FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The NBA really needs to do something with it's NBA playoff format. It is obvious that the Eastern conference is a mid-major at this point. Since the shorten lockout season the West has had a total of 45 teams win 50 or more games. The East has had 18 teams hit 50 or more. In fact if it wasn't for an underachieving Laker team and the refs last season we would be looking at the West 9th straight championship. It's true that MLB and NFL also seem to have unbalanced competition between conferences but in the last 10 years both have produced somewhat competitive Championships. The NBA has had 1 7-game series in the last 9 years. I'm basically saying that the NBA finals have been as anticlimatic as Sopranos series finale over the past few years. Personally I don't know how to fix it so thats why I'm not writing a blog about that. (The best Idea over the past few days has been from John Hollinger of ESPN saying that the West higher seeds plays the East lower seeds and vice versa...would be perfect it if wasn't for the whole time zone crap)

But with a terrible Finals going on that at least shines more light on a draft that already was shining bright. Thanks to the wonderful age rule we get to actually see some of these players actually play against some what real competition weather than read scouting reports and seeing high school highlights. The only thing bad about it is that they didn't do it earlier so we were unable to see some of the games best players playing in a NCAA touranament.

Of course if you have watched sports over the past 7 months you have either heard and probrobly been in an arguement invovling who have better career between Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Personally I think Kevin Durant because he'd more Offensively well rounded and seemed more of a vocal leader than Greg but again I'm not trying to write a blog about that. I just want to put my perpective on who I think will be the best player in 10 years not named Kevin Durant or Greg Oden. Of course in countdown fashion

10. Yi Juilian, F, China: Let me start by saying I, like many NBA fans, had never seen a Yi Juilian game in my life. I can't tell you stats from his League or who he even plays against. I can say that he is a consensus number 3 on most Mock Drafts and apparently is nothing like Yao Ming aside from race. I can't call it so I put him somewhere safe. I'm thinking some where between Darko and Dirk.

9. Gabe Pruitt, PG, USC: The 6-4 PG does not have the college numbers that looks like a star but can shoot a deep three and showed times he can be an effective scorer. Needs to work on getting looks for others more only having averaging 4.3 assist his junior year. If he can mature his passing game i think he can be can definately help a team win a ring. I'm thinking Del Harris with a three.

8. Joakim Noah, PF, THE University of Florida: You either love him or hate him. This case I'm somewhat neutral. Defensively I see him being a good shot blocker and will rebound for you like he's playing in March. The problem is he is no scorer which should work out well because no team should ask him to do that. If he gets in a high tempo offense where he is the 4th option he will be a suprising double-double and about 2 blocks per. I thinking a harder working, better free-throw shooting Andris Biedrins. 

7. Brandon Wright, F, UNC: One Fresh who would be playing NBA if it wasn't for the age Rule. The extremely long 19 year old has been high on everyone's pro scout's draft board since the beginning of the year. Unfortunately for him he was the third option on North Carilina's team last season so didn't get to have take over games like other highly talked about freshman. So why do I have him low? He did shoot a ridiculous 64.6% from the field last season but he only shot 56.7% from the Free Throw line. Also he played with another good scoring Big so it hard to tell if he can score down low with more bodies being thrown at him. I do think he will be effective but just not the all star people are saying he can be. I'm thinking Less entertaining Josh Smith 

6. Al Thornton, SF, Florida State: One of the rare who is (or at least should) recieving a diploma before entering the draft. Has the Jay Cutler problem of being a really good player on a bad team in a Great conference. Had 17 games with 20 points or more that included such gems as 27-13 against a then #25 ranked Va Tech, a 29-12 against then #2 ranked North Carolina, a 20-8 against a then #10 ranked Duke and a 45 point game against Never Ranked Miami. His Junior year also had 2 37-point games against Duke and BC. So basically the man can score in ACC basketball. The problem I see is his Basketball IQ. Last season he posted and 1/3.6 assist to TO ratio. That's not cutting it if he wants to have the ball in his hands like he did at Florida State. But he is an athletic freak who shoots 79% from the charity stripe. I don't he can be a number 1 option like in College but can be a Robin to someone's Batman. I'm Thinking a less intellegent (basketball wise) Josh Howard. 

