Random Thoughts (June 30, 2008)

"The times they are a-changin." - Bob Dylan, 1964 Although I'm not a music buff, I know that Dylan's timeless lyrics about the coming American counterculture revolution still have meaning in 2008. There is the war in Iraq, the upcoming Obama-McCain election and people paying over $4.00 for gas at a time of record home foreclosures. And, more importantly for this space, they also can be translated for the current generation of Boston sports fans. Since February 3, 2002, the city of Boston has celebrated three Super Bowls, two World Series and an NBA Championship. These are times we may never see again, an era of multi-team success usually reserved for New York, which hosts multiple teams in all the major professional sports. And after years of reading Dan Shaughnessy's whine-based columns and listening to WEEI's "Whiner Line" it seems like the people of this market are finally listening to Dylan's words. "Come writers and critics, who prophesize with your pen, and keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again." The Red Sox open a three game series in Tampa Bay tonight against the first place Rays. Think about it. The Sox, owners of a $150-million payroll and two world championships in four years, trail the Rays in the mighty AL East. It is like the Washington Generals wiping the floor with the Harlem Globetrotters. It's not supposed to happen. And still, there is no panic. We expect the Sox to finish the marathon atop the standings and compete for the 2008 World Series. We expect Tampa Bay to fade into the night (which, by the way, is not going to happen if they continue to pitch the way they have) as we get ready for an October of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. We expect to win when it counts so a slight fall from first place at the end of June is no longer viewed by the masses as the second coming of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is a good thing. Boston is finally granting their teams the benefit of the doubt and letting them find their way. Success has not come with a price, it has come with the added benefit of a mostly relaxed environment which is producing champions... Please allow me to play the part of movie producer Bob Ryan from HBO's Entourage. "What if I told that in spite of their number one and two starters spending time on the disabled list, the best clutch hitter of his generation spending time on the disabled list, the World Series MVP spending time on the disabled list and the lack of production from their All-Star setup man, that the Red Sox would be just a .5 game out of first place on June 30. Is that something you might be interested in?" Thank you... I would like to see Theo Epstein get serious value out of Double-A Portland pitcher Michael Bowden in 2008. Either use Bowden as a power arm -- his fastball clocks in around 93-95 mph -- in the bullpen or package him along with Ryan Kalish and send him to Cleveland for CC Sabathia. If the Sox land Sabathia, they could move Justin Masterson to a setup role in the bullpen. Bowden is a luxury item, a power arm in an organization loaded with power arms, whose value should be cashed in this summer... James Posey. Three year contract with a total value between $15-18 million. It makes too much sense not to happen... As a kid I read a pretty good book entitled "The Franchise" which was an in depth look at the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons. The Pistons drafted two players in the '88 Draft, wingman Fennis Dembo with the 30th pick and guard Michael Williams with the 48th pick. Dembo was an athletic wing scorer from Wyoming who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1987. He spent just one year in the NBA, and was never heard from again. Williams played for ten seasons and was on the Pistons 1989 championship team. I metion this only because I believe the careers of JR Giddens (30th overall pick) and Bill Walker (47th overall pick) will mirror that of Dembo and Williams. Considering his character flaws, Giddens seems destined to spend his career on the fringes of professional basketball while Walker seems to have the intangibles (scoring, rebounding, defense) necessary to contribute in the NBA for at least a decade... It would not surprise me if the Pats brought in recently released Steelers running back Najeh Davenport. Davenport rushed for 499 yards and five touchdowns as a backup for Willie Parker. The Patriots could use depth at running back behind Laurence Maroney, Sammy Parker, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans. A look at Davenport could be worth their while... Enjoy Justin Masterson tonight...

