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Posted 147d 8h ago created by Italian Stallion Commissioner More Headlines     Add to Favorites
With the 2008 NBA Draft in the books. Here is my break down of the best and the worst of the draft and I will make my playoff and finals predictions now.


Lets start with my Top Draft.

Portland Trailblazers: They really got 2 big first round picks this year because they will have the addition of 2007's #1 Greg Oden, coming off his knee injury. They added Jerryd Bayless, and Nichauls Batum in this years draft.

Potential Lineup:

PG- Jerryd Bayless
SG- Brandon Roy
SF- Travis Outlaw
PF- LaMarcus Aldridge
C- Greg Oden

Bench:

Channing Fyre
Nichauls Batum
Steve Blake
James Jones
Martell Webster
Joel Przybilla

PJ's Grade: A+



Miami Heat: added the best player in the draft and added a needed PG late to take a team 3 years removed from the NBA title to become contenders again in the East.

Potential Lineup:

PG- Mario Chalmers
SG-Dwayne Wade
SF- Michael Besely
PF- Shawn Marion
C- Mark Blount

Bench:
Chris Quinn
Daequan Cook
Udonis Haslem
Dorell Wright

PJ's Grade: A


Seattle Supersonics: They added the surprise pick in my opinion with Mayo, and Bayless on the board in drafting Russell Westbrook from UCLA. They also added Serge Ibaka from Congo, who will most likely not play in the US right away and added a good forward in DJ White. They added Sasha Kaun and DeVon Hardin in Round 2

Potential Starters

PG- Russell Westbrook
SG- Kevin Durant
SF- Jeff Green
PF- Chris Wilcox
C- Johan Petro

Bench:

Damien Wilkins
Earl Watson
Nick Collison
Donyell Marshall
Luke Ridnour
DJ White

PJ's Grade: C (I think Mayo or Bayless would have made this grade better)

New Jersey Nets: Well we all know when the rebuilding of this team started. When they traded away their franchise player last season in Jason Kidd. The Nets missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Pre Draft, they traded away their final remaining piece of the Eastern Champion teams in Richard Jefferson. Jefferson was traded to Milwaulke for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. They added Brook Lopez, Chris Douglas Roberts, and Ryan Anderson in the draft.

Potential Lineup

PG- Devin Harris
SG- vince Carter
SF- Yi Jianlian
PF- Nenad Kristic
C- Brook Lopez

Bench

Chris Douglas Roberts
Chris Anderson
Bobby Simmons
Marcus Williams
Sean Williams
Josh Boone
Stromile Swift

PJ's Grade: C (Lopez a steal at 10, but Alexander when Darrell Arthur was on the board!!!!!)

New York Knicks: a new regime. a new start. a bunch of boos. Knicks drafted the Italian Stalian Danilo Gallinari. They needed a point guard and the two they coveted the most, Mayo and Westbrook were off the board.

Potential Lineup

PG-Stephon Marbury (if he is not bought out or shipped)
SG-Jamal Crawford
SF-Danilo Gallinari
PF- Zach Randolph
C- Eddy Curry

Bench:

David Lee
Wilson Chandler
Jerome James
Quentin Richardson
Renaldo Balkman
Nate Robinson
Jared Jefferies
Malik Rose

PJ's Grade: B+ (give the italian a chance)


Toronto Raptors: They didnt get to draft, but they made their splash on Wednesday night.

Potential Lineup:

PG- Jose Calderon
SG- Anthony Parker
SF- Jarmario Moon
PF- Chris Bosh
C- Jermaine Oneil

Bench:

Jason Kapono
Joey Graham
Andrea Bargnani
Carlos Delfino

PJ's Grade: A+ (Bosh and Oneil like Duncan and Robinson?)


