SB Nation User Blog: dj fuzzylogic

NBA DRAFT 2008: Warriors take Anthony Randolph at #14

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:57:55 -0000

GSOM welcomes ANTHONY RANDOLPH to the Golden State Warriors!

Randolph has a penchant for teabaggin' big men who think they can stop him! The Warriors loaded up with an extremely offensively skilled big man who many sports writers thought was going to be a mid-lottery pick. I, dj fuzzylogic, am 'ok' with this pick and think they got the best player available -- skill-wise. Though the Warriors need much help on the boards and on defense, I'm pleased that they picked up a guy that can at least create his own shot and has the level of ball handling skills and mid range game for a guy his size. He also looks like he might be able to create some mismatches at the wing spots. More thoughts to come...

[Note by dj fuzzylogic, 06/26/08 10:12 PM EDT ] To get up close and personnel with Anthony Randolph, check out his site HERE.

GSOM MOCK DRAFT!

dj fuzzylogic — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:57:48 -0000

We're hours away from the real draft and outside of the top two picks, anything seems to be happening in everyone's mock drafts. Brook Lopez dropping to 10 or as high as 3? Russel Westbrook going as low as 12 but as high as 3? DJ Augustin available at 13 but also going at number 6 to the Knicks? Donte Green falling all the way to 23? Oddly, the amount of shuffling at the 14th spot isn't nearly as exciting as 3-13, but us here at GSOM provide you with our own ideas of what to expect (or not expect)! Click on for more mocks but not of the turtleneck variety.

Fantasy Junkie

Who I want the Warriors to Pick:

Brandon Rush - The Warriors need some inside help but they're not going to get it in the draft. It seems that big men who get picked in the late lottery and after more often than not end up as nothing more than a bust to a bench player. This year is no different. The Warriors have a bunch of big men to choose from who are more likely to bust than to be decent. DeAndre Jordan (project), Robin Lopez (doesn't fit the system), Darrell Arthur (doesn't rebound well), Kosta Koufos (soft), Anthony Randolph (too raw), etc. So let's take the best player available, Brandon Rush. I expect Mullin and Nelson to figure out their big man problem through a trade or free agency. Rush has shown he can play at the highest collegiate level and still has room to grow. He's already a good shooter and plays excellent D. I can see him stepping into the Matt Barnes/ Mickael Pietrus role immediately. Remember how much of an impact Barnes and Pietrus had as wing players on this team? In the playoff run they played huge roles and last year their presence was sorely missed. Drafting Rush allows us to let Barnes and/or Pietrus walk and once Jax is gone in a few years, we have our starter at the 3.

Who I think the Warriors will pick:

Donte Green - A 6'9" athletic wing player with a nice jumper? Sounds like a Nellie like player. He'll play the 3 or the 4 and add more firepower to the bench. Nellie said they need a big man and help rebounding. That just means he wants to get smaller, run faster, and shoot with higher accuracy. So they're not going to take a typical big man, they'll be taking a guy who can cause matchup problems.

DJ fuzzylogic:

Who I want the Warriors to Pick:

Donte Green, SF, 6’9 221lbs, Syracuse University

I don’t know much about Donte Green but if he’s Rashard Lewis 2.0 like ESPN and NBADraft.net are calling him, then the Warriors needs to get this guy if he’s still available! Though most draft analyzers call him pretty raw as far as fundamentals go, they all seem to agree that he’s got the foundation for a great perimeter game already though often settling for long range 3pt shots (Wow! He’s perfect for the Warriors already!). The Warriors tend to draft one-trick-ponies in the past that have been slow to develop into well rounded let alone remotely fundamentally sound players (guards that can’t dribble or create nor like to pass, forwards that can’t hit jumpers, and centers that lack any post moves or footwork). In Nellie’s offensive scheme that requires high-offensive skilled players that can dribble, drive, shoot, and play multiple positions, Green seems like the best solution for a team that has been fundamentally challenged for the last decade and has no need, as of now, for a power 4 or 5.

