2002 NBA Draft Review

Now in their 5th year in the NBA, I feel as though its time to review the 2002 NBA Draft Class.  There is little doubt that at the time of this draft there was an enormous amount of hype surrounding a mysterious big man from China who had wowed the scouting world with his smooth move, soft touch and feel for the game at the Jordan All-Stars Camp two summers previous. Yao Ming was an incredibly risky proposition at the time.  He was the star of the Shanghai Sharks of the vaunted Chinese Basketball League. Would he be tough enough to compete under the basket with the toughest SOB’s in the basketball world?  Was a NCAA Player of Year, Jason Williams of Duke, more of a sure thing?  What about his teammate, Mike “the next Larry Bird” Dunleavy?

1. Yao Ming -Houston Rockets –  The most important player to enter the league since Michael Jordan. Yao Ming has certainly has his ups and downs in the past 4+ years, but as the first ever international player taken first overall he was and is the centerpiece of the NBA’s growth in the world’s largest market. Oh, and the kid can ball.  Of that there is no doubt.  He’s the best passing big man since Brad Daugherty.  For his career he’s averaging 18pts, 9 boards and 2 blocks.  Pretty darn good even for a first overall pick, but Yao has had more than his share of detractors.  When will he dominate?  Why don’t the Rockets win?  This year, Yao is silencing all his critics with outstanding play.  26.5 ppg and 10rpg.  The Rockets are 14-9 even with TMAC back on the shelf.  Yao has proven his worth beyond any reasonable doubts and if surrounded by a proper supporting cast should have no problem leading his team deep into the playoffs.  

I’ll give him a 9/10…with the only caveat that he needs to get deeper into the playoffs in the very near future.

2. Jason Williams – Chicago Bulls-  Jason was a do everything, Prime Time Player, BABY!  He can’t miss!  Uh, Mr. Vitale, I know you can’t hear or see too well with your advancing age, but maybe you should leave the scouting to the experts.   His Rookie year he managed only 10 points and 4.7 assists and couldn’t crack 40% shooting from the floor.  Things weren’t looking good for another of Coach K’s heroes….when disaster struck on June 19th, 2003.  Jay decided to take his motorcycle for a spin and by spin I mean “test the strength of Chicago’s light poles”.   Jason was lucky to come out alive.  Although he has attempted to return to the floor, his current stint in the NBA D-League does not appear to bode well for his future.

3. Mike Dunleavy – GS Warriors – My favourite part about the scouting reports on Mike Dunleavy Jr. prior to the draft were the discussions of his “uncanny basketball smarts”, “incredible desire” and “great shooting touch”.  What the scouting reports failed to note are Mike’s other qualities “avoids all body contact”, “suffers from iron deficiency” and “likes to appear as feminine as possible at all times”.  All the smarts in the world can’t make up for quivering in fear at the site of a well-muscled defender.  Mike has been a gigantic dissapointment (10ppg, 5rpg, 2.5 apg, 43% FG) and it can all be summed up rather nicely in two words – TERRIBLE PICK.

4. Drew Gooden – Grizzlies.  Jerry West’s first pick with the Memphis Grizzlies cannot be looked at as a success.  While Drew Gooden is certainly one of the better PFs picked in this draft he only lasted one season in Memphis before being shipped out of town for Mike Miller.  Of course it only takes one player drafted lower to make a pick look bad and since Amare Stoudemire was the most explosive big in the game before microfracture surgery this pick doesn’t look too good.  Drew has a penchant for taking dumb fouls, turning the ball over and generally infuriating coaching staffs.  Nobody questions his rebounding skills, but for the 4th overall pick to be known only as a good, but not great rebounder…well that’s not a good thing.

5. Nikoloz Tsiohoihlkgaslghvili….Who?   Exactly.

6. Dajuan Wagner – Cavs.  Dajuan Wagner is known in scouting circles for his one year guarantee at University of Memphis for a total of $250,000.   Unfortunately for Dajuan he had just as much trouble keeping down food (colitis) as he had knocking down jump shots (36% FG career).

7. Nene – Nuggets via the Knicks.  This is tough pick to judge as Nene showed some real signs of ability early in his career Averaging about 10 and 6 in limited minutes.  However injuries and an excessive love of churrasceria has slowed his career dramatically. 

8. Chris Wilcox – Clippers – A slightly more athletic version of Gooden, but with a lower horsepower engine, Chris is just as likely to leave your mouth agape with terrible defense as he is with highlight real dunks.  He does not have a post up game or the ability to put the ball on the floor.  He was a dissapointment in LA with the exception of limited moments of filling in for injured players and eventually was shipped out of Seattle.  His plays reminds me of a kid who suffers from ADD.  When he’s focused he can be incredible, but the focus never lasts nearly as long as his coach would like.

