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The BasslineSpin
June 19, 2006 ...The latest NBA Draft 2006 rankings are here. ...The first 2006 NBA Free Agent rankings are here.
June 15, 2006 ...I want to make sure I am getting this straight. Cedric Simmons according to the four most prominent mock drafts in cyber spaceis a consensus #12 pick overall in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draftwhich is now just 13 days away. Likewise - Alexander Johnson is now consensus #24 in the draft. I have to ask , how and why? Both were not even on the first, second, or third team All-ACC lists. They were honorable mention. I like Simmons better than Johnson. But give me Craig Smith and Leon Powe or Yemi Nicholson and J.P. Batista before Simmons or Johnson.
June 14, 2006 ...Please dig our chart of who is working out where in preparation for the NBA Draft.
June 13, 2006 ... After the pre-draft campwe have a new draft list ranking the top 40 + 1. ...2006 marks the eighth year I have taken on the draft as a project. The results are mixed with many successes and failures. But I am getting smarter each year. ...My philosophy is pretty simple. I believe there are elements to winning that a team MUST have to succeed. The elements are; scoring, ball-handling, speed, passing, decision making, applying defensive pressure, getting to the free throw line and converting, taking charges, perimeter shooting, disrupting passing lanes defensively, low post scoring, help defense, stamina, rebounding, shot-blocking, trust, and a professional approach. If you can cover each element with the five on your floor you are going to win more than you lose. ... At the very least I require these check-points to describe each position. An NBA point guard has to be an NBA caliber ball handler with an assist-to-turnover ratio at or better than 1.94:1. A Two Guard is a scorer that ranks highly in points per minute. He can be a slasher, a jump shooter, or a post up player it doesnt matter as long as he scores at least 21.5 points on average in a 48-minute game. Obviouslyhe must be able to defend other twos. A Small Forward in my world is at least 67 and has to be able to hit a perimeter shot. In my view this is the one position where I insist the player be able to stretch the defense. He must shoot the three at better than 33.3% and be able to defend opposing threes. A Power Forward is a rebounder and low-post scorer. He should be hard to move off the block. ...A Center is a shot blocker. ...If you are building your summer league rosterI like the following free agent players from last years draft eligible class: Spencer Nelson, Michael Harris, and Omar Thomas.
June 11, 2006 ...A public service to all NBA personnel / draft evaluators is coming your way from this humble basketball watcher with no ties to agents. Here it is. ...While gathering all the information you can about a potential draftee it is CRUCIAL to remember that you cannot see the whole world when you are standing on the ground in any given place. You can only see what is within sight in all directions. To see the BIG PICTURE you need to step back. ...Way back. ......The same is true for pre-draft camps and individual player workouts. Players like Josh Howard slip to the bottom of the drafts opening round because evaluators put too much stock in these up-close workouts where a player can look better than he really is. I work in auto racing and repeatedly see drivers win races but not be the fastest qualifier. On the track by themselves, against the clock, one guy has no problem qualifying faster than another. But when it is time to race with others on the track - it is not uncommon for the 20th fastest driver, by qualifying, to win the race. In hoops - the player that can do a drill perfectly is not necessarily going to be a great PLAYER. Step back and look at their body of work and always try to picture the player, in the NBA, playing a specific position. Compare the player with the present landscape of NBA players at the said position. The pool is smaller for shot blockers than two guards. So even though the TWO Guard you admire has more skills than the big man you are dismissingyou must consider the landscape. Your two guard might rank 90th in the NBA at that spotwhile the less skilled BIG Man could be in the top-30 among Centers. ...Alsoplease do not discount free throw percentages, and whether or not a guy takes charges. Look at lifestyle issues as well. The first question John Wooden would ask is Can you trust the player you are about to select?
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