HoopStuff 2013 NBA Mock Draft- Brandon

Posted: May 23, 2013 in Uncategorized
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HoopStuff 2013 NBA Mock Draft

By Brandon Hartman: HoopStuff Senior Writer

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel- C – Kentucky
- Cleveland, I’m starting to think you wanted Lebron to leave you. First came Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, then Dion Waiters and now you will once again have the first pick of the draft. To top it all off, there are budding rumors that the King himself will return to Cleveland after 2014 and a better and more mature version of Lebron at that. Noel would be the freakishly athletic shot stuffing center that would be the perfect complement to the players already in Cleveland.

2. Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore- SG -Kansas

-Orlando needs a jolt to wake up the franchise and McLemore can bring the electricity. A dangerously quick athlete, McLemore has the ability to run the court and find his open looks. He is a great piece to start the rebuild. Orlando has a good amount of money at their disposal, so this will be an interesting and crucial off season for the franchise.

3. Washington Wizards: Otto Porter- SF -Georgetown

-Mr. Solid. That would be the perfect nickname for Porter as he seems to be solid at all parts of his game. Good shooter, great work ethic, can carry the load, great defender and an elite athlete; there is not much wrong with Otto’s game. The Wizards must be thrilled that they can now grab the hometown hero that they always wanted. He slots right into the position that the Wizards wanted to address the most.

4. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Bennett- PF- UNLV

- Charlotte was robbed again! For the second year in a row the Bobcats (Hornets), have been let down by the lottery. This position won’t hurt them too bad because it still gives them the opportunity to address their lack of quality big men. Bennett has a ton of upside and would be a safer pick then the other highly rated big man, Alex Len.

5. Phoenix Suns: – Trey Burke- PG- Michigan

- For the Suns to ever get better they need to stem the blood flow from the gaping wound that Steve Nash left behind. Trey Burke can be the gutsy leader and natural point guard that this team needs to move on from the Nash era. His ability to play mistake free, combined with great court vision and shooting is exactly what this team needs. The Suns would be in a great position if Burke slid to them at 5, which could very well happen, considering the other teams ahead of them have other needs to fill besides point guard.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Shabazz Muhammad- SF- UCLA

- Grabbing two great athletes in back to back drafts can never be a bad thing. Muhammad would be a great fit in New Orleans where he would be paired with another young star that has such mind boggling potential, Anthony Davis. His strength is at an elite NBA level and will allow him to create needed separation to get his shot off and boy does he like to shoot. The skill set is already in place to average big numbers and lead his team in scoring from the start.  He will need to develop his defense as he goes through the ropes of the NBA.

7. Sacramento Kings: Victor Oladipo- SG- Indiana

-Sacramento needs stability. The city has been through a lot to keep from shipping the franchise off to Seattle and Oladipo would be the perfect gift to the fans. Oladipo brings the speed and energy that Sacramento craves. He has the tools to develop into one of the best lock down defenders in the league. His potential and athleticism makes him a guaranteed top ten pick. He is a safe pick for the Kings.

8. Detroit Pistons: C.J. McCollum- SG- Lehigh

-Detroit has managed to fill the two most important positions on the court, point guard and center, with great players in Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe. Adding McCollum would check off a scoring two-guard from their remaining needs. His speed and scoring would be the perfect complement to Knight and would help take the scoring burden off of Monroe. This is a risky pick, but his big upside will be enough to persuade Detroit to take a shot.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Alex Len- C- Maryland

-You never want to wish injury onto a player, but the Timberwolves must be somewhat happy that Len could fall to them due to injury. His draft stock has taken a hit with his ankle surgery and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the big Ukrainian fall this far. Even if they manage to bring back Nikola Pekovic, the T-Wolves would not pass on the man who has been compared to Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

10. Portland Trailblazers: Cody Zeller- C- Indiana

-The possible loss of JJ Hickson in free agency will hurt, but the Blazers might find a quick replacement in Zeller. His quickness for his size is uncanny and he would make an excellent pairing with LaMarcus Aldridge. He would have to bulk up to make that pairing work though, but it should turn out to be a nice fit.

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk- C- Gonzaga

-Don’t stop trying to find a franchise center Philly! Bynum might have been a bust but Kelly Olynyk might at least get on the court. Olynyk was a very polished player in college and only time will tell if that will translate into the NBA. He would be in a position to get quality minutes early in his career for the Sixers and his controlled finishing around the rim would certainly make him a fan favorite for the notably harsh Philly fans.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (From Toronto): Kentavious Caldwell-Pope- SG- Georgia

-Getting this pick from Toronto might just be a stroke of genius as it allows them to try and do what they do best: develop superstars from the draft. Caldwell-Pope might be the lethal shooter off the bench that the Thunder have lacked since the departure of James Harden. More depth in the Thunder’s backcourt is a needed and it would be addressed with this pick.

13. Dallas Mavericks: Dario Saric- SF- Croatia

-Mark Cuban loves to take chances and Saric is an unknown in this year’s draft, making them a perfect match for each other. He is known for being both a great scorer and passer and Cuban might see the Croatian as a future replacement for his other European star, Dirk Nowitzki.

