NBA free agents

The Los Angeles Lakers have just won the NBA championship, and they earned it, having to overcome some very challenging competition. They beat teams with players that will be in the Hall of Fame in every round. Kevin Durant in the first, Deron Williams in the second, Steve Nash in the third, and Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo in the finals. The Celtics were almost able to overcome the Lakers, but an injury to Kendrick Perkins in game six and the Lakers flawless defense in game seven sealed their fate. The Lakers management should be given a lot of credit for going after Ron Artest last off-season, letting Trevor Ariza go in the process. Artest had several poor shooting games in the playoffs, but no one in the league could have done a better job guarding Paul Pierce in the finals.

Pau Gasol solidified his place among the NBA’s elite players by dominating in the paint for the majority of the playoffs, averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds. Rondo had a game that would be spectacular for most players but was rather typical for him in game seven, 14 points 10 assists and eight rebounds. Rondo led the Celtics in assists in the finals, averaging 7.6, and rebounds, averaging 6.7 a game. However the difference maker in the series was very simple, the Lakers had Kobe and the Celtics didn’t. Kobe averaged 28 ppg in the finals, Pierce led the Celtics with 18 a game.

The future for the Lakers looks amazingly bright, mainly because it is clear Kobe wants to remain a Laker for life, and definitely has 3-5 years left of brilliant play. Pau Gasol is under contract until 2013. The only players that were of any value to the Lakers that are free agents are Derrick Fisher and Shannon Brown. Fisher will almost certainly resign with the Lakers or retire. Whether Shannon Brown stays or leaves is of little importance because Sasha Vujacic is more then capable of replacing Browns scoring off the bench and Fisher and Jordan Farmer are a solid combo at the point guard spot.

The future of the Celtics is not quite as promising. The main reason for this is Kevin Garnett is 34 years old, and the quickness that made him a match up nightmare on offense and one of the leagues elite on defense may soon be gone. Garnett’s numbers this season in points and rebounds were the worst of his career. Ray Allen, Tony Allen, and Nate Robinson are unrestricted free agents. If the Celtics were to lose Ray Allen is would be devastating because they surely would have one of the worst shooting backcourts in the league because Rondo is a very poor long distance shooter. Doc Rivers hinted Rasheed Wallace might retire, which would leave a huge void to fill. Seven-footers that can stretch the defense out to the 3-point line aren’t exactly easy to find. Paul Pierce has an early termination option for next year and could leave for another team, but that is highly unlikely since he has been a Celtic his entire career and loves being a Celtic.

This year’s free agent class in the NBA is the most impressive free agent class in American sports history. Never in any American sport has a league had so many of its elite players become free agents at the same time. Here is a list of the best free agents, with a few thoughts on each guy.

1. Lebron James- The man is 25 years old and is coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. I think where Lebron goes will show what is truly important to him in his life. If being loyal to his home state of Ohio is the most important thing, obviously he will resign with the Cavs. If marketability is the most important thing to him, he will sign with the Knicks. I personally think this is an overrated factor, Lebron will be a global icon wherever he plays and will play in front of sold out crowds no matter what team he picks. Payton Manning has never played in a big media market, but is the most marketable player in the NFL.

I think winning a title will be Lebron’s top priority. This is why I feel he is more likely to sign with the Chicago Bulls than any other team. Derrick Rose is already one of the leagues best guards, and if he remains healthy and improves his long range shooting he will be totally unstoppable. Both Lebron and Rose are unselfish players, and would prioritize winning over statistics. Rose is not the only quality player on the Bulls, Joakim Noah is a great rebounder and shot-blocker, with an improving back to the basket game. Kirk Hinrich is a quality defender and long range shooter with good ball handling skills, and could play a role similar to the one Delonte West played for the Cavs. Luol Deng is only 25 years old and averaged 17 points and seven rebounds a game this season. The Bulls have the number 17^th pick in the draft, which they could use to try and improve their lack of depth at the point guard, shooting guard or power forward position. Lebron knows that defense is the key to winning in the NBA Playoffs, and new head coach Tom Thibodeau is a great defensive tactician. The Bulls are 24 million under the cap for next season, so they have enough room to offer Lebron and one more elite player very large contracts.

2. Dwyane Wade averaged 26.6 points per game this season, good for fifth in the league, so it is clear he is on a team where he can put up numbers. What is also clear is he was on a team with 14 other players that ranged form average to below average. 10 of these players will be free agents. The only important players that will remain under contract beyond July 1^st are Mario Chalmers Daequan Cook and Michael Beasley. Because of all the expiring contracts the Heat have, they have enough cap space to get at least one star free agent, along with Wade, who has said he wants to remain with the team. Look for the Heat to target one of the star power forwards along with a center that wouldn’t command a large contract, perhaps Brendan Haywood.

