Rubio Stays On The Other Side of the Pond

The Minnesota Timberwolves received troubling news yesterday with the announcement that the 5th overall pick in June's draft PG Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain another two years. The T-wolves GM David Kahn tried to negotiate a buyout from Rubio's team DKV Joventut, but those efforts ended yesterday when Rubio was traded to FC Barcelona for cash. Under NBA rules the T-wolves couldn't offer more than $500,000 and Rubio would have been forced to pay the rest of the $8 million buyout. Now Rubio won't be free to come to the NBA until the 2011 season.

Minnesota's rebuilding efforts took a dramatic hit with the loss of the 18 year old Rubio. They'll retain his rights, but waiting two years for a player that some considered to be the 2nd best in the draft is a body blow for Minnesota. When he was drafted Rubio seemed like the perfect compliment to the Timberwolves big men F/C Al Jefferson and F/C Kevin Love. Rubio, only a teenager, is considered a very refined player, with excellent ball handling skills. Rubio was considered the 'steal of the draft' when he fell to the 5th pick, now 'robs' the Timberwolves of the savior that they were going to build their team around.

Now a move that was widely panned on draft day may come through and help save the T-wolves season. After drafting Rubio 5th overall, Minnesota took another PG Jonny Flynn with the very next pick. At the time the move seemed extremely odd, there were additional options available and Flynn was considered a true point guard just like Rubio. Flynn doesn't have the shooting ability to be a combo guard, and having them on the floor at the same time was going to be redundant. It seemed like a waste of talent and a waste of a pick, but now that redundancy still gives the T-wolves a top flight prospect at PG.

Rubio made the decision to not risk his own money now for the chance to play in the NBA and reach free agency (and the mega deal that comes with it) two years sooner. It is hard to fully fault him since if his career derailed due to injury or ineffectiveness that big pay day might never have come. Which would have meant Rubio would have given up over $7 million of his own money with nothing in return. He'll still be in the NBA by the time he is 20 and could get that pay day yet. The problem is he probably did make a mistake by not accepting the buyout. He won't ever make as much money as he would have if he came to the NBA this year, given his youth and marketability. Now Rubio is the one waiting to see if he made the right decision. Not only does the money play a factor, but also the play of Jonny Flynn. If Flynn reaches his potential Minnesota can always trade Rubio's rights to another team in two years. Rubio went from knowing the situation that he was going to, a young rebuilding team with star talent, to the unknown. The T-Wolves could trade Rubio to a worse rebuilding situation down the road. We won't know the true outcome for awhile, but right now it looks like Minnesota wasted their draft pick and Rubio wasted the chance to become the NBA's next teenage phenom.

Trade Center: NBA

The Deal: Dallas Mavericks acquire: SF Shawn Marion (Sign and trade Tor), PF Kris Humphries (Tor), PF Nathan Jawai (Tor), SG Greg Buckner (Memphis). Toronto Raptors acquire: F Hedo Turkoglu (Sign and trade Orl), SF Devean George (Dal), SG Antoine Wright (Dal). Memphis Grizzlies acquire: SG Jerry Stackhouse (and cash Dal), and a future 2nd round pick (Tor).

Mavericks: This was a good deal for the the Mavs. They got their man in Shawn Marion, who will give them another athletic scorer. Marion might not be as good of a player as he once was, but he still averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds a game last season. Humphries and Buckner should round out the Mavericks bench as well. This move might not equal them with the Spurs and Lakers, but it should keep the Mavs in the thick of the playoff race.

Raptors: The main reason they were a part of this deal was to get the sign and trade exception against the salary cap. Hedo Turkoglu was going to be a Raptor one way or another. This move just allows Toronto to have more cap room to potentially make further deals. Adding Turkoglu was a good move for the Raptors. He showed in the playoffs with Orlando that he's a big game player. He should mesh well with Chris Bosh on the front line and give Toronto a good presence on the wing. Both George and Wright can be solid depth players at the end of the Raptors bench.

Grizzlies: Memphis will release Jerry Stackhouse since his contract isn't fully guaranteed. The Mavericks will send cash to cover the expense, and add a little money to their coffers. They also get a future 2nd round pick. Not a bad return for a guy they were gonna release anyways.

Magic: The Magic don't receive any players or picks in the deal, but do pick up a valuable trade exception worth approximately $8 million. This should allow them to add another player or two for another finals run. It is interesting that the only team that benefited from the Magic being part of this deal, were the Raptors. A team that very well could be facing the Magic in the postseason next spring.

Winner: This was one of the crazier trades in recent NBA history (and that is saying a lot). Every team won and lost in this deal. The biggest winner would be the Dallas Mavericks as they needed the trade to fit Marion under the cap, and didn't lose anything of value. The biggest loser in this deal might be the NBA labor agreement that forces such ridiculous trade scenario's. The fact that the Magic only "receive" a trade exception and not any tangible money, players or picks is a bit crazy. As is the fact that the Magic get anything from a player who in reality left in free agency. I think the NBA should close some of these loopholes, and eliminate these hurdles in their CBA (*Note I don't want to see the salary cap eliminated just these crazy exceptions and such). They should let these teams build their rosters based on talent and true value, instead of Monopoly money being given in return.

Trade Center: NBA

The Deal: The Memphis Grizzlies acquire F/C Zach Randolph from the Los Angeles Clippers for SG Quentin Richardson.

Grizzlies: This was an interesting deal for the Grizzlies. They rebuilt their front court with a strong draft. And were already two deep at each position. Rookie Hasheem Thabeet will team up with 2nd year man, Marc Gasol to handle the center position. Gasol may also get some time at the 4 if Thabeet shows he can handle the starting job. At power forward the Grizzlies have 2nd year man Darrell Arthur, who ended up being a steal for the Grizzlies last season. He has shown that he deserves serious minutes, and should have a bright future. In addition the Grizzlies have a pair of rookies in DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young (who can play the 2-4) to help Arthur out. This doesn't even include restricted free agent PF Hakim Warrick or SF Rudy Gay. Warrick, has been a top scorer off the bench, and will likely be on the move.

Now this is not to say the Grizzlies didn't get a good (yet overpaid) player in Zach Randolph. Randolph has averaged at least 17.5 points and 8 rebounds in every season since 2003-2004. He should present an upgrade to the front court, but he does weaken their back court depth. Richardson (who was just acquired draft night) was the Grizzlies top back up guard.

The Grizzlies also tied up some salary cap money with this deal as well. Which leaves me to wonder if a trade is in the works for the Grizzlies. Warrick is now likely to be part of a sign and trade deal. But even without Warrick that leaves the Grizzlies with 7 players for 3 positions. Randolph, Gay, Gasol and Thabeet seem safe. Arthur or one of the rookies could get moved to add back court depth.

Clippers: Los Angeles made a smart trade here. While they'll miss Randolph's production, his departure opens the way for rookie Blake Griffin. The Clippers still have Marcus Camby to back up the 4 and 5 positions. Los Angeles got a solid wing player back in Quentin Richardson. Richardson will be a back-up, but should provide a threat from the 3-point line. The Clippers also gained some much needed salary cap relief in the deal as well.

