The Redemption

On July 8, 2010, Lebron James stood before a crossroads, and he took the more appealing road.  Unlike the famous Robert Frost poem where the speaker wanted to eventually turn back and one day take the other road, but knew deep down that he probably would never come back, James has made that turn, and that turn is back home to Cleveland.

A new chapter of The Legacy is upon us.  Winning a championship for his home city would be the ultimate slice of redemption.  James broke the news to Sports Illustrated writer John Jenkins where he touched on winning a title for the Cavaliers:

“I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys.”

Let me just state the obvious for a moment.  This is who Lebron James is.  He is arguably the most team-first oriented superstar in the history of the NBA.  Not only does his style show on the court with his unselfish play and passing ability, but it shows in the locker room and in the press as well.  James clearly understands that the end result may not happen right away.  I don’t believe that this bothers him.  He is doing what he wants to do, and that is to play in his home state to raise his family and to be a leader of men on the job.

Personally, I feel like Lebron’s decision is a fantastic one.  From the looks of the media coverage, it looks as if he has already mended a plethora of wounds throughout the state of Ohio even without bringing a title yet.  As for James critics across the globe, you have to tip your hat to the guy.  He decided to leave Miami who could have easily won a third title as the Big Three next year, but he chose the rebuilding project back home instead.  It’s no doubt in my mind that when King James brings a title to Cleveland that he will be the most celebrated athlete in the world.  Yes, I really just said that and I truly believe it.

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski touched on James’ decision today to ESPN’s Andy Katz:

“Lebron has a huge heart,” Krzyzewski said.  “This decision is a great decision for him because he’s following his heart and he loves his home.”

I am proud to say that James is the face of the basketball world.  I have the utmost respect for him and I wish him the best of luck on the journey ahead.  Lebron’s final words in SI’s John Jenkins article:  “I’m coming home.”

Final 2014 NBA Mock Draft Board

Good afternoon my NBA family!  What a day, what a day.  The draft tonight has me just as nervous as I am watching this U.S.A. World Cup match versus Germany right now.  Setting aside the fact that the Chicago Bulls have two top twenty first round picks, the first round itself has me as giddy as an eight year-old boy at a Miley Cyrus twerk show.  Like we see every year, injuries occur and player stocks fall and rise.  For example, the unfortunate Joel Embiid foot injury and the emergence of Elfrid Payton just to name a couple.  In addition, my outlook on the draft order has changed just like everyone else.  The following list is my final predictions for the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft:

1)  Cleveland Cavaliers – Duke SF Jabari Parker

2)  Milwaukee Bucks – Kansas SF Andrew Wiggins

3)  Philadelphia 76ers – Kansas C Joel Embiid

4)  Orlando Magic – Australia PG Dante Exum

5)  Utah Jazz – Indiana PF Noah Vonleh

6)  Boston Celtics – Oklahoma St. PG Marcus Smart

7)  Los Angeles Lakers – Kentucky PF Julius Randle

8)  Sacramento Kings – Arizona PF Aaron Gordon

9)  Charlotte Hornets – Creighton F Doug McDermott

10)  Philadelphia 76ers – UCLA G Zach LaVine

11)  Denver Nuggets – Louisiana-Lafayette PG Elfrid Payton

12)  Orlando Magic – Michigan State PF Adreian Payne

13)  Minnesota Timberwolves – Croatia Cibona Zagreb PF Dario Saric

14)  Phoenix Suns – North Carolina St. SF T.J. Warren

15)  Atlanta Hawks – Duke SF Rodney Hood

16)  Chicago Bulls – Michigan State SG Gary Harris

17)  Boston Celtics – Croatia Cedevita Zagreb C Jusuf Nurkic

18)  Phoenix Suns – Michigan SG Nic Stauskas

19)  Chicago Bulls – Connecticut PG Shabazz Napier

20)  Toronto Raptors – Syracuse PG Tyler Ennis

21)  Oklahoma City Thunder – UCLA SF Kyle Anderson

22)  Memphis Grizzlies – Kentucky SG James Young

23)  Utah Jazz – D-League Texas Legends SG P.J. Hariston

24)  Charlotte Hornets – UCLA SG Jordan Adams

25)  Houston Rockets – Michigan C Mitch McGary

26)  Miami Heat – Clemson SF K.J. McDaniels

27)  Phoenix Suns – Spain Gran Canaria C Walter Tavares

28)  Los Angeles Clippers – Arizona SG Nick Johnson

29)  Oklahoma City Thunder – Michigan SF Glenn Robinson III

30)  San Antonio Spurs – Florida PF Patric Young

2014 NBA Lottery Mock Draft (3rd & Final)

Quick Note:  Hey everybody, I thank you for visiting.  Due to a lack of time I will not be providing player profiles outside of the lottery draft spots.  Instead, I’ll be posting a final first round mock draft board that includes my latest revisions of where I think these players are going to go.  I’ll have the draft board up before 6:00PM tonight!