Who I think the Warriors Will Pick:

JaValee McGee, 7’0 237 lbs, Nevada

Move over Patrick O’Bryant, JaValee McGee is here to take your spot…next to Tom Abdenour on the bench for 82 games during the season. Your fate will probably include several stints with the Bakersfield Jam posing next to grannies and probably some awkward popcorn incident in your new Denali as a form of hazing from your teammates for underachieving rookies that are way to soft for their size.

The Warriors, like the Seattle/OKC Sonics, are enamored with big men and are horrible at picking them. The Warriors picks are either too soft, too clumsy, or just not basketball players in any sense of the word, period. The Warriors need an enforcer of some kind to battle with the 4’s and 5’s of the West Coast but will just end up finding a lanky moderately athletic big man to just grab rebounds and putbacks, since that’s all they’re really used for in the Warriors offense anyway.

Atma Brother #1:

TRADES:

I'm intrigued by Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo, but those guys are most likely unattainable, so I don't see a trade to move up for the Golden State Warriors happening. Kevin McHale does have the #3 pick so you never know, but last I checked he never played for the Warriors so he won't be hooking them up a la KG (although they did sort of trade him to the Celts).

This team doesn't need to get any more younger, softer, or less talented (which is what the #14 pick typically is). The Warriors need to get older, smarter, bigger, tougher, and more talented.

Nellie's detailed this before on The Don Nelson Show and it seems to be getting clearer after every NBA Finals in recent memory. With the exception of the Detroit Pistons in '04 you either need 2 hall of fame players at their apex or 3 elite level players plus a willing set of role players who defend, rebound, and hit open shots to win it all. Right now the Warriors just have one guy in Baron Davis who's elite. The rest are very good players, but deeply flawed- Stephen Jackson is miscast as a 2nd scoring option and turns the ball over way too much, Monta Ellis doesn't defend at all, and Andris Biedrins doesn't protect the rim or draw double teams.

My two targets via trade are:
* Ron Artest- Swing the #14 pick and the trade exception to the Kings for Artest and the Warriors are back in business. I wish Artest had a better track record for rebounding, but I see him as a great option at the 4 spot for the Warriors. He does a lot of things this team needs- perimeter D, toughness, savvy, and fire.

* Jason Richardson- Remember We Believe 07? Guess who was arguably their best player down the stretch. Yup, the guy the Warriors traded away on the cheap. The BoomRich backcourt was nasty (although it wasn't healthy enough). Baron, Monta, J-Rich, Stephen, and Al were just a delight to watch. Bring back JR and you'll drastically improve the 3pt shooting of this team, as well as its speed, athleticism, and hunger.

I'd love to see this:
PG: Baron Davis
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Jason Richardson
PF: Stephen Jackson
C: Ron Artest

That is the fastest starting 5 ever assembled. Sure they'll get massacred on the boards on most nights, but remember that was happening during We Believe 07 and they were still winning because of their advantages elsewhere. I'm willing to lose the battle on the boards nightly if we're winning elsewhere. Trust me with Nellie it'll be the Greatest Show on Hardwood- BY FAR. It's their best chance of making the Western Conference Finals, short of a miracle trade to net KG or Elton Brand. Artest and J-Rich aren't elite, but I'm willing to bet that Nellie could work miracles with that entire cast of misfits. It's where he's at his best.

(Yes, yes I know it's not happening and nearly impossible to assemble. Purely for entertainment purposes and my imagination. You know the track- "It was just my imaginaaaation...")

Who I want the Warriors to pick:

Robin Lopez: Robin could be exactly what the Warriors need by the end of the 2009 season- a tough defender who rebounds, protects the rim, has a nonstop motor, and can man up the better 4's and 5's. Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins do none of these (except Biedrins' nice work cleaning up the boards) and the Warriors are getting killed nightly because of it. Brook's hermano might be able to really help out the Dubs with very little learning curve or growing pains.

Who I think the Warriors will Pick:

Kosta Koufos: A reportedly soft 7-footer who brings questionable D, slow foot speed, and who "shies away from contact" but has a jumper? Chris Mullin and the rest of the Warriors front office can't resist! Team him up with Kosta Perovic and you can the Warriors version of twin towers. Call them Charmin 2-Ply! Double the zero threat position!