Winner: Overall both teams did well in this deal, but the Clippers came out ahead. Randolph can be a volatile personality, and him having to share time with Griffin could have only led to problems. The cap relief for the Clippers is a big factor as well. They can now be active in the free agent market next off season. The Grizzlies weren't a true loser in this deal. They added a quality front court man, and still have extra cap room. If the Grizzlies can add a young SG, by trading one of their excess forwards, they could be in the play-off hunt next season.

NBA Draft grades: Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks: 1st round: Rodrigue Beaubois-PG, 2nd round: Nick Calathes-PG, 2nd round: Ahmad Nivins-PF

I'm not a big fan of this draft. There is some future potential there, but for a play-off caliber team they should have looked for a more immediate return. Beaubois is an extremely raw player. Players like Douglas, or Blair would have been a better fit in round one. I like Calathes as a good value for a 2nd round pick, but the Mavs won't see him for a year or two. Nivins is another guy with upside. He should offer solid depth for the front court.

Grade: C+

Denver Nuggets: 1st round: Ty Lawson-PG (traded a future first round pick for Lawson)

The Nuggets didn't have any picks of their own, but still managed to have a solid draft. While the Nuggets had to give up a future first rounder, I think they got their money's worth in Lawson. Lawson is a great value pick in the middle of the first round. He should add some youth and energy to the Nuggets back court.

Grade: A-

Golden State Warriors: 1st round: Stephen Curry-PG

The Warriors got a great player with the 7th pick in the draft. Curry should be an elite scorer, from either the 1 or the 2 position. He will team up with Monta Ellis to form an elite offensive back court. There are some rumors that Curry may be part of a trade, but for the Warriors sake I hope they keep him. I think Curry will have a bright future with the Warriors if they keep him.

Grade: A- (if they don't trade him)

Houston Rockets: 2nd round: Jermaine Taylor-PG (traded from the Wizards), 2nd round: Sergio Llull-PG (traded from the Nuggets, 2nd round: Chase Budinger-G/F (traded from the Pistons)

The Rockets literally bought their draft class. Using cash considerations and a future 2nd round pick to get three players. Llull is a solid future player with some upside. Taylor and Budinger both have good chances of making the club in reserve roles. Overall there probably won't be much production from this draft class, but it should benefit the Rockets cap situation for the next couple of years.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Clippers: 1st round: Blake Griffin-PF

The Clippers have had a grade 'A+' since the lottery results were announced back in May. Griffin was easily the consensus number 1 player in this draft class. He should immediately help the Clippers front court. Overall I think Griffin will be a star in this league. Maybe he won't be a savior like Tim Duncan, but I think he will be a solid piece for the Clippers to build around.

Grade: A+

Los Angeles Lakers: 2nd round: Chinemelu Elonu-PF

The Lakers traded away/ sold their top two picks, with the idea that no rookie would get playing time for the Champs. The problem with that idea is, what happens if the Lakers can't resign/replace Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza. What happens if the team has a major injury or two? The Lakers could have had cheap cost controlled depth, but instead took the extra cash from the trades. While the Lakers have some youth already it wouldn't have been a bad idea to add another young guy for the future.

Grade: D

Memphis Grizzlies: 1st round: Hasheem Thabeet-C, 1st round: DeMarre Carroll-PF, 2nd round: Sam Young-F

Thabeet wasn't the 2nd best player in the draft, but he's the best center. He should give the Grizzlies a defensive upgrade and a man in the middle to pair with Gasol. Carroll was a very good late round pick. He's athletic and brings toughness to the floor. Sam Young is one of my favorite players in this draft, and could end up being the best player from this group. He will push Rudy Gay for playing time, and give Memphis a tough, athletic forward off the bench. These three players, give the Grizzlies one of the most talented front court's in the NBA. The Grizzlies put together an impressive draft night. In addition to these three players, they traded Darko Milicic for SG Quentin Richardson.

Grade: A+

Minnesota Timberwolves: 1st round: Ricky Rubio-PG, 1st round: Jonny Flynn-PG, 1st round: Wayne Ellington-SG, 2nd round: Henk Norel-PF

This was a strange draft for the T-wolves. The player they wanted to trade up for fell to their newly acquired 5th pick. Then a problem arose for Minnesota, with Harden, Thabeet and Evans off the board, point guards were the best players available. Leaving the T-wolves to have to take PG's back to back. While that's a problem to begin with, Minnesota compounded it by taking two true point guards. Had they grabbed Stephen Curry or Jrue Holiday, they could have played them at the 2 guard. Instead they took Flynn, who while a great guard, doesn't make much sense to play alongside Rubio. Minnesota didn't seem to have a grand strategy with their 4 first round picks.

Grade: C-

New Orleans Hornets: 1st round: Darren Collison-PG, 2nd round: Marcus Thorton-SG

I'm not sure what the Hornets were thinking in round one. Collison is a nice player and I think he'll be a good NBA player. But he is a horrible pick for the Hornets. New Orleans has the best young point guard in the league in Chris Paul. Collison doesn't seem to have a role on this team. He isn't a good fit to play alongside Paul, and won't likely play more than 10 minutes a game.

Grade: C-

O.K. City Thunder: 1st round: James Harden-SG, 1st round: B.J. Mullens-C, 2nd round: Robert Vaden-SG

The Thunder got a lot of talent and potential with their two first round picks. Harden is the perfect scoring option to go along with Russell Westbrook in the back court. Mullens has a ton of upside, but he is still very raw. If Mullens lives up to his full potential the Thunder will have the last piece to their roster.

Grade: B+

Phoenix Suns: 1st round: Earl Clark-G/F, 2nd round: Taylor Griffin

The Suns added a great player with a lot of upside in Clark. He can do anything on the basketball court, and fits the Sun's style of play perfectly. The Suns got solid value in the 2nd round as well. Griffin isn't the all-star talent of his brother, but he should be a solid bench player for the Suns.

Grade: A-

Portland Trail Blazers: 1st round: Victor Claver-SF, 2nd round: Jeff Pendergraph-F, Dante Cunningham-F, Patty Mills-PG

This was a depth draft for the Trail Blazers and nothing more. Claver has upside, but he probably won't be helping Portland any time soon. None of their 2nd rounders figure to be more than role players in the future. Portland passed up a number of players in the 1st round, who could have helped their play-off run next season.

Grade: C+

Sacramento Kings: 1st round: Tyreke Evans-G, Omri Casspi-SF, 2nd round: Jon Brockman-PF/C

The Kings passed up PG's Rubio, Flynn and Curry, and went with the upside of Evans. He is missed cast as a true PG but will help the Kings back court. Casspi is an intriguing international option, he could be a starter within two years. Brockman is a good depth player and could be a solid back-up for them.

Grade: B

San Antonio Spurs: 2nd round: DeJuan Blair-PF, Jack McClinton-G, Nando De Colo-PG

The Spurs got away with highway robbery when they got Blair in the 2nd round. Blair will give the Spurs a top-15 talent, and one of the best big men in the draft. McClinton has some upside as well and could be a valuable guy off the bench.

Grade: A+

Utah Jazz: 1st round: Eric Maynor-PG, 2nd round: Goran Suton-C

Maynor is an extremely underrated PG. He is fairly refined and should make for a good compliment to Williams. While the Jazz could have used some more help in the front court, Maynor made sense for the Jazz. Suton has a little upside and could play in Europe for a year or two. He may never be much of a player, but I could see him coming back and being a decent back-up.