3. Chris Bosh

Bosh is the player the least likely to resign. The players around him are pretty bad and he is rumored to want to play in a bigger basketball market. The Nets would be a logical choice for him, as they could offer him a max contract and he would get to play alongside a quality center for the first time in his career. The Bulls and Heat also need a power forward. The Knicks need everything, but have enough cap space for two max contracts.

4. Amare Stoudemire

Stoudemire is similar to Bosh in many ways, both are 6’10 with a ton of athletic ability. Bosh is 26 years old , Amare is 27. Both can score in the post and from the perimeter. The difference is in the situation they would be leaving behind. The Raptors didn’t make the playoffs, the Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals. However I think this makes him only slightly less likely to change teams than Bosh. Amare was not happy that the team was considering trading him at the deadline, and he has felt under appreciated by the Suns organization. In terms of winning, he probably feels tired of always winning a lot of regular season games, only to lose to the Spurs or Lakers in the playoffs. I would imagine he would welcome a move to the eastern conference because he knows the Lakers are likely to repeat as western conference champions.

5. Dirk Nowitzki- Dirk has an early termination option, but if he opts out it will most likely be to sign a new contract with Dallas. He has said that winning a title with another team would be far less rewarding.

6. Joe Johnson- The general public is down on Joe Johnson after his Hawks were demolished by the Magic in the playoffs, getting swept and losing two of the games by 30 points. However, it’s not Joe Johnson’s fault that Josh Smith and Al Horford let Dwight Howard dunk the ball every possession. Johnson is a four time all-star who has averaged over 20 points per game in every season since 2005. While it is clear that no team with Johnson as its best player will be a championship contender, any team with Joe as a clear-cut second option could win a championship. Consider him a shooting guard version of Pau Gasol, a player who could never go deep in the playoffs as the star of the team, but is still a great player.

7. Carlos Boozer- Carlos Boozer is coming off a monster season in which he averaged 19.5 points and 11 rebounds a game. He shot a career high 56 percent this season, and is only 28 years old. Boozer is not a shot blocker, so only a team with a shot blocking center should offer him a max deal.

8. Ray Allen- Allen has said he wants to stay with the Celtics, but if Doc Rivers decides to take a break from coaching and other teams offers him more money than the Celtics, he could very well leave. Allen is still one of the best shooters in the league, but at this point in his career he is basically a one dimensional player. Allen was at his best spotting up for three’s when Rondo was pushing the basketball at a fast pace, so team’s that like to play a slow pace should not offer Ray a big contract. When the Celtics were walking the ball up Derrick Fisher shut Allen down.

9. David Lee- David Lee picked a great time to have a career year. This year was the first time Lee averaged over 20 points per game, averaging 20.2 ppg. He has averaged 11.7 rebounds in each of the last two seasons. He is 27 years old. He does not block any shots and is regarded as a poor defensive player. Like Boozer, he must be paired with a center that can defend the paint. Lee’s Knick teams have always been among the worst in the NBA, so it has yet to be determined if Lee can put up numbers in a winning environment.

10. Rudy Gay- Gay has averaged between 18 and 20 points per game the last three years. He is 23 years old, and has yet to play with a quality point guard, so one can assume 23-25 ppg is not out of the realm of possibility if Gay plays with an elite point guard. Gay has been average defensively so far, but has the tools to become a stopper on that end of the floor. Gay is a restricted free agent, but if a team were to offer Gay a max deal it is highly unlikely Memphis would match it.

There are many more quality role players that will be available. If a team is in need of a shooter but doesn’t have much cap space, look for them to go after Kyle Korver, Eddie House, Quentin Richardson, Roger Mason, Mike Miller, or JJ Reddick. Reddick is a restricted free agent, but the Magic would not match a large offer since they already have Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus on the perimeter and are 20 million over the cap.

Teams in need of a center should be able to get Shaq, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Brendan Haywood, Jermaine O’Neil, Ben Wallace or Brad Miller for a reasonable price.

Teams in need of a quality wing defender should target Josh Howard, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, Keith Bogans or Memphis restricted free agent Ronnie Brewer.

Need a point guard? Ray Felton, Nate Robinson, Luther Head, Earl Watson, Steve Blake, Marcus Williams, Rafer Alston, Carlos Arroyo, Chris Duhon, Luke Ridnour, and Jason Williams are unrestricted free agents.

Oh and don’t forget two guys that know a thing or two about scoring, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady. Both are unrestricted free agents.

NBA Finals Preview

NBA Finals Preview-

Has anyone ever heard the expression “history tends to repeat itself”? Well this NBA Finals match-up shows the expression is true, as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers will meet in the Finals for the 12^th time in NBA history. Their most recent match-up was in 2008, with the Celtics winning in six games.

