And the winners are....

It’s been sometime now since I wrote about the NBA. Before I get into my thoughts about the draft, I must give some love.

Congrats to the Lakers, you deserved it. I won't gloat about picking them to win, as it was pretty much a given.

Congrats to the Magic in taking out Lebron, and giving it a good run.

Lastly, congrats to the NBA. These playoffs were some of the most exciting in years. The league's star power is stronger then it's ever been, and the quality of play is at its highest level ever.

Last night was the annual NBA Draft, one of most exciting nights for NBA teams. It's a night you can hit a home run, or strikeout swinging for the fences.
Though the lights shine bright on the youngsters on this day, the spotlight was directly on a former number one pick to start the day. News broke early that the Big Aristotle, Shaquille O'Neal would be joining forces with Lebron in Cleveland, as the Cavs and Suns came together on a deal.

If that wasn't enough, right before David Stern called the Clippers on the clock, the Magic countered the Cavs, by dealing for Vince Carter from the Nets. With Shaq back in the east, VC and Howard on the same team, and Garnett back for the Celtics, the east is going to be a battlefield next year. To quote Blahzay Blahzay, "When the east is in the house, oh my god, DANGER!"

Let the festivities begin. Man, I love this day.

This year's draft was one of many questions. The only slam dunk (no pun intended), being Blake Griffin. The rest of the field had the ever-popular "potential" tag, that being the potential to be a hit or a miss.

My opinion of this draft is that it's loaded with NBA role players, and a few (here’s that word again) potential stars.

Here are my winners from this year:

Clippers

The one given in this draft was that the Clips took Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) with the first pick. He’s got an NBA body, athleticism, smarts, and appears ready to take his game to the next level. Did the Clippers just make their first good move in franchise history? Maybe. What ever happens with Griffin's career in Clipperland, he's going to be a very nice player in the NBA, that is a given.

Oklahoma Thunder & Sacramento Kings

The Thunder made the right move taking James Harden (Arizona State) with the third pick. He's got a Paul Pierce-like game and will fit nicely with Westbrook in the Thunder backcourt. They also grabbed a great value pick in a deal with the Mavs, nabbing 7'1" B.J. Mullens (Ohio State) with the 24th pick. Sacramento got their man in Tyreke Evans (Memphis) with the 4th pick, who should be a very valuable combo guard in the league. I'm not sure about this Omri Casspi out of Israel, who the Kings took with the 23rd pick. He's been playing pro in Europe and has a good NBA body, but I know nothing about him. Regardless of the second pick-ups by each team, the real studs are Harden and Evans.

Toronto Raptors

Love their pick. Of course I’m being biased when it comes to picking them as a winner, but they addressed a need in their line up, and got the man they wanted with the 9th pick, without having to do anything but sit and wait. DeMar DeRozan (USC) is a great kid and should take a bit of time, but will be a leading man in Toronto in the coming years.

Denver Nuggets

North Carolina Tar Heels make for good NBA'ers. That’s a fact. Ty Lawson will be a good NBA'er. That’s an opinion, but could very well be a fact, especially since he will start his career under the wing of one of the best floor leaders in the game, Chauncey Billups. Lawson will flourish as Billups back up in Denver. Great deal by the Nugs, they're one of the most exciting teams in the NBA, and just got deeper with the 18th pick.

I won't pick out the losers of this years draft, as it's really hard to say who didn't make the right move. The verdict is still out on a few names, including Ricky Rubio (Spain), Brandon Jennings (Italy) & Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut). All three of these kids could be stars, or busts, or just flat out decent league players. Time will tell. It will be very interesting to see what the T-wolves do with point guards Rubio and Jonny Flynn (Syracuse), whom they took with the fifth and sixth pick. Looks to me like they like both players, and will deal one to whomever comes with the right package. Smart move by a not-so-smart franchise.

Free agency is right around the corner, so stay tuned NBA fans, this year will be a roller coaster ride of movement, and with many teams looking to dump salaries the fun’s not over yet!

Will the Raptors hit the jackpot?

Its mid March and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Raptors will not make the playoffs this season. Bold statement I know. (eyes rolling)
With the Madness in full swing its got me wondering.
The Raps will be a lottery team this season. I wonder how good of a pick they can get?
A look at the NBA bottom feeders and the Raps sit tied with Golden State with the seventh worst record in the league.