11.  Denver Nuggets – Michigan SG Nic Stauskas

I began the shooting guard explosion portion of the lottery at pick number ten with James Young going to Philadelphia.  Four of my draft’s final five picks of the lottery are essentially shooting guards.  The order in which these four guards will be drafted is very difficult to predict.  Young being the first of the four is a stretch, but like I said, I love his game.  However, I also am a sucker for Nic Stauskus.

He is a second year man out of a well coached Wolverine’s squad.  The jump he made between his first and second year was quite the site.  Stauskas and former fellow teammate Glenn Robinson III pushed their bodies to the limit in the offseason which produced some miraculous results for Stauskas.  He reportedly added six inches to his vertical leap and added sixteen pounds of muscle to his 6’6” frame.  With this type of work ethic along with a scary three point stroke, Stauskas should end up being a treasure for which ever teams takes him off the board.

NBA Comparison: Klay Thompson

12.  Orlando Magic – North Carolina St. SF/PF T.J. Warren

Most mock drafts I’ve glanced at (upwards of fifty) do not have Warren going this high.  I believe this young ball player can be a game changer.  Warren has a square 6’8” frame, but lacks length with a fair 6’10” wingspan.  Perhaps I stress wingspan too much.  I feel like it is a vital part in today’s game, especially for a player who will play both the small and power forward.  TJ worked out in a completely different way than Stauskas had prior to his sophomore season.  He showed up to campus fifteen pounds lighter.  I always give the nod to athletes who can change their bodies when they know it’s vital to their careers.

Now, Warren has some great basketball skills.  He averaged around 25PPG last season and managed to grab over 7RPG.  He crashes the boards on both ends of the court.  In addition to his basketball skills, I can pick out some intangibles.  Warren goes hard every minute he’s on the court.  He’ll grab a board and take it coast to coast, or stay with a missed field goal and be able to get two more attempts off.  He is also constantly on the attacking end.  Furthermore, he has a great motor and I see the Magic going with him or Rodney Hood out of Duke.

NBA Comparison: Thaddeus Young

13.  Minnesota Timberwolves – UCLA PG/SG Zach Lavine

With the possibility of Kevin Love on the way out and Ricky Rubio developing slower than expected, the Wolves need something to be excited about.  “But Stephen!  What is so exciting about a 13^th pick?”  The fact of the matter is that this draft is that talented, and Lavine has superstar potential.

The first thing that stands out about Lavine is his athleticism.  He and Andrew Wiggins are probably the best two athletes in the draft.  He has the speed to run the floor in transition, he has the quickness to blow by his man in the half court, and he has the length and leaping ability to throw the hammer down on someone’s forehead in either scenario.  In addition to his athleticism, Lavine has a pretty outside stroke which will come in handy in today’s game.  I would not be surprised if the former Bruin was taken in the top ten on draft night.

NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook

14.  Phoenix Suns – Michigan State SG Gary Harris

Last but not least, I have Gary Harris going to the Suns.  As I’m typing this I can honestly say that I’m shocked that I have this young man not going in the top ten.  He is that good.  There is just so much talent to project.  I haven’t been this stoked for a draft since Darko declared in 2003.

Now, Harris could easily end up being the best shooting guard in this draft.  I say that because I believe he is the best perimeter defender out of all the wing guards.  During Michigan and Michigan State’s two matchups this past season, Harris and Stauskas went toe-to-toe throughout the games.  After watching the second matchup between the two young bloods I came to the conclusion that both Harris and Stauskas would be standouts at the next level.  Wherever Harris lands, he’ll be a key contributor early on.

NBA Comparison: Wesley Matthews

The Black and Silver Do It Again

Well, that’s all folks.  The San Antonio Spurs are once again NBA Champions.  The Spurs unleashed a furry on the Miami Heat, winning in five games, and earned the right to celebrate on their home court with the devoted fans of San Antonio. It’s the organization’s fifth title in sixteen years.  This Spurs victory is simply another reason why their organization is the class of the NBA.