NBA Draft Recap

My apologies for failing to report to my keyboard last night. After getting in late from basketball, I could not find the energy to write anything coherent. Here are my thoughts from last night: When Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas-Roberts, DeAndre Jordan and Kyle Weaver were all available when the Celtics went on the clock, I thought that Ainge would grab one of those four to become a piece for the bench in 2008-09 or grab a foreign prospect (I was hoping for Croatia's Ante Tomic if that was the decision) to stash in Europe for the next two or three years. When the choice came up as swingman JR Giddens, I had some questions. This is a player who left Kansas for New Mexico because of his behavior issues in Lawrence and was even suspended in New Mexico for being a "bad teammate." His athleticism and size (6-6, 205) make him an ideal replacement for free agent Tony Allen but I wonder if Giddens' off-court issues will replace Allen's. Still, I trust Danny Ainge. Just like I trust Theo Epstein & Co. and just like I trust Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli. That's what happens when you are responsible for assembling championship teams, you earn the benefit of the doubt. Ainge admitted he has questions about Giddens' maturity but knowing that guys like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, James Posey (he's coming back, I just know it), and Leon Powe will be teaching Giddens the right example, this should be a high reward pick for Boston... The C's were also active in the second round. They bought -- actually they stole -- Kansas State swingman Bill Walker from the Wizards and then invested in Turkish big man Semih Erden with the last pick of the night. Walker has the talent to be one of the best players in this draft. The only reason he slid into the second round were concerns about his knee. Walker tore ligaments in his knee as a freshman at K-State but returned last year to team with Michael Beasley and lead the Wildcats into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A projected lottery pick, Walker tore the meniscus in the same knee while working out for the draft in the spring. When healthy he is a very good scorer and his athleticism is off the charts. By sending the Wizards a small bag of cash for Walker's rights, the C's may have found themselves a player who can contribute immediately next year off the bench. Erden is a player we may never see play in Boston. That is the reality when you get drafted with the last pick of the draft. Still, it can't hurt to invest in a 6-11, 245-pound inside player who will continue his development in Europe. A year or five from now, Erden might be someone who helps the C's. Who would have thought Manu Ginobili would have been an All-Star and key piece on three Spurs championship teams when they took him with the 57th pick (second to last) of the 1999 Draft? Erden is a long shot but at a time when the Celtics are designing championship rings, long shots are more than acceptable... Like most drafts, trades dominated the night. The biggest of the night involved Minnesota and Memphis. The T-Wolves packaged the rights to OJ Mayo along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckener and in return received the rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. Memphis adds a potential star in Mayo. They can try and pair up Mayo with Rudy Gay or try and deal Mayo to Miami, who did not hide their interest in the USC product, for a package that would probably be based around Michael Beasley. The Grizzlies also were successful in ridding themselves of the 2-years and $13-million owed to glorified towel boy Cardinal but in return they add point guard Jaric and his 3-years and $21-million to a team stocked with point guards. Minnesota gets a skilled big man in Love to team with 2009 All-Star -- write it down -- Al Jefferson and one of the NBA's best shooters in Miller. For this to really be a steal for the T-Wolves, guard Randy Foye needs to elevate his game so that people in the Twin Cities won't be too upset when Mayo starts to play at an All-Star level. Overall, this looks like a good trade for both teams. Whenever two non-playoff teams make a draft night trade involving top five picks, I think of Roseanne and Tom Arnold making happy in a twin bed. It can get that ugly. This deal has some risk on both sides but I think it does make both teams better than they were at the end of last season... The Heat made a quiet but potentially brilliant move in sending two future second round picks to Minnesota for the rights to Mario Chalmers. Chalmers is a very solid point guard who can shoot the ball and he should be a great fit in Miami's backcourt playing next to Dwayne Wade, if Miami doesn't try and make a play for Mayo. Not a wise move by the Timberwolves, who needed a point guard... Portland made too many trades to keep track of but overall, I like their night. The Blazers entered the night with a roster filled with talent and inexperience as well as five picks. They then traded all five picks and in return received the rights to Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless, the rights to French forward Nicolas Batum and fourth-year forward Ike Diogu. When the Blazers feel they are truly ready to contend, a day that will come sooner than later, they will have a plethora of young talent to package to land a player that could put them over the top... I missed the first sixteen suits, I mean picks. All I know is that Bill Simmons wrote that Eric Gordon looked like a waiter from Johnny Rockets and Jerryd Bayless dressed like Mr. Roarke. There's always next year... The Nets made an interesting move as they prepare to clear money for a run at LeBron James in 2010. They sent Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. The Nets add a player with a lot of potential in "Chairman" Yi and also clear $10-million for a potential run at LeBron when he becomes a free agent in two years. Milwaukee adds a very good player in Jefferson. When they drafted West Virginia forward Joe Alexander later in the night, they acquired another solid player. Other than drafting Andrew Bogut ahead of both Chris Paul and Deron Williams in 2005 and handing a $500-million contract to a one-dimensional shooter like Michael Redd, things are looking good in Wisconsin... The Nets also made some solid picks. They took center Robin Lopez with the 10th pick, grabbed shooting forward Ryan Anderson at 21 and stole Chris Douglas-Roberts with the 40th pick. Adding that kind of young talent to a roster that features Devin Harris, Sean Williams, Marcus Williams, the Chairman and Nenad Krstic makes New Jersey an intriguing team. If they would just trade Vince Carter already and put out a sign telling their fans that when they move to Brooklyn, they will be led by LeBron, I would really like the direction of the Nets... The Bulls were wise to take Derrick Rose. Rose is a gifted player who should be able to make life easier for the rest of the Chicago roster. He showed he can carry a team to a championship level while at Memphis and he seems to have a good head on his shoulders. The biggest concern for the Bulls now is to find a way to package Kirk Hinrich and/or Ben Gordon to land the team a big man who can score inside. Until that happens, this team is still not a contender in the East... That scoring big man might be on his way to Toronto. I think Larry Bird had a pretty good draft in securing both a good wing player in Brandon Rush and a decent center in Roy Hibbert but even though Jermaine O'Neal is considered expensive ($44-million by 2010) and damaged goods (knees), I bet Larry Legend could have landed Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni for O'Neal. It would be better than TJ Ford and Rasho Nesterovic... The Knicks fans that hated the Danilo Gallinari pick last night will be lining up to buy his jersey by Christmas. Pairing Gallinari with my favorite Knick of all-time, David Lee, is a good start for Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni in the Apple... I still don't get why NBA teams often draft on potential and upside, two things that almost never pan out, over proven production and solid basketball skills. Golden State, a team on the verge of making the playoffs last year, drafted a 195-pound power forward in Anthony Randolph -- a player brimming with athleticism and potential -- while passing on proven college players like Darrell Arthur, Kosta Koufos and Mario Chalmers. It makes no sense... In college football, Penn State is known as Linebacker University and USC is known as Tailback University. In college hoops, should LSU be known as Potential-Filled Power Forward University? Ask Stromile Swift, Tyrus Thomas and Anthony Randolph... I often wonder how the Jazz have been competitive for almost every season since the late 1980s and then I see that Kosta Koufos, a 7-1, 265-pound center with real offensive skills, fall to them at the 23rd pick and I realize that other teams (Warriors, 76ers, Wizards) are just plain stupid... Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Danilo Gallinari, OJ Mayo, Eric Gordon, and Kevin Love will probably be All-Stars at some point in their career, playing along with Kobe, KG and LeBron. Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Bill Walker and Chris Douglas-Roberts might make some teams rue the day they passed over them in this draft, in the mold of Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Mark Price and Carlos Boozer. Gallinari, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, Ante Tomic, Nikola Pekovic, Semih Erden and Omer Asik are foreign players who could one day dominate the NBA Finals like Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Dirk Nowitzki. Of course Rose, Beasley, Gallinari, Mayo, Gordon, and Love could join LaRue Martin, Chris Washburn, and Roy Hinson as draft busts. Arthur, Chalmers, Walker, and CDR could very easiy disappear from the NBA without many of us knowing or caring. The foreign guys could end up as, well, just foreign guys. It's why I watch four hours of draft coverage, read pages of analysis and type thousands of mostly unread words. The NBA Draft is the next step for all 30 teams. With the smallest rosters in any of the four major professional team sports, one or two players can make an immediate difference... With all the reality crap on television, wouldn't a show about the Lopez twins actually be worth watching? Add in Chuck Daly as their roomate and I'd be glued to the tube... I would trade my freedom in return for the U.S. government sending Stu Scott and Stephen A. Smith on a spaceship to Mars. If Skip Bayless and Woody Paige were added to that trip, I would give my life... Can someone please look into signing former Duke guard DeMarcus Nelson? I know Coach K is a Hall of Famer and is about to coach the U.S.A. to the gold but his inability to develop a winner in Nelson's tenure in Durham should not be taken out on such a talented player... Am I 6-1 in sneakers, socks or bare feet? What should my wingspan be? Am I long? What is my upside? Questions you ask yourself after the NBA Draft... Rose, Beasley, Gordon and Gallinari will be first team All-Rookie and they will be joined by the 2009 Rookie of the Year................. Enjoy Greg Oden next season....