NBA Draft grades: Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks: 1st round: Jeff Teague-PG, 2nd round: Sergiy Gladyr-SG

The Hawks did a good job upgrading their back court with this draft. I think Teague has some real upside, and can be a starter by his second year. Teague should fit in well with th Hawks athletic big men. Gladyr isn't going to help any time soon, but could be a contributor down the road.

Grade: B

Boston Celtics: 2nd round: Lester Hudson-SG

Hudson isn't a bad pick for the end of the 2nd round. He's an advanced player that can be a solid guy off the bench, if he makes the team. Overall there's some solid potential there for the Celtics, but they didn't really improve their team.

Grade: C+

Charlotte Bobcats: 1st round: Gerald Henderson-SG, 2nd round: Derrick Brown-PF

In my opinion the Bobcats had a really good draft. Henderson is a very good shooting guard and will give the Bobcats a great option on the wing. He will start by backing up Raja Bell, but should be a starter within two years. Brown is a great pick up in the 2nd round. He will help their front court depth, and has the upside to be a 6th man in a couple of years.

Grade: A-

Chicago Bulls: 1st round: James Johnson-PF, 1st round: Taj Gibson-PF

It was a little bit odd that the Bulls took two power forwards with their two picks, but I think they got solid value with them. Johnson has a ton of upside and should develop into a pretty good starter. Gibson doesn't have as much upside as Johnson, but should provide solid depth.

Grade: B

Cleveland Cavaliers: 1st round: Christian Eyenga-SF, 2nd round: Danny Green-SF, 2nd round: Emir Preldzic-F

This was a bit of a surprising draft for the Cavs. While i love the Danny Green pick, does Eyenga make sense with Blair, Young and others still on the board? Taking either Sam Young or DeJuan Blair would have been a coup at the end of the 1st round. Both players could have come in and contributed from day one. Blair especially would have made sense, given Varejeo's free agent status. I think Green was a great value pick and could be a steal. But for a team that is ready to win now, I don't understand drafting a player who won't be even in the country for a couple of years.

Grade: C

Detroit Pistons: 1st round: Austin Daye, 2nd round: DeJuan Summers, 2nd round: Jonas Jerebko

This could be a very good draft for the Pistons. There is a ton of upside with these three picks. Daye has the potential to become a top SF in the NBA. Summers and Jerebko both had first round potential, and are great value in the second round. The one issue with the Pistons draft is consistency. None of these players have been consistent in their careers. Both Daye and Summers would disappear in games in college. Overall though the talent is there so I do like what the Pistons did with this class.

Grade: B+

Indiana Pacers: 1st round: Tyler Hansbrough-PF, 2nd round: A.J. Price-PG

The Pacers added a pair of four year college players, who will need little or no development time. I like the Price pick a lot, I think he has a lot of upside. Price should be a good addition to the Pacers back court. I really question Hansbrough here, drafting him in the lottery is a big mistake. With Earl Clark, Johnson and Blair on the board Hansbrough was a big overdraft. I have a hard time imagining this draft four or five years from now, and considering Hansbrough one of the Top-15 players.

Grade: C

Miami Heat: 2nd round: Patrick Beverley-G, 2nd round: Robert Dozier-F

The Heat were without a 1st round pick but that didn't stop them from drafting some intriguing players. Beverley in particular can help the Heat down the road. He could back up either of the guard spots, and give the Heat a high energy guy off the bench. Dozier has a longer road towards making the Heat, but he does have some NBA tools.

Grade: B-

Milwaukee Bucks: 1st round: Brandon Jennings-PG, 2nd round: Jodie Meeks-SG

The Bucks did a great job filling their needs here and adding offensive upside. Jennings has the talent to be a great NBA point guard. He can do just about everything with a basketball, but he does have one thing standing in his way - himself. Jennings needs to worry less about whether the cameras are rolling, and more about refining his game. I'm higher on Meeks than most draftniks were. I don't think he'll ever be a starter, but he should be a good guy off the bench. I like his toughness and work ethic.

Grade: B+

New Jersey Nets: 1st round: Terrence Williams-SG

The Nets made a big move earlier in the day trading away Vince Carter for Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston. New Jersey followed that up by drafting Carter's replacement in Williams. Williams has a lot of upside, and should develop into a pretty good starter. Williams is one of the most athletic players in this entire class, but still needs to work on his offensive game to become a complete player.

Grade: B

New York Knicks: 1st round: Jordan Hill-PF, 1st round: Toney Douglas-G

The Knicks paid a hefty price for their 2nd first round pick ($3 million), but got a pretty good player in Douglas. Douglas and Hill fill the Knicks two biggest needs. They can both be pretty good complimentary players. Hill still needs to work on his offensive game, but he should be a good rebounder.

Grade: B+

Orlando Magic: No picks

The Magic went the trade route and did pretty well adding Vince Carter. Unfortunately they didn't have any picks to grade.

Grade: N/A

Philadelphia 76ers: 1st round: Jrue Holiday-PG

Holiday was a great pick for the 76ers. He fills a big need for Philly, and has some of the biggest upside in the entire draft. Holiday will probably need a year or two, to become a front line starter. When he does though, the 76ers will be happy with the wait. Holiday has limitless athletic ability and offensive potential.

Grade: B+

Toronto Raptors: 1st round DeMar DeRozen-G

The Raptors went with upside with their selection of DeRozen. DeRozen is a pretty raw player, but has plenty of potential. I think he will need at least two years, and might not even be a solid back-up next season. While the talent is there its definitely a risk to take DeRozen so early, on a team in transition. I would have liked it better if a team with multiple picks, or had playoff talent had grabbed DeRozen.

Grade: C+

Washington Wizards: Traded 1st round pick for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, traded 2nd round pick (Jermaine Taylor) to the Rockets for cash.

I think Wizards really blew this draft. They jumped the gun on the Foye trade, they could have kept the pick and taken Ricky Rubio. Even if they had still wanted to trade the pick, the value would have been higher with Rubio sitting there. I just don't feel they got enough out of the T-wolves in the trade. The 2nd round was an even bigger disaster. The Wizards were in desperate need of front court help and at the top of the 2nd round, DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Derrick Brown were available. Instead of taking one of them, the Wizards drafted a guard and sold him to the Rockets for $2.5 million. Any one of those players would have been a significant upgrade to the Wizards. Blair in particular was a lottery talent that fell due to injury concerns. Adding him to the front line, would have been a major boost to the Wizard's inside game. I think the Wizards will regret their draft decisions for years to come.

Grade: D

Trade Center: NBA

A couple of big NBA trades were made yesterday. Both could have playoff implications for next season, and one shakes up tomorrow's draft. Here's a quick recap on the deals, and the future impact.

The Deal: The Milwaukee Bucks send Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, and Kurt Thomas. The Spurs also sent Fabrico Oberto to the Pistons for Amir Johnson, who was then moved to the Bucks.