9. Amare Stoudemire – Suns.  If he hadn’t suffered a knee injury in the summer of 2005 he would be recognized as the best big man in the NBA today.  STAT was completely unstoppable in the paint, ran the court like with strides like an antelope and scared little children the world over with the violence of his dunks.  With Steve Nash getting him the basketball in Position A he was completely unstoppable.  Following knee surgery, Amare is showing flashes of his old self and is still explosive enough to beat just about anyone off the dribble, but he appears to have an inability to take the angles he took pre-surgery and thus is as likely to draw contact and lay the ball in as he is to explode to the rim and eat iron.  Still a star but no longer a supernova.

10.  Caron Butler – Heat. Caron fell a few spots in this draft due to concerns that a previous knee injury would not stand the rigours of the NBA.  Wrong.  Caron has kept himself in top shape and has turned himself into the ideal 3rd option on a top team.  Currently averaging 19 and 8 on 47% from the floor, Caron gets to the line almost 6 times a game (and makes 90% of them), he can even find open teammates and does so to the tune of 3.5 apg.  Caron is the third best player in the top 10, so needless to say this pick turned out well (even if the Heat only kept him one year). 

The 2005 Draft’s Best Big Man?

Sean May in only 24 minutes of action is averaging 12 points and 7 boards, shooting 50% from the floor and 83% from the line.  Over 40 minutes that works out to 20 points and 14 boards.  Pretty good for a player that’s essentially a rookie (he only played 23 games last year).  Sean is coming off a 32 point, 6 board effort including 14-17 at the line against Dwight Howard and the Magic.  Over the last 6 games he’s averaged 19.2 ppg and 7.7 rpg.  As Borat would say…Very Nice. 

 The rest of the draft class includes Andrew Bogut who in 32 minutes is averaging 11.8ppg and 7.8ppg.  David Lee averaging 10 and 9 in 27 minutes (and earning the best knickname in the class courtesy of Kenny Smith, “Shallow Water”…he likes to shoot under 5 feet).  Of course there is always Hakim Warrick who is really a SF is averaging 15ppg and 6rpg in 32 minutes a game.   The rest of the class has either barely played or is oft injured (Marvin Williams, Channing Frye, Ike Diogu, Charlie V,  Andrew Bynum and Johan Petro)

AI DONE IN ILLADELPHIA

Goodness gracious its about time.  From my perspective and I imagine the perspective to pretty much every NBA fan there’s nothing bad that can come of Allen Iverson leaving the Sixers.  He can only be headed to a better team, right?  I mean they’re all better then the Sixers.    For a reminder of what it was one like watching AI check out this link and this one. 

Greg Oden Scouting Report

Greg Oden is a 7’0″ Freshman center out of Lawrence North HS in Indianapolis.  Last night his Ohio St. Buckeyes visited Chapel Hill and lost to North Carolina 98-89. 

Greg Oden  – very little doubt that this kid is not 18 years old.  His hair is greying and his face appears to be showing the early sign of wrinkling.  He fills out his dress shirt better than any Frosh in the last 25-30 years.  There is no doubt he’s going to be a Diaper Dandy and by diaper I mean he’s likely to be changing the diapers of his grandkids in the next 5 years.  Cuts an imposing image on the sideline, reminding me of a middle aged John Thompson.  Lets get excited about the Greg Oden Era at OSU!

Who’s Uglier?

Anyone else you can think of?  Feel free to forward along the pic.  I’d love to compile an All-World All Ugly Team.

  Gregg “Cadillac” Anderson

 Shelden Williams

Ronaldinho

  George Muresan

Carlos Tevez

Raptors Win! Raptors Win!

Can it be?  A win in OKC?  Indeed you weren’t not seeing things.  In fact you weren’t likely seeing it at all as the game was only on Raptors TV.  Anyway, it looks like Andrea Zuckerman Bargnani is turning the corner.  He finished with 16 and 4 in 23 minutes.  Of course lets not forget that the Hornets were without Peja and David West which meant they started Rasual Butler and Marc Jackson.  Even the dregs of the Eastern Conference can handle those two.

Dunk of the Year!

Check out Ronnie Price putting a crown on Carlos Boozer!

Memories of The Man…aka Steve Nash

I’d like to start a little something on this blog and its going to require the help of my readers.  One of the favourite things that my basketball loving friends love to do is watch two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash play basketball.  Maybe its because he looks at bit like us and plays below the rim like us, but mostly I think its the pure joy and selflessness that Steve displays on the court.  Basketball is really all about building relationships with teammates/friends and turning those relationships into high quality basketball.  Its fair to say that Steve is the ultimate example of just how bringing players together can lead to great success.  On that note I’d like to share one of my favourite moments of Steve and then I’d love to hear from you about how Steve has affected your love of the game.