PJ's Draft Sleepers:

Brook Lopez: how did he drop all the way to 10 when he was projected in the Top 5, what a steal for the Nets.
DeAndre Jordan: The upside on him is crazy and he was supposed to be a lottery pick..can you tell big guys are now out..
JJ Hickson: Guy can score and has the NBA body and be a big help for LeBron.
Donte Green: another lottery pick that slipped to Memphis at 28.

Draft Day Trades:

Sonics trade the 32nd and 46th picks to the Pistons for draft rights to D.J. White. Winner: Sonics

Houston traded Darell Arthur to Memphis for the rights to the No. 28 pick, forward Donte Greene, and a future second-round pick. Winner: Houston (added another scorer in Green)

Pacers and Raptors have agreed to a deal that would send Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick (Roy Hibbert). Winner: Toronto NO QUESTION!!!

Heat get future second-round pick in exchange for sending draft rights to 52nd pick (Darnell Jackson) to the Cavs.( Ehh dont know much of this one)

Minnesota sends rights to Mario Chalmers (34th overall pick) to Miami for two future second-round picks.

Wolves have reached an agreement in principle with the Grizzlies that will send the draft rights of Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner to Memphis in return for the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins. (Why?? Minnesota needs a PG more than a PF and Memphis drafted Conley Last year)

Portland sends right for Omer Asik to Chicago for two future second-round picks.

Rockets traded Nicolas Batum to the Blazers for the rights to Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey.

Blazers agreed to a deal that will send the rights to Rush, Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts to the Pacers for the rights to Bayless and Ike Diogu

Clippers get rights to Mike Taylor in exchange for a second round pick in 2009

Washington drafted Kansas State's Bill Walker with the 47th overall pick, but he was traded to Boston for cash considerations

Cavs get rights to Sasha Kaun from Sonics for cash considerations

New Jersey sends forward Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.



Players to watch this off season and where they go that can make an impact:

Baron Davis
Chauncey Billups
Rasheed Wallace
David Lee
Stephon Marbury
Ben Gordon
Kurt Henrich
Gilbert Arenas
Elton Brand
Antawan Jamison
Eddie House

Moves by these players can shake up what i have below.


PJ's 2009 NBA Playoffs

Western Conference:

1. New Orleans Hornets
2. Portland Trailblazers
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Phoenix Suns
6. utah Jazz
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Golden State Warriors


Hornets over Warriors
Trail Blazers over Mavericks
Jazz over Lakers
Suns over Spurs


Hornets over Suns
Blazers over Jazz

Blazers over Hornets


Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Cleveland Cavilers
4, Orlando Magic
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Miami Heat
7. Charlotte Bobcats
8. Atlanta Hawks

Celtics over Hawks
Detroit over Bobcats
Miami over Cleveland
Toronto over Orlando


Toronto Over Detroit
Miami over Boston

Toronto over Miami

Portland over Toronto (2009 NBA Champs)

Finals MVP: Greg Oden

2009 Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan

2009 MVP: Chris Paul

2009 Most Improved Player: Travis Outlaw

Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler

Rookie of the Year: Jerryd Bayless

6th Man of the Year:  Manu Ginobli


**** This is just Pre Camp Predictions..if there are any big trades and signings this off season, this is subject to change***


 




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Very well thought out. I say if Oden is healthy he gets the defensive player of the year
Thelema  MVP 
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6/27/2008 5:26 AM ET

Oden's gonna get rookie of the year too because he didnt play any games last year so he is still eligible.
Steelcurtain  MVP 
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6/27/2008 12:36 PM ET

Oden is going to be a beast!
Dancing Destroyer  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 12:38 PM ET

Wow...U got Toronto and The Trailblazers in the Finals...WOW.No.The This will be the trailblazers first year playing together through a whole season with Greg Oden,and they will not produce a ring this upcoming season...Raptors???No.They will have a good frontcourt,but how good and healthy will Jermaine O'Neal be???Also,how will Jose Calderon carry the whole season???And whos gonna be the back-up pg,Carlos Delfino???That isnt a championship team.U have Miami beatin the Celtics...I dont see that happening either.The Heats big three isnt going to take the to the promise land,and now that the Celtics big 3 have been there done that,they also have the experience advantage...I think the only person whos been to the finals on the Heat is D-Wade,correct me if im wrong...And they dont even have an inside prescense...Or a 3-Point shooter...
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 1:26 PM ET