Bucks: Milwaukee mainly made this deal for salary cap relief. They now have the money to re-sign restricted free agent Charlie Villanuvea and perhaps another moderate free agent. The Bucks will also have some money to play with in 2010 when Johnson's, and Thomas's deals are up (Bowen may get waived to save additional money now).

Pistons: Detroit's reason for this deal was similar to Milwaukee's - money. The Pistons can save almost $2 million by waiving Oberto, since his contract isn't fully guaranteed. Detroit is looking to build up as much cap space as possible to make a run at a couple of top free agents.

Spurs: The Spurs are the big winner in this deal. They get a top flight SF, who gives them an electric scorer on the perimeter. He gives them a third scoring option behind Parker and Duncan and moves Michael Finley to a better suited reserve role (if he resigns). Making this deal even more impressive is the fact that all the Spurs had to give up was cap relief. Bowen and Thomas were solid role players, but their games were on the downside. The Spurs have reloaded and are now one of the top 3 contenders in the Western Conference.

Winner: Its got to be the Spurs, they gave up nothing and received a real scoring threat. They will make a strong title push next season. The Bucks and Pistons get some cap relief, but they aren't any better teams for making this deal.

The Deal: The Minnesota Timberwolves send G Randy Foye and G/F Mike Miller to the Washington Wizards for the 5th overall pick, C Etan Thomas, PF Darius Songaila, C/F Oleksiy Pecherov.

Timberwolves: The real prize for Minnesota is the 5th pick. Already owning the 6th, 18th and 28 picks in the first round, the T-wolves now hold the keys to the draft. They will likely try to trade up to the 2nd or 3rd spot to select Ricky Rubio (Hasheem Thabeet is an option at 3 if Rubio is off the board), giving up the 5th pick, 18th and maybe another player or draft pick. If Minnesota can't move up they will hope that they can snag, James Harden and Stephen Curry at the 5 and 6. Other players likely in the mix at 5 or 6 are Tyreke Evans and DeMar DeRozan. Things could get tricky for the T-Wolves, as they will likely have to reach for front court help with their latter picks. Though Minnesota will miss the scoring of Foye and Miller in their back court, they should have no trouble replacing them with their lottery picks. Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov are really just roster filler, but could give the Wolves some solid minutes in their weak front court.

Wizards: Washington is going for broke here. They showed that they are not in a rebuilding mode and feel that they feel their 19 win season was a fluke. The Wizards added two perimeter scorers, that can be excellent complimentary players to Washington's big three (Arenas, Butler, and Jamison). Also if Arenas and Butler miss any significant time, like they have in recent years, Foye and Miller can be solid starters. Foye could be the real prize in this deal. He's a restricted free agent in 2010 so he gives Washington some options. Overall I think he's an underrated player and could be a breakout candidate. If he does take his game to the next level then this could be a big win for the Wizards. If not, then I question the move somewhat. The Wizards could have added a prolific scorer in Harden or Curry to help their front court. One that is under team control for longer and with the potential to be a star. Washington also had deals on the table to potentially trade back and add a veteran, which may have made more sense. I think not prying either the 18th or 28th picks away from Minnesota was a mistake. No, you weren't likely to add a star player in that spot, but you could have added someone with upside. I think if the Wizards would have waited until tomorrow's draft they would have been able to get a better deal.

As it stands now The Wizards are 'all in' in 2009. While this deal puts them back in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, Washington will need a lot of luck to be a serious contender. They will need Arenas and Butler to stay healthy, and continue to play at an all-star level. Also, Brendan Haywood, the Wizards only true center, will need to get healthy and step up his game. They will need the rest of their young front court to develop fast (McGuire, Blatche, McGee). The Wizards will need to trade some of their front court depth to add another big man. Until they do though they are very thin in the paint.

Winner: I think the Timberwolves are a small winner here. By keeping all four draft picks Minnesota has practically limitless options in tomorrow's draft. The T-wolves can now add some pieces to a young core that includes Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. The Wizards did get rid of some bad contracts which, should give them some flexibility in the future, but they paid a high price.

NBA Draft: Mock Draft 11-30

11. New Jersey Nets: Jrue Holiday-PG

The Nets could use a big man but probably won't reach for Blair, Johnson, or Mullens. I think they will take the top PG on the board here. Holiday will make a lot of sense here, as Harris can move too the 2 guard position.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Terrence Williams-G/F

Williams would be a good pick for the Bobcats here. He can start at SG and fill in some at SF as well. He has a lot of upside if he reaches his full potential. With the Bobcats though he won't be forced to be an offensive focal point, which should help his development.

13. Indiana Pacers: Ty Lawson-PG

The Pacers need a solid point guard and Lawson is a good fit here. I think he's been underrated all along so this is actually a good spot for him, and not a reach.

14. Phoenix Suns: DeJuan Blair-PF

Johnson or Mullens should be in the mix here as well, but I think Blair is the best Big man available. With Shaq out the door, and Amare likely to follow, the Suns need to add some talent to their front court. Blair could fit in nicely with Phoenix's fast paced offense.

15. Detroit Piston: Austin Daye-SF

Daye has been rumored to Detroit for awhile and he seems like a pretty solid fit for the team. There is some upside in Daye, especially if he can get tougher.

16. Chicago Bulls: Gerald Henderson-SG

With Ben Gordon likely leaving in free agency the Bulls could use another option on the wing. Henderson has a lot of upside, and is athletic enough to get the ball to the basket.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Eric Maynor-PG

The 76ers need a new point guard with Miller being a free agent. They will find a good one in Maynor. He should be able to step in and lead the offense from day one.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Earl Clark-SF

A lot depends on what they do with their top two picks (this pick may also be traded to move up in the draft), but I don't think the T-wolves could pass up on Clark if he's here at 18. They could use a big like Mullens for depth, but Clark is too good to pass up here. He does so many things well that he will be a great fit for Minnesota, a team that is still looking for an identity.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague-PG

Teague has exceptional speed, and would be a great fit in Atlanta. He can be a good solid back-up to Crawford. A back-up power forward like Johnson or Hansbrough are an option here as well. Teague is the last of the top level of point guards, so I don't see Atlanta passing on him if he's here.

20. Utah Jazz: James Johnson-PF

With Boozer on his way out, the Jazz need to add some talent to their front court. Johnson is a bit of a steal here, he's got a lot of upside and should fit well in Utah. Hansbrough and Sam Young are definite options as well.

21. New Orleans Hornets: B. J. Mullens-C

Tyson Chandler hasn't been the answer at the 5, leaving New Orleans desperate for help in the paint. So getting one of the two legitimate centers in this draft would be a coup for the Hornets. Mullens is a project but won't have to be a star player in New Orleans.

22. Portland Trail Blazers: Sam Young-SF

Young might not have been the player they were targeting when the traded up two spots in the draft, but there is no way they let him slide any further. The Blazers will love his maturity, work ethic and toughness. He also is an excellent rebounder and defender. Young is also one of the most NBA ready players in this draft and should contribute from day one.

23. Sacramento Kings: DeMarre Carroll-PF

Kings could go a number of ways with this pick, Casspi is an option on the International front, and Hansbrough would be a big name to bring in. Hansbrough would also make sense since he balance's Evans youth. In the end I think the Kings take Carroll. They need a big man to play next to Hawes, and I feel like Carroll may be the best fit.