Owner Peter Holt and General Manager R.C. Buford re-built the foundation of the franchise from the ground up since 2002, just one year before their second title.  Since 2002 when Buford took over, the Spurs have won nine division titles.  Yes, they have owned the Southwest division for over ten years.  Buford has also been known for drafting useful talent near the end of drafts and conducting logical in-season trades for players that play hard and define the Spurs image.  What NBA fans saw this entire 2014 post season is a testament of the entire San Antonio organization, and it should be celebrated by all basketball fans.

Again, NBA fans were spoiled watching the Spurs this series.  We were able to watch legacies wind down in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli, but also watch a legacy be born in a young twenty-two year old in Kawhi Leonard.  After being scrutinized the first two games of the NBA Finals, Leonard responded to his critics with three of the best all around games he could have gave.  An NBA Finals MVP trophy may just be waiting for him…

I could talk about every player who played in this series for the Spurs without making one negative remark.  I am overwhelmed with joy to watch the San Antonio Spurs come away with their fifth NBA title.  Their title in 1999 was my first memory of the NBA as a kid, and I’m watching a similar organization win sixteen years later.  It’s hard to call yourself an NBA fan if you can’t tip your hat to one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled.  Thank you to the San Antonio organization.  Thank you to one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, Greg Popovich.  Lastly, thank you to the players of the 2014 NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

2014 NBA Mock Draft (Part 2 of 6)

6.  Boston Celtics – Indiana PF Noah Vonleh

I consider Vonleh to be the ultimate traffic jam in the lottery this year.  Because I like Randle going before the young gun out of Indiana, Vonleh falls into the laps of a few teams that don’t really need him.  Despite the Boston Celtics taking Kelly Olynek in 2013 and Jared Sullinger in 2012, I think that The Big Green will take a chance on him.

Like Randle, Vonleh was a double-double machine this past year.  He’d make a great addition to the Celtics.  Olynek or Sully could always be used in trade.  Regardless of which route Boston goes, I expect them to be pitiful again this year.  In fact, just thinking of the Celtics organization is giving me a headache, so I have nothing more to say about their sixth pick.

NBA Comparison: Lamarcus Aldridge (Best scenario)

7.  Los Angeles Lakers – Oklahoma St. PG Marcus Smart

There is a good chance that Utah will take Smart at number five, but let’s assume he falls.  Marcus Smart could be one step (in a ten step process) in the right direction for the Lakers if he were available at pick seven.  Smart has as many skills as anyone in this draft.  His two biggest knocks are his outside shooting and tendency to play out of control at times; however, his motor is unquestionable.  I’ve watched him take over plenty of games over the past two years.  As long as he can keep that killer instinct hat I believe he has in check, he will be just fine in this league.  Learning the game from greats like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol will only benefit him.  I don’t think Bryant would be nearly as hard on the rookie as he was on Dwight Howard.  Howard is a bum, and I think that Vino will relate to the young Smart a whole lot more.

In addition to Smart’s superstar competitive nature that NBA fans all know and love, he brings a lot to the table physically.  According to his official measurements that were taken at the combine, he stands at 6’3”1/4 (with shoes) and has an impressive wingspan of 6’9”1/4.  With these two measurements along with his broad shoulders and outstanding speed, he already has an NBA body at the age of 20.  I believe Smart will be an all-star in the future.

NBA Comparison: Dwyane Wade

8.  Sacramento Kings – Arizona PF Aaron Gordon

Here we have yet another uber athletic power forward.  Gordon is also one of many one-and-done players in this draft.  Like most of these players, Gordon has a fairly high ceiling.  When I say high ceiling, I mean he is not an NBA-ready talent like I called Jabari Parker and Marcus Smart, but he will eventually make an impact in the league.  Sacramento is a phenomenal destination for Gordon’s talent to “dry up like a raison in the sun.”

Now that I got that much needed Langston Hughes reference out of the way, I think it’s time to analyze some talent.  There are a lot of power forwards that are going to be taken in the first round this year, but perhaps none of those forwards are as long and as athletic as Gordon.  His long legs allow him to run the court like Kenneth Faried, while his jumping ability gives him opportunities to shut down the arena and throw down a vicious slam like Blake Griffin.  Gordon needs to work on his game.  It’s as simple as that.  He’ll look to work on his all-around offensive game, as well as defend down on the blocks at the defensive end.  AG is going to be a great role-player in his first couple years as a pro and could very well end up being a nice starter for the Kings or wherever he ends up.

NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried

9.  Charlotte Hornets – Creighton PF Doug McDermott

Dougie McBuckets is a very tough prospect to analyze.  No, I do not think that he will be a bust; however, my expectations for him are not high.  Doug McDermott will never be a star in the league, nor will he be a bottom dweller.  His offensive capabilities are a lot to overlook for some of these teams.  I look at the scoring power forward as a guy who will provide ten to fifteen points each night coming off the bench or in a starting role on a bad team.

Mickey B’s is undersized for a power forward.  Yes, he’ll be on the court to provide points, but he lacks athleticism which may give him trouble scoring inside, and will make him a liability on defense as well.  The NBA is a league of speed, and McDermott just doesn’t have that third gear quickness.  Charlotte would be a nice landing spot for him at pick number nine.  I will not be surprised if Dougie Fresh falls to the bottom of the lottery.  That was the last nickname, I promise.

NBA Comparison: ½ of Larry Bird

10.  Philadelphia 76ers – Kentucky SG James Young

I’m a sucker for James Young.  I love his game that was often overlooked by a talent stuffed Kentucky roster last year.  His size for a wing is outstanding.  He measures at 6’7” with a 7 foot wingspan and weighs in at around 215.  This is the body of an 18 year old.  Young is a youthful prospect that has tremendous upside, as well as the ability to make an important impact on a team in his rookie year.  What a better destination to land than Philadelphia?  A starting lineup of Michael Carter-Williams, James Young, Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young, and Nerlens Noel would give the Sixers a 20.8 year old player average.  Needless to say, I’m down with the sickness.

NBA Comparison: Nick Young

Time to Settle the Score: NBA Finals Preview

Prediction: The Miami Heat win in 6 Games.

After listening to three days of my favorite sports radio programs crowning the San Antonio Spurs as the 2014 NBA Champions, I’m ready to set the record straight.  The Miami Heat are going to win this series in six games, and here’s why.

First off I’d like to call on Kevin Durant.  KD’s speech was moving and his mother did a great job raising him, but she is not “the real MVP.”  The real MVP is playing in the NBA Finals and his name is Lebron James.  Some of you may have heard have him.  King James is the best player in the world and is the most valuable to his team.  One could argue that Durant was the third most valuable player on the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals behind Westbrook and Ibaka.  I wouldn’t care if Durant dropped 40 points per game in the regular season.  He isn’t the MVP of the league.  With that being said, Lebron is eyeing the 3-peat and he’s going to get it.

Now that I got that out of the way, I’d like to touch on something that both teams do well, but the Heat may do just a little bit better.  Ball movement often defines the Heat and the Spurs at the offensive end.  I sometimes wonder how other teams can’t mimic SA and MIA when it comes to moving the ball and finding the open man for the score.  The truth is that this art comes from experience.  These squads have some of the best basketball IQ’s that I have ever seen, but I give the nod to the Heat.  When the twenty-four second shot clock is winding down, who would you want taking the three?  Danny Green or the greatest 3-point shooter of all time, Ray Allen?  This isn’t a knock on D-Green because the guy gets his.  I just prefer great over good.  It’s always a plus when you have the best player in the world drawing the defense and then finding the open man.

Lebron is fortunate enough to have a sidekick that is having a pretty nice 2014 playoffs.  Not only has Dwyane Wade’s numbers been convincing across the board, but the best news of all is that he looks healthy.  I have to say I was somewhat worried when Wade ended the season appearing in only four of the Heat’s final sixteen games.  Since the playoffs began, Wade has shot well on a consistent basis.  On a personal level, I feel like I was watching championship Heat basketball ever since the two point close out victory against Brooklyn.  In that game, Wade dropped a playoff high 28 points, and then proceeded to score at least 23 points in three straight games against Indiana.  Wade’s PPG dropped in the final three games verse Indiana, but he still shot the ball at a high percentage and provided the Heat with assists, rebounds, and solid defense.  My point is that Wade looks just as ready as Lebron to get the three-peat.  D-Wade is one of the most intense competitors in sports and I do not believe he will be denied.