Lets for chance say they pick as low as fifth or as high as eighth. NBA mock drafts all over the web have different opinions on who will go where. Besides Blake Griffin being the consensus number one in pretty much every mock draft, the rest of the field is tough to call.

One mock draft has U Conn's 7'3 block machine Hasheem Thabeet going as low as second and another as high as fifth. This guy will be a legit center in the NBA. A rarity in the L now a days. To think a can't miss like Thabeet could slip to fifth means a few things.
This is going to be a stacked draft. Or these people don't have a clue what they're talking about.
I'm gonna say its a bit of both.

The 2009 NBA draft class is quite a unique group. One of the main reasons. Its not 100% who exactly is going to declare. Two guys who some feel could change the outlook of the draft are both playing pro internationally
Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio has apparently declared according to "sources close to him". This kid is being coined as the second coming of "Pistol" Pete Maravich who some believe could be the real number one pick in the draft. I'm not sure about the Maravich comparisons. I think its more because he looks like the Pistol. He is however a real deal point guard who should be may very good in the L. He was fantastic in the Beijing Olympics as Jose Calderon's back up. He's also only 19 and is already in his fourth season as a pro in Europe. This kid is a can't miss prospect who if declares, will go in the top five.

The other key factor in this seasons draft is Brandon Jennings. The Oak Hill High School phenom choose not to go to Arizona, but instead went to Italy to play pro in the Italian League. This kid has tons of potential, and could be the next Allen Iverson or the next Sebastian Telfair. His game needs work, especially on the defensive end. His offense has apparently taken a back seat in Italy and word is he's been working hard on his D all season. Many NBA scouts will say he's just too skilled to pass up. So was Telfair. Would be very interesting to see if Jennings' stays in Europe to work on his game, or if he'll chase the money to come to the NBA.

Their are a handful of freshmen that may or may not declare. The likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Willie Warren, Jeff Teague, Greg Monroe, Demar Derozan, Tyreke Evans & Jrue Holiday are potential lottery picks. Its a wonder whether these kids are ready for the show or could benefit from a few more years in college. Thats the gamble of coming out too early.

So much is uncertain in regards to whom the Raptors could get or what they will do with the pick. A look at what they need is a better way to approach it.

The five, four, three and one positions on the Raps are solid but not concrete. Thats Bargnani, Bosh, Marion and Calderon.
Outside of Bargnani, the rest are expendable. Even Bosh. I know many will disagree with me on Bargnani. When you got a seven footer that shoots threes and drives like a guard, you just don't get rid of them. He's been taking awhile, but this year has proved that Bargs is going to be a really good player, maybe even an all star one day. He may never be the MVP like Dirk Nowitzki who he's consistently been compared too, but his skill set and size are just too rare to throw away.
Marion is at the end of his contract and may or may not resign in T.O.
Since their days in Phoenix, The Matrix and GM Bryan Colangelo are still very close. I think Marion could do well staying with the club. As long as he doesn't break the bank, he's worth it. I like the up tempo energy Marion thrives on, and think the Raps could benefit from playing that style. Plus he can rebound and plays D. Something the Raptors know very little about.

Bosh and Calderon are the pieces that need to be decided upon. Bosh has one year left on his contract and will draw a huge line up of teams wanting his services when he becomes free agent. With the way Bosh has played this season, is it fair to say the Raps should look at dealing CB4?
He is the best player on the team that is apparent. Is he the guy to carry the team and get them back to playoffs? Tough to say.
The real question. Does he still want to be in Toronto?

Calderon is another tough call. He is not 100% this year and its showing. Some nights it feels as though he's too concerned with his assist to turnover ratio, and that he just refuses to make that tough pass in transition. Thats where having Marion is kind of pointless. He thrives in the open floor. If you can't push the ball in the open court the team misses out on easy baskets.
I think Calderon is safe. The point guard position in Toronto has zero depth. Unless a deal comes round with a solid PG in the mix, he stays. Draft day deal for Rubio perhaps? I don't think so.

The glaring hole for the Raps comes at the two guard. Anthony Parker is at best a role player in the NBA. Not a starter.