14. Utah Jazz: Michael Carter-Williams- PG- Syracuse

- The Jazz have been searching for their franchise point guard for years now, so they might as well take a chance on Carter-Williams. A great basketball IQ makes him the perfect distributor that the Jazz need to get the ball down low to their big men. The impending loss of Mo Williams will give Carter-Williams a great chance to develop right away as a key role player and possible starter.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Gorgui Dieng- C- Louisville

-As long as the Bucks can keep either Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings, they can finally upgrade their center position. We have known for a while that Samuel Dalembert is not the long term answer and the athletic Dieng might just be that. The Bucks would have to take the big man if he fell this low.

16. Boston Celtics: Mason Plumlee- C- Duke

-The aging Celtics will need a dash of youth added to the mix, which the explosive Plumlee could provide. He is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder who is mobile enough to get up and down the court and battle with the bigs of the league. He is a high energy player that might just find a place in this league for years to come.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Jamaal Franklin- SG- San Diego State

-With back to back picks, Atlanta could really do some damage in this draft. Franklin is a player who excels in causing damage. His explosiveness and athleticism makes him great at slashing to the basket and drawing fouls. He might make a great backcourt pairing with Jeff Teague in the future.

18. Atlanta Hawks (From Houston): Jeff Withey- C- Kansas

-Atlanta can address the backcourt with one pick and the frontcourt with the next. Withey provides a strong presence around the basket and has a lot of raw potential that can be developed, while playing behind Al Horford. He would be a solid pick for the Hawks this low.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (From LAL): Allen Crabbe- SG- California

-Crabbe would provide instant offense coming off the Cavaliers’ bench. He has a great release from both mid and long range and his scrappiness is an underrated quality of Crabbe. He would be another tool in the shed for the Cavaliers to develop and use later on.

20. Chicago Bulls: Steven Adams- C- Pittsburgh

-The Bulls are in need of help on the inside which Adams could provide. Adams is a powerful rebounder with excellent hands and would fill a need as the backup to Joakim Noah. His grit and strength is the perfect match for the battling Bulls.

21. Utah Jazz (From GSW): Giannis Antetokounmpo-SF-Greece

- Meet the biggest mystery player in this draft. His incredible intangibles and great performances in Europe have seen him slide up the draft board and could see him go in the top fifteen. A team willing to take the risk might just be the one that comes up with one of the best players in the draft.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Adreian Payne- PF- Michigan State

-Payne is a tough and gritty player who has a decent touch on his shot. His strength on the boards would give the Nets more power on the inside.

23. Indiana Pacers: Shane Larkin- PG- Miami

-The Pacers are a couple of pieces away from being a complete superpower in the East. Larkin brings a lot of potential with his distribution, court awareness and scoring that would greatly benefit the Pacers. He would be George Hill’s back up from day one and become an instant fan favorite.

24. New York Knicks: Isaiah Austin- PF- Baylor

- Austin might just be a steal this low in the draft. The numbers he put up in the NIT would have solidified his spot as a lottery pick,
if those games were actually in the big tournament. Only time will tell if the lottery teams missed out on him.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Pierre Jackson- PG- Baylor

-Another star from the NIT champions, Jackson is the kind of athlete that would fit perfectly in lob city. You can’t help but be reminded of Nate Robinson as you watch the 5’10” speedster explode down the court. He would give a jolt to the offense when Chris Paul needs a rest.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (From Memphis): Tony Mitchell- SF- North Texas

-Mitchell is an athletic rebounder with a whole lot of potential. Not having the greatest of opportunities to showcase his talents at North Texas, Mitchell might just be worth a shot for the T-Wolves with this late pick.

27. Denver Nuggets: Archie Goodwin- SG- Kentucky

-Goodwin would be a good fit for the Nuggets. He would provide a kick off the bench and would have the chance to develop under Iguodala and play for a team that already has great chemistry.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Glen Rice Jr. – SG- Developmental League/Kicked Out of Georgia Tech

-Rice has been on fire lately in the D-League and has made enough noise for scouts to take notice. The locker room presence of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker would keep Rice out of trouble, making this a great landing spot for him. Would have been a high draft pick if he had stayed in school, but he is an excellent prospect.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Deshaun Thomas- PF- Ohio State

- Thomas would put up big numbers off the bench for OKC, as he is an excellent offensive player, which is a big need, which makes this a solid pick.

30. Phoenix Suns: Rudy Gobert- PF- France

- Gobert is the big body that Phoenix could use and develop as an apprentice to Luis Scola. His measurements are top notch, as he is 7’1,” with a huge wingspan, which could make Gobert a steal with the last pick in the draft.

Memphis Grizzlies: Grizzlies Must Change Starting Lineup

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Memphis Grizzlies: Grizzlies Must Change Starting Lineup

By Mike Elworth: Publisher and Owner At Hoopstuff…

The Memphis Grizzlies are now down 2-0 to the San Antonio Spurs, despite an excellent rally to put game 2 into overtime. However, their offense is still struggling, especially in the 1st quarter where they have a combined 27 points, which averages out to just 13.5 points per game. That obviously is not enough from their starting lineup and a big reason why they are losing games, as they are having to come back from very poor starts. This means that they need to make a change in the starting lineup to improve their offense in the beginning of games. That change should  be taking Tayshaun Prince out of the starting lineup and putting Quincy Pondexter in his place.