NBA Draft Thoughts

I will be posting my thoughts on the Draft and the NBA in general tonight at different points. I may start a little later than usual because I have a hoop game tonight at seven o'clock (weather permitting)... I have read that the Knicks are trying to get an additional first round pick and that they are offering David Lee as bait. I would probably shit my pants if Danny Ainge sent the 30th pick, Leon Powe and a future first rounder to the Knicks for Lee, a player who would improve the C's as a great energy player off the bench... The Jermaine O'Neal trade to Toronto makes the Raptors a very interesting team in 2008-09 if both O'Neal and TJ Ford pass their physicals. A frontline of O'Neal, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani and guards Jose Calderon and Anthony Parker would make the Raptors an interesting team in the East, a conference that is fairly weak after the Celtics, Pistons and Cavaliers... Teams to watch tonight are the Heat, Trailblazers, Bobcats and Knicks... I have a strong feeling that the best suit of the night will be rocked out by Anthony Randolph. A 19-year-old with a 6-11, 195-pound frame gives me hope...

NBA Mock Draft 2.0

The typical wheeling-and-dealing that we expect from the NBA Draft kicked off last night. The Pacers agreed to trade oft-injured star center Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for point guard TJ Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick in the draft. The deal is pending physicals for both O'Neal (knee) and Ford (spinal cord) but unless that changes before this post is completed, I will include those changes in the mock draft. Another smaller deal was consumated last night as the Nuggets traded the 20th pick to Charlotte for the rights to a future first round pick. Charlotte joins Portland, who took the 27th pick off the hands of New Orleans on Tuesday, as teams with Lottery picks who also have a pick in the 20's. Finally, there is still speculation about what the Heat will do with the 2nd pick. If the Bulls pull a surprise move and take Michael Beasley with the first pick, the Heat will waste no time in taking Derrick Rose back to South Beach. If the Bulls do the expected and take Rose, there is talk of Beasley going to Miami, the Heat taking Beasley and trading him or the Heat skipping over Beasley completely and drafting guards OJ Mayo or Jerry Bayless. If I was Pat Riley, the only way I would trade Beasley is if there was a way to send him to Los Angeles in return for Clippers forward Elton Brand. To me, it doesn't make sense to pair Dwayne Wade with another young guard who has a similar skill set and if you don't want Beasley, go for a veteran you can pair Wade and Shawn Marion with to try and make a run at the championship like the Celtics did this past season. Anyways, here is Mock Draft 2.0. If you want to see my commentary for the picks that have not changed, click here. I will only add commentary in this mock draft for picks that I have changed from yesterday. 1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis 2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State 3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA 4. Seattle Sonics: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford Maybe it's because I believe so much in defense and rebounding but faced with a choice of adding a scoring guard (Mayo, Bayless, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon) or a 7-footer with skill when you already have a potential league scoring champion in Kevin Durant, you go with the big man. 5. Memphis Grizzlies: OJ Mayo, SG, USC Memphis will not hesitate to grab Mayo if he is on the board at No. 5. His all-around skill set should mesh nicely with the Grizzlies. Memphis could possibly package this pick with one of their young point guards to move up to No. 3 to make sure they get Mayo, if Miami does not draft the talented guard. 6. New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy There will be a lot said about Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni playing with Gallinari's father in Italy during the 1980s but faced with a trio of guards -- Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook and Bayless -- that are not sure things (of course, NONE of the players in this draft are sure things), the Knicks could fall in love with Gallinari's overall game. 7. Los Angeles Clippers: Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona 8. Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia 9. Charlotte Bobcats: Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA The Hornets need another option at point guard to go with Ray Felton. Westbrook is a terrific defender who is still developing as an offensive player. Playing as a rookie for Larry Brown will teach him the position. 10. New Jersey Nets: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford Lopez' stock is rising, maybe a little bit too fast, but there is value in an athletic, tough big man who defends and rebounds. Pairing Lopez with Sean Williams and Josh Boone would give the Nets a solid group of big men as they try and rebuild on the fly. 11. Indiana Pacers: Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana Gordon is one of my favorite players in this draft and after acquiring TJ Ford from Toronto, the Pacers will be very happy to add a homegrown talent like Gordon, especially with his offensive capabilities. Remember what I wrote yesterday, this kid could be a Dwayne Wade type of player. 12. Sacramento Kings: DJ Augustin, PG, Texas The Kings need a point guard in the worst way and Augustin would be a nice fit for the Kings. Playing with Kevin Durant as a freshman, he proved he could run an offense and last year he showed he is capable of taking the scoring burden onto his shoulders. 13. Portland Trailblazers: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU The Blazers really do not need any more young players but with Greg Oden set to return healthy in 2008-09, they can afford to allow Randolph time to mature physically while he also develops his game. 14. Golden State Warriors: Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State Koufos would be a better fit for the Warriors and Nellie-ball than the player I projected here yesterday, Jason Thompson, because he is better facing the basket than Thompson. 15. Phoenix Suns: Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas 16. Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights, PF, Florida Philly needs a big body who can score in the post and the 6-10 Speights fits that need. 17. Indiana Pacers: Jason Thompson, C, Rider After trading away O'Neal, the Pacers need to try and replace some of his scoring and rebounding inside. 18. Washington Wizards: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas 19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas The Cavs need a young point guard to team with restricted free agent Delonte West to give some balance to their offense. Chalmers played on a talented Kansas team and ran their offense all the way to the national championship. LeBron will like his play-making ability and his shooting. 20. Charlotte Bobcats: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown Hibbert may not be filled with "upside" or "potential" but he did improve over his four years as a Hoya and he could play immediately as a reserve for the Bobcats. 21. New Jersey Nets: Ryan Anderson, PF, California The Nets need a forward who can score and after a stellar sophomore season at Cal (21.1 ppg), Anderson is a solid choice. 22. Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky 23. Utah Jazz: Kyle Weaver, PG, Washington State The Jazz are pretty solid but they do need a backup point guard to give Deron Williams a rest. Weaver played on some very good Cougar teams the last two seasons and was called the "ultimate team player" in one of his scouting reports. 24. Seattle Sonics: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis If the Sonics go big early in the draft, adding a wing scorer as talented as CDR with the 24th pick will make for a nice night. Many experts expect GM Sam Presti to steal a move from his days with the Spurs and take a foreign player who will develop overseas for at least a year or two but the Sonics have too many holes to fill to gamble away a first round pick. 25. Houston Rockets: Donte Green, PF, Syracuse Green needs to get stronger but he can shoot the ball and the Rockets need power forwards with that skill to clear space on the floor for Yao and McGrady. 26. San Antonio Spurs: DJ White, PF, Indiana The Spurs need to start developing some young alternatives up front to compliment Tim Duncan. White is a talented player who can score inside and rebound. 27. Portland Trailblazers: Nicolas Batum, SF, France The Blazers went after this pick to find a foreign player that they could keep overseas for at least a year. Batum is very skilled and falls this far due to a slight problem with his physical and a subpar season in France. 28. Memphis Grizzlies: DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M With the Grizzlies learning that Marc Gasol will join them next year, the Grizz can use this pick to select a project like Jordan. Some people see a homeless man's Dwight Howard but if you look a little deeper, you will find Lorenzen Wright, a Memphis homie. 29. Detroit Pistons: JJ Hickson, PF, NC State 30. Boston Celtics: Ante Tomic, C, Croatia After hearing Danny Ainge talk yesterday, I am convinced the C's are trading this pick or using it on a European project. Tomic is a skilled big man who needs to add strength to his 7-2 frame. Hopefully not another Stojko Vrancovic.