5. Acie Law IV, PG, Texas A&M: One missed lay-up may have knock him down a few spots but Acie Law still is one of the most reconizable players from last season. Very effective scorer averaging 18.1ppg and still managing to get 5 dimes per. Shot 50.0% from the field and a ridiculous 45.8% from 3. Clearly showed his veins are completely made of Ice water time (Against Texas his junior year to win) and time (agianst Texas this year to force the 1st over time) and time again (against Texas this year to for the 2nd overtime, against Kansas this season). Personally I think he has the potential to be a top 7 point gaurd in five years. I don't think he will ever dominate games like he did in college but is someone who definitaly can be a championship teams PG. I'd mark him down for an All-star game someday. I'm Thinking Mike Bibby. 

4. Thaddeus Young, SF, Geogia Tech: Another Frosh who's NBA career was pushed back due to the age rule. The 18-year-old showed flashes of what he can do weather it was 30 against Wake during the conference championships or 25 against UNC in a late season upset or as simple as 19-10 against Vandy. He also had few games when he didnt show up as much as expected but still average 47.8% from the field including 41.9% from behind the arch. With such athleticism, lenghth, and being one of the youngest players in the draft I think he has potential to be a multiple All-Star someday. His scoring and built needs working one but I think that all comes with age. I'm Thinking a less built Andre Iguodala.

3. Al Horford, PF, THE University of Florida: Another Al from the state of Florida but this one did play on a good team. Someone who's stock rose after a year that included 16 double-double and another National championship run. Al has the luck of being the perfect size to play the position he wants in the NBA unlike others on my list. He's a throwback back to the basket type score who can surprise people with his 12-17 foot shot from time to time. When not in foul trouble can show to be presence on the Inside. Al has the most potential out of anyone on this list to be an immediate impact player next season. If he can improve his scoring he will have all the making of a 20-13 Power forward in the NBA. If he goes to the East he will become a multiple all-star by year 5. I'm thinking a more defensive Carlos Boozer...or possible a less Offensive Elton Brand

2. Mike Conley Jr., PG, A Ohio State University:  First is Atlanta really thinking on passing on him at number 3. With all those forwards doesn't a line-up of Conley Jr/Johnson/Smith/M.Willaims/S.Williams or 11 pick sound pretty exciting. With that aside, I have seen Mike Conley Jr. play basketball since he was a freshman at Lawerence North and all I can say is the guy is a NBA point guard since I have seen him. He's always had Smart basketball IQ, always has been quicker than anyone put in front him always been a stud. The only knock I have against him is he may not be able to finish as good as future superstar point guard should and that he doesn't have a consistant shot. Other than that it has been clear to see since the last game against Wisconsin that he is a legit future NBA star. I hope he grows out of wanting to always play with his close friend Mr. Oden because he will can be a leader himself. He will be an multiple All-Star who will lead a team to the playoffs. I'm thinking a quicker/healthier/better T.J. Ford.

Which brings us of course to The Best player in 10 years not named Greg Oden or Kevin Durant

1. Josh Mcroberts, PF, Duke: Has all creditials to be a stud in this league. I saw this guy in high school and he was amazing okay bad joke but seriously...

1. Corey Brewer, G/F, The Univerity of Flordia: His stats won't speak loud but his tournament resume should. Including Last Season and this Season in Conference and NCAA tournaments, Corey Brewer has shot 39-74 from behind the arch (thats 52.7% for those without a calculator) averaging around 16ppg. He had an amazing first half of the National Championship game including blocking Greg Oden which unfortunately Greg Oden had to get him back. He shows poise in big moments and plenty of college experience. He is an excellent On ball defender and can finish as good as anyone in the draft. The only concern is that he has never dominated a game scoring, not because he couldn't, just because Florida's offense never really allowed him to shine. In the past 2 seasons he has had no games where he had more than 20 shots and only 4 games where he took more than 15(which he averaged 19.3 points). If a team drafts him and works on his scoring he is a lock to be a future All-Star star. I don't think he ever will be a Franchise player who leads team after team deep into the playoffs year in year out but he can be a Good Batman or A Great Robin. I'm Thinking Scottie Pippen

5 Who could take Yi's Spot: Jeff Green, Georgetown; Julian Wright, Kanas; Spencer Hawes, Washington; Sean Williams, BC; Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington

5 Who I personally doubt: Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech; Jason Smith, Colarado State; Daequan Cook, Ohio State; Josh Mcroberts, Duke; Yi Juilian, China 

5 Who scouts don't give a chance but who will make a splash: Alando Tucker, Wisconsin; Glen Davis, LSU; Marcus Willaims, Arizona; Nick Fazekas, Nevada; Jared Dudley, Boston College 

Just for fun what the NBA should do to fix the finals: 1-16 seeding with reseeding based off record every round..