Prince is a very solid defender and played very well on offense, shooting over 43.8% from the field and 40.4% on 3′s during the regular season, while averaging over 10 points per game. However in the playoffs, he is only averaging 7.3 points per game on 35.6% shooting and just 25% 3 point shooting. Obviously he is struggling and he is hurting his team in the process.

Meanwhile his backup, Pondexter is just as solid on the defensive end, but right now he is playing far better offense and has been an extremely efficient shooter and scorer for the Grizzlies. He may only be scoring 7.4 points per game in the playoffs, but he is doing so while shooting a very nice 46.9% from the field and an incredible 45.9% from 3. They need a scoring jolt and a shooting threat added to their starting lineup and Pondexter is the perfect fit for them.

It is very difficult for teams to make changes to their lineups this late into the playoffs, as the players who start and receive big minutes have gotten them that far, but Prince is struggling, their offense is struggling, especially in the first quarter and Pondexter is playing the best basketball of his career. Memphis needs a change and they would be wise to put Prince in the second unit and insert the up and coming young forward, Pondexter into the starting lineup. They cannot afford to start game 3 the way they have games 1 and 2, where they have put themselves in positions where they have to come back from a large deficit. If they lose game 3, they are done, their season is virtually over, so they have to make a change now before it is too late. They must make a change and it should be putting Quincy Pondexter in the starting lineup over Tayshaun Prince immediately.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Cavs win the Lottery, Will Draft Noel. But?

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Cleveland Cavaliers: Cavs win the Lottery, Will Draft Noel. But?

By Mike Elworth: Owner

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the Draft Lottery for the 2nd time in 3 years. Congratulations to the team, as they will add another piece to their emerging core, led by superstar point guard, Kyrie Irving. Too bad they will most likely draft Nerlens Noel. Do not misinterpret this as sarcasm, as Noel is a very talented player and if drafted by the Cavaliers, should become the backbone of their defense, but Noel is far from a sure thing and if drafted, will be the weakest top overall pick since Kwame Brown in 2001.

This is not to say that Noel will be Brown, far from it, he just lacks the talent of any of the recent string of incredible 1st picks, from Yao to Anthony Davis. This is simply a very poor draft based on top of the line talent. Amazing things will be expected from Noel, just from being the 1st overall pick, but he will be hard pressed to reach what is to be expected from him. There are a lot of positives with the Kentucky product, as he is an elite shot-blocker and defender and an excellent rebounder, but there are too many negatives with him right now, far too many for him to be a 1st overall pick. To begin with, he barely cracks 200 pounds and is 50 pounds too light right now to be a true dominant center. For a comparison, the Bulls’ 6’9 All Star small forward, Luol Deng has about 10 pounds on Noel right now, which is obviously not ideal. 2nd, he is still recovering from a torn ACL and he may miss a large portion of next season, which is yet again obviously not ideal from a 1st overall pick. 3rd, he has no offensive game to speak of, which is unacceptable from a player universally considered to be the top prospect in this draft. Nerlens Noel simply is not 1st overall pick material.

Once again, this is not mocking the Cavaliers or Noel, but this is the worst draft to win the lottery in over a decade. Noel would have been the 1st overall pick by almost any team in this draft and he will make an excellent addition to the team (of course, this is only if they actually do draft him), but Cavs fans are robbed of having the chance to land another superstar to pair with Irving. They will have to settle for a potentially dominant defender and a top 10 starting center, but as a 1st overall pick, sadly that is not enough. It looks all but certain today that Noel will be a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, so they now have to figure out what to do about Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller, the two other centers on their roster as of today, as one seemingly has to be traded, but that is for another story.

HoopStuff’s 2013 NBA Mock Draft- Mike E

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Uncategorized
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HoopStuff’s 2013 NBA Mock Draft

By Mike Elworth: Hoopstuff Owner and Publisher

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- C- Nerlens Noel- Kentucky

- The Cavs once again have the first overall pick and will most likely draft the defensive star out of Kentucky, Noel. Noel would instantly boost their poor defense and he should become the backbone of their defense for years to come.

2. Orlando Magic- Trey Burke- PG- Michigan

- Burke may not have the ceiling of Chris Paul, but he is as close of a sure thing in the draft as there is. He is a gifted scorer, passer and leader who should become a day one starter for the Magic, who need a young franchise point guard. Burke could become their best player as a rookie and their franchise player going forward.

3. Washington Wizards- Otto Porter Jr.- SF- Georgetown

- The Wizards need a small forward in the worst way and Porter Jr. would start from day one, be a defensive presence on the perimeter and give them solid offense as a rookie. Moving forward he can become an elite two way player and along with John Wall and Bradley Beal, would become the team’s foundation. Porter Jr., is also a local, so that gives the pick even further merit for these Wizards and would make him instantly loved by the Wizards’ loyal fan-base.