To tell you the truth I'm already dreading the moment when David Stern says "With the 14th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select... {insert bust}? Hey at least it'll be fun seeing *another* poor (not financially) 20 something kid ride the pine from the GSoM seats. Okay maybe not. Well at least the Warriors didn't jack up ticket prices for the third straight year despite missing the playoffs 12 out of the past 13 years. Oh wait...

Well let's hope our favorite loser organization (seriously just count how many times the Warriors have actually made the playoffs in your lifetime) doesn't lose again on draft night.

Q/A: Tim Kawakami - NBA Draft 2K8

dj fuzzylogic — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:11 -0000

We're a day away from the most exciting day of the summer. The NBA DRAFT! The MLB all-star game, bbqs in the park, summer flings and 4th of July got nothing on this!

To talk about this exceptional day and its impact on our Golden State Warriors this year, we asked Tim Kawakami, one of the contemporary pillars of bay area sports reporting, for his insights on what might be brewing for our Warriors. For those unfamiliar with Tim Kawakami's archive, he currently writes for the San Jose Mercury and provides further sports commentary on his blog, Talking Points: Tim Kawakami on Bay Area Sports.

Hear more what Kawakami has to say at jump.

GSoM: NBA draft specialists speculate based on their sources that young teams like the Sonics and Blazers are looking to trade their lottery draft slots for veteran presence to help guide/lead their youth movement. The Warriors, too, are a relatively young team. Do you see the Warriors following in a similar move and trading away their pick for a player or players that might contribute right away?

Kawakami: I don't think the Warriors know for sure which way they're going--unless you're at 1 or 2, you don't know how things are going to go draft night; at 14, there's no possibility except by wild guess. Wild guessing isn't encouraged for NBA franchises.

So Mullin has to wait to see if the guy they want happens to surprisingly last to 14 (say, Joe Alexander or Anthony Randolph). If they wait to 14 and are uncomfortable with the options (say, choice between Jason Thompson, Brandon Rush and Donte Greene), maybe then Mullin and Nelson try to peddle the TE plus the pick either for a proven veteran or a later pick (to get Thompson or someone else).

The point: I think the Warriors, coming off of a 48-win season, with an old coach and a moody point guard, can go a lot of ways. Project draft pick (Randolph?) to seal up the long-term hopes; immediate-help draft pick (Greene?) to try to get over the hump for Nellie's last campaign; trade back (for Thompson?), trade up (for Westbrook/Love/Alexander?), trade the pick for a veteran to really go for it this season...

And they're not going to know the best option until the 13th pick happens and they're on the clock. All we can do is guess the likeliest possibilities, and I'd say it's to make their pick at 14 with an eye to the future (I've been saying Randolph) and then maybe try to use the TE to get back into the teens for a shot at a Nellie-style big man (Thompson). Just a wild guess and wild guesses are almost always wrong.

GSoM: The Warriors have struggled to get consistent offensive and defensive production from the frontcourt. Most mock drafts show the Warriors and most teams in the late lottery choosing from a wide range of big men in the 4 and 5 positions. Though these positions are a major issue for the Warriors, so is the backup point guard position considering Baron Davis' contractual and health issues. How likely is it that the Warriors will try to shore up their backup point guard position somewhere and somehow during draft day? Or do see the Warriors finding one through free agency?

Kawakami: Just don't see a point guard prospect at 14 that'd be worth it--Rose and Westbrook will be long gone and Augustin is just too small to pair with Monta Ellis. I think Mullin is looking for a future point guard, but not necessarily with this pick. It's a tough spot, because, if he's committed to Ellis at the combo-two, Mullin needs a bigger guard who can handle and those don't come around every draft. That's a long hunt, I think. There's a chance they keep trying to see if Belinelli can do some of it.

