Perfection.

I'd like to congratulate Roy "Doc" Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies for pitching his first perfect game, and the 20th in MLB history! I remember only ever watching the Jays play either when Doc pitched or they were playing the Yankees (Doc vs. Yankees always upset me, but in a good way?) Now that he plays for the Phillies, I've seen him pitch once this season but he's been superb! This is a BIG DEAL to those of you who don't watch baseball (to which I say, WATCH IT!) Congrats again and THANK YOU for giving me a crapload of points for my fantasy team =)

And I'd also like to thank JabberWocky for the profiles of the top drafts! I must say, Wall is my fav cuz I've heard of him and I hear he's good =P

Until next time!

- Franny.

2010 Mock Draft Lottery Pick #4

Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson

Bio:
Birthday: 7/11/87
NBA Position: Small Forward
Class: Junior, Syracuse University
Ht: 6'7"; Wt: 206 lbs
Hometown: Corsicana, TX

NBA Comparison: Tracy McGrady without the ballhandling abilities but better defense and rebounding.

Strengths:
- Has all the tools, and fits the mold of the classic athletic small forward.
- Quick when maneuvering in the lane.
- At 6'7, he has a huge wingspan (easily over 7' feet), and tremendous leaping abilities which allow him to rise above traffic around the rim.
- He has a smooth and fluid motion on his jump shot, and gets nice elevation.
- Has a strong mid-range game that will only get better.
- Arguably the best shooter in the draft.
- Can shoot spot up from anywhere, but seems to excel at shooting off one dribble after using his quick first step to create space between him and his defender.
- He also uses an effective jab step to create separation and get off his shot, a must-have tool for a scoring small forward in the NBA.
- Has deep range with a high and quick release, and his consistency will only improve.
- He shoots 50% from the field overall, and does not need 20 plus shots to be effective.
- Extremely unselfish, the offense rarely becomes stagnant when the ball is in his hands.
- An underrated passer showing excellent vision and passing skills for a 3.
- He moves extremely well off the ball, and does a great job of getting himself open off back screens.
- Can run the floor and finish effectively in transition.
- His quickness, awareness and long wingspan come into play defensively as well, as he is a terrific off-ball and help defender.
- Can quickly move from the weak-side to ball-side, and used those long arms and high leaping abilities for 2 blocks per game.
- He's athletic and long enough to play effective on-ball defense at the next level.
- His wingspan and leaping abilities also make him an excellent rebounder, and his persistent nature and good nose for the ball make him a good offensive rebounder.
- One of the more NBA ready players in the draft.
- Has an infectous smile that is always on display during games; should be a fan favourite for his personality as well as his game.

Weaknesses:
- Sometimes settles or relies too much on his jump shot, and when it's not on, he becomes invisible for long stretches throughout the game.
- Needs to bulk up; when guarded by stronger defenders, he tends to pull back for tougher jump shots as opposed to taking it strong to the hoop and drawing the foul.
- Attempts less than 4 free throws per game (too low).
- Tries to get out of slumps by shooting jumpers instead of attacking the basket.
- Does not have much of a back-to-the-basket game yet, but his skills, high release and length give him a shot to develop a post game over time.
- Has trouble creating off the dribble, most of his opportunities come after one dribble or a catch and shoot.
- Not much of a playmaker, his ball handling skills are average, and he tends to throw the ball away too often.
- He's 23 years old, so his upside and potential might be little low for some GM's in comparison to younger players.

Consensus: Will most definitely be a SF in the NBA. At 23 years old already, he should be more mature and NBA ready than most players entering the draft. The big question with Wes is whether or not his inability to create will prevent him from being a consistent scorer in the pros, he has to develop some dribble moves. However his defense and rebounding skills should translate well to the NBA.