4. Charlotte Bobcats- Anthony Bennett- PF- UNLV

- The Bobcats need someone up front who can score the ball and Bennett is arguably the top offensive big man in the draft. He can score inside and outside and could become their down low, go-to option as a rookie. He is also an excellent athlete and rebounder .

5. Phoenix Suns: Ben McLemore- SG- Kansas

- McLemore has the elite offensive skills and if he ever becomes more aggressive, he could be a star. The Suns are desperate for any semblance of scoring from the perimeter and he could easily become their top option as a rookie. He has an elite mixture of shooting abilities and athleticism and would instantly be their most talented player, but his success early on, is all based on his on the court intensity.

6. New Orleans Hornets- Shabazz Muhammad- SF- UCLA

- Arguably the best scorer in the draft, however right now he doesn’t have another top-notch skill, which is why he is not the number one pick. He has a lot to work on, but has star potential and the Hornets have a big need at the 3.

7. Sacramento Kings: Michael Carter-Williams- G- Syracuse

- MCW is the most talented distributor in this draft, an excellent athlete and huge for a point guard and if he ever learns how to shoot, he could be a star. A pass first point guard is exactly what the Kings need and he could really change the selfish attitude on the team.

8. Detroit Pistons- Victor Oladipo- SG- Indiana

- Oladipo would step right into the lineup at shooting guard, immediately becoming their best perimeter defender and go to scorer on the perimeter. He could be a star at shooting guard and it is their biggest position of need.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves- CJ McCollum- SG- Lehigh

-  The Timberwolves need someone who can score the ball on the perimeter and although McCollum may be undersized, he is arguably the top scorer in the draft and at the very worst, is  an elite sixth man.

10. Portland Trailblazers– Kelly Olynk- PF-C- Gonzaga

- The Trailblazers may lose JJ Hickson and will need another big body down low and although Olynk may not be elite at anything other than scoring, the Blazers desperately need another big man that can score. Olynk is also incredibly efficient, can also play power forward and is a local kid, which are three massive plusses in his favor.

11. Philadelphia 76ers- Alex Len- C- Maryland

- Len may not have the offensive polish of Zeller, but he is huge and has immense potential on both sides of the ball and could be an elite center one day. The 76ers may need a replacement for Andrew Bynum and need depth up front regardless, so this is a nice fit.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (From Toronto)- Cody Zeller- C- Indiana

- Zeller could instantly become their best offensive big man in the post, which is all that needs to be said about this fit. This is the best scenario for the Thunder.

13. Dallas Mavericks- Gorgui Dieng- C- Louisville

- Dieng is a fabulous athlete and defender and is also a capable short range jump shooter and finisher and could be the starting center and defensive backbone this team needs. If he was not already 24, he would be a top 10 pick.

14. Utah Jazz- Shane Larkin- PG- Miami

- The Jazz need a point guard and many may see this as a reach, but Larkin was one of the 5 best players in the nation and other than Burke, the best point guard. He may be undersized, but he can score in a variety of ways and get his teammates involved. He is a sparkplug and could have a huge effect as a starting point guard and at the very worst, is an excellent backup and scorer off the bench.

15. Milwaukee Bucks- Kantavious Caldwell Pope- SG/SF- University of Georgia

- The Bucks’ top three guards, who are their top three scorers are all free agents and they will probably lose 1 or 2 of them and so they will need a scorer to step in and Pope is one of the best in the draft in that regard and could start for the Bucks as a rookie.

16. Boston Celtics: Mason Plumlee- C- Duke

-A true center, who can move Garnett back to power forward and whose athleticism and offense would be a fantastic fit in Boston.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Steven Adams- C- Pitt

- An elite defensive prospect and a very solid rebounder, who could become a starting NBA center and would play for a team  that could use a long-term 5 to move Horford to PF.

18. Atlanta Hawks: (From Houston)- Dario Saric- F- Croatia

-  The Hawks need a small forward and Saric is the top international player in the draft and could become an excellent offensive player and a long-starter.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Allen Crabbe- SG- California

- The Cavaliers could use an elite bench scorer and Crabbe has the ability to be a top notch sixth man and was one of the top scorers in the nation.

20. Chicago Bulls- Jeff Withey- C- Kansas

- This would be Omer Asik’s replacement. Withey would be the Bulls’ needed backup center and with an improved offensive game, could be a huge contributor as early as next year and could be their third big man, when Carlos Boozer inevitably leaves. He fits the bill as a Chicago Bulls type of player.

21. Utah Jazz (From GSW)- Jamaal Franklin- G- San Diego St.

- An elite scorer, who could become a starter for the Jazz on the perimeter, where they have next to nothing.

22. Brooklyn Nets – Rudy Gobert- PF- France

- Gobert is tall and wiry and a gifted scorer, just like Andre Blatche, who they may lose in free agency, which would make this an excellent fit.

23. Indiana Pacers- Archie Goodwin- SG- Kentucky

- A raw, but solid scorer, Goodwin could become the long-term starter at shooting guard for the Pacers.