GSoM: David West, Paul Milsap, Jason Maxiell, and even Brandon Bass have all dominated the Warriors frontcourt at some time during the past season. These muscular, athletic, scoring but slightly undersized fours have become quite a trend in the NBA as of late. Is there someone in the draft like these players that will be available at #14 and of potential interest to the Warriors? How likely is it that the Warriors will try to find a player of these skillsets that can match up defensively AND offensively? Ike Diogu doesn't count or does he?

Kawakami: Under-sized, aggressive power forwards. Yeah, I like 'em, too, but I'm not sure the Nelson/Mullin regime will ever buy into that style of player and I'm not even counting the experience with Diogu, who was under-sized and under-talented and under-aggressive and underwhelming, whatever the pace of play.
Marreese Speights or J.J. Hickson probably are the prime examples of that kind of energy forward, and maybe Robin Lopez as a bigger, less skilled version. I just don't see the Warriors going in that direction when they already have Biedrins and Wright on board as non-shooters who fit the Nellie system better as runner/slashers.
Don believes in spacing. He believes in taking advantage of other teams' weak offensive players. On the flip side, he insists on having at least four versatile scoring options on the floor at all times and I think that's a sacrifice--ideally, he'd want five scoring options, but has accepted Biedrins/Wright at one of those spots. A raw muscle forward... I just don't see that working on this team, unless the guy can shoot 15-footers, and you don't get muscle forward who can shoot at 14.

The Warriors' regime believes in skill. Jump-shooting. Ball-handling. High-speed movement (that rules out O'Bryant and did rule out Diogu and Murphy). For every position. If the GSWs luck into the next Millsap or Maxiell along the way, I think they'd be fine with that. But they're not going to pick a raw Millsap Jr. just for the hell of it and pray he has a jump shot down the line.

GSoM: A major chunk of the Warriors roster is incredibly young- Brandan Wright (20), Patrick O'Bryant (21), Monta Ellis (22), Marco Belinelli (22), and Andris Biedrins (22), Kosta Perovic (23). Let's pretend these 6 players were coming out in this year's draft. Where do you think they'd get picked (if at all)?

Kawakami: For the purposes of this very good question, I'll pretend that O'Bryant is still part of the Warriors' plans, but we know that he isn't. Or if he comes back, Nellie will make him an assistant PR guy.

If all those guys were in THIS draft, which is a hard thing to do since we know so much more about the Warriors players than we do the draft picks... I'd say...

-ELLIS would go right about where Jerryd Bayless is projected, anywhere from 6 to 9. Similar scoring/driving skills. Bayless is bigger and stronger. Neither are NBA point guards.

-WRIGHT... The Warriors think he'd go No. 3, which I think is too high, but if Brandan had gone back to Carolina and then came out this year, I'd say he'd be right behind Kevin Love and maybe ahead of/equal to Gallinari, maybe 6 to 11.

-BIEDRINS... Another tough one since we know what he is in the NBA and we don't know about the draft prospects yet we know many of the draft guys will do as well or better than Andris. So I'll put Biedrins at 11 to 16, on par with or slightly behind DeAndre Jordan but ahead of the McGee/Arthur/Speights/R Lopez/Koufos big man grouping.

-BELINELLI went 18 last year, didn't see much of him as rookie, so he's easily translatable to anywhere from 19 to 28. I'd put him behind Donte Greene in the shooter category, but maybe the Warriors wouldn't. So maybe 14 for Belinelli in this draft, just 'cause they loved him so much last year.

-O'BRYANT... OK, gotta strip away some of what we know or think we know about him or what Nellie thinks about him... I'd say on pure skills and size, POB would be a back-end 1st-rounder, maybe right there with Speights/McGee or slightly behind them. McGee is a good barometer, since he seems like a slightly more athletic version of POB.

-PEROVIC was a 2nd rounder two years ago. He'd be a late-2nd-rounder now.

GSoM thanks Tim Kawakami for his time and thoughts on this yearly event.

