BlueDevil

Man I played against Flynn when he was in his senior year of High School at Niagara Falls. Dude was amazing, had a triple double without even trying. Hes gotten even better since then, and is so determined that I feel he has no choice but to succeed. Im jealous that you will get to see him play all the time. I wanted him to fall to the Raps, although I have no problems with DeRozan.

Flynn Harden Evans Jennings Griffin Hill

LMAO can you imagine? that would be hillarious!

Im not even gonna say that this is a good trade for Miami, because Im sure hes gonna get traded again. I wrote this article less than a month ago, guess i could add one more team. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/220972-quentin-richardson-most-valuable-trade-bait

Crawford should come off the bench, but i see them changing it up throughout the year.

Lol the Knicks should have done this long ago. Or the Detroit Lions of the NFL.

I think this ones a no brainer, Shane Battier, no question. His nicknames the Kobe stopper after all. He is the best perimeter defender in the league, and he has amazing instincts. Kobe is about the same height too, so it wouldnt be like kobe could shoot over him.

I like Westbrook, but I chose Eric Gordon because he would allow Durrant to play SF, as he was a SG the season before. Beasley would be the same as Jeff Green, so there would be no need for him. Love would be interesting, but he would have to play centre, and I dont think he has it in him to be a centre. To me Gordon is another scorer for the team, and the next year(2009) they could draft a point guard. But i think Westbrook has done wonders for that team, and they are heading in the right direction.

OMG Vick and TO playing on the same team? that would be amazing! and the Bills are close by so I could actually go see that. Love to see how this turns out. Still think Bills will have an average record, but should recieve a ton of press.

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce Charlotte Bobcats: Boris Diaw Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki Denver Nuggets: Chauncey Billups Detroit Pistons: Tayshaun Prince Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis Houston Rockets: Aaron Brooks Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger LA Clippers: Eric Gordon LA Lakers: Kobe Bryant Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Redd Minnesota Timberwolves: Al Jefferson New Jersey Nets: Devin Harris New York Knicks: David Lee New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash Portland Trailblazers: Brandon Roy Sacramento Kings: Kevin Martin San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh Utah Jazz: Deron Williams Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas

hey welcome. Likin the sig. theres a bunch of raps fans here. Lookin forward to hearin from u

Shane Battier because he is one of the smartest players in the NBA, takes the time to study his opponents, and is the best defensive player in the NBA. He can also be the scorer if his team needs it, but he makes his living being able to stop the likes of Kobe, LeBron, and D-Wade. I try to model my own game after him, and always considered myself a defensive player, and if I had to, could put up points. I, like Battier, am far happier if my teammates score and we win then if i put up a bunch of points but lose. He also wins because he went to Duke, was player of the year, and led them to a national title.

After Billy Mayes died (RIP) i was looking for all the parodies about his commercials, and this one was on there too. Its pretty funny, the part about the creepy dad is really funny, and how the girl wasnt going to prom.

I really dont see too much difference between the retro jerseys and the new one, although they look a bit too much like the bobcats jerseys imo. The court though is sick looks amazing.

Deffinately agree with this. You got Johnson, Jordan, Bird, Russell, and Wilt. Also Oscar Robinson should be in there. many options could be really interesting.

Griffin hasnt proved anything yet. but ya he will probably be better.

Damn I was gonna say that

I was hopin u wouldnt go with Griffin for the Clippers, I wanted Al Thorton instead. and I think the Indy one is the best one so far. Did you use Rush? I was expecting Dunleavy, so glad u didnt go with him

Good read. Joe Alexander should have a productive year with rookie pg Jennings, who is a pass first point guard. And if anything Courtney Lees 3pt% will drop because he will be taking more shots, point his point total will no doubt increase.

ya the teams that picked high in the lottery are all likely to stay bottom feeders, like the Kings, Wolves, Bucks and Grizzlies. Because of this, their rookies will have plenty of oppurtunities to play and put up big numbers. Thats why I think Flynn, Evans, and Jennings will all have the best chance to be ROY.