24. New York Knicks- Deshaun Thomas- Forward- Ohio State

- An elite scorer, whose offensive style would work very well in New York and he could be a big-time scorer off the bench.

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Myck Kabongo- PG- Texas

- They will probably trade Eric Bledsoe in the off-season and will need a replacement and Kabongo is a sparkplug who could run the second unit and put up big points.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis)- Tony Mitchell- SF- N Texas

- Mitchell can score and defend and could actually become a starter for the Timberwolves, if they lose Andre Kirilenko in free agency, but he would make a top notch backup if Kirilenko stays..

27. Denver Nuggets-Lorenzo Brown- PG- NC State

- A scoring guard, who could add even more bench scoring to Denver and replace Andre Miller as the team’s backup point guard within a year, Brown is a solid fit. Denver utilizes a two point guard set as much as any team in the NBA, so finding a future replacement for Miller is very important.

28. San Antonio Spurs- Lucas Norgueira- C- Brazil

- A high potential big man, Norgueira could be another foreign find for the San Antonio Spurs, who could use a quality depth up front, especially with Tiago Splitter and DeJuan Blair free agents.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder- Reggie Bullock- SG/SF- UNC

- An excellent shooter and team player, Bullock would fit in beautifully in Oklahoma City and is ready to play right away, even on a contender and could finally be the backup Kevin Durant needs, so that he may rest more.

30. Phoenix Suns (From MIA and CLE and LAL)- Tim Hardaway- SG- Michigan

- Another needed scorer, Tim Hardaway could be an excellent sixth man and scoring guard off of the bench.

Round 2 Coming Soon

 

Orlando Magic: Trey Burke Is The Absolute Perfect Fit For Orlando

Posted: May 21, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Orlando Magic: Trey Burke Is The Absolute Perfect Fit For Orlando

By Mike Elworth: Publisher and Owner at Hoopstuff…

The Orlando Magic have the highest chance of receiving the first overall pick in this summer’s draft and most are projecting that whoever obtains the first pick, will draft center Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky. Even the Magic are projected to draft the talented big man, however another player is the perfect fit for the Magic, point guard, Trey Burke out of Michigan. Even if the Orlando Magic win the Draft Lottery and they recieve the first overall pick, Burke is absolutely their best option.

There are multiple reasons why the Magic should draft Burke. First of all, I believe that Burke is the best player in this draft, as his playmaking, scoring abilities and moxy are all at elite levels and he has what it takes to be a franchise player and the Magic are desperate for one. Second, Noel is a center and they already have a center, Nikola Vucevic, who is their best player. Jameer Nelson has been a valuable player and leader in Orlando for years, but Burke has the chance to be a star, while Nelson is what he is at this point, an overpriced veteran player and an average starter. Burke could be the future of the Magic and if they draft him, he would instantly be their best player.

Yes, scouts may like Noel better, but Burke is the better fit for this team and it would be a mistake if they drafted Noel over him. Burke is a sure-fire NBA starter and although he is not a guaranteed star, he does have star potential and although Noel has the ” higher upside” that scouts crave and many believe that Noel will be a star, Burke is the safest player in this draft and in my opinion, the best player in this draft. The Magic, if given the chance, should draft Trey Burke, whether they draft 1st or 4th (the team’s draft range), as he a perfect fit for their team and he could easily become the franchise player they are starved for.  Trey Burke and Orlando are the perfect fit.

New York Knicks: Season Review and Awards

Posted: May 21, 2013 in Uncategorized
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New York Knicks: Season Review and Awards

By Mike Elworth

Record: 54-28- 2nd In East- Lost In Second Round To Indiana

Review: The Knicks had one of their best seasons since the days of Patrick Ewing, but had a disappointing playoff exit. They simply could not get past the Pacers’ elite defense and missed out on a chance to make their first conference finals in a very long time. Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith, both had incredible seasons, especially Anthony, which will be discussed in the MVP section. Smith on the other-hand was by far the NBA’s top sixth man and was their daily second option on offense, which is very rare for a backup. Raymond Felton also had arguably his best season of his career and brought stability to the point guard position, which they needed after losing Jeremy Lin. Tyson Chandler once again played elite defense and helped lead them to the 7th best defense in the NBA. This was an elite team during the regular season, but other than Anthony, they laid an egg against Indiana and therefore were easily beaten in a series where they were the heavy favorites. Because of Anthony’s MVP caliber season and the fact that this was the team’s best season in over a decade, despite the earlier than expected post season exit, as they were expected to make the East Finals, this season has to be considered a success and another step in the right direction for the Knicks.

Awards:

Carmelo Anthony- Scoring Title- 3rd in MVP Voting

JR Smith- Sixth Man of the Year

MVP: Carmelo Anthony: 28.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game

- Anthony led this Knicks’ team all year to victories, in by far his best season to date. He won his 1st scoring title and finally after 10 years, looked like a superstar who could lead his team, rather than just put up excellent numbers. His performance in the playoffs was not what was expected and his percentages were low, but the supporting cast gave him absolutely nothing against the Pacers, which was the downfall of the team. Anthony did everything he could, but it just was not enough against a deeper and more balanced team.