OPEN THREAD: 2008 NBA Finals Game 4

dj fuzzylogic — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:00:58 -0000

With all the referee scandals going on and the alleged fixed games from the 2002 and 2005 playoffs, it makes you wonder even more how 'home court advantage' plays into this whole thing and the corporate NBA in shaping the outcomes of games and series. 38-10 free throw advantage for Boston in game 2? Lakers win in game 3 despite getting poor production from Gasol and Odom in games 2 and 3? More annoying Lakers flags hanging from cars when weeks ago didn't even exist?

All these conspiracy theories aside, the Lakers don't look as dominate as I once thought they were before the playoffs even started. Odom and Gasol look clutch-challenged as they've been accused of in the past. But it didn't matter because Kobe put all 20,000 + fans and Odom and Gasol on his back -- thanks to some love from those referees -- fading, shaking, and shimmying away from defenders like an older, wiser 3, 4, 5 rings deep Jordan. He needs more help against the Boston 3 party; Vujacic and Walton need to turn into Michael Cooper and Byron Scott or at least Brian Shaw and Rick Fox.

Predictions:

* Kobe goes Jordan and gets 47 points

* 3 highlight worthy moves from Kobe that we'll be seeing years and years and years from now on ESPN 2 and ESPN classic.

* KG matches Gasol's clutchness.

OPEN THREAD: Day 36 of the NBA 2k8 Playoffs

dj fuzzylogic — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:47:07 -0000

Boston has reclaimed it's home court advantage. Finally winning on the road, perhaps the Celtics of 2008 will replicate some the complete and balanced teams of the 80s. I won't count the Pistons out though. They've been able to match up well, physically, with their opponents. i expect this series to go to 7 games.

Tonight's game of the Lakers at the Spurs may have more hype than usual. Why is that? Because Charles Barkley mentioned on the TNT broadcast that Kobe with Gasol and Odom is a better team than the Shaq and Kobe era. His colleagues on camera along with some critics on the web scoffed at this statement given that the Shaq and Kobe era produced three championships to the current triad's zero. I will say watching Gasol received passes from Odom and Kobe for easy flushes down the middle in a half court set is a beautiful thing to see; creating beauty in a space of chaos.

Continue reading for tonight's predictions!

(G3) Lakers at Spurs (Lakers lead series 2-0): Crossing my fingers, that a win tonight will officially end the Spurs reign of terror on the NBA in the first decade of this millennium. I'm not faulting them for their tremendous play; i wish our Warriors could achieve this level of efficiency and discipline. But damnit, why do they have to have a bunch of not-likeable players? I've grown to like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to some extent for the ease that they get into the lane. Maybe it's because they're always whining when something doesn't go their way. Maybe it's those ugly jerseys. Or maybe cuz they're too efficient. At any rate, they're just not likeable.

With that said, the Lakers are one of few teams that have been able to win on the road during the playoffs. Entering Spurs territory and none of the home court advantage that they got in LA, the Lakers got to step up. I imagine the Spurs to be rejuvenated being at home (or David Stern will have called the Lakers higher-ups or the referees making an executive decision that the Lakers will HAVE to lose, for the purposes of more commercial $). Outside shooting by the Spurs will keep them in the game. Bruce Bowen has his one monster game per series with six from beyond the arc. Kobe shoots horribly and Jordan Farmar reverts back to the pumpkin when the clock strikes 8:30pm EST, the time when the game begins tonight.

OPEN THREAD: Day 34 of the NBA 2k8 Playoffs

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:16:07 -0000

The Lakers need to win.

At home, the referees seemed to believe this, too.

Up by 4 with about 1.20 left, Tim Duncan grabbed a rebound which Lamar Odom, from behind, hacked Duncan rather hard across his shoulder swooping all the way down to his elbow. As a result, the ball bounced off Duncan's hand and the referee's called it as a clean play thus allowing the Lakers to retain possession.

Clearly a foul, home court advantage works in mysterious ways. We can almost guarantee that it will happen again today. Or will it?