24. Dallas Mavericks: Chase Budinger-SG

The Mavericks love their shooters and Budinger fits the bill here at 24. He can step in and help right away. He will need to become more of a defender to be anything more than a role player. Darren Collison is an option here as well.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Danny Green-G/F

Green is the perfect fit for the Thunder here. He can back up both Harden at the 2 and Durant at the 3, and become a great 6th man. He ability on offense and defense makes him the right pick here over some other players with more upside.

26. Chicago Bulls: Omri Casspi-SF

Casspi is a great pick for the Bulls if he falls this far. They could try waiting a year before bringing him to the U.S., or he could be a solid forward for them off the bench. He's tough and by all reports a quality rebounder.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Toney Douglas-G

Douglas is a good fit here as he can back up both of the guard positions. If Memphis takes Thabeet 2nd, then depth in the back court is their biggest weakness. Douglas should fill that need pretty well. He's an underrated player and should be a steal here.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonas Jerebko-F

This might be hard to do with PF's like Hansbrough and Derrick Brown still on the board, but it seems likely that the T-wolves will take an international player with this pick. They likely won't want to have 4 rookies on their roster, and will keep whomever they take abroad.

29. New York Knicks: Darren Collison-PG

This could change if the Knicks get a PG with their top pick as PF will be their biggest need (Hansbrough anyone). Either way the Knicks traded back into the first round to get a player who can come in and play right away. Collison seems like the likely pick here. He can run the point and has always made everyone around him better. The Knicks would get a heck of a player here at 29.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyler Hansbrough-PF

Hansbrough could easily go 10 spots higher, but I think the concerns about his game will lead him to slide. He fits best on a playoff team where he's the 7th to 9th guy off the bench. In Cleveland he can fill a role, and not have to be the top offensive threat on the team. Playing next to Shaq and Big-Z should help him as well. This is a great insurance policy if the Cavs can't resign Varejo. And if they do resign him then the Cavs got that much deeper.

NBA Draft: Mock Draft Top 10

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin-PF

This pick is about the only sure thing in the draft this year. It doesn't look like the Clippers are even listening to offers at this point for the top pick. Griffin will fit in well in L.A. and give the Clippers another piece to a young core that features Al Thorton and Eric Gordon.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Haseem Thabeet-C

This pick could very well end up with another team like Minnesota or New York, but for the purposes of this mock draft we will say they keep the pick. If they keep it Thabeet should be their pick. While Thabeet isn't the second best player in this draft, he is the best center, and can give some solid minutes from day one. Thabeet will be a good compliment to Marc Gasol, and allow the Grizzlies to have two 7 footers on the floor at the same time.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden-SG

Rubio or a trade are options here, but in the end I think the Thunder go with Harden. Westbrook can run the point and Durant and Green have the forward spots handled. The Thunder need a true center and a shooting guard. With Thabeet off the board grabbing a guy like Harden makes the most sense. Harden is a good fit, with a refined offensive game and a good work ethic.

4. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans-G

Rubio is the better fit as the Kings could use a true point guard but I think Sacramento goes with the upside of Evans. Evans is a combo guard at best, and will probably end up being more of a shooting guard. The Kings don't really need another shooting guard but have seemingly fallen in love with Evans.

5. Washington Wizards: Ricky Rubio-PG

The Wizards are probably trading this pick one way or another, but wouldn't mind adding Rubio if he falls to them. Rubio would be a good fit for the Wizards as he'd let Arenas play the 2. The Wizards are a good fit for Rubio as well. They already have established scorers, allowing Rubio to do what he does best; set up the offense.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Stephen Curry-PG

The T-wolves will be looking to move up to get either Thabeet or Rubio, but will be quite happy with Curry if they can't move up. Curry will give Minnesota a very mature player, who can be a top offensive threat. He's not the most athletic point guard in this draft, but he's probably the most advanced.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jonny Flynn-PG

Jordan Hill is an option here, but Flynn makes plenty of sense for the Warriors. He fits their fast paced, high powered offense. Flynn's quickness will be a major asset for the Warriors, and give a perfect back court compliment to Ellis. A true point guard will allow Ellis to become a bigger scoring threat.

8. New York Knicks: Jordan Hill-PF

The Knicks will look to trade up to get either Curry or Rubio, if they can't make a deal Hill will be their pick. Hill can fill a size deficit in New York. Hill is a bit unrefined but he has plenty of upside. He should help the Knicks on the boards from day one, though he will need to work on his offensive game.

9. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan-SG

DeRozan is a bit of a project, but he has NBA size and athleticism. He has plenty of upside and that is what the Raptors will be banking on here. Toronto has a need at guard so DeRozan does fill a need as well.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings-PG

Jennings or Holiday seem like the most likely picks here. Both are young with plenty of upside. I think Jennings might be the better fit here. His speed and quickness give him the edge on Holiday right now for a number of teams. I'm not super high on Jennings but I don't think he falls any further than 10.

Check back tomorrow for the rest of the first round.

NBA Draft: Top 5 Available At Each Position

Point Guard:

1. Ricky Rubio-Spain

2. Jonny Flynn-Syracuse

3. Stephen Curry-Davidson

4. Ty Lawson-UNC

5. Jrue Holiday-UCLA

2nd rounder to watch: A.J. Price-Connecticut

The PG position is extremely deep in this year's class. While there may not be an immediate star such as a Chris Paul or Deron Williams, there is a ton of potential in this crop. Though not much is known about Rubio as maybe some of the other prospects, you have to put him at No.1. His age, skill set, and Olympic experience all work in his favor. While Flynn's height and outside shot do hold him back, he is still a great player. His quickness, athleticism and heart are unmatched in this class. Curry is really the opposite of Flynn, he's an excellent shooter and player, but he doesn't have the quickness and athleticism of most point guards. If he was a little bigger he'd be the top shooting guard in the class. I like Lawson more than most draft analysts do. I think he is very similar to Flynn in his skill set, though he doesn't have as much upside as his Syracuse counterpart. The other thing I really like about Lawson is, that he's a winner. He carried that UNC team down the stretch and was key for them cutting down the nets in Detroit. Holiday may have the most potential of this entire class, but he also has some of the biggest question marks. He has incredible measurables and is a good defender. On the other hand, he was extremely inconsistent and could have used maybe another year to separate himself from the pack. I think no less than 10 point guards will be taken in the first round. All of them should be able to contribute early on.

Shooting Guard:

1. James Harden-Arizona State

2. Gerald Henderson-Duke

3. Tyreke Evans-Memphis

4. DeMar DeRozen-USC

5. Terrence Williams-Louisville

2nd rounder to watch: Jodie Meeks-Kentucky

The SG class is solid but really only runs about 10 deep in terms of NBA talent. There is plenty of potential there with Evans and DeRozen. In fact, I think both will go ahead of Henderson, and there is a chance Evans could even jump Harden. Evans is a player that worries me. He has a tremendous skill set and great size, but he never showed great instincts or basketball IQ. Too often he would force shots instead of finding his open teammates. DeRozen has some of the same issues, but his bigger problem is his lack of a good jump shot. He really doesn't have a consistent offensive mid-range or outside game. Given those question marks, I think Harden and Henderson are the better options for teams in need of a point guard. Harden is one of my favorite players in this draft. He lacks some explosiveness and athleticism, but is still a fantastic all-around player. He has a killer jump shot and great basketball instincts. Henderson is another good player. Though I don't think he'll be a star at the next level, but I think he has the upside of being a third option on a good team. Henderson doesn't do anything great, but he does everything well, which should help him fit into any team. Williams is a real enigma. He has the talent to be the 1st or 2nd SG taken, but he would just disappear in games last year. He also lacks a great outside shot, and works much better near the basket.