Both teams had to beat extremely talented teams to get here. The Celtics had to beat an Orlando team that won 59 games in the regular season, good for the second best record in basketball behind Cleveland’s 61. Before playing the Celtics the Magic were undefeated in the playoffs, but were unable to adjust to the way the Celtics played defense. Orlando’s offense revolved around passing the ball to Dwight Howard in the post, who would then score or draw a double team. However in this series no double team came, he could not shoot a high percentage against the defense of Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace. Howard averaged 18 points per game in the regular season despite constant double teams, but against single coverage he only managed to score 13 points in game one and seven in game three, both Orlando losses. The player most affected by the Celtics not sending a double team was Rashard Lewis, who scored only six points in game one, five in game two, and four in game three. He averaged 14 in the regular season.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce both had very strong performances, and showed why they are two of the best scorers of this era. Allen scored 25 points in a game one win in which the Celtics only won by four points. Pierce scored 28 in game two that the Celtics won by only three points. He then politely escorted the Magic out of the playoffs with 31 points in a 12 point game six win, hitting four of five 3-pointers. Rondo ran the offense with consistency, never having a game with less than six assists. Maybe Dwight Howard should stop doing stupid dances and calling himself “Superman” until he develops a few dependable post moves. Put the Superman cape away until you can make a hook shot, Dwight.

The Lakers defeated the Suns in six games. The Suns played with as much heart and determination as any team ever has. Steve Nash suffered a black eye and a broken nose in this years playoffs, but he never allowed that to effect his play. This series reminded me of some of the Spurs-Suns series of the past. The Suns played with great heart, Steve Nash dished out tons of assists, Amare Stoudemire scored a ton of points, the role players his 3’s… yet they ultimately lose because they don’t play defense. This time it wasn’t Tim Duncan scoring consistently in the paint, it was Pau Gasol, who had over 20 points in four of the games. Kobe Bryant did what he always does, hit huge shots when the game is on the line. He had 30 points in game five, 37 in game six. Open looks were hard to come by in this series because of Grant Hill’s solid defense, but Kobe is actually “open” whenever he is on the court, because he creates so much space with his cross-over dribbles and gets so much elevation on his jump shot.

The Lakers have home court advantage against the Celtics, but I expect the The Celtics to win in six games. The Celtics are a significantly better team then they were in 2008 because Rajon Rondo has made the leap from average to elite, and Rasheed Wallace has replaced PJ Brown as the third big man. I think the Lakers have not made much of an improvement as a team since 2008, but I think they will win two games at home because Kobe will catch fire. Look for Rajon Rondo to be able to attack the basket at will because there is no way 35 year old Derrick Fisher will be able to keep him in front of him. The x-factor in this series is Lamar Odom, and I think it might be a good idea for Phil Jackson to put him in the starting lineup. Andrew Bynum is clearly not 100 percent healthy because of a knee injury, and having Odom at power forward would make Garnett leave the paint. Gasol at center would make Perkins leave the paint, which would give Kobe a clear path to the basket once he beats Ray Allan off the bounce. If Odom can consistently score 20 and force Garnett to take tough shots, the Lakers have a chance.

NBA mock draft

5/19 The NBA draft lottery was last night, and now we know which teams will be picking in which spots on June 24^th. The Wizards won the lottery with a 10.3 percent chance to win. The 76ers were only the 6^th worst team in basketball last year but luck was on their side, as they are picking second in the draft. The Nets were the worst team by far last season, with a record of 12-70, and have the third pick. This years draft could be one of the weakest in history. Here’s how the first round will play out.

1. Washington Wizards- John Wall

This pick is very simple. For all the same reasons the Chicago Bulls took Derrick Rose first in 2008, The Wizards will take Wall first in this years draft. You simply do not pass on a point guard with the type of freakish athleticism John Wall has. At 6’4, Wall will be one of the fastest players with the ball in his hands at the NBA level. As a freshman Wall led his team to a number one seed in the NCAA tournament, averaging 16.6 points and 6.5 assists per game. Wall has absolutely amazing speed and leaping ability, but is also a willing passer with solid court vision and a decent jump shot. The Wizards should be in full rebuilding mode, looking to unload any player over the age of 25 for draft picks or expiring contracts. Moving Gilbert Arenas should be priority number one, as he will only impede Wall’s development with his selfish playing style. Look for Washington to try to build around Wall and 7-footer Andray Blatche. Blatche is only 23 years old and averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game, shooting 48 percent from the field.

2. Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner

Turner was college basketball’s Player of the Year, and it’s not hard to see why. Turner averaged 20.4 ppg on 52 percent shooting to go along with 9.2 rebounds and six assists per game. He led his Ohio State Buckeyes to a number two seed in the tournament, where they lost to the University of Tennessee in the Sweet 16. Listed at 6’6, Turner will have the size and strength to defend NBA shooting guards. Turner is an extremely intelligent player who can create his own shot off the dribble and is also great at moving without the ball to create separation from his defender. Look for Turner to play shooting guard, as Philadelphia spent its first round draft pick on point guard Jrue Holliday last year. Holliday averaged only eight points and four assists a game last year, but is just 19 years old. Turner is being compared to Brandon Roy.