Minny's other options: Trade the pick (a possibility but probably not going to happen); Draft DeMarcus Cousins (possible, if they are willing to depart with either Kevin Love or Al Jefferson) or draft Al-Farouq Aminu (not likely) or Xavier Henry, Greg Monroe or Patrick Patterson (all longshots)

Official Mixtape



Peace and Much Love to Ya :)

*NOTE: there have been rumblings that the Sixers are very high on Derrick Favors and he has moved up as the 2nd pick in many mock drafts and then if New Jersey took either DeMarcus Cousins or Wesley Johnson both of whom the Nets like, Evan Turner could fall to the T-Wolves and they absolutely love Turner, but I doubt this is going to happen as Wall, Turner and Favors are locks for the top 3 picks in any order you want to put them in.

2010 Mock Draft Lottery Pick #3

New Jersey Nets: Derrick Favors

Bio:
Birthday: 7/15/91
NBA Position: Power Forward
Class: Freshman, Georgia Tech University
Ht: 6'10"; Wt: 245 lbs
Hometown: Atlanta, GA

NBA Comparison: Amare Stoudemire

Strengths:
- Explosive athlete with unique combination of power and quickness.
- Possesses an extraordinary wingspan, with Georgia Tech official website claiming a 9'1" standing reach.
- Tremendous leaping ability.
- Frequent target of the alley-oop pass and seemingly nothing is out of reach.
- Soft hands allow him to catch passes most bigs would muff.
- Runs the floor like a gazelle showing great speed from baseline to baseline.
- Finishes with power around the rim; a dunking machine.
- Has made dramatic advancements in his post game repertoire and footwork.
- Features a drop step into the lane for a mini right hook and quick spins to either side of the floor.
- Very quick in the post. Displays a deft touch with his left hand around the basket, almost inclined to use his off hand.
- Has a nice looking jumpshot out to 12-15 feet, but does not appear overly comfortable.
- An absolute vacuum on both the offensive and defensive glass. Averaged 8.4 rebounds in 27.5 minutes of action (5.4 def and 3.0 off).
- A shot blocking menace (2.1 per game this season); alters countless other attempts.
- His mere presence makes opponents think twice before driving inside.
- Not a boastful personality, but rather allows his game to do the talking.
- Excellent student and quick learner.

Weaknesses:
- Has done a good job adding bulk to his frame, but needs to continue to get stronger.
- Needs to increase trajectory on his jumper and increasing his range would serve him well.
- Ball handling is decent for a big, but must be improved for his face up game.
- Needs to continue advancement of his footwork and comfort level in the post.
- Seems to predetermine moves rather than reacting to the defense.
- Does not handle double teams well.
- Needs to slow the game down and not panic.
- Not a great passer out of the post.
- Has relied heavily on his athletic gifts up to this stage against inferior competition.
- Needs to work harder and understand court positioning.
- Can be lazy at times defensively and on the boards, depending on his length and leaping ability.
- Stands too upright on defense and his lateral movement needs to improve.
- His conditioning has been questioned, often tiring in the latter stages of games.

Consensus: Derrick Favors could go #1 in most drafts but for this year he's a lock for #3. He's arguably the best athlete in this draft but needs to continue developing fundamentals in order to become truly great; his work ethic seems to be good but could be a lot better. He has very high potential and although NJ wouldn't get Wall at #3 they would get a guy who perfectly compliments their cornerstones in center Brook Lopez and point guard Devin Harris.

NJ's other options: trade the pick (only if they can trade for #1 or #2 or they can land one of the big free agents in a sign and trade) or draft DeMarcus Cousins (possible) or Wesley Johnson (not likely). Reports are also surfacing that the Spurs are very high on Favors and want to move up to get him so they can make him Duncan's successor at power forward.

Official Mixtape (couldn't find a decent one of him at GA Tech, but this one shows off his athleticism very nicely).



