Now that I spend so much of my time immersed in really fancy basketball statistics, assessing last year's draft class by minutes, points, and rebounds seems not just not insightful, but almost entirely misleading. By this measure, Shawne Williams is better than Thabo Sefolosha (who stymied Dwyane Wade for a good chunk of a key game).
One of the great mysteries of the last few weeks has been: why would the Blazers be shopping Jarrett Jack? Sure, he could be a better shooter, but that's true of everyone! His heart is amazing, and he has been a coach's favorite. Is there a skeleton in his closet? I can find no evidence of one after asking around. But here's my new theory, based on practically zero evidence: Portland has been intending for sometime to bring back Steve Blake, and they need to get him minutes. They never really wanted to trade Blake, from what I have heard, and Kevin Pritchard has said that the Jamaal Magloire deal that included Blake was the doings of departed Steve Patterson. UDPATE: Another theory: if they don't get Blake, it would force Nate McMillan to play Sergio Rodriguez.
Camille Powell of the Washington Post says Jeff Green has an easy time walking through crowds in Manhattan these days: "'... I knew I wasn't going to get bum-rushed,' Green said. 'With Corey [Brewer], Al [Horford], Rock Star Joakim [Noah] and Kevin [Durant] around you? I just walk through and all the fans go to them. They just think I'm some other fan or their bodyguard.'"
Jerry Buss won't say squat. Those quiet teams. They often make trade noise, in my experience. How many times tonight is David Stern going to say "we have a trade to announce!"
At what school do you learn to eyeball a player and say he could handle 285 pounds without losing any speed? I'm not doubting, I'm just amazed. I don't even know how much I weigh.
Speculation that Acie Law might be ahead of Mike Conley, Jr. in the minds of the Memphis front office. This is a super draft for forwards, and the teams that need point guards -- Atlanta and Memphis -- are both drafting a little too high. My money is on Memphis taking a Gator anyway.
Lots of Nick Fazekas talk in Utah. Also, Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Jazz coach Jerry Sloan had a pretty good line a few days ago, when I asked him how a player who will remain anonymous had looked during his predraft workout at the team's practice facility. With a grin quickly spreading across his face, Sloan said, 'Tired.'"
Will Leitch, alleged sports fan, doesn't get the appeal of drafts. It's like an auction, a game show, a gladiator contest, and a beauty contest all rolled into into one. What's not to like?
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