LVP: Amar’e Stoudemire: 20 million dollars, 29 regular season games, 4 postseason games

- Here is the stat of the season for the Knicks, including the playoffs, the Knicks were 17-16 with Stoudemire and 43-18 without him. His numbers were actually pretty solid, as he averaged 14.2 points and 5 rebounds per game, while being very efficient, but the fact that he made 20 million dollars, missed more than two-thirds of the season and this team was far better without him, makes him easiest the least valuable player on the Knicks.

Most Pleasant Surprise: Jason Kidd

- After his final season in Dallas, Jason Kidd seemed all but washed up, but he was a revelation for the Knicks. His leadership was paramount in their success and despite falling off after a hot start and his porous play in the playoffs, his importance to the team is impossible to measure.

Off Season Plan: With limited funds because of the huge contracts given to Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler, they do not have much to work with, but they do have some things they must take care of. First they must resign JR Smith, who is sure to opt out of his player option and deserves a big raise over the 3 million he made this year. He is far too important to their offense for them to let him go anywhere and apparently he wants to stay in New York, so they should make a deal as soon as they can. They will have to go further into the luxury tax, but this team makes a fortune and that should not be a problem. They should also resign restricted free agents Pablo Prigioni and Chris Copeland, as both players were valuable rotation players and they will not cost too much. Finally they MUST find a way to get rid of Stoudemire. This will be hard to do, as he has arguably the worst contract in the NBA, but they were so much better without him, that his very presence in the lineup is a hindrance to this team. Even if they have to take back salaries just as ugly as his and take back players lacking his talents, they would be smart to simply move on from the days of Amar’e Stoudemire. If they are somehow able to do all of these things, they will have had a successful summer.

Next Season Outlook: As long as they have Anthony, they will have an excellent offense and as long as they have Chandler, they will have a competitive defense and assuming they keep JR Smith, they should have basically the same team they had this season and should be a top 4 team in the East once again. The test is to see if they can make it further in the playoffs next year, but with Rose coming back to the Bulls, Rondo coming back to the Celtics and Granger coming back to the Pacers, the East will be far better next season. The playoffs are a lock, but beyond that, it is up to them to be better once they get there and they have the talent to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, which they were supposed to this year. The future is very bright in New York.

Indiana Pacers: Why The Pacers Will Win The East

Posted: May 20, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Indiana Pacers: Why The Pacers Will Win The East

By Mike Elworth: Publisher and Owner

Yes, this is actually an article stating that the Miami Heat will not make the NBA Finals. Shocking. Regardless, the Indiana Pacers have a legitimate chance to beat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and here is a prediction that they will.

The Pacers did beat the Heat in 2 of the 3 games they played during the regular season, but the playoffs are a much different animal. However, this is at least some proof that the Pacers have the blueprint to beat them. The Heat could not have drawn a worse team, based on matchups in the East, as the Pacers have them beat soundly in many very important statistical categories. The Pacers have a huge advantage over the Heat in post play, rebounding and they have very favorable defensive matchups in this series. Because of those 3 reasons, the Indiana Pacers will make the NBA Finals.

The Heat start Chris Bosh at center and LeBron James plays power forward half of the time, so they are quite small down low, but the Pacers have two All Stars in the low post that they will have to deal with. Roy Hibbert is the biggest player in the NBA and has been excellent on offense in the playoff and has been near unstoppable at times and if he continues that level of play, the Heat simply do not have any answers for Hibbert, as they do not have the size or talent to handle him. David West is one of the best post players in the NBA and it does not matter who is guarding him, because like Hibbert, if his shot is falling, there is no one who can effectively shut him down. LeBron can try and use his strength, but West is as crafty as they come and will get his points, if he is playing at a high level. If Hibbert and West continue their excellent play, the Heat will have little chance to stop them in the post, they are too talented of a duo.

This stat is probably the easiest stat in the entire playoffs to understand, the Pacers are the top rebounding team in the NBA and the Heat are the worst. It is not just in total rebounds, the Pacers are in a different class in both offensive and defensive rebounding. This means that the Pacers will have a major advantage in second chance points and they will need as big of a gap in that category as they possibly can, if they want to outscore the Heat. If they are able to dominate on the boards, it will help them do, what few believe the Indiana Pacers can do, beat the Heat.

Finally, the Pacers have excellent personnel to deal with Miami’s big three, in fact, other than the Bulls and maybe the Grizzlies, the Pacers match up better with the Heat than any team in the NBA. Paul George is in the discussion of best perimeter defender in the league and is one of the few players in the NBA with the talent, size and length to be able to effectively slow LeBron James down. Hibbert, West, Ian Mahinmi and Tyler Hansbrough can effectively shut down the paint to Bosh and limit players getting to the rim, which is one of the Heat’s main ways of scoring. This means that if their LeBron, Wade and Bosh are not hitting their mid-range shots and their long distance shooters are off, their offense will struggle. It also must be noted, that Dwyane Wade is not completely healthy, which will also hurt their offense and since this series will be a game of inches and every possible advantage will be needed for the Pacers to win, Wade’s injury is important. The Pacers had the 2nd best defense in the NBA during the regular season and can slow down the Heat better than virtually any other team.