And with all those peices,you dont have the Nets making the playoffs...good blog though you always do ya thing bro.
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 1:28 PM ET

Dancing Destroyer  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 1:28 PM ET

cant you say the same for the nets that you have said for the miami...they have noone that has finals experience other than
Italian Stallion  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 1:40 PM ET

yea u could...the heat just have better players
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 2:49 PM ET

This has to be the most overrated blog i've ever seen in my life. You guys are giving Portland way too much credit. They haven't proved anything. And whens the last time 2 teams have shared almost every regular season award. Its all Portland and New Orleans. And 1 San Antonio. You expect Toronto to be in the Finals? Damn, you must be smokin too many speedballs. Toronto has nobody who can take over and beat Bostons big three. And you have Portland over Utah? None of those players have even played a playoff game in the last 3 years other than James Jones. The Jazz have been there, done than. Portland isn't ready. Maybe a 7th or 8th seed and give a little competition. But not close to a Championship team. We haven't even seen 2 of their starters play an NBA game. Dallas might even be a higher seed than them. Anyways...back to the Raptors. You dont even know what to expect from the Pistons, but they obviously plan on somethin big. Boston was not a one-hit-wonder, they're still there. Orlando still a rising threat. Also Lucious, not that i think Miami will win, but still, they do have decent three point shooters. Marion can hit em, and from what i hear Beasley has a terrific outside game. And you are wrong, Haslem also went to the finals, along with J Will. Sorry, PJ, i jus dont see any of this happening. You expect Portland to come out of the stacked West and be an immediate threat. With a rookie PG. Not happenin.
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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6/27/2008 4:29 PM ET

And PJ, you're saying the Nets have no finals experience. None of the Blazers Players have even seen a finals game from the stands.
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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6/27/2008 4:32 PM ET

Question. How the F#@% does that make the BLOG overrated?
Count of Monte Fisto  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 5:38 PM ET

i see my jazz as more of a 4 or 3 seed and phoenix a bit lower maybe even san antonio and i don't see the portland trailblazers winning it quite yet especially over the hornets, jazz , lakers , or even the celtics and toronto has no chance to go all the way , orlando will still take them.
jazzfan  All-Star 
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6/27/2008 9:53 PM ET

and also i don't see bayless being that good in his first year and mayhem i believe phx explained why it is overrated in a long and hard thought paragraph
jazzfan  All-Star 
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6/27/2008 9:56 PM ET

Gee, because he's overrating teams that havent even played together.
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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6/27/2008 10:21 PM ET

And well technically, i guess that doesn't make the blog overrated. But the ideas in the blog, very overrated.
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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6/27/2008 10:21 PM ET

O yea u didnt put jason williams on the roster,does he have contract issues or something
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 10:28 PM ET

jason williams has an expiring contract..and phx how can a blog be over rated..a blog is my opinion..if you got your own, you got your own..state it..noone ever rips on peoples opinions..damn...first off..toronto has noone to take over a game..last i saw..Bosh averaged..25 and 9 in the playoffs..and now you have another bonafide all star in jermaine oneil...and you people are talking about playoff experience..let me break some recent things down for you..that doesnt mean anything nemore..if you didnt learn that from new orleans this year...or did you stop watching after your suns were eliminated??? new orleans had not one person in the playoffs..and if it wasnt for new orleans, we were on this site discussing the blazers as the best story of the NBA and that was without a point guard and without greg oden..they won 13 games in a row...and imma break down other stuff..LeBron 2 years ago a team with no playoff experience NBA finals..in 1999 spurs had no playoff experience..they added one player that year..tim duncan..they won the title..teams are 1 player away from making it big..ala the lakers..without gasol, they would not have won the 1 seed..jason kidd leading the nets to the finals..if you have your opinion state it..thats what this is for you got the freedom too, but my opinion cant be over rated bc you dont agree..were we determining this time last year the celtics were going to win the title..yes..was that over rated???? what finals experience did they have..none..so..ur point is not valid now is it..
Italian Stallion  Commissioner 
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6/27/2008 11:29 PM ET