Random Thoughts (June 26, 2008)

I am kicking myself this morning for not going into Fenway Park as I had planned on to see Tim Wakefield battle Randy Johnson. Wakefield was brilliant over seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and walking just one batter while striking out six. The Big Unit was solid as well, going six innings and allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five.

It was another good night for the Good Guys as the Sox won 5-0 and maintained their one-game lead in the AL East over the Rays...

More good news for the Red Sox. David Ortiz has begun to take some swings off of a batting tee and should be ready to rejoin the Red Sox sometime in the next month. Adding Big Papi to this team will be a major boost and the Sox may run away with the division sometime in August...

My NBA Mock Draft will be updated at some point in the morning. The Jermaine O'Neal-TJ Ford trade and the Charlotte-Denver trade have changed up the first round...

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced in a press conference yesterday that the B's will try to be aggressive when the NHL free agency period opens next week.

One name Bruins fans will salivate over is Penguins forward Marion Hossa. Hossa is a top goal scorer who would look great playing with Marc Savard. Another name to keep an eye on is Sharks defenseman Brian Campbell.

To get into the bidding for Hossa and/or Campbell, the B's will have to shed payroll. Glen Murray is almost definitely gone, which doesn't bother me at this stage of his career. Another name that has been tossed around as expendable is Phil Kessel. Kessel is one of the few young B's that has the potential to be a long term productive player, I hope that they don't give up on him so soon...

It's probably already in your mailbox or bathroom but these pictures certainly made me a happy man

Enjoy David Stern tonight...

