Across All Sports

The 2009 NBA Draft came to completion today as the Clippers took Blake Griffin with the number one overall pick as expected. After that though, everything was up in the air in a draft filled with very little talent. Let’s look at the clear winners to begin:

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis selected Hasheem Thabeet with the number two overall pick and got DeMarre Carroll with the 27thpick. Then, they got one of the steals of the night with Sam Young at the 36th pick. Thabeet will boost the Grizz’s defense big time and Carroll and Young are both solid players. Neither will be a superstar, but each will give work-man like performances day-in and day-out while adding energy and more defense.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets traded their one pick in the draft, but also acquired Ty Lawson from Minnesota for a future first round pick. Lawson is quick, plays strong defense, and runs the point well. He fell all the way to 18th for Minnesota and now sits as a solid back-up point guard for Denver. Read more…

NBA Commissioner David Stern fined LeBron James 25 thousand dollars after he refused to talk to the media after losing game six and the series to the Orlando Magic. James certainly made a mistake in blowing off the media, but he does not deserve to be punished. The Cavs were expected to reach the NBA Finals easily and losing the series to Orlando must have stunk immensely, specifically for LeBron who’s individual skill level is one of the greatest of all-time, but has yet to reach the Finals.

I can understand that LeBron would not want to talk after the game. I think anyone who has ever played sports can understand that. As a fan, you want to see the players rise above their anger and embarrassment at defeat and show their character by speaking with class, but you can’t expect that.

LeBron made a mistake, but not one worth 25k. I certainly wouldn’t want to face the media after a loss like that, but I’m not LeBron James. With such high expectations for the Cavs, LeBron would have been sliced up by a media eager to criticizetheir stars. I understand why he didn’t talk afterwards. David Stern has no right to dictate whether players speak to the media after the game. LeBron hurts his own image by not speaking. He doesn’t tarnish the game. Stern, butt out. Read more…

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals with an 89-70 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of their series. And Kobe can breathe a sigh of relief. Even without Yao Ming for some of the series, the Rockets still pushed the Lakers to the brink of elimination and for Kobe to a career-crippling defeat. Kobe has faced so much scrutiny over the years for his character, his skill, his attitude, but this was a bit different.

This was Kobe vs Shane Battier. People have always wondered how good Kobe is, if he can carry a team to a championship, and if he is as good as Jordan (he’s not). This time though it was is Battier better at defense than Kobe is at offense. This was new to Kobe.

This Rocket team has limited scoring, especially with Yao out, but has great defensive players in Battier and Artest amongst others. Could the defensive stalwarts of Houston outlast Kobe and his Lakers?

Almost.

Battier played defense on Kobe like Kobe had never faced before throughout the entire series. Every shot, Battier has his hand millimeters from Kobe’s face. He fights through screens and hip checks every possession. He pushes Kobe around and forces him to his inefficiencies. Still, Kobe hits a shot and struts back up the court saying, “He can’t guard me” Read more…