(G2) Spurs at Lakers (Lakers lead series 1-0): Ginobili is hurting, but they are a crafty team with an aging bench that steps it up when asked. They're like the NBA version of the Rock the Bells rap tour, but without necessarily the "star" power. Meaning? Semi-studs that can still rock it. I imagine it will be close again.. or closer. Bowen will somehow find himself in the middle of a fray where his arm or leg "accidentally" connects with a face or crotch of his opponent. Spurs Coach Popovich figures out how to grind out a win in the City of Angels, which leads me to believe he's got cameras set up like Matt Walsh. Spygate 2008?

Warriors Present in the Future's Past

dj fuzzylogic — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:01:16 -0000

You can find Golden State Warriors everywhere.

Reason being is that they’re usually traded before their rookie contract expires, forcibly ejected or fully knowing that they wouldn’t re-up with a franchise that embodies the chaos exemplified in film Titanic (watch the scene where the ship splits in half then goes down with people plunging to their death or others ‘jumping ship’.)

I made a random trip to University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill -- or rather Tar Hell country (and country it was) -- to see my sister get another degree and it ended up being more than just vinegar-based BBQ. Knowing my life-long love for basketball, my sister took me to their newey constructed "Carolina Basketball Museum." No there weren’t no wax statues of Michael Jordan (or Jeff McInnis). But after going inside, you could probably call it the ‘Hall of the Warriors Past and Present’

The museum is pretty unassuming upon walking in. It looks more like a lobby to an office building in the Silicon Valley than what I was expecting. You know, something like a sports bar with TVs everywhere, paraphenlia hangings from every corner, and women in tight, low-cut shirts serving hot wings. Oh wait, I’m describing "Hooters"…or "Seau’s" in San Diego.

After entering the double doors is a small tribute to the 2007 Championship team with a pair of Brandan Wright’s shoes enclosed within a glass case. Hmm, maybe seeing Warrior stuff around is a lot like the silicon valley then...? I don’t think his game shoes nowadays ever look as worn as these do.

After stepping through another set of double doors into a small dome, a short film recounting the legacy of what it means to be a North Carolina Tarheel basketball player came on. Lo and behold, there was commentary from James Worthy, Phil Ford, Eric Montross, Vince Carter, AND Antawn Jamison (and more, but still no Jeff McInnis or Joe Wolf). It’s a lot of indoctrination for fans and folks in the community. But upon seeing all those clips, I finally felt like I knew what winning felt like.

My family posing unexpectedly. But check out the way that guy on the far right takes pictures.

The small dome than opens into the main museum hall where the "Hooters" meets "Seau’s" atmosphere kicks in, but without women in push-ups pushing hot wings. There are replica and/or original jerseys and shoes everywhere. There’s quite a bit of detail to everything from greatest Tarheels to play at all 5 positions, to every Tarheel drafted in the first round, and of course a whole section dedicated to Michael Jordan with original recruitment letters from Chapel Hill and Duke Coach, Coach K. Along with this are videos at various stations that show you clips of greatest games and greatest players. Oddly there is stuff dedicated to Joe Forte, but no Jeff McInnis anywhere.

And, here we have… more ANTAWN JAMISON!

Antawn Jamison is in good company.

Jamison with Jerry Stackhouse and Vince Carter endorse getting that education!

Antawn Jamison also reminds kids to stay in school. You can't really see him because of the shadow created by the overhang above the photo. That’s him standing with Jerry Stackhouse. Oddly, this small image in the far corner of this complex is the only thing mention that discusses pursuing academics aside from Roy Williams telling them that "This is your school" in the end of the promotional video upon walking in.

Coach Bill Gutheridge gave him the foundations for his goofy but so effective shots.

Is it me or has the Tarheel talent drastically dropped off in the last decade?

Brandan Wright: The Next Rasheed, Brad Daughtery, or Sam Perkins? Or just the next Eric Montross?

Future Warrior pick from Chapel Hill? Surry Wood Movement starts...NOW!

Think the Tarheels could use a sharpshooter? Are graduate students/professors eligible to play NCAA ball?

The Warriors drafting Tarheel legacy (and busts) started with Lennie Rosenbluth back in 1957!