NBA Mock Draft

For the first time in years, the NBA Draft has kind of snuck up on me. I guess that's what happens when your team wins the NBA Championship. For this mock draft I am combining the things that I have read and heard along with what players best fit the team that is drafting. It will be a little bit of what teams are likely to do and a little bit of what teams should be doing. After years and years of watching draft picks fail to pan out in the NBA, I'm hoping that teams start to draft for need rather than who might have the best "potential" or "upside." 1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis After watching the Hornets and Jazz become legitimate NBA powers due to the emergence of Chris Paul and Deron Williams respectively, Rose is a great pick for the Bulls. His ability to get to the rim will open things up on the outside for Ben Gordon and Luol Deng and it will create easy scoring opportunities inside for Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. 2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State After Heat forward Shawn Marion announced yesterday that he will stay in Miami through at least next season, the Heat are reportedly looking to deal this pick to a team drooling over Beasley or select either OJ Mayo or Jerryd Bayless. To me, Beasley makes the most sense at this spot regardless of who is making the pick, he will instantly add scoring and rebounding. A trio of Dwayne Wade, Marion and Beasley would be tough to guard. 3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA Love has been knocked for his lack of athleticism but after watching him play at least a dozen times during the past year, I could care less how fast he is or how high he can jump. Love is a terrific offensive player who rebounds at a high level and is a tremendous passer, one of the most undervalued skills in basketball. A frontline of Love and Al Jefferson, along with Corey Brewer and Randy Foye on the wings, is a good start in the rebuilding of the T-Wolves. 4. Seattle Sonics: OJ Mayo, SG, USC Mayo has every tool to be a star in the NBA. He can score, he can pass and he has the ability to be a lockdown defender on the perimeter. Pairing him with Kevin Durant will make the Sonics relevant again in the NBA. 5. Memphis Grizzlies: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford The Grizzlies are set at both point guard (Mike Conley Jr., Kyle Lowry, Javaris Crittenton) and forward (Rudy Gay, Mike Miller, Hakim Warrick, Darko Milicic) but lack a center who can rebound and score. Lopez might not provide the flash that Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook and Jerryd Bayless do but he certainly fills a need in Memphis. 6. New York Knicks: Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA The Knicks are finally beginning the process of cleaning up the mistakes made under the reign of Isiah the Terrible. With a roster full of overpaid players (except for David Lee, who is actually underpaid) who Donnie Walsh will be trying desperately to unload, the Knicks need to develop a young point guard. Westbrook's offense still needs to improve but he could impact a game on defense similar to Rajon Rondo. 7. Los Angeles Clippers: Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona In his one season at Arizona, Bayless proved he could score the basketball at almost any time he wanted. Bayless would provide the Clips with a nice complimentary scorer along with Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. 8. Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia In my opinion, Eric Gordon is a better player than Alexander but a quick peek at the Bucks roster reveals that Milwaukee is already home to scoring guards Michael Redd and Mo Williams. Unless the Bucks have plans to dump either Redd or Williams, Alexander makes more sense. Alexander is a talented and tough player who should mesh well with new coach Scott Skiles. 9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State Like the Bucks, Charlotte has enough scoring options on the wing to make Gordon a luxury and teams that live in the Lottery can not afford luxury items. Koufos is young but he is a legitimate seven-footer and has a nicely developed offensive game. Point guard is another position of need. 10. New Jersey Nets: Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana This is not Paul Pierce dropping to the Celtics in 1998 or Caron Butler dropping to the Heat in 2002 but if this scenario plays out, Gordon dropping to New Jersey at No. 10 could be one of the real steals of this draft. Gordon was knocked for his late season slump but the chaos that ensued from the firing of Kelvin Sampson is an excuse that I understand. I usually hate hyperbole but I really think that Gordon has the chance to be a Dwayne Wade type of player -- a scorer who creates for teammates. 11. Indiana Pacers: DJ Augustin, PG, Texas The Pacers need to finally admit they are going nowhere with Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley and change their approach. Augustin is an upgrade over Tinsley and brings a winning background to Indiana. 12. Sacramento Kings: Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas The Kings are set on the wing with Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia and John Salmons. They could look for a post player to add to the group of Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes and Shelden Williams but the best value, and biggest need, is at point guard and after watching Chalmers do his thing against Memphis in the national championship game, he is the best fit for the Kings. 13. Portland Trailblazers: Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy Portland is loaded at almost every position with young talent. They could use depth at small forward and Gallinari, a highly skilled offensive player, could turn into a steal at 13. GM Kevin Pritchard could also use his wealth of young talent to make a blockbuster move for a veteran in the next year or two, similar to what Danny Ainge did in Boston. 14. Golden State Warriors: Jason Thompson, C, Rider Thompson is a bit of an unknown but he did average 20/10 his junior and senior years of college and is a big, strong presence inside. The Warriors do need more scoring inside so Thompson would be a wise choice. 15. Phoenix Suns: Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas One of the biggest issues for Phoenix this decade has been their inability to develop enough good young players to create depth on their roster. That's what happens when you give away first round picks (Luol Deng, Rajon Rondo) to avoid paying their salary. Rush is a good shooter who plays unselfishly, a perfect fit in Phoenix. 16. Philadelphia 76ers: Alexis Ajinca, C, France Even after their modest attempt at upsetting the Pistons, the 76ers are still years away from truly contending for a championship. Ajinca needs to develop more physically but he has a solid offensive game and if he can produce just a little bit of offense, he could compliment Sam Dalembert's interior defense. 17. Toronto Raptors: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford The Raptors have a frontline that is skilled (Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani) but needs to add toughness. Lopez did a great job in college of doing the dirty work while his brother was free to score and rebound. Bosh will love having that type of player next to him in Toronto. 18. Washington Wizards: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas Arthur has a skill set similar to Wizards free agent forward Antawn Jamison. His ability to score will either give the Wiz a solid role player to go along with Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Jamison or be a potential replacement for Jamison if he leaves. 19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis I have seen CDR much lower in most mock drafts but his ability to shoot and score is needed in Cleveland and his ability to co-exist and flourish with a superstar in college (Derrick Rose) will help him adjust to playing with LeBron. 20. Denver Nuggets: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU Randolph is the perfect example of a young player who showed flashes of brilliance and then listened when people said his potential made him a lottery pick. Not many 6-11, 195-pound power forwards have succeeded in the NBA. The reason that Randolph makes sense for Denver is because with the Nuggets rumored to be on the verge of trading away one of their stars (Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby), Randolph's potential could be added to a deal to make a team feel better about adding a big contract. 21. New Jersey Nets: Marreese Speights, PF, Florida After sitting behind Al Horford as a freshman, Speights played well for the Gators last year. His size (6-10, 250) and scoring ability (14.5 ppg) would be welcome additions in Jersey. 22. Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky Lee, a 40% shooter from behind the arc in college, is the kind of shooter that will make opponents suffer if they double team Dwight Howard. Lee is a guy I would love to see slip to the Celtics. 23. Utah Jazz: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown Hibbert is not very mobile but his size fits a need in Utah and he has a developing offensive game. 24. Seattle Sonics: DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M Jordan is very raw but as the Sonics rebuild, they can afford to allow the 20-year-old big man time to develop his game. The few Sonics fans that remain won't notice his struggles as they focus on Durant, Jeff Green and whoever they draft at No. 4. 25. Houston Rockets: Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State A knee injury is all that keeps Walker out of the Lottery. His explosiveness might take a while to return but Walker will be a good player, especially playing next to Tracy McGrady and Yao. 26. San Antonio Spurs: Ryan Anderson, PF, California Chad Ford, the little geek at ESPN.com, reports the Spurs have promised to draft Anderson. His shooting touch (41% on 3's) will help spread the floor in San Antonio. 27. Portland Trailblazers: Ante Tomic, C, Croatia The Blazers acquired this pick from the Hornets yesterday. They can afford to store the 7-2 Tomic in Europe while he develops both his game and body. 28. Memphis Grizzlies: Donte Green, PF, Syracuse Green would join young forwards Gay and Warrick in the makings of a very athletic frontline in Memphis. His shooting touch (35% on 3's) will help get him time as a rookie. 29. Detroit Pistons: JJ Hickson, PF, NC State The Pistons are getting old and slow inside and a phsical presence like Hickson (6-10, 245) will help them get younger. If Hickson lands here, he should trail around Antonio McDyess and follow his example. 30. Boston Celtics: Malik Hairston, SG, Oregon I have not heard or read anything about Hairston being linked with the C's but his size (6-5) and range (43% on 3's as a junior and senior) could make him an excellent understudy for Ray Allen.

