selects..." - One of the best stories of the night was when Isaiah Austin was cermemonially "drafted" by the NBA. Austin couldn't experience the real draft due to him being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome just a couple of moves before the draft. I've shared the video before on this page, but if you haven't seen it yet, I urge you to watch it, it's incredibly emotional. A classy move from Commissioner Adam Silver, and one that will get him plenty of respect and fans (although that most likely wasn't his aim).

Wiggins Is #1 Pick of 2014

For the second year in a row, a Canadian has been selected as the number one pick in the NBA Draft. In 2013 it was Anthony Bennett who took the top spot, and this year shooting guard Andrew Wiggins had the honour of being number 1.

Even as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took to the stage in Brooklyn's Barclays Center, there was still discussion as to who would be the first pick. Duke's Jabari Parker and Kansas' Wiggins seemed to be favourites, whilst some pundits still backed Joel Embiid despite his recent injury problems.

After months of speculation, Silver put all rumours to rest. The Cleveland Cavaliers had selected the young man from Toronto, leaving the Milwaukee Bucks with forward Parker. Then, the Philadelphia 76ers took the stage with a big decision to make. Do they take the promising but injured Embiid or take a more conservative pick on a player without the injury concerns. When it came to it, they selected the centre from Duke to join their roster.

Andrew Wiggins became 2014's Number 1 Pick

Then came one of the biggest shocks of the evening. Much praise has been heaped on Melbourne born Dante Exum, with one NBA General Manager (who stayed anonymous) saying he could be the next Kobe Bryant. Despite these recommendations, the Orlando Magic decided to select Aaron Gordon, a power forward from Arizona, a move that didn't seem popular with fans. This allowed the Utah Jazz to take the Australian at number 5, which could be considered to be a steal.

Marcus Smart, the point guard from Oklahoma State was next, being drafted to the Boston Celtics, while Julius Randle went out west to Los Angeles, to join a Lakers franchise in desperate need of a bright new star. Nik Stauskas was the 2nd Canadian to be drafted on the night, joining the Sacramento Kings at number 8 and Noah Vonleh became the first ever pick for the newly named Charlotte Hornets. Unexpectedly rounding out the top 10 was Elfrid Payton who was drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic. In return, the 76ers received the rights to Dario Saric, who will be playing in Europe for the next couple of years.

Other notable picks included sharpshooter Doug McDermott (number 11 by the Denver Nuggets, later traded to the Chicago Bulls), Canadian point guard Tyler Ennis (number 18 by the Phoenix Suns) and Connecticut point guard Shabazz Napier (number 24 by the Charlotte Hornets, moved to the Miami Heat). For a full list of draftees, see the end of the article.

The feel good story of the night was the one of Isaiah Austin. Formerly a center with Baylor, there were talks of him becoming a first round pick in the 2014 Draft. However, Austin was recently diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, thus ending his dreams of ever playing professionally. Then, between the 15th and 16th picks, Adam Silver called Austin to the stage and picked him as a ceremonial member of the NBA. Austin received a standing ovation from the crowd, and a draft night experience he never thought he would have.

Adam Silver (left) and Isaiah Austin (right) provided one of the most emotional NBA moments of all time

For a full list of draftees, visit - http://www.nba.com/draft/2014/draftboard.html
To watch Isaiah Austin's emotional induction, visit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuKKhMls0bs

NBA Draft 2014 preview

With the NBA season now done for the year, all attention turns to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the 2014 NBA draft will be held on the 26th June.

Of course the excitement for the draft started last month with the draft lottery, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to win the top pick for the third time in four years (including two years on the trot) despite only having a 1.7% chance of doing so. This allows them free rein over a draft class that seems to have plenty of potential all-stars.

After what turned out to be a disappointing draft class of 2013 (in which Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo were the only stand-out men) the class of 2014 looks much more stacked with talent. Players such as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker have gone viral due to the mixtapes they released online. Players from further afield, such as Dante Exum (Australia) and Dario Saric (Croatia) have also caught the eye of many NBA teams, with both prospects expecting to be a top 10 pick.

Anthony Bennett proved to be a blow out 1st pick last season, the Cavaliers will be hoping their draft pick is much more successful this year.