3. New Jersey Nets- Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson was the most athletic wing player in college basketball last season, and put up great stats against great competition. Listed at 6’7, Johnson scored his 16.5 ppg very efficiently, shooting slightly over 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. The Big East Conference is always one of the deepest and most talented leagues in the country, so Johnson should be as ready as a college player can be for the NBA. Johnson grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game, a terrific total for a perimeter player. He also made an impact on defense with 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Johnson would be a great fit for the Nets, as he is excellent running the floor in transition. The Nets are at their best when Devin Harris is able push the ball in transition. The Nets drafted a similar player to Wesley last year, Terrence Williams. Starting both of them would give Devin Harris multiple targets to throw the ball to on the fast break, as both can run the floor for an ally-oop or pull up for a three pointer. This would also allow them to move Courtney Lee to the bench, where he could be one of the better bench scorers in the league.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves- Demarcus Cousins

Cousins was the best big man in college basketball last year. Listed at 6’11 and 270 pounds, Cousins projects as a center at the NBA level. Cousins only played 23 minutes per game, and still managed to average 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Cousins shot 60 percent from the field, an absurdly high percentage. He also averaged 1.8 blocks per game, very impressive considering he was only on the court for about half the game. Cousins would fit in perfectly on the Timberwolves should he reach his potential, as it would allow superstar Al Jefferson to move to his natural position of power forward. Along with Kevin Love, the Timberwolves would have the best group of young big men in the NBA. They also are set at point guard, with Johnny Flynn and possibly Ricky Rubio. Cousins game reminds me off Andrew Bynum. The major concern with Cousins is his attitude, as he has a reputation for not working hard and being confrontational with coaches and teammates.

5. Sacramento Kings- Derrick Favors

Sacramento picked the Rookie of the Year with the forth pick in last years draft, and hopes it can draft someone just as talented as Tyreke Evans in this years draft. The Kings already have several young big men, but Favors simply has too much potential to pass up considering how weak the rest of this draft is. Listed at 6’10 and 246 pounds, Favors will be one of the most athletic power forwards in the NBA from day one. Don’t believe me? Watch the dunk contest from the 2009 McDonalds All-American game and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Despite his impressive athletic gifts, Favors production was modest in his one season at Georgia Tech. He averaged just 12.5 points per game despite shooting 60 percent from the field. His rebounding numbers were good, averaging 8.4 boards per game to go along with two blocks per game. Favors needs to develop a few go-to moves around the basket, like a jump hook or a turn-around jumper, so when he can’t beat his man down the floor he can still make a shot. Sacramento has several young big men like Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and Spencer Hawes, so they don’t really have a need for another one. Look for the Kings to trade down in this years draft for a wing player that could ease the scoring burden on Tyreke Evans.

6. Golden State Warriors- Cole Aldrich

The Warriors have a high-scoring backcourt with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, but need a player to protect the paint on defense. Seven-footer Cole Aldrich may be up to the task. The starting center on a Kansas team that was the favorite to win the national championship before the NCAA Tournament, Aldrich blocked 3.5 shots and grabbed ten boards per game. However, there is no reason to think Aldrich will be able to score at the NBA level because he only averaged 11.3 points per game, despite normally being much bigger and stronger than his college defenders. In a good draft this would eliminate his chance of being a top 10 pick, but in this draft there isn’t enough competition to knock him out of the top 10.

7. Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe

The Pistons are in a bad situation. They don’t have a star player on the team, won’t get a star player at this spot in the draft, and aren’t expected to land a star free agent. What they can do with this pick is get a player that will raise the play of his teammates, which is what Greg Monroe does with his passing. Monroe routinely picked up assists from the low post, high post, and out on the perimeter. Monroe averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds a game at Georgetown. Look for the Pistons to build around Monroe, as well as last years first round draft pick Austin Daye and point guard Rodney Stuckey.

8. Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu

Even though the Clippers had a typically bad season, they actually do have some talented players on the roster. Baron Davis, when healthy, is one of the better scoring guards in basketball. Eric Gordon is only 21 years old and averaged 17 points per game. Chris Kaman averaged 18.5 points and nine boards per game. Blake Griffin, who last year was the number one pick in the draft, should be able to contribute immediately if he has recovered from the knee injury that made him miss all of last season. The one position they are thin at is small forward, which is where Aminu could play in the NBA. Playing against the quality competition of the ACC, Aminu averaged 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for Wake Forest. The knock on Aminu is he doesn’t have enough quickness or a good enough jump shot to play small forward in the NBA or enough strength to play power forward in the NBA. He also failed to ever take Wake Forest deep into the NCAA Tournament. Aminu is only 19 years old, so he more then enough time to improve his jump shot and his great length should help offset whatever he lacks in quickness.