NBA Draft Note

My NBA Mock Draft will be posted sometime tomorrow morning but before I do that, I would like to post the following comment from Bill Simmons 2006 NBA Draft Diary from ESPN.com: 9:40 -- Just when this draft couldn't get any crazier, my beloved Celtics just bought the 21st pick from Phoenix to take Rajon Rondo, the Kentucky guard who Chad Ford touted all summer because he mistakenly thought Rondo was foreign. Unfortunately, Rondo can't shoot. This is an understatement. As Bilas says, "Teams in the SEC didn't even guard him." Put it this way: The list of NBA teams that won an NBA title with a point guard who couldn't shoot looks like this: 1. (empty) 2. (empty) 3. (empty) On the other hand, my Celtics moles told me that Rondo absolutely DESTROYED Foye and Williams in their workout a few weeks ago. So who knows? God, I'm a sap ... I'm not trying to shoot down the Sports Guy, my point is that even those of us who actually watch college basketball and the NBA and who are even remotely in-tune with the possible needs of an NBA franchise really have no idea what is going to happen to the players drafted tomorrow night. Please keep that in mind when my mock rolls out tomorrow.

Random Thoughts (June 23, 2008)

What a weekend! I have been living healthy for well over a month and have killed myself to try and get into shape. That plan went out the window on Saturday and Sunday. I spent Saturday down the Cape at my friends wedding. The reception was at the Wychmere Harbor Club in Harwichport, located directly on Nantucket Sound. It was a great time. The food was excellent, the view was amazing and, after six weeks, the beers were ice cold and very tasty. Cheating on my diet could not be confined to just one day of pleasure. Yesterday I went to City Hall Plaza in Boston and thoroughly enjoyed the BBQ Beach Party put on by the Phantom Gourmet. I gorged on ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, potato salad, and baked beans. It was out of this world good. The best ribs were grilled up by the Aussom Aussie and after tasting the sauce at Butch's, I bought two bottles. I'm getting sick just thinking about my behavior this weekend but it was well worth it... The NBA Draft is on Thursday and I will have an updated mock draft on the way before then. Some interesting rumors are floating around. One has the Miami Heat shipping Dwayne Wade to the Bulls for the No. 1 overall pick, Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes. The Heat would then have the top two picks on Thursday (Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley most likely) along with a decent guard in Hughes and a good prospect in Thomas. The Bulls would add Wade to a backcourt of Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich and a frontline of Joakim Noah, Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden. This makes sense for Miami, a team that celebrated a championship two years ago but got old in a hurry. They could rebuild with Rose, Beasley and Thomas. For the Bulls, this trade makes sense to me only if they re-sign talented swingman Luol Deng and then move Gordon for a frontcourt scorer. The second trade rumor that caught my attention was the Phoenix Suns sending forward Boris Diaw to Toronto for guard TJ Ford and the 17th pick. To me, Phoenix is in serious panic mode. This is a franchise that ran Joe Johnson out of town, sells off first round picks (thanks for Rajon Rondo, 21st pick in 2006) to save cash and then goes out and trades for the remains of Shaq. I like them acquiring Ford, a player who is a health risk but would be perfect in a backup role behind Steve Nash. The Suns would also add the 17th pick to the 15th pick, allowing them to add some young depth. With Terry Porter replacing Mike D'Antoni, the Suns are already changing up some of the things that worked so well for them the last four years. Making a move like this, to get deeper and younger, would make me believe they are ready to transition into the future... The man in charge of operating the bright lights of the Boston sports spotlight can now direct his attention to Fenway Park. Hope you enjoyed April, May and June boys because we will all be watching you with a close eye for the rest of the summer... When the time comes, will anyone actually miss Dan Shaughnessy? I know that I won't... The Patriots open up training camp in just about one month... I can't say that I have watched every second of every game but the European Socc... err, Futbol Championships have caught my attention... Enjoy Manny Ramirez tonight...

Game 6 Loose Balls

Every aspect of this game has been covered. Here is a simple list of thanks: Thank you Wyc Grousbec. You put your money where your mouth is. Thank you Paul Pierce. It's been a roller coaster ride for you in Boston but you stuck it out through some tough times and you have been rewarded -- and rewarded us -- with an NBA championship. Thank you Kevin Garnett. You made basketball matter in Boston for the first time sime George H. Bush was president. Thank you Ray Allen. That jump shot came to life in the Finals. Thank you Danny Ainge. You had a plan, you stuck by that plan when everyone was calling you an idiot and that plan brought us Banner 17.

Thank you Doc Rivers. What you were doing worked.

Thank you Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. You two stepped up your games and took the C's from contender to champion.

Thank you James Posey. Please do not leave us.