Despite there being plenty of talent in the draft class, there have only been 3 men in contention for the number 1 pick: center Joel Embiid and forwards Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins. These 3 young men have chopped and changed as the favourite for the top spot all year and still, less than a week before the draft, there are no clear signs as to who will occupy that position.

The long-time favourite to secure the number 1 pick is Andrew Wiggins, having gained media attention when his mixtape hit the web, which has since been viewed nearly 5 million times. Since then, he has declared for the NBA draft, making him one of the youngest players in it, at the age of 19. Obviously, his athleticism is what grabbed the media attention, but Wiggins is also known for his impressive shooting ability, especially from beyond the 3-point line. This offensive ability could greatly benefit a team such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished 22nd in points per game last season. But there are worries about how such a young man can adapt to the NBA lifestyle, especially with the 24/7 media attention that NBA players are now expected to deal with. There are also concerns about his commitment and passion for the game, as he sometimes seems complacent on court. Nevertheless, he is still the favourite to become the top pick of 2014, and is tipped to be a future All-Star.

Joel Embiid is a player who has massively increased his draft stock recently, with the Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks inviting him to their draft workouts. The 7' center is originally from Cameroon, but recently has finished his college career at the University of Kansas. He has been compared to Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon, not only because of his size, but also due to his footwork and his efficiency on the offensive end. However, there have always been worries about Embiid's back, which ruled him out of the 2014 NCAA tournament due to him fracturing it months ago. To make matters worse for the big man and his potential suitors, he also fractured his foot a few days ago, which has only lengthened his injury list. This may benefit those teams with lower picks, such as the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic who could pick up Embiid relatively low in the draft. However, there is the major risk that they could be drafting the next Greg Oden or Sam Bowie, both of who struggled for fitness in their NBA years.

Jabari Parker is another man who has cut his college career short to declare for the NBA draft. After Duke lost to Mercer in the second round of the NCAA tournament, he felt that the big leagues were the only place for him. The All-American impressed last season, scoring 19.1 points per game, whilst grabbing 8.7 rebounds every game. These stats may seem superior to Wiggins and Embiid's, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. There have been questions raised over his defence, being seen as too slow to guard the perimeter and too short to guard the post. These worries have caused his potential position in the draft to drop a couple of places. However, it is still predicted by most NBA commentators that the young man will be picked in the top 3, with a move to Milwaukee or Philadelphia looking most likely.

Who will be Number 1? Andrew Wiggins (left), Jabari Parker (centre) and Joel Embiid (right) all have a great chance to become the first pick of 2014

But draft day isn't all about sourcing the best of college talent, there is usually also a variety of trades to be done. The swap that is most likely to grab the headlines this year is the potential move out of Minnesota for Kevin Love. This has been on the books for quite a while now, and draft night looks the night that this deal could finally happen. Every team in the NBA seem to be interested in the power forward, with the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors making the most substantial offers. The deal could easily come down to the fact that the Celtics have the number 6 pick this year (most likely to be Noah Vonleh from Indiana) and therefore another draft piece, while the Warriors have no picks at all, having traded their picks away to Utah and Minnesota.

Kevin Love could finally move away from the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night

Draft days are always exciting, with the actual draft being watched by millions of viewers around the world. But this one, with prospects such as Shabazz Napier and Rodney Hood expected to be picked as low as the number 20 spot, could be extra special.

Spurs Win, Clinch 5th Championship

The San Antonio Spurs closed out the 2013-14 season last night, with a 104-87 win over the Miami Heat. The victory allowed them to clinch their 5th NBA Championship in the past 15 years.

The Spurs hold the Larry O'Brien trophy aloft, the team's 5th championship in 15 years.

For many, including Boris Diaw and Marco Belinelli, it was a first taste of the title, but there was a few more experienced heads on the roster. Tim Duncan became the 26th player to win 5 rings, with Gregg Popovich being the 5th coach to win 5. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have also tasted success before, both of them winning their 4th championship.