9. Utah Jazz- Xavier Henry

The Utah Jazz were one of the best teams in the Western Conference all season, the reason they have this pick is they acquired it from the New York Knicks in a trade. Utah beat the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs this year. Utah will only be able to win playoff series next year if they can keep Carlos Boozer, who is an unrestricted free agent. Utah made it to the Western Conference semi-finals despite a weak group of swingmen. Derron Williams needs a small forward to pass to that is better offensively then Andrei Kirilenko or CJ Miles. Xavier Henry was a top 10 recruit coming out of high school two years ago, and had a solid season last year at Kansas. Xavier is 6’6 and has a picture-perfect shooting stroke, but only averaged 13.4 points per game. I believe this was because he wasn’t sure exactly what his role was on offense, because he wasn’t the clear cut first option. Xavier is only 19, and has a ton of room to grow as a player.

10. Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas

A 19 year old 7-footer with a soft shooting touch, Donatas reminds some scouts of Andrea Bargnani, the first pick in the draft three years ago who averaged 17 points per game last year. Donatas can handle the ball and score in the post. The problem with Donatas is he simply doesn’t rebound the ball well, averaging only 4.5 per game, a pathetic total for someone so tall. There are also questions as to whether he has the strength to guard NBA centers. Montiejunas wouldn’t have to guard centers with Indiana because they already have Roy Hibbert, who can protect the hoop at 7’2. The Pacers could then trade Troy Murphy. Danny Granger, Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough, Brandon Rush and Donatas would be a nice group to build around.

11. New Orleans Hornets- Luke Babbit

Sharpshooter from the University of Navada could replace Peja in the starting lineup.

12. Memphis Grizzlies- James Anderson

Big time scorer for Oklahoma State, could replace Rudy Gay in the starting lineup when he leaves as a free agent.

13. Toronto Raptors- Hassan Whiteside

Seven footer who averaged a ridiculous 5.4 blocks per game for Marshal last season. Plays same position as Chris Bosh, who will leave as a free agent.

14. Houston Rockets- Ekpe Udoh

Best player on a very good Baylor team, would replace the things Carl Landry provided to the team before he was traded to the Kings for Kevin Martin.

15. Milwaukee Bucks- Gordon Hayward

He’s better than Carlos Delfino, their starter at small forward last year. Brandon Jennings will get him open shots.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves- Willie Warren

Had a great year two seasons ago with defenses geared up to stop Blake Griffin, was hurt last year and his production sunk.

17. Chicago Bulls- Eric Bledsoe

Hinrich was Derrick Rose’s backup but is now in the starting lineup, and will remain there unless they sign Lebron James or D-Wade.

18. Miami Heat- Patrick Patterson

Would make a nice backup to Mike Beasley.

19. Boston Celtics- Sherron Collins

Need a quality backup for Rondo

20. San Antonio Spurs- Jarvis Varnardo

One of the best shot-blockers in college basketball history, could replace 35 year old Antonio McDyess if he decides to retire.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Ed Davis

Big time potential, not much production at North Carolina.

22. Portland Trailblazers- Solomon Alabi

At 7’1 could provide insurance for Greg Oden.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves- Elliot Williams

Averaged 18 a game for The University of Memphis on 46 percent shooting.

24. Atlanta Hawks- Quincy Pondexter

Need a shooting guard to replace Joe Johnson when he leaves as a free agent.

25. Memphis Grizzlies- Avery Bradley

One of the best high school players in the country two years ago, played good defense at Texas last year but was inconsistent on offense.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder- Damion James

Productive career at Texas, averaged 10 rebounds a game last year.

27. New Jersey Nets- Greivis Vasquez

Need a backup point guard and Vasquez is one of the best players the University of Maryland has ever had

28. Memphis Grizzlies- Jordan Crawford

He averaged 20 a game for Xavier… and he dunked on Lebron James.

29. Orlando Magic- Lance Stephenson

One of the best players in the history of New York City high school basketball, Magic have no real needs so they are in the best position to take a risk like this.

30. Washington Wizards- Devin Ebanks

Best overall player for a West Virginia team that went to the Final Four.

Thoughts on Lebron and a Conference Finals preview

Thoughts on Lebron and a Conference Finals preview. 5/14/2010

The Boston Celtics defeated The Cleveland Cavaliers 94-85 last night, winning the series in six games. This led to rumors that the Cavs fired head coach Mike Brown today. Dan Gilbert (owner of the Cavs) said this is not true, but every expert thinks it is only a matter of time before it happens. This is the second year in a row the Cavs have had the best record in the league and not made it to the NBA Finals. The Celtics winning came as a huge surprise to many NBA fans, mainly because against the Celtics posted a 3-9 record against Cleveland, Orlando, and Atlanta in the regular season. Cleveland had home court advantage and the league MVP, so most experts were picking Cleveland to win in five or six games.