The Pacers’ post offense, rebounding and defense is enough for them to beat the Miami Heat. No one is giving the Pacers much of a chance in this series, but going through the numbers and matchups, they have a real chance to win and advance to the NBA Finals for the 1st time since the days of Reggie Miller and here is a prediction that they will make the Finals.

San Antonio Spurs: Why These Spurs Will Win The West

Posted: May 19, 2013 in Uncategorized
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San Antonio Spurs: Why These Spurs Will Win The West

By Mike Elworth

The San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies will start the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, which should be a hard fought slugfest. These are 2 of the 4 top defensive teams in the conference and 2 of the hardest playing teams in the NBA, so this series will be a very physical matchup, with the scoreboard most likely staying on the low side. Both teams are very capable of dominating a team on defense, but the Spurs have a major advantage on offense.

The Grizzlies may have the top defense in the NBA and an elite big man duo, in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol on offense, but other than that pair and Mike Conley, they do not have any true offensive threats on the roster, but their defense has bailed them out on many occasions throughout the year. The Spurs do not have this trouble, as they were not only the 11th ranked defense in the NBA (4th in the West), but the 4th highest scoring team as well, while the  Grizzlies were 27th, right below the Charlotte Bobcats. Meanwhile, the Spurs have Tony Parker running the show and scoring at will, Tim Duncan down low, who is still among the best in the league, Manu Ginobili, who is still a marvel on the offensive end, along with Gary Neal, who can create offense anywhere he pleases, Tiago Splitter who is an excellent post player and Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard, who can both shoot from deep and create for themselves. Their Spurs’ offensive game is simply on another level than that of Memphis.

The Spurs also have players able to stop the majority of the Memphis attack. Danny Green proved against Stephen Curry, that he is more than able to cover the best point guards in the NBA and will get the opportunity to face another one, in Mike Conley. Duncan will effectively guard Marc Gasol, which is more than most can say and with a mixture of players, they should be able to keep Randolph from causing too much damage. They also have Kawhi Leonard on the perimeter to stop any player that may get hot throughout the series, even though the Grizzlies do not have a consistent offensive force on the wing. Basically, they can take anything the Grizzlies throw at them and if they are able to keep the Memphis attack at bay, their superior offense should be enough to win the series.

The Memphis Grizzlies may have the best defense in the NBA, but the San Antonio Spurs are no slouches themselves in that area and are the far better offensive team. This should be enough to defeat the Grizzlies and take the Spurs to yet another NBA championship. The Spurs will win in 7 games.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Season Review and Awards

Posted: May 17, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Oklahoma City Thunder: Season Review and Awards

By Brandon Hartman: Hoopstuff’s Senior Writer

Record: 60-37- 1st in the West

Review: The great question found its way to Oklahoma City this season. What if Russell Westbrook had stayed healthy? Would they have beaten the Grizzlies? Would they have been able to beat the Heat if they had managed to reach the Finals? These questions will resonate with this franchise the entire off season until next season begins. This is a good thing though. The Thunder would have almost certainly defeated the Grizzlies with a healthy Russell Westbrook. They managed to stay close to Memphis in the series even without their star point guard. Imagine if their shoot first star was in this series. He would have taken the burden off of an over loaded Kevin Durant and would have added a whole other dimension to the attack. The Thunder would now be studying up on the San Antonio Spurs instead of watching the rest of the playoffs on TV. The most positive aspect OKC can take from their elimination is that Westbrook and Durant make up a core of a possible championship team. The decision to off load James Harden must have been a difficult one, but it seems to have at least been a smart one from an economic standpoint. The Thunder can now use the money they would have tied down to Harden, to keep the nucleus of this team together and bring in a couple new faces.

MVP: Kevin Durant: 28.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assist per game

The value of Russell Westbrook was pretty clear, as the Thunder crashed out of the playoffs without him. Durant was forced to do everything himself without his partner in crime and we all saw how that turned out. Despite Westbrook’s apparent value, nobody in the league, except a certain King, is more valuable than Kevin Durant. He was once again a statistical phenomenon in yet another season which he came up second in MVP voting. His stunning proficiency might have hit a snag in the playoffs this year, but you have to factor in that he had to deal with the loss of not only Westbrook to injury, but also a key cog to the previous Finals team, in James Harden. Give Durant a few more pieces and that might be all he needs to get over the hump. Remember, Michael Jordan didn’t win an NBA Title until his 7th year in the league, which so happens to be next year for Durant.

LVP: Kendrick Perkins: 8 million dollars- 4.2 points, 6.0 rebounds per game

Any time someone has more personal fouls (39) then points (24) during the playoffs you have the right to question their value to a team. He was pushed around by the dominant Marc Gasol and chipped in with a measly 2 points per game versus the Grizzlies. The fact that he is scheduled to make 8.9 million next season might signal a good bye for the undersized center. The lack of a scoring big man has become glaringly obvious for OKC and for them to make the next step forward they will have to supply one to help Durant and Westbrook on the inside. An amnesty might be in the near future for Perk.