They have outplayed the Heat in this series, and that pattern continued last night, with the Spurs cruising past them, despite LeBron James' commendable efforts (31 points and 10 rebounds). You couldn't ask for more from the 4 times MVP, a statement that couldn't be applied to his teammates. Ray Allen shot 1-8 from the field and Chris Andersen managed to rack up 5 personal fouls, despite only playing for 18 minutes. This series could be lingering on James' mind (and Dwyane Wade's and Chris Bosh's) when he comes to make his decision about his contract in Miami.

Kawhi Leonard won an emotional Finals MVP, gaining the title on Fathers Day, 6 years after his father was murdered. It was a well deserved title after he not only kept LeBron James (relatively) quiet, but also managed to average 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds on 61% shooting. He was the third youngest man to receive the award, after Magic Johnson and his teammate Tim Duncan.

The season may be done, but this blog certainly isn't, as I will continue to report on NBA news, such as the 2014 NBA Draft and the fast approaching Free Agency period. Also, the FIBA World Cup will be commencing in August, so expect news and reports from that.

Thank you to my readers for making the first season of my blog possible, here's to many more seasons down the road hopefully.

2014 Finals Preview

So. This is it. After 220 days, 1230 games and millions of Air Miles logged, the NBA championship boils down to one series. The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs may have met last year in the finals, but this isn't just gonna be a re-run.

The NBA finals are always a fantastic spectacle and this year is no different

The Heat are looking to '3-peat', hoping to be the first team to manage this feat since the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-2002. The Spurs are going for their 5th championship. This would also mark the 5th victory for power forward Tim Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich, who are often seen as the backbone of the Spurs squad for the past 15 years.

The rosters are barely changed, Marco Belinelli the only addition to the Spurs squad, whilst the Heat's trio of new players, Michael Beasley, Toney Douglas and Greg Oden, haven't made much of an impact this year. Some players have made big steps in terms of their ability, such as Danny Green and Norris Cole, but overall the line-ups looks fairly similar.

Speaking of the line-ups, it is near impossible to choose which team has the better starting five. At point guard, power forward and centre, the decision is clear as to who is superior with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Chris Bosh taking the honours in their respective positions. Dwyane Wade effectively has to compete against Danny Green and Manu Ginobili, with both Spurs players having equal minutes at shooting guard.

Tim Duncan hopes to lead his team to their 5th title

The key player matchup is at small forward, where LeBron James takes on a rapidly improving, and defensively minded, Kawhi Leonard. However, no matter how well Leonard plays over the series, one thing is certain.

You can't guard LeBron James.

It doesn't matter what defensive strategy Leonard uses against James, LeBron will still be capable of scoring 20 points. Nevertheless, if you had to pick one man to take the unenviable task, Sugar K would be one of the first players picked. He did a very good job last year, and was possibly one of the main reasons the series went to 7.

Ray Allen's game tying 3 in Game 6 was the pivotal moment of last year's play-offs. Could we see another moment like this this year?

Obviously, the main factor to these games is how each team's Big Three perform. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan have all been solid for the Spurs this season, combining for 42 points per game between them. The Miami big three, consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have been more potent at the attacking end, scoring 62 points a game. However, there are doubts over the fitness levels of Ginobili and Wade. Both players are playing reduced minutes due to age and injuries. Bosh choked in last season's play-offs, but will surely relish a second go at it. There are also worries about Tony Parker's ankle injury, but he is expected to play without a minutes restriction.


So, "Who will win?" I hear you cry. The real answer? 

Nobody knows.

That's the beauty of basketball.

2013-14 NBA Teams

The 2013-14 NBA Teams have been announced

1st Team

G - Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
G - James Harden (Houston Rockets)
F - LeBron James (Miami Heat)
F - Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
C - Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls)

2nd Team

G - Tony Parker (Spurs)
G - Steph Curry (Warriors)
F - Blake Griffin (Clippers)
F - Kevin Love (Timberwolves)
C - Dwight Howard (Rockets)


3rd team

G - Goran Dragic (Suns)
G - Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
F - Paul George (Pacers)
F - LaMarcus Aldrige (Trail Blazers)
C - Al Jefferson (Bobcats)

Plenty of talking points, with Carmelo Anthony being excluded completely and James Harden being picked over Steph Curry. Nice to see guys from unsuccesful teams getting nods, such as Goran Dragic and Al Jefferson.