Here is why they didn’t win. Lebron’s elbow is hurt. It is not because Lebron quit on his team, it is not because Lebron does not know how to lead, it is not because Lebron does not have a winners mentality. Combine the elbow injury with the fact that the Celtics are playing team defense at the same level that they did in 2008, when they won the championship, and it is no surprise that Cleveland scored a meager 86 points in game two, 87 in game four, 88 in game five, and 85 in game six. Had Lebron been healthy there is no way they would have scored less then 95 points in any of those games. Lebron scored 15 points in game five, when in the regular season he would often have 15 points by halftime.

The Celtics had huge advantages at the point guard, shooting guard, and power forward positions, so of course they were going to win with Lebron at less than 100 percent. Mike Brown had a roster with many quality players, but only one true superstar. While the Celtics had a starting lineup that was easy to select, many people will second guess Mike Brown starting Shaquille O’Neil and Antawn Jamison in the front court. Kevin Garnett had a very easy time shooting over the top of Jamison, and Shaq is one of the slowest players in the league and is a poor defender of the pick and roll. Many people think Anderson Varejao should have been a starter because he would have made life harder for Garnett. I personally would have used a lineup of Mo Williams, Lebron at shooting guard, Jamison at small forward, Varajao and Shaq. However the story shouldn’t be about the Cavs, give credit to the team that won.

The Celtics will now play the Orlando Magic, a team that has not lost a single game in the playoffs. The Magic have home court advantage and the deepest team in basketball. I predict the Magic will win this series in seven games, due in large part to the large amount of time the Magic have had to rest. The other reason I am picking the Magic to win is the match-up at shooting guard. The Celtics start Ray Allen, the Magic Vince Carter, both extremely talented players on the downside of their career. The difference is Ray Allen will have more trouble keeping Vince Carter out of the paint then Carter will chasing Allen off screens. Allen is pretty much useless if his 3-point shot isn’t falling, while Carter can attack the basket. However if you give Carter space he can knock down 3’s with ease, just like almost every other player on Orlando. Jameer Nelson, Jason Williams, JJ Reddick, Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Rashard Lewis are all good to great three point shooters. Add the leagues leading rebounder and shot blocker in Dwight Howard and you have a combination that is almost impossible to beat.

One thing the Celtics have going for them is they have a player in Kendrick Perkins who can guard Howard one on one. One of the main ways the Magic shooters get open is off double teams of Howard. They also have the best point guard in basketball in Rajon Rondo, but finishing in the paint will be harder then ever before for Rondo because of Howard’s freakish length and leaping ability. Another reason I don’t like the Celtics chances is Paul Pierce is in a shooting slump, scoring less than 20 points in every game but one against Cleveland. Pierce will be guarded by solid defenders all series, with Matt Barnes and Pietrus getting the primary responsibility of keeping Pierce off his game.

I think the Western Conference Finals will not be nearly as close. The Lakers won thee out of four in the regular season. The Lakers will win in five games this series. Kobe Bryant, with a full week of rest, will be too much for Jason Richardson and Grant Hill to handle. Amare Stoudemire will gets his points just like he does in every playoff series, but will not be able to make Gasol work hard to get to his spots. When Gasol gets to his sweet spots on the floor, he is as efficient a scorer as any power forward in basketball. Robin Lopez will be the starter at center for the Suns, but has been out of action since March 26^th with back problems. This could slow the Suns offense down. However they do need him to play big minutes, if not Andrew Bynum will control the offensive glass and give the Lakers extra shot attempts. I also feel the Suns might be a little too happy to be where they are, having just knocked off the Spurs, their hated rivals for years. However, only a championship will satisfy Kobe and Phil Jackson. Throw in the fact that the Lakers have the best bench player in basketball in Lamar Odom and home court advantage, and the Suns just do not have enough firepower.

Coming soon- NBA mock draft

Top 10 NBA pointguards

The position of point guard is the deepest position in the NBA, featuring veteran future Hall of Famers like Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, all-star caliber players in the prime of their career like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Chauncey Billups, Jameer Nelson, Mo Williams, Baron Davis and Tony Parker, and terrific young players with almost limitless potential like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, Russell Westbrook, George Hill, Monta Ellis, Ty Lawson, Darren Collison and Jonny Flynn. Throw in big-time scorers like Gilbert Arenas and Devin Harris, who are dealing with health issues but could regain their form shortly, and John Wall who (along with Evan Turner) was college basketball's best player, and you have the leagues most talent-rich position.

All this depth makes any debate about who is the best a tough one. When evaluating point guards it is important to include things that do not show up in the stats column. Things like getting the other team in foul trouble and keeping your man out of the paint are just as important as a players scoring average. Chasing down loose balls and always sprinting back on defense won’t get you a spot on Sportscenter’s Top 10, but it will help get your team get into the playoffs. Also the position requires vocal leadership more than any other, since the point guard is often an on-court extension of the coach. The switch from Allen Iverson to Chauncey Billups wasn’t an upgrade in terms of raw basketball talent, but it was an overall upgrade. This was because Billups commanded respect in the locker room and turned the Nuggets into a team of one on one offensive players that made defense an afterthought, into a team that valued ball movement and tenacious defense. The team with Iverson never resembled a championship caliber club, the team with Billups almost knocked out the NBA champion Lakers last year.