I chose to address The King and discuss the re-emergence of Mr. Wade because I think that they will be the difference.  Although the Spurs have a warrior similar to Wade in Manu Ginobli, they do not have a king.  The Spurs have been one of my favorite teams since I was a kid, and they already have a huge spot in basketball history, but the Heat are going to overwhelm them in many ways on both ends of the floor.  Miami are going to win in six games and become the fourth franchise in NBA history to achieve the 3-peat.  Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.  Like T.O. once said, “Get your popcorn ready.”

(Stats from Basketball Reference)

 

 

 

 

 

2014 NBA Mock Draft (Part 1 of 6)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Duke SF Jabari Parker (Rookie of the Year prediction)

I know what you’re thinking twitter followers.  I admit it.I’m guilty of a bait-and-switch.  I’ve spent the past seven months selling the Andrew Wiggins product, but I am now in favor of the Cavs taking the 6’8” scoring forward out of Duke, primarily for two reasons.

First, most NBA fans consider Cleveland’s 2013 draft pick Anthony Bennett to be a bust, and rightfully so.  The 21 year-old power forward recorded two double-doubles in fifty-two games while averaging an abysmal fifteen minutes per game.  Even though I wouldn’t categorize Bennett as a bust quite yet, I believe that the Cavs need to take the best player in this year’s draft, and I believe that player to be Jabari Parker.

Parker brings a lot to the table.  He is as versatile of a scorer as any other prospect in the draft.  His mid-range dribble jumper is one of the best I’ve seen, and is often compared to Melo’s.  JP’s NBA body allows him to post up on the blocks, or take his man from the perimeter to the rim.  In other words, he is very aggressive.

Second, JP is more “NBA ready” than Andrew Wiggins.  Basketball fans heard this statement throughout the entire NCAAB season; however, I am taking a different approach to this notion.  I feel like Parker is more MENTALLY ready for the next level.

JP is use to the spotlight. He attended Simeon Vocational in Chicago, an exceptional basketball school most famous for the slain top high school prospect Ben “Benji” Wilson.  Parker then chose to bring his talents to Durham where he was coached by Coach Kryzewski for one year.  He is also a man of faith, for he is an active member of the Latter-day Saints restoration church.

When I watched Jabari Parker this past year, I saw a young star with personality.  The charisma that he carries with himself on and off the court will be tempting for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Drafting Parker will be the Cavs best chance to make the playoffs in 2015.

NBA Comparison: Carmelo Anthony

 

2. Milwaukee Bucks – Kansas C Joel Embiid

Milwaukee Bucks fans, your team has options with the second pick.  Personally, I feel that Parker, Embiid, and Wiggins are all interchangeable with the first three picks of the draft.  Anything can happen.  Assuming the Cavaliers choose Parker (which is unlikely according to most sources), I think Milwaukee’s best bet is to go with the big man from Kansas, Joel Embiid.

For those of you who know me know that I do not watch much college basketball.  I pick and choose which games I watch based on the NBA prospects playing in them.  When the Embiid-Wiggins hype was peaking in January I watched three Kansas games.  What I saw in Joel Embiid blew my mind.  How could this 19 year-old kid from Cameroon who reportedly had only been playing basketball since 2011 dominate the game like he did?  Where did these post moves that 90% of NBA Centers can’t do come from?  As an NBA fan, I was drooling over Embiid.  He’s the pure center that many have been waiting for.

Embiid is built like a Greek God.  His shoulders are square and arms are ripped.  He towers at 7’0” tall and brings a scary 7’5” wingspan to the paint.  His physical stature and athleticism allows for him to run the court and make the big finish, or guard the rim with some of the most tenacious shot blocking I have ever seen.

There is so much about his game that makes all thirty NBA teams jaw drop which is why he could go number one overall in a heartbeat.  It’s almost a certainty that Embiid ends up in the Eastern Conference, so I will not even hesitate to add that he will be an NBA All-Star by 2017.  Bucks fans will need to be patient with him, but he will be a must-see from day one and will be beloved just as he was as a Jayhawk.

NBA Comparison: An athletic Roy Hibbert; Hakeem Olajuwon

 

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Kansas SF Andrew Wiggins

You’re probably thinking, “How the hell do you have A-Dub falling to number three?”  The truth is I’m asking myself the same thing.  I think it comes down to me liking Parker and Embiid a lot more.  Parker is flat out better than Wiggins, and Embiid is too scary to pass up.  Being picked third in this draft class shouldn’t be a disappointment for this young kid.  Philly would be a nice landing spot for him.