He would be great coming off the bench. I like his game, but he's way too inconsistent. In the NBA the two guard position has some of the deadliest players. Kobe. D Wade. Vince Carter to name a few. All have their way with Parker.
There are a few really good two guards in this years draft. One that comes to mind is James Harden in Arizona State. A bit undersized at a generous 6'5, but at a solid 220 pounds he can be a handful for some guards. Many compare him to a thicker Manu Ginobili. Would be very tough to get him later then the fifth pick unfortunately.

My gut tells me that Colangelo will wait to see how high of a pick the Raps get before he makes a decision on what to do with the future make up of the club. In essence this season could be a blessing in disguise. The start of this season the Raps looked like they should be a playoff team. The reality is this. The true colors of the Raps were shown this year. They don't have the depth or a strong enough starting five to win in the L.

Getting a top ten lottery may just be the essential piece BC needs to get this team back to where they belong. That pick packaged with Bosh could be very enticing for many GMs around the league. Moving Bosh could be the best thing Colangelo can do for this team. It could also be a huge gamble that could hurt the future of the NBA in Toronto and in Canada.

Paris and the Madness are about to go down!

Tomorrow morning at exactly 9:20am (pacific) the madness begins.
This evening at exactly 4:55pm hoop heads around the North America come down with the flu. A flu that can't get these brave warriors back into their offices for at least a week. Or at least till the Elite 8. Funny how that seems to happen year in and year out.

March Madness kicks off tomorrow and I've yet to do bracket. On paper it looks simple. Louisville, UNC, Pitt & UConn, all number ones. All worthy to win it all. All worthy to go down as quick as Paris Hilton at a Hollywood party.
This year is like every year for this tournament. Any team, any game. Thats why its the madness.
Lets begin.

Midwest:
Louisville is a beast. Earl Clark is one of my favorite players in the NCAA. They've lost to some weak teams this season, but have been on a tear to close out. I'm taking Louisville here. Look out for a gem of a game between Louisville and Ohio State in the second round. Won't be an upset, but Ohio State will give them a run. Im a big BJ Mullins fan. Watch out for him next year.

West:
Again with the number one seed here. U Conn is just too much for anyone in this bracket. Thabeet, Price, Dyson, Adrien. So many weapons. Memphis is a good team, but not great. I see them only getting as far as the sweet 16.
Purdue is my upset team if there is one in this bracket. Its U Conn's to lose.

East:
Hate to sound like a broken record, but the number one seed with prevail. Duke just hasn't convinced me all season long. Villanova & UCLA will have a great match up in the round of 32. I like Nova getting to the Elite 8, but Pitt will be too much.
Sleeper team. Florida State.

South:
Everyone has North Carolina as a lock to win the South. I however disagree. I watched UNC more then any team this season. I just don't think they can do it. Ty Lawson needs to be 100% for them to win. I got it down to two teams. Oklahoma or Syracuse.
Nobodies picked the Sooners with many people writing them off. I'm a Blake Griffin man, and think it will come down to the miracle Orangeman and Griffin's Sooners in an epic sweet 16 match up. I'll take Griffin and the Sooners here. Call this one more of a hunch. Its like I said though. Any team. Any game.
Oh and before I wrap up the South. My team the Michigan Wolverines whom I embraced in the Fab Five era, finally are back in the tourney. I got them to take Clemson in the first round. No chance against Oklahoma in the next round though.

Right so that makes my final four.....

Pitt vs Oklahoma
I like Oklahoma but I don't see them handling Pitt. Dejuan Blair and Sam Young are just too much for Griffin to handle. Pitt in a walk in this one.

Louisville vs U Conn
I think this will one hell of a match up. Louisville runs a lot of different guys, for short amounts of time. They got the depth in the energy department. Samuels, Clark & Williams will be big in the paint. Will they be enough to handle Thabeet. I think so. This one will go down to the wire, with Louisville taking it.

From 64 to 2. Pitt vs Louisville. Heres how I see it going down.

This will be physical and one of the best finals in recent memory. Blair & Clark will be leading their fronts. I like the strength of Pitt. It will be close, maybe even overtime.
Im saying Pitt wins it all.

Right so there we have it. You could really flip a coin for the majority of the games in this tourney. Thats the beauty of it. I will be shocked if one of the four teams I took to make the final four don't win it all. That being said. Put your money on UNC all you handicappers.