Peace and Much Love to Ya :)

2010 Mock Draft Lottery Pick #2

Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner

Bio:
Birthday: 10/27/88
NBA Position: Shooting Guard/Point Guard/Small Forward
Class: Junior, Ohio State University
Ht: 6'7"; Wt: 215 lbs
Hometown: Chicago, IL

NBA Comparison: Brandon Roy

Strengths:
- Big combo guard with great versatility and a tremendous feel for the game.
- Extremely smooth with the ball in his hands and has a bag of tricks offensively.
- His handles are that of a point guards; Has supreme confidence with the ball in his hands with an excellent crossover.
- Great mid-range game with the ability to change directions and get defenders off balance to create looks.
- Good upperbody strength allows him to absorb contact and make plays at the rim.
- Strong finisher. Very adept at finishing after contact. Also utilizes the glass effectively.
- Has a good runner when he meets up with shot blockers in the paint.
- Understands how to use his body to shield the ball from opponents.
- Has a great ability to drive which really sets up his ability to pull up for shots.
- Utilizes the spin dribble to get by opponents effectively and into the paint.
- Creative playmaker with the ability to find others for shots when his path to the basket gets cut off.
- Solid vision and a good passer capable of finding the open man.
- An above average athlete with good speed and long arms.
- Makes a lot of impressive plays at the basket using excellent body control and creativity.
- Jumpshot has good form.
- Has a big wingspan (near 7-foot); his long arms allow him to disrupt passing lanes.
- Draws a lot of fouls on drives due to his aggressiveness.
- Runs down a lot of loose balls and makes plays based on desire and hustle.
- One of the best defenders in the draft.
- Plays with a high level of intensity at all times no matter the game situation.
- Good rebounder off the wing.
- Solid free throw shooter at 79%.
- As a Junior, he is one of the more mature players in this draft and one of the most clutch.
- Coming in as the AP Player of the Year and National Player of the Year

Weaknesses:
- Not a freak athlete, but above average by NBA standards.
- At times appears to be susceptible to being thrown off his game by physical defensive play.
- A better scorer than shooter.
- Needs to improve his catch and shoot ability and expand his range and consistency from the perimeter.
- Sometimes drives too much if it is too effective and forgets about his jumpshot.
- At times can fall in love with the dribble and become too ball dependent; needs to improve off-ball play.
- His creativity can lead to being a little careless passing the ball.
- Not great at setting defenders up off of screens and shooting spot up. He prefers to create a rhythm with the ball in his hands dribbling off screens or creating off isolation.
- Injury issues as he missed 4 weeks with two fractures in his back but was deemed to have fully recovered before the March NCAA tournament so doesn't seem to be much of an issue.

Consensus: Like Brandon Roy was in 2006, Evan Turner is the most NBA ready player in this draft class, could go #1 but most likely will go to the Sixers at #2. Also the most versatile guard in the draft as he can play and guard 3 different positions but will most likely play Shooting Guard in the NBA. A threat for a triple-double on any given night.

Philly's other options: The Sixers have said they'd be open to packaging the #2 pick to any team who would be willing to take back Elton Brand and his enormous contract off their hands. Or they could draft Derrick Favors (a maybe), DeMarcus Cousins (not likely) or Wesley Johnson (a maybe)

Official Mixtape



Peace and Much Love to Ya :)

2010 Mock Draft Lottery Pick #1

Washington Wizards: John Wall

Bio:
Birthday: 9/6/90
NBA Position: Point Guard
Class: Freshman, University of Kentucky
Ht: 6-4, Wt: 196
Hometown: Raleigh, NC