^ kobes been doing that alot lately! how is that not a travel I dont get it.

In a weak NBA draft, it appears there is a distinct difference between the caliber of players. There’s Blake Griffin, and then there’s everyone else. Summer league may have changed some people’s minds, however, as some rookies looked mighty impressive and threw their name in the hat to be called the best in their first season. Looking at the teams they will be playing for, as well as summer league, here are the five players most likely to be battling for the Rookie Of The Year title. Blake Griffin- Forward – L.A. Clippers-Drafted 1st overall Without a doubt, Blake Griffin will be in the top 5 when the end of the year comes and they’re tallying up the ballots for Rookie of the Year. The Clippers have made the moves necessary to allow Griffin a great deal of playing time while also shedding cap space. Playing with an elite point guard in Barron Davis, who will be coming off a subpar year and looking to prove himself, can only help his cause. He will also be paired with Al Thornton and Eric Gordon, two promising youngsters who have already proven they are NBA caliber players. Joining him in the backcourt will be Marcus Camby, a former NBA defensive player of the year, so any mistakes on the Griffin’s part defensively should be minimal, with Camby sure to cover his blunders. Some people are considering Griffin a future hall of famer and possibly the greatest #1 overall pick. This seems ridiculous to me as I see him as only a very good player, who should make a few all-star games. He doesn’t seem to have that “franchise player” feel to him though, and should be a #2 option at best. Regardless, Griffin averaged a double-double in the summer league, and look for that to carry over to the regular season. He has a great motor and his offense is fairly polished considering his age. He is an amazing athlete with a warrior’s heart, something that will hopefully rub off on the rest of the Clippers. Jonny Flynn- Point Guard- Minnesota Timberwolves- Drafted 6th overall While Ricky Rubio’s holdout should no doubt discourage the Timberwolves, they have a solid backup plan in Jonny Flynn, who should leave Wolves fans saying “Ricky Who-bio?” Flynn has all the tools to be a very effective point guard in the NBA, and is in a franchise desperate for a strong floor general. The Wolves have been in rebuilding mode ever since KG left town, and they seem to have finally pieced together a team that could compete four years down the road. They already have a future all-star in Al Jefferson, as well as Kevin Love, who had a great second half to his rookie season in Al Jefferson’s absence. If Corey Brewer becomes the player they thought they drafted two years ago, he and Ryan Gomes could make for a young but athletic starting 5. Flynn is the perfect man to manage this team. He is a passionate leader, who plays every game like it’s his last. He is capable of playing long minutes, something he will have to do with Rubio nowhere near signing. His jump shot has improved dramatically, and he can get anywhere on the floor at will. His biggest strength is his athleticism, as he has the ability to get to the rim at will, and can throw it down despite being listed at 6 feet, but falling about two inches short of that. What he will have to work on is his man to man defense, because he is used to Syracuse’s zone principles. He has the speed and strength to overcome that, so this shouldn’t be a yearlong issue. His height will allow taller guards to shoot over him however, and that is something he cannot overcome. It is something he has dealt with his whole life, and he has the athleticism to minimize the damage that will be done. Tyreke Evans- Point Guard- Sacramento Kings- 4th overall pick Tyreke is a physical specimen at the point guard position. At 6’6, some question whether he would be better suited to the shooting guard position, but with Kevin Martin manning that spot, it appears Evans will be the Kings point guard of the future. He will be battling for that spot with Beno Udrih, but the Kings have lost faith in him and he is better suited as a backup. An Evans, Martin backcourt gives the Kings a very potent offensive threat, although defensively they will give up a lot of points. Joining them in the starting lineup are big men Spencer Hawes and Jason Thomson, both still young in their careers and have promising upside. Rounding out the starters should be Andres Nocioni, a proven scorer. Evans will be given a ton of playing time, and he has the ability to fill a stat sheet. Expect near triple doubles on any night due to his size and athleticism. He