That is not to say that these attributes that do not show up in the box score are more important then the ones that do. Chances are, if you aren’t scoring the basketball or directly setting up your teammates to score, you aren’t helping your team very much on offense. When looking at scoring numbers it is important to remember field goal percentage is very important, simply looking at points per game can often give you an inaccurate picture of who is truly a great scorer.

Here is my list of the 10 best point guards in the league today. What players have done in the past is irrelevant, only what they did this season to help their team win counts, with the exception of players who missed time due to injury.





10. Brandon Jennings-

Who needs college? After not receiving the necessary SAT score to attend the University of Arizona, Jennings decided he wanted to play for Lottomatica Roma of the Italian League. Jennings received a 1.65 million dollar contract from Roma, along with a two million dollar endorsement contract from Under Armour. After averaging 32.7 points 7.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds his senior year at basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, and leading them to a 41-1 record, Jennings struggled mightily in Europe. In 27 Italian League games he played a paltry 17 minutes per game, scoring 5.5 points a game. In 16 Euroleague games Jennings played 20 minutes a game, averaging 7.6 points per game. Despite these meager statistics, The Milwaukee Bucks took a gamble on him with the 10th pick in the draft. Something tells me Knicks fans wish their team had taken that same gamble four spots earlier in the draft. Jennings introduced himself to the league about two weeks into the season, when he scored 55 points against the Golden State Warriors. It was the second highest point total in Bucks history, behind Michael Redd’s 57. For the season Jennings averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 assists, and led the Bucks to the number five seed in the East. The Bucks were predicted to be one of the worst teams in basketball before the year started. The reason I can’t have Jennings higher on this list, he shot 37 percent from the field, and 5.5 assists is the lowest of any player to crack my top 10.




9-

Russell Westbrook- Despite the fact that the Lakers were able to (barely) defeat the Thunder in the playoffs, Derrick Fisher probably sees Russell Westbrook in his nightmares. Westbrook made Fisher look like he was moving in slow motion, and no Laker defender was able to keep him out of the paint. Westbrook averaged 16 ppg and eight assists this season, and is one of the most effective defenders in basketball. His eight assists are especially impressive when you think about how lacking the Thunder were this season in terms of big men with offensive skills. Westbrook averaged 20 points six assists and six rebounds against the Lakers, showing he raises his game under pressure. The reason he is only 9th on this list, Westbrook can simply be ignored beyond the three point line, making only 23 threes in an 82 game season, shooting a horrible 22 percent.


8.

Jason Kidd- When people talk about Jason Kidd now days, it’s often about how his quickness has diminished from his days as a New Jersey Net, when he made First Team All-NBA three times and led the Nets to back to back Finals appearances. While he no longer is capable of taking over games by fast breaking other teams into submission, Kidd did play 36 minutes per game this season for the Mavericks. 36 minutes per game is about what he averaged with the Nets. The Mavericks were the number two seed in the brutal Western conference, due in large part to Kidd’s 9.1 assists. While Kidd’s 10.3 points per game will seem underwhelming compared to the other players on this list, it is important to remember that the Dallas offense revolved around Dirk Nowitzki, the best shooting big man in history. Teammates Jason Terry and Caron Butler also have proved to be quality shooters, so Kidd had no reason to look for his own scoring chances very often. Kidd did shoot 42 percent on 414 threes this year, making teams pay for doubling up on Dirk. Steve Nash, considered one of the best shooting point guards in history, also shot 42 percent on threes this year. Kidd finished fifth this season in assists and fifth in steals, so he is at the very least the leagues 8h best point guard. The reason he isn’t higher, Kidd had trouble staying on front of the leagues quicker guards. This came back to haunt them in the playoffs, with Tony Parker and George Hill getting to any spot on the court they wanted.



7. Chauncey Billups-

Chauncey Billups is a very good shooter, passer, and defender. As mentioned earlier, he also has terrific leadership skills. Billups averaged 19.5 points and 5.6 assists for a team that was among the West’s elite for most of the season. Billups shot 38 percent on threes and 91 percent from the line this season. The reason Billups is only 6th on this list, his overall shooting percentage was 42 percent, good for 108th in the league. He also played poorly in several of Denver’s losses against Utah in this years playoffs.

6-

Tony Parker- Tony Parker has been the best guard on three NBA championship teams. Lightning quick with a terrific mid range jump shot, Parker is one of the hardest players to guard in the NBA. Despite being very short for an NBA player, he’s generously listed at 6-2, Parker is excellent as finishing in the paint. The thing that makes Parker so great is not how many points he scores, but how efficiently he scores them. He averaged 16.5 points on 49 percent shooting this year, with 5.7 assists. Only a handful of players that are not power forwards or centers shot a higher percentage then Parker. Parker simply has a history of coming up big in the playoffs.