Most Pleasant Surprise: Durant joining the 50-40-90 group.

This year was perhaps the Durantula’s best yet, becoming a member of one of the NBA’s most exclusive clubs, the 50-40-90 club (50 percent from the field, 40 from 3-point range, and 90 from the free throw line). He joins the select company of Steve Nash, Larry Bird, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, and Dirk Nowitzki to average these numbers. Durant’s efficiency was definitely a positive to take away from this season.

Off Season Plan: Getting Westbrook healthy is the obvious goal for this year’s off season. They dealt with the major contract decisions this season, as they decided to get rid of James Harden, so that they could afford to keep the rest of the roster intact. That decision will be analyzed for years to come, but the Thunder can now move forward into a future without the threat of looming contracts. Getting Durant and Westbrook some help is the priority for this summer’s free agency and draft. Kevin Martin should be resigned, as he at least helped fill the shoes of Harden but more is needed. Amnestying Perkins would create enough cap space to resign Martin, as well as a few more pieces. The draft will be kind to OKC this year as they are set to have an early and late first round pick, due to picks gained in the Harden trade. Drafting a scoring big man and a talented player for the bench would do wonders for the future.

Next Season Outlook:

- The Thunder must learn from this harsh lesson and move on. Yes, they were torn apart by the Grizzlies and suffered injuries to key players, but they must put that in the rear view mirror. This roster is one of the steadiest in the NBA and is already set up for another great season next year. However, with the right moves, the Thunder could finally get away from having great seasons and have the ultimate season, where they finally win their first championship. With all the talent in OKC, only a championship trophy is enough. That day is on the horizon and you never know if everything will come together next season for the Thunder, but they have an excellent chance next season to win it all, if  Russell Westbrook comes back healthy and they resign Kevin Martin.

 

 

 

 

 

Golden State Warriors: Season Review With Awards

Posted: May 17, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Golden State Warriors: Season Review With Awards

By Mike Elworth: Owner and Publisher at Hoopstuff…

Record: 48-34- 6th in West- Lost to San Antonio in Second Round

Reviews: The Warriors shocked everyone by upsetting the heavy favored Denver Nuggets in the first round and gave the San Antonio Spurs all they could handle in the second round, but alas, they just did not have enough to make it to the West Finals. They did all of this without David Lee for the majority of the playoffs, but Stephen Curry reached superstar status with his playoff run, combined with his incredible regular season. In the regular season, they were also a surprise, as they played the majority of the season without center, Andrew Bogut and gave big minutes to three rookies. Harrison Barnes was solid throughout the regular season, but broke out in the playoffs and could be a star moving forward. Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli both proved that they should be rotation players moving forward. Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry gave them an excellent one-two punch off of the bench and starting shooting guard, Klay Thompson had a much improved second season and along with Curry, makes one of the best backcourts in the NBA and by far the best shooting combo. But this season is about David Lee’s All Star campaign, Curry’s rise to stardom and their surprising playoff run. This was their best season a long time and they have the talent to become even better next year.

MVP: Stephen Curry

Regular Season: 22.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game

Playoffs: 23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game

- Curry was incredible in the regular season, carrying this team on his back for the majority of the season on offense, along with David Lee. However, he has become the best shooter in the league and also one of the best pure scorers. There are very few better offensive players in the NBA. In the playoffs, he took his game to another level and was arguably the top player in the entire playoffs, raising his point and assists totals and leading the way to a first round upset of the Nuggets and taking the Spurs to 6 games in the second round. Curry entered the season with All Star potential, but finished it as a bona fide superstar.

LVP: Richard Jefferson: 10 million dollars: 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game

- Jefferson was one of the team’s highest paid players, but only averaged 10 minutes per game and found himself completely out of the rotation at many points during the season. When he played, he wasn’t that bad, but the fact that he made so much money and was not even a permanent rotational player sealed his fate as the team’s least valuable player.

Most Pleasant Surprise: Harrison Barnes’ Playoff Performance

- Their top ten draft pick started almost the entire season at small forward and played very well, averaging over 9 points and 4 rebounds per game and was arguably their top perimeter defender and he did make the All Rookie First Team, but he was far better in the playoffs. Without David Lee for the majority of the playoffs, Harrison Barnes stepped up and was their second leading scorer. He upped his averages to over 16 points and 6 rebounds and flashed some of the star power he showed at UNC. His future is definitely bright.

Off Season Plan: The Warriors have two things that they must do this off season, they have to resign Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, their dynamic duo off of the bench, who were two of the best sixth men in the NBA. That is it, the rest of the roster is set and they do not have a first round pick.

Next Season Outlook: If Curry, Bogut and Lee are healthy, the team retains Jack and Landry, their three rookies continue improving, especially Barnes, who should significantly raise his numbers, if the playoffs are any indication, then they should once again be a mid to lower seed in the playoffs and one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA. The will also get Brandon Rush back and he, along with a healthy Bogut should immensely improve their defense. With their core coming back and Mark Jackson as their coach, they will make the playoffs for consecutive seasons and have a roster that can once again go far in the playoffs. This is the up and coming, young team of the league.

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