Thank you Eddie House. Not only do you snipe 3's, your son's excitement during the season was an added bonus on the sidelines.

Thank you PJ Brown. I hope you enjoyed the first one so much that you will come back for more.

Thank you Kevin McHale. I love Al Jefferson as much as anyone but, well, you know.

Thank you Sully's Tap. The Baseball Tavern of the Garden neighborhood.

Thank you Halftime Pizza. Slices as big as a house and a good draft beer.

Thank you Kobe. I just wish you had asked me before you left for the post office in Game 6, I had some mail I needed to be dropped off too.

Thank you to the entire 2007-2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics. I am not a bandwaggon fan, I spent many a night on Causeway Street in the decade of Rick Pitino - Ricky Davis and I never lost hope. You rewarded that dedication. THANK YOU!!!

The Summer Wind

My final post from Room 226 at Milton High School until September. Ahh, the memories. Summer vacation kicks off in about one hour, giving me four days away from MHS until summer school kicks off a week from today. As I drift through my last 59 minutes, here is the list of the 27 things I would love to do this summer. 1. For one day, hire Morgan Freeman to narrarate my life. "And that's when Billy decided it was time to get busy living or get busy drinking." 2. Attend the Boston Celtics championship parade. 3. Play one round of golf with my father. 4. Take a trip to New York for the All-Star Game and watch Terry Francona be introduced as the American League manager before leaving to watch the game from the Yankee Tavern. 5. Read Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." 6. Watch at least one Cape Cod League baseball game. 7. See an Obama speech live in person. 8. Learn how to fly fish. 9. Finally see a Portland SeaDogs game at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. 10. Dunk a basketball, one last time. 11. Spend an entire day at the JFK Library. 12. Talk to Bobby Finstock and figure out why he didn't protest when Mick stood under the basket when Scott took the free throws at the end of the game. 13. Sip a cold beer while watching Manny Ramirez take batting practice. 14. Play 100 games of wiffle ball. 15. Sip a cold beer while watching Tom Brady run the Patriots offense. 16. Spend a day on the campus of Harvard, trying to soak in its brilliance. 17. Figure out how my sister got brave enough to spend the fall semester of her senior year in Australia. 18. Eat seafood without getting sick. 19. Go for a run on the banks of the Charles River. 20. Take a hike in the Berkshires. 21. Seriously look into buying my first home. 22. Read the Bible and figure out if it means anything to me. 23. See Will Ferrell's new movie, Step Brothers. 24. Win a game in my softball league. 25. Enjoy the Olympics. 26. Win the gold medal with my boy's basketball team at the Bay State Games. 27. Take steps toward becoming a better history teacher.

Game 5 Loose Balls

A few quick-hit thoughts from last night:

• Kevin Garnett can not miss those free throws
• Kobe Bryant fouled Pierce
• Pierce played like he wanted the series to end
• Kendrick Perkins' shoulder injury scares me
• the Celtics can not win if Rondo is held to 15 minutes
• the same goes for Leon Powe and five minutes
• the series ends tomorrow night

Knowing his history as a player, I can't say I'm shocked that Kevin Garnett missed those two free throws. KG is an animal and he is the reason why the C's transformed from irrelevant team to championship contender but if for some reason the C's choke away Games 6 and 7 -- which will not happen, by the way -- then I will be haunted by those two misses for a very long time...

That said, I still love watching KG play and will always remember him for making the C's a real live NBA team again. Those two free throws won't cost us this series and I fully expect him to go off for 33 points, 22 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks tomorrow night in a Celtic rout...

For those of you who have ever read at least one of my football picks columns in the fall, you know I'm one or two bad picks away from becoming the second coming of Eddie Mush.

With that on the table, I am proud to say that the Celtics are making me some money on their way to the Larry O'Brien trophy. They have covered the spread in each game of the Finals, making them the perfect fit for the Boston gambler who only bets the home team...

Pierce has outplayed Kobe for five games. It is a trend that must continue...

This bit of bad news about Ray Allen comes from the basketball website TrueHoop:

TrueHoop reports: Celtics Coach Doc Rivers later issued a statement: "Ray Allen was forced to leave Staples Center tonight right at the conclusion of tonight's game due to a health issue with one of his children. We ask that you please respect Ray's privacy at this time, and we'll keep you up to date as best we can moving forward."

My best wishes go out to Ray and his family...

If I'm working in public relations for the Celtics, I am booking tickets for Russell, Havlicek, Sanders, Jones, Cowens, Parish, Cousy, White, McHale, Cheney, Silas, Jones, Fitch, Bird and any other living legend to be at the Direct Deposit Garden tomorrow night.

We need that building to be rocking...

C's in 6...