Rosenbluth was a stud back in the day at Chapel Hill. In his first year of varsity basketball in 1955 he was the leading scorer of the Tar Heels. He was named third team All-American, averaging 25.5 ppg and 11.7 rebounds. In 1956 he also achieved All-America honors, but this time they were split between various first and second team selections. He was also named the ACC All American Athlete in 1957. He again led the Tar Heels in scoring with a 26.7 average.

He played briefly in the NBA, only two seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged a measly 4.2 points a game and less than 2 rebounds for his career. These facts are helpful in situating the Warriors miserable draft history. Drafting busts is just part of the Warrior legacy...all the way back to the 50s! So, we shouldn't be too distressed if the Warriors mess it up this year; its just in their nature!

Checking out the Carolina Basketball Museum was quite an experience. For about an hour, I knew what it felt like to win (consistently), imagining myself as a part of that legacy. Also I got to witness first hand how much money college sports generates or is prioritized over academics. Chapel Hill is actually one of the few American universities that has a balance of both sports and education; but seeing the extravagance of such a museum makes you realize first hand how University's are money making machines that rely on Alumni "loyalty" to help make them go.

Anyway, if the Warriors were to draft a Tarheel this summer, which one do you think it would be (depending if they commit to leaving school).

RECAP: Day 29 of NBA 2k8 Playoffs

dj fuzzylogic — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:14:49 -0000

Today's game featured two teams assembled so differently yet quite similarly at the same time.

The Boston "Three-Party" succeeded in beating the reigning Eastern Conference champion, King James and his minions. For you Celtics fans, "Today was a good day."

Both of these teams are built for the present, but one is just built better in my opinion. Boston bet the house and with a lot of 'luck" now has three superstars in their prime (or slightly dipping past their prime based on whoever you ask). But they managed to bring in the right personnel without the egos and insecurities over shooting opportunities.

The Cavs on the otherhand are wasting away Lebron's youth and the limited time they might have with him given his penchant (and Larry Hughes too) for wearing NY Yankee baseball caps. Since Lebron stepped into the scene, the Cavs organization has worked hard to ensure that he has the right influences and also players to complement his style of play. From the forced removal of Darius Miles to the owner's over/spending big chips to grab supporting cast members or players past their prime masquerading (and getting paid as) all-star starters, the Cavs have struggled to find a formula. Or maybe their formula is to hastily grab the best player available as soon as they are available on the trading block in order to appease Lebron.

Lebron leaving the Cavs isn't imminent, but their time is limited...limited like the Celtics as Garnett missed the most games from injury than he's ever seen his whole career just as he signed an extension. But the Celtics, though sputtering for much of this playoffs, have strategically built a bench that works for the type of star power they have. Grabbing veteran players like PJ Brown who's 18 footer with 1.40 left in the 4th put the nail in the coffin is emblematic of the very few positives in Danny Ainge's otherwise messy GMing career. James Posey has hit some big shots and both Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins have thrived playing alongside KG, being important contributors throughout the season and playoffs.

At any rate, I expect to see Lebron and the Cavs in a similar place next season with a similar odd assortment of decent but not great players alongside him. With this win, I see the Celtics going straight through to the finals. Celtics vs. Lakers. It'll be 1986 all over again!

OPEN THREAD: Day 28 of the NBA2k8 Playoffs

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:53:27 -0000

20-1 is the current record of teams playing at home during these playoffs.

With that said, can we expect the Hornets to finish off the Spurs in game 7?

If that's so, should we just call a Vegas casino and bet the house that the Lakers and the Celtics will lose tonight but take it in game 7?

Snoop's "Laker Theme" song feat. Kurupt

dj fuzzylogic — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:39:54 -0000

Snoop's "Laker Theme" song feat. Kurupt

Better than the Beach Boy Kokomo remix for the Niners back in the day? How does this relate to the Yay tracks of last year's playoffs run?

I gotta say this song is funky as hell and the beat is light and floaty ; perfect summer jam to ride with the top down to. Though I think a shoutout to Jordan Farmer is kind of odd. Download and listen for yourself.