Small Forward:

1. Sam Young-Pittsburgh

2. Earl Clark-Louisville

3. Austin Daye-Gonzaga

4. Omri Cassapi-Israel

5. Danny Green-UNC

2nd rounder to watch: Dar Tucker-DePaul

This is a weak year for small forward's overall, as there are no sure things in this group. While that's the general consensus, I personally feel that's wrong. I think Sam Young is a special player and 5 years from now will be considered one of the Top-10 players from this draft class. Most mock drafts and teams seem to give Young negative marks for being older (24) and a college senior. But he went from being just an athlete, to being one of the best inside-outside scorers in the nation. He may not be as tall as some of the other SF's but he's the best rebounder in the group. His toughness, heart and instinct's will all translate very well at the next level. Clark is a guy, who if he reaches his potential could be just as good as Young. He's got great size but is a very good ball handler for a big man. Daye probably needs to add some bulk to be a force on the glass, but he solid contributor no matter what. Casspi is an intriguing player from Israel. He's got a lot of tools but he didn't get starter's minutes in the Euroleague. Green is solid player, and a good shooter. His defense and basketball IQ should at least make him a valuable guy off the bench. The question is will he ever develop into a solid starter.

Power Forward:

1. Blake Griffin-Oklahoma

2. Jordan Hill-Arizona

3. DeJuan Blair-Pittsburgh

4. James Johnson-Wake Forrest

5. Tyler Hansbrough-UNC

2nd rounder to watch: Jon Brockman-Washington

Blake Griffin is obviously the prize of this entire draft. He has the potential to become an immediate star in the NBA. His size and strength are impressive enough, but his basketball IQ and instincts really set him apart. Beyond Griffin there is a drop off of power forwards, but there is still some talent to be found. Jordan Hill should be able to help on the boards and defensively from day one. His offensive game is still a work in progress. He won't be able to go strong to the basket in the NBA like he did at Arizona. He will need to develop a jump shot to balance his strength to the hoop. Blair is another player I like. I know there are concerns about his height and injuries, but I think he has what it takes for the next level. Yes he is changing positions, but reports have him slimming down and adding quickness. His height shouldn't be a factor, because in the Big East he routinely went up against some of the best big men in the nation. Outside of Griffin, no player dominated the college game as much as Blair. Johnson has a lot of athleticism and upside. He is probably going to need a year or two to develop into a starter, but I still think he has a bright future. Hansbrough is a tough player to peg. He dominated the college ranks for four years. Given the talent around him and the ACC style, he didn't face the constant double teams or quality big men that Blair and Griffin faced. In my opinion, I think Hansbrough is soft and is a boom or bust player. I give him credit for being worthy a lottery pick, because the measureables are there. I just don't see it overall with him. Too often it seemed like Hansbrough's game was based on positioning and basketball IQ. He was great at drawing fouls and reducing his own, due to those sound fundamentals. Hansbrough also used his size to his advantage, but struggled in match-ups with other quality big men. The problem is he won't have a size advantage or the benefit of positioning at the next level. My gut tells me he won't be better than a solid back-up, but Hansbrough deserves some consideration.

Center:

1. Hasheem Thabeet-Connecticut

2. B.J. Mullens-Ohio State

2nd rounder to watch: Goran Suton-Michigan State

Its impossible to do a Top-5 Center's list because its a stretch for 5 center's to be drafted. There are only two first rounders and both of them have question marks. Thabeet is a lock to go in the top five picks in the draft, given his height and potential. He is still a developing player overall, but their are some big time holes in his game. He really lacks any offensive game other than dunking the ball. Though a good defender, he lacks the quickness and strength that he'll face consistently at the next level. Thabeet also was dominated by Pittsburgh's Blair in their two regular season match-ups, despite having an 7 inch height advantage. Mullens is another center prospect with a ton of potential. In many ways he is the opposite of Thabeet, his offensive game is more advanced and balanced, but he is still developing as a consistent defender and rebounder. Mullens has a lot of upside, but his work ethic and instincts leave a lot to be desired. He will probably need a good two years until he can be an effective starter. Outside of Thabeet and Mullens, its hard to imagine that any other centers can really make it in the NBA. Suton had a nice NCAA tournament, but he's really not much more than a third center in the NBA.

Lakers Pull Ahead. Now Up 3-2

Last night's Game 5 match-up in the Western Conference Finals was a critical game for both teams. If the Nuggets stole one in L.A., then they could wrap the series up on their home court in Game 6. The Lakers needed to avenge their 19 point loss in Game 4 and retake the momentum of the series. Los Angeles overcame the Nuggets with a big 4th quarter to win 103-94. 

The Lakers performance in the final frame was the difference, because heading into the 4th quarter, the Nuggets and Lakers were tied 76-76. The teams were so evenly matched, that they each put up the same number of points in the first and second quarters as well. This game shouldn't be too surprising as this entire series has been crazy. In five games Denver has trailed only twice entering the 4th quarter. Each of those times the Nuggets were just down a single point. Despite having a good opportunity to win entering the 4th quarter of each game, the Nuggets remain down 3-2 in the series. Overall Denver has outscored the Lakers 520-515, but in the 4th quarter the Lakers are up 147-132. The Lakers have scored almost 29% of their points in that deciding quarter. With the exception of Game 4, Denver has not been able to put the Lakers away when they have them on the ropes. In Games 1 and 3 the Nuggets were in a prime position to win the game in the 4th, but couldn't put the nail in the coffin. If Denver is going to come back and win this series they will need to elevate their play in the 4th quarter to match the Lakers. This one should be decided in seven games but the way this series is going I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers win out in Denver.

Big Night in the NBA and NHL Playoffs

Last night we saw two defining games in the NBA and NHL Playoffs. The first was expected, as the Pittsburgh Penguins swept the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. The second was a big surprise, as the top ranked Cleveland Cavaliers lost in overtime to the Orlando Magic. These two games have defined the Eastern Conferences in each of these sports. 

The Pens cruised past the surging Hurricanes in the Conference Finals and look poised to give the Detroit Red Wings a tough rematch in the Stanley Cup Finals. Going in to the series with the Hurricanes it looked as though it would be a battle. The Pens were just coming off a 7 game slug fest with the Washington Capitals and the Canes had just knocked off the top seeded Boston Bruins. Pittsburgh ran away with the series behind their two stars Crosby and Malkin on the offensive side and Fluery between the pipes. Though the series lacked the excitement and hype of their previous round against the Capitals, the Pens needed this series to prove that they were an elite team. 