Wiggins has had a lot to live up to since he re-classified himself from the 2014 college recruiting class to the 2013 class which immediately placed him over the former number one prospect, Jabari Parker.  I did not have a problem with this.  He murdered the competition for years in Canada before transferring to Huntington Prep in West Virginia for his final two years of high school.  However, it’s obvious that JP had the better freshman season and appeared to be more NBA ready than Wiggins.

If Wiggins somehow falls into the Sixers lap they will have a nice young trio with Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams controlling the point and the anticipated debut of Nerlens Noel manning the post.  Perhaps Philly’s “tanking for Wiggins” strategy may end up paying off despite not receiving the first overall pick.  Who knew?

NBA Comparison: Rudy Gay

 

4. Orlando Magic – Australia PG Dante Exum

If I had a name as cool as Dante Exum, I would maybe be somewhere in life.  Having a cool name isn’t why I think he could be the best player in this draft when it’s all said and done.  Exum is only 18 years-old right now and doesn’t turn 19 until a couple weeks after the draft in June.  He’s an Australian born prospect who has little footage to go off of.  He brings a bag of tricks to the table and will be a perfect fit for the Magic.

The 6’6” point guard is an aggressive scorer, but has the ball handling skills and basketball IQ to remain at the point position.  His 6’9” wing span allows him to finish over the defense when taking the ball to the rim, and also provides the defense with passing lane steals and perhaps blocked shots.  His shooting is the only blemish on his resume, but this does not worry me.  From what I can see he struggles with shot selection and can get himself in trouble when he doesn’t get some air underneath his jumper.  A flat shot is an easy fix especially at Exum’s age.

I thought Victor Oladipo was the best player in last year’s draft and Orlando was lucky to get him.  Oladipo was often forced into a point guard role last year, a role that I don’t think he’s comfortable in.  If the Magic can draft Dante Exum they’ll be looking at an exciting backcourt for years to come.

NBA Comparison: Derrick Rose

 

5. Utah Jazz – Kentucky PF Julius Randle

There’s been debate as of the late in regards to which power forward should be taken off the board first.  I for one feel like it’s a no brainer.  The 6’9” lefty power forward out of Kentucky has one of the best touches around the rim I’ve seen in quite some time.  Randle is outstanding at getting defenders to bite on his head fake, and then going up with his left hand for the finish.  His ability to get defenders to jump also gives him many opportunities to get to the free throw line, yet another place where he has a nice touch.

Randle is a double-double machine.  He is a ferocious rebounder on both ends of the court.  If Utah takes the opportunity to draft Randle he has a good chance to provide them with at least 25 double-doubles his rookie season.  It’s difficult to question his motor because he does it all and he does it all well.  Randle is almost a can’t-go-wrong draft pick in my eyes.

NBA Comparison: Zach Randolph

 

Welcome

Welcome to Triple Threat, a place where you can read “Everything…The Association.”  I’m hoping the first sentence of my NBA blog was corny enough for everyone, but I digress.  Creating an NBA blog is something I’ve been wanting to do for about two years, and this summer happens to be the perfect time to get it up and running.

Next, I would like to address the fact that I am nothing more than an amateur blogger.  When I say amateur, I mean that I have no idea what I’m doing.  Yes, I understand what a blog is and everything that it entails; however, formatting and editing my blog will be a work in progress.  All I ask is that you bear with me.

The Draft Lottery begins in less than one hour, and I couldn’t be more excited.  This year’s 2014 class is stuffed with star power that hasn’t been seen since the 2003 class which gave us Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony (among others).  With that being said, my next six six posts will all be a part of a special draft series.  I will be laying out my first round mock draft which will cover profiles of the thirty players I believe should be taken, as well as a breakdown of the teams that take those players.

Each blog post will cover five picks at a time beginning with pick numbers 1-5 which I’ll be composing tomorrow (5/21).   Due to the fact that I’ll be in northern Wisconsin fishing Thursday to Sunday, I won’t be able to compose my second entry until Memorial Day.  God Bless America.

I’m looking forward to providing my readers with well-researched information that I gain from articles, videos, podcasts, and my own observations.  I’ve been an NBA romantic since I can remember.  Most of my influence and knowledge of the game was past down to me by my father who constantly would reminisce on the days of watching Dr. J, David Thompson, and George Gervin.  My father’s love for the game has always stayed with me, and I’m sure it always will.  I’m going to take great pride in what I write about because I appreciate and care deeply about this league.  My hope is that you all enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them!  Thank you!