still needs work on his decision making, so there could be nights where he has more rebounds than assists. His defense will also need work, which is to be expected from any rookie, although he performed well in the summer league. His size will help him in that category. Evans will get most of his ballots from voters looking at his stats, not his team wins. The Kings are far away from making the playoffs, so Evans will be allowed to go through the rookie growing pains and establish himself as their future point guard. Based on the summer league, Evans looked the most NBA ready, and showed he can score in bunches. James Harden- Shooting Guard- Oklahoma City Thunder- 3rd overall pick The Oklahoma City Thunder are showing the league the right way to rebuild a team, and are poised to have a great future if everything goes according to plan. Every year they have addressed another roster spot, and Harden may just have been the last piece of the puzzle. Widely considered the best NBA ready player in the draft, Harden fits in with the Thunder perfectly. He is an unselfish player, so he won’t be taking shots away from Kevin Durrant, and he has the ability to finish the fast break, adding to the continued growth of Russell Westbrook. Jeff Green should be helped out by Harden’s ability to spread the floor, and Nenad Krstic should also gain from Harden’s addition. Defense will be an issue with Harden, as he is not as athletic as the rest of the starters. He will also be battling taller shooting guards, so he must get better on D. He also may be battling for minutes against Thabo Sefolosha, but should beat him out. Improving his shot is also a must. Harden is a hard worker who should fit in wonderfully with the Thunder’s youth movement. With Harden and Westbrook alongside Durrant, the Thunder are in a good position to reach the post season, or fall just short. If they do manage to play deep into April, expect Harden to garner more ballots, as he will be a big reason for their success. Brandon Jennings- Point Guard- Milwaukee Bucks- 10th overall Jennings is the dark horse of the group, and the only thing that will keep him out of the top 5 is his mouth. Already considered an “attitude” guy, Jennings has proven that he has the ability to play in the NBA. Now we will have to see if Coach Scott Skiles will let him. The Bucks seemed to have committed to Jennings as their point guard of the future, as it seems Ramon Sessions is on his way out, and Luke Ridnour is no longer a starting caliber player. Milwaukee is another team in penny pinching mode, and has unloaded many of their top players from last year. Jennings will have ample opportunity to score, due to the lack of scoring potential on this team. Luckily the Bucks still have all-star Michael Redd to carry to offensive load, as well as former #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut to man the middle. This comes as good news for the past-first Jennings, and should help ease his way into the league. Outside of Redd and Bogut, there are few clear cut options, but this team is full of hungry young talent wanting to prove themselves, and someone will surely step up. Jennings will need to work on defense due to his slender build, so hitting the gym could do wonders for him. He will get pushed around by bigger point guards otherwise. His shooting is also spotty, so he should consider taking pointers from Redd. Jennings led all players in the summer league with 8.2 assists per game, so regardless of his selfish attitude he seems interested in getting everyone involved. Only problem is he also likes the flash and the glamour, so he gambles a lot. Coach Skiles is not one to be messed with though, so look for him to set him straight or Jennings could see the bench. Outlook As it stands, with all the praise Griffin has received, it seems as though this award is his to lose. I’m not yet ready to jump on the Griffin bandwagon, and feel these worthy players will challenge for ROY honours. Considering that this was an overall weak draft, there is a good chance for some players to come from out of nowhere and surprise people, and with all the point guards in this draft, picking an all NBA rookie team should be very difficult. Look for an interesting year for rookie players, because in this economy, many of them are going to get playing time because of their cheap guaranteed contracts. Expect a better show then advertised during the NBA Draft. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/233058-the-five-rookies-who-will-battle-for-rookie-of-the-year http://www.alldaynba.com/nbageneral/the-five-rookies-who-will-battle-for-rookie-of-the-year/