Despite how great he is, there is a realistic chance Parker will be traded in the near future. George Hill did an amazing job replacing Parker, and the Spurs need to get younger. Antonio McDyess is 35, so a talented young prospect at the power forward or center position could land a team Tony Parker.


5-

Derrick Rose

No need to accuse me of bias here, Derrick Rose isn’t on my list because of anything he did in his college days. He’s on my list because he is the second most athletic player in the NBA, behind only Lebron James. Derrick Rose is one of the tallest point guards in the NBA at 6 foot 4. He is the strongest point guard in the NBA and the fastest point guard in the NBA. He can finish around the rim with contact, and his jump shot is average but getting better year by year. He has every intangible you could want in a player. He has won on every level, leading the University of Memphis to the National Championship game in his one college season. He has led The Bulls to the playoffs in both of his pro seasons. He is also tough, having grown up on the south side of Chicago. He is humble and very easy to coach. Rose averaged 21 points per game on 49 percent shooting, an extremely high percentage for a point guard. This despite the fact teams center their defensive game plan on stopping him because the Bulls have never surrounded him with much talent. His most talented teammate in his first season, Ben Gordon, left for the Detroit Pistons before his second season as a free agent. As soon as the Bulls can get a power forward that is a big time scorer to go along with defensive specialist Joakim Noah, the Bulls will shoot up the standings in the Eastern Conference. The only reason Rose is “only” fifth on this list is he is a complete non-factor from three point range, making only 16 this entire season. Rose is only 21 years old, and should be an MVP candidate in the future.

4. Deron Williams-

At 6 foot 3, Deron Williams has a similar build to Derrick Rose, but is not quite as strong or fast. What makes him better then Derrick Rose is Williams is a deadly outside shooter and much better at getting his teammates easy shots. His 10.5 assists per game was the second highest total in the league, and he scored 19 points per game. He scored these points in an extremely efficient way, shooting 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 80 percent from the line. Deron has won at consistently at the NBA level, leading the Jazz to 53 victories this season, good for the number five seed in the West. The reason I have Williams at number four is that he is less likely to completely dominate a game then the three players ahead of him, and his Jazz were just swept by the Lakers.


3.

Steve Nash- A point guards primary responsibility to his team is to set up his teammates for easy scoring opportunities. No one on this list does that as consistently as Steve Nash. Nash led the league in assists this year with 11 a game, and this was only Nash’s fourth-best season in that category. Nash scored 16.5 points per game, and did it with terrific percentages in every category. 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from three, and a league leading 94 percent from the free throw line. Nash has kept the Suns at or near the top of the NBA almost every year he has been with the Suns, with this year as the team’s most successful, having just clinched a spot in the Western Conference Finals. Nash has won two MVP’s, and his game is just as good now as it was then. His only flaw is his defense, with quick point guards giving him the most problems. Tony Parker has had many monster games in the playoffs with Nash as his primary defender.



2.

Chris Paul- Bet the Atlanta Hawks wish they had that pick back. Despite a need at point guard, Atlanta drafted Marvin Williams with the number two pick. Deron Williams went next, Chris Paul after him. Since that day Paul has played like this generations Isiah Thomas. Paul was first team All-NBA in 2008 and second team in 2009. Paul battled knee problems this season, but last season Paul averaged 23 points per game on 50 percent shooting. Paul led the league that year with 11 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Paul’s 5.6 rebounds that season are impressive when you consider Paul is often the smallest player on the court. Paul’s knee surgery went well, and he is expected to make a full recovery by next season. Paul made all-defensive first team last year, and is considered to be one of a handful of players truly capable of disrupting an offenses game plan.

The Hornets have an extremely talented backup point guard in Darren Collison, who put up big numbers while Paul was recovering from surgery. The team has a huge need at the small forward spot, so moving Paul is a possibility if the team starts to struggle. Playing Paul and Collison together could work offensively, but both stand just six feet tall, so defensively they would be extremely vulnerable.


1. Rajon Rondo

29 points, 13 assists, 18 rebounds. That is how Rondo responds when his team is in a must-win situation. Down two games to one and facing Cleveland, one of the best defensive teams in basketball, Rondo had one of the dominant games in playoff history. In game two, Rondo dished 19 assists. He simply has a monster performance every time his team needs him the most. Rondo was the starting point guard on Boston’s Championship team two years ago, collecting six steals in the clinching game against the Lakers. Rondo can not be kept out of the paint by any one defender and has a wide variety of moves to use once he gets there. He is excellent at finding open teammates in the half court and in transition. He is the best defensive guard in basketball, excellent at not giving up any clean looks at the hoop, while also playing the passing lanes. Rondo lead the league in steals with 2.33 per game. Rondo was forth in assists with 9.8 per game, even though Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce both battled injuries all year. Rondo averaged 13.8 points per game, shooting over 50 percent from the field. If Rondo ever becomes a good three point shooter, he could go down as one of the best players in league history.