Mock Draft

Another more enjoyable than it should be sporting event is about to take place this week. That's right I'm talking about the NBA draft. While I am only a casual NBA fan there are several things that I like about the NBA draft more than the NFL draft.

1) It goes by a lot quicker which is good for casual fans like myself. I don't mind the wait for the NFL draft because I could watch practically anything to do with the NFL. But the NBA has found the perfect pace for their draft.

2) Almost the entire first round shows up to the draft and by in large these are huge, African American young men who are now going to become richer than they ever imagined. This means great interviews and more importantly the best fashion show of all time. Who can forget Jalen Rose's red pinstripe suit or Karl Malone's blue blazer and white pants?

3) Whenever some team picks a foreign player over a college stud and then they interview Dick Vitale. That kills me every time. This year I can't wait until the Celtics take Yi Jianlian.

Anyway I don't know too much about the NBA but that hasn't stopped me before so without further delay here's my NBA mock draft (lottery selections only)

1) Blazers: Greg Oden
On another note don't you think Portland should drop the Trail from there name and just be the Blazers? I think so.

2) Sonics: Kevin Durant
I kind of hope he's not that good just for Comedy's sake because Bill Simmons has his huge man crush on him.

3) Hawks: Al Horford
As much as I like the Gators I just don't see him being anything more than a serviceable power forward. His offensive game needs major work. This naturally makes him a perfect selection for the Hawks.

4) Grizzlies: Mike Conley
They could use a point guard and he's the best on the board.

5) Celtics: Yi Jianlian
Take it to the bank

6) Bucks: Brandon Wright
Apparently he's very long which I hear is a good thing.

7) Timberwolves: Joakim Noah
Just what Kevin Garnett needs another project who's main asset is his energy.

8) Bobcats: Corey Brewer
He's the best guy on the board.

9) Bulls: Spencer Hawes
Bulls need a big man unfortunately Hawes isn't the answer.

10) Kings: Jeff Green
A big steal for a struggling team.

11) Hawks: Acie Law
Don't you think the Hawks should change their name to the Big Hawks?

12) Sixers: Al Thornton
Should be able to step in immediately.

13) Hornets: Nick Young
They desperately need a shooting guard.

14) Clippers: Julian Wright
Just too good to pass up at this point.

So there's the lottery. You can take these picks to the bank. You know assuming there's no trades which there almost always is.

Dynasty?

So with the NBA finals all wrapped up somewhat prematurely there is only two questions still left to be answered before the draft. The first one is whether I should ever be allowed to make predictions or comment on basketball again? The answer to that one is difficult but my feeling is if I write enough columns about it eventually I'll write something intelligent. The second question which is the topic of this column is whether the Spurs are a dynasty. Let's take a look at the facts.

The Pros

• They've now won four championships since 1999 (9 year span) which is more than any other team
• They've had the most dominant player of the past ten years in Tim Duncan who has been on all four championships.
• They're two best other players have been on three of the four championship teams (Parker, Ginobli)

The Cons

• They've never won back to back championships which is a staple of dynasties.
• They're current mark of four championships in nine years pales in comparison to the Celtics eleven in thirteen years or the Bulls six in the nineties.
• Other than Duncan their hasn't been much continuity between all four teams. Their have been players like Ginobli and Parker for the last three but three championships in seven years isn't a dynasty.
• Normal dynasties also don't allow other teams to win three championships in there run of dominance like the Lakers did. Also those Lakers teams were better than any Spurs teams that won.

So when you break down the Pros and Cons of a potential Spurs dynasty it looks like they just fall short. If one of the above Cons wasn't there I'd lean the other way. But with no back to back championships, no continuity between all four teams and another mini dynasty in between there so called dynasty I just can't label them a dynasty. The 1999 Championship just seems to distant from now to be included. If however they win next year or the year after I'll give them the respect they will then and only then deserve.

Commencement

There's been a couple of interesting subplots lately in the world of sports. We've got perhaps the greatest pitcher ever coming back to perhaps the greatest sports franchise ever to try and bring them back into pennant contention. We've got the first Philly winning a triple crown horse race in over one hundred years. And I not knowing much about horse racing initially thought "so what, a horse from Philadelphia won a triple crown race." Later I realized the that a Philly was a female horse so now I'm thinking "big deal a female horse won triple crown race. They're just as pumped with steroids as the Colts (males) are."