As for the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, last night the Orlando Magic proved that they are for real and moved into firm control of this series. The Magic outlasted a late 4th quarter surge to tie the game and a potential game winning shot by LeBron James, to go up 3-1 in the series. While the Cavs have been in three of the four games, the Magic have really set the tone. Dwight Howard has really dominated this series and posted a double double last night. Howard took control in overtime and put the Cavs on the ropes. Even with James, the Cavs really don't seem to have much of a chance to comeback in this series. Right now the Cleveland doesn't have an answer for Howard and hasn't had a consistent second option to go along with James. Balance has been the key for Orlando. They've had two players score 20 or more points and five players in double figures in every game. On defense Orlando has looked to only contain James and not try to shut him down, which has allowed them to shut down the rest of the Cavs. I think Cleveland may win the next game to force a game 6 but I don't think it will go any further than that.

Nuggets Even the Series

The Denver Nuggets were looking at a bleak future heading into last night's Game 4 match-up with the L.A. Lakers. Their star player, Carmelo Anthony, was visibly sick and banged up. They were committing stupid penalties and turnovers that had kept the Lakers in the series. Finally, Denver blew an eight point lead going into the 4th quarter of Game 3, to lose 103-97. It looked as though the Nuggets were finished and the Lakers would be heading back to Los Angeles up 3-1. Denver responded to their naysayers by dominating the Lakers and winning 120-101.

The Nuggets were in control of that game from start to finish, but put up an impressive 43 points (or two less than the Lakers had the entire first half) in the fourth quarter to ensure they didn't collapse like they did in Game 3. The win was even more impressive due to the fact that Anthony had his worst game of the series. The Denver star contributed just 15 points on 3-16 shooting (though he went 9-11 from the line) and added only three rebounds, as he battled a twisted ankle and a stomach virus. Anthony's struggles didn't affect the outcome of the game, as six other Nuggets scored in double figures. Denver was led by guards Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith, who each had 24 points. Smith had been Denver's most effective scorer off the bench during the regular season and the first two rounds. In the first three games the Lakers had kept him in check, holding him to a combined 21 points.  Last night the Lakers couldn't stop Smith, as he scored 12 points in the 4th quarter. Smith hit three big 3-pointers in the last 5 minutes to put the game out of reach for the Lakers. In addition to out shooting the Lakers the Nuggets controlled the tempo of the game with their success on the boards. Denver out-rebounded L.A. 58-40 overall and 20-9 on the offensive glass. Their second chance points were a deciding factor in last night's game. 

Denver now head's back to L.A. with the series tied 2-2. Not many people give them much of a chance to upset the Lakers, but i think it's a very real possibility. Denver has been in every game down to the last minute. In fact, they've led most of the way in every game. The Lakers can't make either claim, as they were blown out in the 4th quarter and have usually entered the last frame playing catch-up. The Nuggets are also getting a better performance out of their bench and their other starters. The Lakers are still too reliant on Kobe Bryant and haven't featured Gasol, Bynum and Odom nearly enough. Last night Odom only managed five points in almost 30 minutes. Until the Lakers can show they are more than a one trick pony I don't see how they overcome the Nuggets. 

LeBron's Last Second Heroics Even the Series

Before it started LeBron James had called Game 2 of the Conference Finals a "must win" for the Cavaliers. With time expiring James made sure Cleveland 'did win', with his game winning 3-pointer. This was an important game for the Cavs, going into Orlando down 0-2 would have pretty much made this series over. Early on it looked like Cleveland was going to run away with the game. They were up by 20 points in the second quarter and led by 12 at halftime. With LeBron James on the floor and the home crowd in the stands, that lead should have equaled a win. But the Magic battled back and tied the game in the fourth. Then in the final seconds forward Hedo Turkoglu hit a jumper to give the Magic the two point advantage with just one second remaining on the clock. That didn't matter to James as he took the inbound pass and drained the game winner from the top of the arc.

Despite tying the series, there is plenty of concern for the Cavaliers. In both games now Cleveland has come out hot and dominated early. They entered halftime in each game with a double digit lead, only to watch it slip away in the 2nd half. If not for LeBron's final shot the Cavs would have blown their home court advantage in series. Cleveland has to find a way to transition their success in the 1st half, into a victory at the end of the game.  Overall I still like the Cavs in the series. The Magic haven't shown they can slow down James, while Cleveland limited Dwight Howard to 10 points in Game 2. Also, the Cavaliers bench hasn't been much of a factor yet in this series. I think the Cavs will still come out on top, but the Magic aren't gonna go away without a fight.

Magic Upset the Cavs to take Game 1

The Orlando Magic went into Cleveland last night and knocked off the Cavaliers 107-106, with a Rashard Lewis 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining. The Magic were down by 15 at halftime, but battled back to be within four points by the start of the 4th quarter. Orlando overcame their deficit by just out shooting the Cavaliers. Both teams had 43 field goals and 12 free throws, but the Magic had nine 3-pointers to the Cavs eight and that was the difference in the game. Orlando was more efficient with their shooting. Going 55.1-48.9% from the field and 85.7-70.6% from the line. The Cavs had 10 extra shot attempts from the field (including two in the final 15 seconds) and three extra free throws, had they made any one of their FG's or two FT's they would have won the game. The Magic came in and took a crucial game one, and now have put pressure on the Cavaliers.

The Cavs shouldn't be too worried about their performance last night. They dominated the Magic in the first half of the game. It looked as if the Cavs picked up where they had left off in their first two playoff series. Then in the second half Cleveland just came out flat and had a bad third quarter. The Cavs should still be considered the favorite to win this series, one misstep shouldn't be cause for concern. Cleveland is coming off an eight day layoff between series so there was bound to be a little rust last night. Overall the Cavs are the best team and have the best player, and that should win out in the end. 

Playoff Predictions

NHL:

Detroit Redwings vs. Chicago Blackhawks: 

Redwings in 5 games. The Blackhawks are a nice young exciting team but they can't match-up against the Redwings for an entire series. Detroit has too much talent, depth and experience to lose this series. The Redwings are already up 2-0 in this series and should have it wrapped up by next Wednesday when they get back on their home ice. 

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes:

Penguins in 6 games. Carolina has had an amazing postseason run, winning in dramatic fashion two game 7's on the road, but I think their luck has run out. The Penguins are looking to redeem themselves for last season's Stanley Cup loss. They have been pretty good so far this postseason and overcame a 2-0 series deficit to come back to beat the Capitals 4-3. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh will have the two best skaters in the series and that is usually a recipe for victory.

NBA:

L.A. Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets:

Nuggets in 6 games. The Lakers may have taken game one but I think the Nuggets will take the series. The Lakers played sloppy in their 2nd round series against the Houston Rockets. They have an impressive double digit win one night and then get blown out the next. That is not the mark of a true championship caliber team. I think the Nuggets are playing their best basketball right now and over the series that will come through in the end. The Nuggets have better overall depth and talent inside than the Lakers. They are playing too well as a team to be stopped.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic:

Cavaliers in 5 games. There is a lot to like about the Magic going into this series. Orlando had a great series to knock off the defending champion Celtics in 7 games. The Magic have the best big man in the nation in Dwight Howard. Also Orlando won the season match-up against the Cavs 2-1. Unfortunately I don't think any of that will be able to stop LeBron James and the rest of the Cavaliers. James and company have been playing excellent ball so far this postseason, winning all of their games by double digits. James has dominated the postseason so far and is playing flawless basketball. I don't think the Magic have a true answer for LeBron. The Cavs will face their toughest challenge in Orlando, but should still wrap this series up pretty quickly.