My favourite Steve Nash memory actually occurred while I was backpacking around Asia.  It was during the 2003 Western Conference Finals when the Dallas Mavericks were in tough against the San Antonio Spurs.  At the time I was in Haad Rin on the island Koh Pha Ngan and there was no way I was going to miss Nash in his attempts to lead the Mavs to the Finals.  Fortunately for me the Outback Bar was showing the game and I was set.   I was one of about 4 people watching the game but fortunately for me, Steve left me with something to talk about.  Part way through the 4th quarter Nash made a play that I still can’t believe.  He called for the pick and roll at the left elbow extended and when the Spurs doubled him off the pick he did a spin dribble through the double team, got into the lane and as the defense collapsed found Walt Williams in the right corner.  Williams was closed out hard so he returned the ball to Nash who had continued to move as all good players do, up to the right elbow extende.  Nash drove into the lane only to be met by Tim Duncan.  Fortunately for Steve he’s got a shot in his repetoire that even TD can’t handle.  Steve released the highest arcing running right hander you’ve ever seen that drop effortlessly through the hoop.  I gasped and let out a scream, which brought the entire bar over to the TV to see the highlight.  Even a bunch of Aussies with no clue who Steve was were in awe.  Just a great moment and one that I’ve been trying to re-live ever since with incessant attempts at the high arcing runner….

Carolina vs. Tennessee

Well folks, I apologize for not being able to report on the Tar Heels first loss of the season against Gonzaga on Wednesday.  However, I did manage to check out the UNC-UT game last night and I have to say its going to be a very bumpy ride for Heels fans this year.  Carolina has an enormous amount of talent, right now it is more a collection of individuals and by no means a team.  There are far too many plays breaking down and a lot of mental lapses on the defensive end, of course with so much talent they can still win going away against a top tier SEC team.  The ACC season will be a great opportunity for these kids to grow up and learn the value of teamwork and hopefully the time the postseason comes around they’ll begin to get it.  I know they are currently a favourite to reach the Final Four, but I an tell you that I won’t be booking my ticket just yet.  Below are my initial thoughts on the three heralded freshman in Carolina Blue (I will complete full scouting reports once I’ve seen more games):

Brandan Wright – the stud of the class.  Unquestionably an NBA player with a long career ahead of him.  Personifies the term length, but what really impresses me is that for a young big man he really plays the game with his head up and his eyes all over the floor.  Currently has a release point that is so high as to be unblockable at the college level…Oddly enough he has many of the same characteristics that a young Rasheeed Wallace had (vicious dunks, solid rebounder and shot blocker) but with a little more polish on his handle and passing ability and A LOT less emotional concerns.  Clearly needs more weight/strength to succeed in the NBA but appears to have broad enough shoulders to get there with some hard work in the gym.

Wayne Ellington – at one point Wayne was the star recruit of this class and I can only imagine how easily he would have scored in high school.  However, he has some serious flaws in his game from an NBA perspective.  His shot release is very slow by NBA standards, he does not have the size (listed at 6’4″, but looks shorter) or the incredible athleticism to have success at the NBA level.  Again similar to another former Heel…Joseph Forte.  There is no doubt he can be a great college player and one that could very well be around all four years, but there is absolutely nothing about him that screams NBA.

Ty Lawson – he’s got he build of Marcus Banks and wheels like Speedy Claxton, but at 5″11″ can he have success in the League?  Possibly, but right now he’s a long way off – 16 assists against 15 turnovers is enough to make Roy lose what is left on top.  At his size he will have to have a very good understanding of the game, limit turnovers and have a lethal outside shot to have real success.  Living in a city with a PG who has speed to burn and can’t shoot worth a lick (Toronto) is a great reminder of just how important it will be for Ty to learn how to shoot (based on the early returns he might be on his way.  I suspect that if he has the patience to stay in school he could very well become a borderline starter in the NBA, but should he choose to leave early his career will suffer for it.

Last 5 Minutes of the Raptors vs. Cavs

Raps up seven with 4:56 remaining.  Bosh at the line…makes one of two.  Cavs run Lebron off a P/R (pick and roll) but Lips Jones misses an open three.  Two consecutive fouls by the Raps…none of the shooting variety.  James draws 3 and finds Anderson V for a lay-up.   Raps finally start going to Bosh but Anderson V beats him to the spot…going left as usual.  Charge.  Goaltending on Joey Graham…89-85 Raps.  One thing worth noting is that the success the Cavs have when LBJ starts the offense on the left elbow extended.  Usually he comes off a screen and either gets to the rim, finds the roller off the screen, draws the entire defense and finds the open man in the corner for a 3.  Freddie Jones missed 3 instead of re-posting to CB4.  Missed 3 by Cavs….more offensive “sets” that involve less than 3 passes.  TJ Ford with a pull up jumper..Raps up 6.  Daniel Gibson with a terrible force…how can the rest of the Cavs not give the ball to the King?  He’s their meal ticket.  Bosh settles for a jumper and misses.  More missed jumpers from the Cavs and TJ Ford finally gets to the rim.  Raps up 8.   Hey Lebron gets the ball and scores…there’s a surprise.  Back to six but under 1 to go.  Raps move the ball well for once but Freddie can’t hit a wide open jumper.  3 misses from the Cavs and this game is over.  Despite poor execution for most of the 4th Q by the Raps, the Cavs managed to be even worse.  If the Cavs aren’t going to get Lebron the ball in a position to score when it matters, this team will struggle  Losing to the Raptors is unacceptable and Mike Brown has proven to be the magic elixir that might allow Sam Mitchell to keep his job for another couple of weeks.