I feel you bro,but u cant expect a team like the Blazers to be carried all the way to the Finals by basically a rookie C,a MAYBE up and coming star in Brandon Roy,and other unproven players...Not only is there no experience,but theres no star power,which teams like the Nets and Cavs and Spurs and Hornets HAD to get deep in the playoffs,without the experience.
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/28/2008 2:05 AM ET

its an opinion and the lakers arent going to win it
Dancing Destroyer  Commissioner 
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6/28/2008 10:28 AM ET

So who will???
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/28/2008 12:17 PM ET

celts or blazers
Dancing Destroyer  Commissioner 
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6/28/2008 11:34 PM ET

dude pj saying that this time last year the celtics were going to make doesn't have anything to do with saying the blazers are winning it all is overrated
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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6/29/2008 12:57 AM ET

So u have the blazers going to the finals 2???
Lucious  Commissioner 
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6/29/2008 4:12 PM ET

The thing about toronto is if bosh and O'neil could both stay healthy through out the whole season. but to me i still got lakers going back to the finals (even though i do believe blazers will make a deep playoff run.) in the east i got boston again. And of course i got kobe for MVP again.
kg91  Hall of Fame 
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6/30/2008 1:51 AM ET

how am i overrating a team that was in the playoff hunt until the end of the year in the Western Conference..we all said this the last 2 years when chris paul was often injured, we overrated the hornets..he played one full season and look what he did..so one player can take you from the cellar to the championship..just ask boston KG brought them the title..like Duncan brought the spurs the title..there is no overrating when they did better than expectected without their franchise player
Italian Stallion  Commissioner 
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6/30/2008 6:44 AM ET

yeah they didn't have there franchise player but they choked the second half of the season and when oden is back they're still unexperienced rookies who haven't really played with each other yet and still the point runs the show and i don't expect bayless to average 10 assist in his first season, and i'm not saying this ain't a championship caliber team .....just not yet
jazzfan  All-Star 
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6/30/2008 6:14 PM ET

Well PJ, isn't that the damn definiton of overrated? When someones OPINION is placed higher than it should be. Anyways, Bosh averaged 25 and 9, thats not even a double double and you call that taking over? Does Toronto or Portland have anyone near the likes of Chris Paul or LeBron James? NO they do not. 13 games in a row, choked the second half. It all evens out. YOu expect choking the entire second half of the season to be a championship team? You also forgot to mention one thing about that Spurs team. David Robinson. One of the greatest centers of all time. Does Portland have anybody as good as David Robinson? Does Toronto? No. Tim Duncan and The Admiral are far superior to the duo of CHris Bosh and Jermaine O'neal. Lakers added Gasol, but already have Kobe Bryant. Again, nobody as good as Kobe on the Blazers. You're missing one glaring difference between all the teams you've named, and Portland. They already had an all star, FAR superior to Portlands best, Brandon Roy.
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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7/2/2008 3:06 PM ET

KG also had 2 other all stars helping who are arguably as good as he is. So comparing the Blazers who's best player shouldn't have even been on the All Star team. To the Celtics who have 3 legitmate ALL STARS!
PHX_MAN_MARIO  MVP 
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7/2/2008 4:51 PM ET

we will see who there best player is when oden plays but yea roy shouldn't have in the all star game it should have been deron williams - he got snubbed again
jazzfan  All-Star 
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7/6/2008 3:58 PM ET

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