NBA Playoffs: Lakers Outlast the Rockets

L.A. Lakers over the Houston Rockets: (89-70) The Lakers were widely favored going into the series and many thought they'd win it in no more than 5 games, but Houston forced them to game 7. The Rockets did it without their two star players, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady has been out since February and Ming got injured in Game 3 of the series. Undersized and undermanned the Rockets came up with two big wins in Games 4 and 6 to even the series up. Through the first six games the Rockets had exposed a serious weakness of the Lakers. They showed that if L.A. doesn't play like a team and you force tough shots then the Lakers can fall apart. Too often L.A. relies on Kobe and they live and die with his jump shot. 

Game 7 was a different story though. The Lakers won the game in large part because they had a balanced offense and used their size advantage. Kobe Bryant had an unspectacular game, but Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza all picked up their game. Kobe was more of a decoy and only hit 33% of his shots, but his threat on the outside allowed the big men to dominate the paint. Gasol led the team in points (21) and rebounds (18) and set the tone for the entire game. He caused all sorts of match-up problems for Houston and controlled the defensive glass. Bynum added 14 points and 6 boards in only 22 minutes. The Rockets were noticeably missing Yao Ming in the middle, as they allowed to many easy shots inside and had no presence on the glass. The Lakers allowed the Rockets only five offensive boards and 33 total all game compared to their 55. The Lakers will now face a tough match-up against the Denver Nuggets. They will have to continue playing like a team, instead of a collection of stars to advance to the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

L.A. Lakers can they win it?

With the Lakers 118-78 point win last night to give them a 3-2 lead on the Rockets in the series, L.A. is back in control. The Lakers were the favorite by many throughout the season and going into the playoffs were widely considered the team to beat. Right now I question whether the Lakers are really as good as everyone thinks they are. I am skeptical that they can even make the NBA Finals at this point.

I will admit there is a lot to like about this Lakers team. They have the best coach in the league in Phil Jackson. They have one of the league's best players in Kobe Bryant. They have a budding young star in center Andrew Bynum. They have two other second-tier stars in Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom and a solid point guard in Derek Fisher. The Lakers also have a fairly strong bench of solid role players. L.A. had the NBA's second best record and was tops in the tougher Western Conference. The Lakers have plenty of experience, losing in the Finals last year and Kobe and Fisher have won championships in the past. Despite all of that I don't think this is a championship caliber team. For one major reason they don't always play like a team.

I think they will fall to the Nuggets in the Conference Finals for that reason. To often the L.A. Lakers become the Kobe show and he takes over the game. I just don't think that mentality will work against a Denver team that has been playing the best basketball they've ever played. With the addition of Chauncey Billups the Nuggets have been playing together as a team and have been leaving their opponents in the rear-view mirror. I think the same thing could happen during a 7 game series. The Lakers can be taken out of their element if you stop Kobe. And right now Kobe is pressing more than usual because of deficiencies in their interior game. Bynum hasn't been the same since coming back from his injury and that has made the Lakers a bit soft inside. The Rockets exploited this weakness and the team's reliance on Kobe in game 4 by handing L.A. an embarrassing loss. They did this without their two star players Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Houston did it by playing with a team first mentality and it showed a weak spot in the Lakers game plan. I think that the Nuggets style will expand on that weakness and knock the Lakers out of the playoffs. The Lakers are a great team and fun to watch, but I don't think they have what it takes to win the title.

Cavaliers team to beat in the NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now 8-0 in the playoffs and are well on their way to redeeming themselves for getting swept in the Finals two years ago. Cleveland has won each of their games by double digits, with an average of 16.75 points. The Cavs haven't even had a team give them a run so far in the post-season Its no surprise that Cleveland is in the Conference Finals, after they led the NBA with a 66-16 record.  The Cavs are led by the league's MVP and the deepest bench in the league.

LeBron James right now is the best player in the NBA, and not just because he was named the league's Most Valuable Player this season. He does everything for the Cavaliers, leading them in points, rebounds and assists.  LeBron's greatest asset to the Cavs might be how he helps the rest of his team. If you compare Cleveland's roster to that of the other playoff teams, you'll see that just about every other team has a better lineup on paper. On the court though is a different story as the Cav's performance has shown who truly has the best lineup. They might not have the name recognition but Cleveland has a tremendous blance of offense and defense. They can score from the perimeter and inside with equal ability. Guards Mo Williams and Delonte West give the Cav's and LeBron options on the perimeter. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and forward Anderson Varejao help out inside and are quality rebounders. Off the bench guard Daniel Gibson, guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak, forward Joe Smith, and center Ben Wallace give the Cavs quality minutes. While none are great players many of them would be starting on plenty of other teams in the league. Smith and Wallace are both veterans that help the Cavs off the court as much as they do on it. Combined this group is the perfect compliment to LeBron and he is to them as well. The Cav's play together as a team and that is the true key to their success. While LeBron may be the poster boy he has built up the players around them and turned them into the best team in the league. 

I don't think they'll go undefeated on this playoff run but I think they will be NBA champions when its all said and done. They are too dominate at home and play too well together that they will overcome whatever teams they face in the Conference and NBA Finals.

NBA Conference Semifinal Predictions:

Western Conference:

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 

Prediction: Lakers in 5

Houston has had a nice run but Kobe and the Lakers will be too much for them to handle. Though the Rockets have a good team from top to bottom, star players usually dominate playoff series and Houston can't match L.A.'s stars. The Lakers should run away with this series early. The Rockets will be lucky if they can win one of their home games.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets:

Prediction: Denver in 6

Dallas had a very good opening series against the Spurs but probably won't be able to match up with the soaring Nuggets. Denver embarrassed a quality Hornets team in their opening round match-up and are playing their best basketball when it matters most. Chauncey Billups has been a huge addition to this team and brings with him a winning attitude. I think Billups and Anthony will be too much for the Mavericks' defense to contend with.

Eastern Conference:

Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers:

Prediction: Cleveland in 5

Atlanta knocked off Dwayne Wade in the opening round but will now have to deal with another star from that 2003 draft class in Lebron James. James and the rest of the Cavs are unstoppable right now. Cleveland blew past the Pistons in the first round in 4 games and with the home court advantage shouldn't have much trouble in round two as well. The Hawks are a good team but this match-up doesn't favor them. Atlanta's only hope is to steal one of the first two games so the series is tied heading back home. Look for the Cavs to keep the pressure on in round two. They are a team on a mission right now and are clicking on all cylinders.

Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics:

Prediction: Orlando in 6

Boston had an epic 7 game first round series against the Chicago Bulls. Four of the games went into overtime including a triple overtime loss to the Bulls in game 6. The Celtics will need more than just luck to knock off the Magic in the second round. The extended series could come back to haunt the defending champs that are already without their big star Kevin Garnett. Without Garnett Boston lacks an inside presence to answer Orlando's star Dwight Howard. Though the Magic can't match-up on the perimeter with Boston's shooters they should own the inside with Howard leading the way.