narrator

What a shocker. The Blazers cemented their place as my west coast team to watch.

I wonder what the Celtics will do. When ESPN showed some of the fan reactions, they were pretty hilarious.

__________________
"If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned."

speedythief

The Hawks intrigue me. I am curious to see what they do.

Shelden Williams looks like a solid role player, so they might go ahead and pick Horford. I can't picture them taking either of the Wrights or Brewer. With Marvin and Josh both on that team it doesn't make sense.

Oden wants to play with Conley Jr., who may be around when the Hawks pick at eleven. The catch is that the Hawks need a point guard worse than the Blazers. That contract they signed Claxton to really seems like a pile of dog**** these days. I can't see them trading down from three or up from eleven to get Conley, if he is in the seven to nine range, where he should be by the time the draft rolls around. A point guard always climbs into the top group. It might be tough for them to land a point guard without necessitating a trade.

speedythief

Bill Simmons will commit seppuku live on ESPN tomorrow, but not before slicing off his topknot and tossing it at Stern ceremoniously.

speedythief

Note to Boston and Memphis:

TANKING DOESN'T PAY!

undefined_playa

i just want to see Portland back in the playoffs...i'm sure their fans will give a Golden-State'esque performance

__________________
"I've never been afraid to fail."
"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."
"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying."

Michael Jordan...the greatest ever

"When I'm upset I'm known to do certain things...like win championships."
- Shaq

Mr_B

well it worked for clevland in 03

Dee-Zy

I really dont see why memphis and boston were tanking, they had problems all year, boston with injuries and memphis couldn't play for **** without gasol. When Gasol came back, they did a little run but I think they were decimated with injuries as well.... anyways... I can feel their pain.

I am not sure how I feel about these lottery places... Portland is god damn lucky. Didn't they get the #2 pick last year and landed LA? LA and Oden is god damn scary plus they got Roy. Anything short of the playoffs will be a dissapointement. I think they can get out of the first round too. Damn, the West just keeps getting deeper. I feel bad for KG, I don't see him winning anything as long as he stays in the west, unless he goes to Suns or something... Poor Durant though, I don't see him going anywhere with Seattle.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by IceMan23and3 I'll say that the Knicks WILL make the playoffs. You can sig that ****. If they don't make it, then I'll change my SN.

lucky777s

I really wanted PHX to get that ATL pick at #4. Give Nash another weapon and maybe allow them to tinker more with the lineup.

Atlanta probably takes the second best big man in a draft full of bigs. They can take a PG with the 11 pick. I think they even have cap room right now but all those rookie deals will need big extesions soon.

Wanted to see MIL get a top 2 pick. They are close to building something nice there if they get the right coach.

I feel bad for Boston and Pierce.

Portland has another interesting choice. The team that took Bowie over Jordan now has another dilemma with Oden. They just took Aldridge and have Pryz signed to big bucks at C. Is Durant the better fit? On the wings they have Webster, Roy, Outlaw, and Miles. Expect some trades either way.

SEA just took 3 C's in the lottery with Sene, Petro, and Swift. You have to think they want Durant.

Victor Page

Seattle probably gets Durant and lets Rashard Lewis walk away. Maybe the can sign and trade for a centre. I don't think Ray Allen (at this point in his career) is a good compliment to Durant. They don't have a good point guard either. I was excited about watching Durant in the NBA but not as much anymore.

If Portland takes Oden, they could trade Aldridge or Randolph for help at small forward. I think Oden and Aldridge are too similar - you can put them on the court at the same time, but it's not ideal.

But altogether it's good news for Raptor fans - Boston still looks 15 years away from competing, Chicago didn't get any immmediate help, Atlanta missed the big prizes, etc...

andalusian

Oden and Aldridge are a match made in heaven - Aldridge can play inside and can hit from the outside as long it is in the 2 point range, he runs faster than probably any big man his size and he is a good enough defender that he can guard both inside and outside. Oden is an inside beast, he is athletic - but he is not an outside shooter nor does he run the break as fast as Aldridge. With both doing shot blocking and great rebounding - Portland has the inside shut and many 2nd chance opportunities on the offense.

Randolph could be traded for an impace 3 - but Aldridge is so quick for his size and moves his feet so well - that he can guard the opposing team's 3. I am guessing that if Zach is not moved - Aldridge will play the 3 with Randolph at the 4 and Oden at the 5. Add Roy and Jack on the perimeter and the opposing teams will have to decide what poison they want to take on the offense.

On defense Aldridge is so big that he will really bother the opposition's 3 pt shooters. I am guessing that some of the quicker SFs will be able to run around Aldridge on the perimeter - unfortunately for them - there will be a defensive beast waiting on the inside in Oden.

I can see Portland trying to move Randolph - but Aldridge is staying, no doubts about it.

Dee-Zy

I am not sold on Dridge being able to guard the 3. CV is faster than him, so if he can't do it, Dridge sure as hell can't.

They can have Zbo play the 3 I think, no?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by IceMan23and3 I'll say that the Knicks WILL make the playoffs. You can sig that ****. If they don't make it, then I'll change my SN.

ballocks

one of those lotteries where you come out feeling either incredible or terrible (not indecipherable). jerry west was unfortunately caught sulking. some would say rightfully so- but how? do the grizz really deserve a superstar more than the blazers or sonics (or hawks)? they lost more games, sure, but that doesn't mean much in my world. i don't rank teams individually (if indeed i rank them at all)- more by category. and memphis/boston/portland/atlanta/seattle are all in the same category for me. milwaukee's the one exception, i think they were already a playoff team, so i was somewhat pleased to see their tanking not pay off for them, either. they're hardly even the sixth-worst team in the league, imo, let alone third-worst.

good result for the league, too. the conspiracy theories will follow, no doubt, but these three teams (especially the top two) were caught in dire straights recently- seattle's move still appears imminent, portland's move was rumoured some time ago, even atlanta's. now things look brighter in those cities for the moment, which is always a good thing. their fans must feel a sense of relief today. i hope it lasts.

atlanta, specifically, is on the upturn, imo. they were even before this surprise. now they get to keep their top-3 selection (versus not getting one at all) in a relatively strong draft, with movable prospects (rookie contracts) all up and down the roster to fill out their holes with veterans and/or point guards and/or leaders. this team will surprise soon. watch phoenix get #18 or whatever from them next june in a weaker draft, thinking, "and we were that close to picking in the top 5 in a much stronger year." tough luck for them. they could've really used a quality rookie given their exorbitant salary commitments for next season.

peace