NBA Draft

Tonight's view from the tailgate lot is of the NBA Draft.  Watching the best basketball talent get selected is an annual June activity for us sports fans.  We watch to see what our favorite NBA teams will do to help next season or we watch to see where our favorite college athletes get selected.  With the addition of social media, watching the draft has taken on a whole new dimension.  We see commentary from so called experts and fans.  We often delight in the struggles of a particular team or that individual that seems to drop in the draft.

The 2015 NBA draft has been quite interesting so far.  The Los Angeles Lakers may have made the best pick with selecting DeAngelo Russell.  I felt for the 4th pick Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia, who was roundly booed by New York fans at the Barclay Center when he was selected.  Welcome to America and the NBA kid.

My prediction:  Philadelphia 76ers will be in the lottery again next year.  They took the best available player but have a lot of big players in a time where the NBA is playing more small ball.  Los Angeles makes a big free agent signing and is the 8th seed in the West next year.

Looking back at the last few years the NBA draft results are mixed.  Usually there are several Lottery picks who pan out, but usually after a few years.  The top few picks usually make an immediate impact.  The top ten is often drafted on potential and has several one and done athletes.  Some can play right away, while others must be developed.  Outside the top 10 you find NBA teams that are in better shape roster wise and a few of these players make impacts sooner or turn out better. I believe this is because they go to better teams with better systems in place for development

Here are some takes on previous drafts

2014
 lottery wins-  Wiggins(1) Minnesota, Payton (10) Orlando, LaVine (13) Minnesota
 lottery questions- Embid(3) Philadelphia, Vonleh(9) Charlotte, McDermott(11) Chicago
 Outside lottery winner- Clarkson (46) Los Angeles

2013
lottery wins- Oladipo (2) Orlando,Carter-Williams (11) Philadelphia, Muhammed (14) Minn.
lottery questions- Bennett (1) Cleveland
Outside lottery winners- Antetokounmpo (15) Milwaukee, Dieng(21) Minnesota, Gobert (27)                                                     Utah

2012
lottery wins- Davis (1) New Orleans, Lillard (6) Portland , Beal (3) Washington
lottery questions- Robinson (5) Sacramento
Outside lottery winners- Green(35) Golden State, Sullinger (21) Boston

2011
Kyrie Irving (1),  Klay Thompson (11), Kenneth Faried (22), Jimmy Butler (30), Chandler Parsons (38)  are solid NBA players after that there is a bunch of questions at best in between.  Maybe a couple solid players left out that can play

Golden State wins the championship this year and have made some excellent selections in the last few years, including Steph Curry in 2009.  A 7th, 11th and 35th slotted selections ended up starting in the NBA finals.  Oh yeah, Harrison Barnes was a 7th rounder in 2013.  A good front office can create a winner in about 5 years. They only had one bust since 2009. Solid draft strategy is a must for a franchise to be a consistent winner.

So much hope each June that our teams will hit the jackpot.  I appreciate the Golden State way better than the free agent group signings to win that we are seeing lately.  Good luck to your favorite teams, may your guy be the next big thing.

That's my take from the tailgate lot....

NBA finals

The NBA finals are tied at 2-2 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.  There are a lot of story lines so far in these finals.  Lebron James by far is the best player in the NBA.  The first three games of the finals, Lebron was dominant and led a team of marginal players to two victories.  Lebron can do some amazing things on the basketball court.  No one can deny that he is a dominant force.  With this in mind, I am not a fan of Lebron.  There is a huge sense of drama in almost all that he does.  I understand that this can be said of just about everything in the NBA.

Matthew Dellevadova had a great start to the series.  The Cleveland Cavaliers have won two games and this man has played his heart out in those victories.  This is a great example of understanding your role and doing what needs to be done to help your team.  The problem is he may be exhausted from his efforts.  Game four was a struggle for him.

Another Cleveland Cavalier that is having a good series is Tristan Thompson.  That man is a beast on the offensive glass.  Another player executing his role.  He goes so hard after every rebound.

I am rooting for the Golden State Warriors because I appreciate ball movement and scoring the basketball.  For those that knew me in my coaching days, you may be shocked to find that I am not rooting for the defensive minded Cavs.  The Warriors simply all year have been fun to watch.  My view from the tailgate lot, or for the finals Bdubs or the man cave, leads me to enjoy offensive basketball more these days.

Klay Thompson and Steph Curry can simply shoot the ball.  They also can make plays.  However, they have not had a good series so far.  Credit the Cav defense for sure.  Game 4 showed how powerful the Warrior offense can be.  They spread the floor and attacked the lane.  The inside out action was beneficial in the game 4 win.  The real key though is making shots.  I still believe that defense wins, but shots still need to go in.

My prediction for the rest of the series is Golden St in 6.  If I am wrong, it will be because Lebron James is one of the greatest ever(possible GOAT) , but I believe that the Cavs may be out of gas.

That's it from the tailgate lot of the NBA finals.
Let me know what you think.