Anyway that's not what I'm going to write about today. Today with summer just getting under way and high school graduations taking place I'm going to give you what my commencement speech would be if I had been given the chance to speak to my high school class. See I wasn't popular enough or smart enough to be given this distinction so sadly this is the closest I'm going to come. Even though my high school graduation was two years ago I'm nevertheless going to give it my best shot. Anyway here goes.



"So I stand here before you after four years of our lives in this building. It's amazing how short of a time that seems. High school was an important four years, an educational four years, a sometimes difficult four years but above all else it was a fun four years. It Seems like yesterday I was just a boy starting freshman year, trying to fit in and not step on any one's toes and now I'm practically a grown man. My time here shaped me and who I'm going to become just like it shaped you and the men and women you'll become. I remember back in the summer before grade nine and I was a little nervous about starting high school and my parents told me not to worry and how this was going to be the best years of my life. It was comforting then but a little scary now to think like that. I mean don't get me wrong these were the best years of my life so far and I've had more fun and made more friends than I thought possible, but I'd like to think for most of us that the best years are still ahead of us. That we'll go on to bigger and better things, have more new and exciting experiences in front of us. So that's kind of what my message is here for you tonight. It's to celebrate our past accomplishments at this school which have laid the foundation for our accomplishments for the rest of our life. I know it's bittersweet. Statistics tell you that you won't talk to 90% of the people from high school which just seems unreal because I've known many of you since Kindergarten. I can't imagine my life without being able to see and talk to some of you. But that's life, we grow up, we change, we make new friends and have new challenges. Just like high school it won't always be easy but just like high school I'm sure in the end it will all be worth it. So here's to high school and all of the friendships and memories we'll always share and here's to the future. Let's make it the best years of our life."

Finals

Before I get to my final pick for the NBA playoffs (although after chalking up an 0-2 in the last round maybe I should quit) this seems like a good time to discuss Billy Donovan's decision to leave Florida and then return, and why college coaches in general whether it be basketball or football feel the need to leave their successful college positions to go for the bright lights of the professional league.


First of all I was pretty shocked when I heard that Donovan wanted to renege on his commitment to Orlando. They had as good as a situation as one could dream. It was in central Florida where he coached the Gators so his family wouldn't have to move and the magic fans might give him some more leeway if he struggled out of the gate. They had one of the best young low post players in the game who hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential. They play in the inferior conference where despite a sub .500 record they made the playoffs. They have a mid range first round draft pick in a loaded draft class so they have the opportunity to get better. They have some cap space and this summer has the potential for a great free agent class. If that can't entice him enough to jump ship I don't think anything will.


So why did he leave in the first place? Why does Pete Carroll entertain the thought of leaving the best college football program in America (in the heart of Los Angeles no less) why did Spurrior, Pitino and many others decide to try the pro game? Well there's a couple of reasons.


1) Money. A man much wiser than me once said the answer to all your questions is money. (or something to that effect) In the case of Billy Donovan he was going to make a lot of money 27 million over five years. But leaving college for financial reasons is pretty low on the totem pole. Donovan is going to make a ton of money when he resigns his contract at Florida. It won't be the same amount as Orlando but my guess is it will be in the ball park. Also at Florida he has much better job security. So while money is a factor (If the money wasn't there no coach would leave college in my opinion) I just don't see it as being one of the deciding factors.


2) Notoriety. Again pretty low on the list of reasons. Most college coaches have all the fame and praise they could ever want but despite how big the college game is, the professional league is always bigger. That's just the nature of the beast.


3) Wanting to take on new challenges. This is the biggest reason why successful college coaches leave for the pros. In the case of Donovan he has already won two national championships and while sustaining excellence is a huge challenge it doesn't whet the appetite quite like achieving excellence in the pros. For Donovan and all college coaches that went on to coach in the pros, life is comfortable and the job is fun but like all human beings we seek new challenges. It's like when underclassmen declare for the draft (Oden and Durant for example) They both loved college but they both realized it's time to move on. To make themselves better they have to take on new challenges (In their case the money is also a much bigger issue.) I think Mike Vick put it perfectly when he declared for the NFL draft 6 years ago in 2001. He said he loved college and he wanted to stay but he had to leave. That's why I was shocked when Donovan decided to come back. I thought the allure of the new challenge would be too much to pass up. I guess he was unwilling to give up the comfort and security of Florida because once you leave and actually start coaching you can't ever go back to the way things were before. Pitino's now at Louisville, Spurrior's at South Carolina and so on.

Now on to my NBA finals pick. Even though the Spurs should thoroughly dominate I have to go with the Cavs because if LeBron makes the ultimate leap I want it in writing that I called it all along.