NBA Comparison: Derrick Rose

Strengths:
- One of the most electrifying players to come out of college in years especially at the Point Guard position.
- Has a confidence that only the truly great ones possess.
- His speed in the open floor and first step blow by ability is absolutely jaw dropping, possibly the fastest player in this class.
- His body control and ability to make plays around the rim as well as find teammates with passes while playing at such a break neck speed is what sets him apart. At first you think he's out of control but he actually makes great decisions while playing at such a fast pace.
- Fearless at attacking the basket off the dribble and seems to find a space in the defense when it seem there isn't one there.
- His ability to finish from all angles around the basket with BOTH hands borders on the absurd.
- Very high potential, and his style of play (SPEED) is tailor made for the NBA level.
- Point guards with his size and athleticism are rare.
- Possesses elite athletic ability with length and explosiveness, especially for a point guard.
- His speed and ability to change direction allows him to get any place he wants on the floor ...
- Pushes the ball up the floor as well as any Point Guard.
- Potential to become dominant at both ends of the floor, being able to use his length as both a defensive stopper and above average rebounder from the wing.
- An excellent passer, particularly on the move. Can pick a part a defense setting up teammates for easy scores using his great vision, and creativity.
- A true floor general, best passer and court vision in this class.
- Huge hands give him excellent command of the basketball, with either hand.
- A ball hawk able to rip opposing point guards using his quick hands and feet and long arms.
- Excellent anticipation on passes contributed to his 1.8 steals per game.
- Shows leadership ability and will look to become a more vocal leader as he matures.
- Great character and a very smart guy, posted a 3.5 G.P.A. Spring Semester
- Has a chance to be a merchandising phenomenon with his incredible talent and charisma.

Weaknesses:
- Similar to Rose, Wall's jumpshot is a work in progress.
- Shooting form is not horrible, but it will require some tweaking and hard work (repetition) in the gym to become a real strength to his game.
- Not a good set shooter, prefers to create a rhythm using the bounce.
- His shot lacks great lift and is a little slow to get off. His form and release are decent, but should look to get a little more trajectory.
- At times it appears he is too caught up in making flashy plays instead of focusing on the ultimate goal of winning.
- More comfortable operating in the open floor than in the half court, will need to hone his pick and roll skills and half court command of the game.
- While possibly even quicker than Rose, he lacks the same body strength and ability to absorb contact. Adding some core body strength would allow him to finish stronger around the rim.
- Gets careless passing the ball at times. 4 turnovers per game show his lack of ball protection and that his point guard skills are still raw.
- His 1.6 assist to turnover ratio is solid for a freshman but should be better for such an elite level player.
- Competitive player, but will need to develop his killer instinct and ability to take over at the end of games.

Consensus: Virtual lock for the #1 pick; Wall is blessed with such incredible physical gifts that it will be up to him to put in the work to get the most out of his abilities.

Washington's other options: Trade the pick (not likely); choose either Evan Turner (a maybe) or Derrick Favors (not likely).

Official Mixtape:



Peace and Much Love to Ya :)

Badassery to the Max.

Heyo ya'll, sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been pretty lazy. But the big news is that IRON MAN 2 is finally out and it is AWESOME! I don't know where the haters find their hate, but somehow they do, so all I can say is: do not read their bad reviews! They're just jealous. See I was going to do a little write up myself but I don't want to try to convince ya'll to go see it, I am demanding that you all do!

Second order of business, I really want to spice up this blog. I don't even know how many of ya'll there are who read this because no one comments. So that could mean that no one reads the blog, but our visits counters says otherwise! I am going to think of some ideas but those of you lurking in the shadows are encouraged to come out and tell us what we should do to make this blog more badass! I mean, me and Jabberwocky blogging is already awesome enough, but clearly we need something more! Shall we sing and dance?

Which leads me to my next point of order: watch Glee. Seriously, the hype ain't just there, it is such an awesome show! It makes me miss high school and kinda wish there was a Glee Club. I guess me being in band was kinda the same thing, but honestly, the band geeks ran the school kay, we'd never get slushied. Today I watched the episode about Rachel and her crush on Mr. Schuester, which made me think about how my school lacked hot teachers. Cept for Superman...

Anywho, I just wanted to make sure ya'll knew I was still alive and doing (relatively) well. Keep on rocking in the free world! ...Do people not use that anymore? They should.

- Franny.