Game 4 Loose Balls

Even the oldest of old timers loved last nights win. For once, Paul Pierce can proudly proclaim "Oh yeah, (insert name of Celtic legend here) NEVER did that in the Finals!!!" The Celtics were down 24 at different times in the first half and trailing 58-40 at halftime. Rajon Rondo's ankle was gimpy and left him rather ineffective (5 points and 2 assists in 17 minutes). Kendrick Perkins may have seriously reinjured his shoulder. I could have played better than Sam Cassell. I never expected this team to rally to win this game. Rondo has been the key to their wins and he was out. Perk, who has played well against the soft Lakers post players, was out. They have struggled tremendously on the road. Hope was lost. Hope returned in the form of Doc Rivers. Doc went to the best possible lineup he had: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, James Posey and Eddie House with a little bit of PJ Brown, Leon Powe and Tony Allen off of the bench. This group defended, rebounded and scored as if the Lakers could care less about what the Celtics were doing. The C's closed the third quarter on a 21-3 run to cut the deficit to two points going into the fourth. Every Laker, from Kobe and Phil to Sasha and Pau, looked scared. At one point, as the C's blew three opportunities to take the lead, it looked like the Lakers would survive. But then Posey knocked down a three pointer from the corner, Pierce and Garnett established themselves offensively and Ray Allen (more on him later) closed the game out. While this was happening, Kobe (more on him later) and the rest of the Purple and Gold watched their season fade away. 97-91, Celtics... Ray Allen, the often forgotten member of the "Big 3", certainly reminded us all of why he is a great basketball player last night. In Game 3, Ray showed flashes of his ability to take over a game in the third quarter but then disappeared behind the curtain of the "Wonderful Traveling Pierce & Garnett Pick and Roll Show" during the fourth, when the Celtics choked away the game. Last night the man known as Jesus Shuttlesworth would not allow himself to blend into the background when the game entered crunch time. Allen came up with important rebounds, a crucial steal and three turn-back-the-clock-to-1997 drives to the hoop, including the one that sealed the game against a hopeless (and, obviously, defenseless) Sasha Vujacic. It has been said and written countless times this year about how, out of the "Big 3", Allen has sacrificed the most for this team to succeed. I tend to agree with that. Pierce was the alpha male on the perimeter and Garnett became to the go-to guy inside. Many nights, Allen sat and waited from the corner. Since Game 2 of the Detroit series, it seems almost as if Allen decided that he would never forgive himself for watching and waiting if the season went down the tubes and the C's failed to win a title. Including that Game 2 loss to the Pistons, Allen has scored 25, 14, 11, 29, 17, 19, 17, 25 and 19 points (19.6 points per game). He has elevated his play at an absolutely crucial time, giving the C's a much needed second option from the outside. He is also about to finally win a championship... On the other side of the superstar spectrum, can the debate about Kobe Bryant being the next Jordan officially end? Kobe is the best player in the NBA these days, there is no question. But Jordan's Bulls would never have lost a lead like Kobe's Lakers did last night. Jordan could have played with me, you and two drunks from Murphy's Bleachers in the second half to win that game last night... Is Doc Rivers winning the NBA championship over Phil Jackson the equivalent of Zach Johnson beating Tiger Woods at the Masters last year? I say that the Johnson win is more of an upset. You know Red Auerbach, after releasing a mouthful of cigar smoke, would certainly agree... PJ Brown. Wow... The 2007 Draft Lottery ping-pong ball nightmare is nothing more than a distant memory and funny antecdote at this point...

Red Sox Thoughts (June 12, 2008)

Last year, when JD Drew was struggling to hit, stay healthy and live up to the 5-year/$70-million contract he signed, my brother Adam began to call him "DJ Werd" because it seemed like he was going backwards every day. There were some signs in September and October that Drew was the kind of player we hoped he could be, especially the Grand Slam he crushed in Game 6 of the ALCS. Still, did anyone think he would slide into the three-hole in place of the injured David Ortiz and play like a reincarnation of Mickey Mantle? Ortiz hurt his wrist on May 31 and since then, Drew has played like an MVP. His numbers in June might push him to the All-Star Game. He is 16-for-32 in June -- .500 -- with 5 HR and 13 RBI and a ridiculous OPS (the combined on-base percentage and slugging percentage) of 1.761. For the year, Drew is posting .320/9/35/.968, stats that make him a strong candidate to play at Yankee Stadium on July 15. Along with Drew tearing the cover off the ball, Manny Ramirez (.305/15/48/.951) and Kevin Youkilis (.295/9/39/.868) have carried the Boston offense. Maybe we should be calling Drew "DJ Werd" for turning around his season while putting the Red Sox offense on his back... Food for thought. If Ortiz returns at a time when DJ Werd is still killing the baseball, would it be a terrible thing to put Ortiz in the five-spot while he works his way back into shape. Imagine this lineup: Ellsbury - CF Pedroia - 2B Drew - RF Ramirez - LF Ortiz - DH Lowell - 3B Youkilis - 1B Varitek - C Lugo - SS I'm not saying Big Papi should permanently move down in the lineup but if Drew is still playing like Mantle, there is no reason to disrupt him and it allows Papi to work himself back without the added pressure of hitting in the three-hole... Buster Olney had an interesting "What If" on his Insider Blog on ESPN.com yesterday. Olney stated that if CC Sabathia were to become available in July, the Red Sox could make a strong bid for the 2007 Cy Young winner without including Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson. According to Olney, the Sox could start their offer with Double-A Portland pitcher Michael Bowden and add some lower level prospects. And if Sabathia's asking price was too high for Boston in the winter, they could allow him to leave via free agency and get two first round draft picks. It is strictly hypothetical but it is something to think about... Watching Doc Rivers fumble through his bench during the playoffs (and the past four years for those of you paying attention), I admire the job Terry Francona does even more... Enjoy DJ Werd today...

Lifting Mock Draft 2.0

After posting my initial weight lifting mock draft yesterday, I have tapped into my wide network of sources to get a better idea of what will go down this afternoon at the MHS Lifting Draft. This draft combines the drama of the Entwistle murder trial, the intrigue of the presidential election and the hidden agendas of the CIA. This morning I witnessed Eric Menchi toss Doug Graham in a locker when Graham tried to sneak a peak at Menchi's big board. Tensions are running high, if Coach Traister doesn't get this thing started on time, blood could be shed. After checking with my moles and secret sources, here is my updated mock draft of rounds one through six. ROUND ONE 1. TEAM SOMMERS: Brendan Gallahue, Junior The reports of Gallahue skipping out on the MHS weightroom this summer turned out to be a sham. Gallahue will sign with TEAM SOMMERS sometime before testing from what I am told. His signing bonus could break the record of the one signed by Tony Mandarich during his sophomore year lifting draft at Michigan State. 2. TEAM BRESLIN: Maduka Nwanekezi, Junior There are some smoke signals coming from Maduka's agent, the highly respected Joe Lynch, that Maduka will be tough to sign if he slips from the top spot. Breslin is a shrewd negotiator, I think Maduka will report on time. 3. TEAM CONNOR: Max Opara, Senior Nothing has changed here. After combining to help MHS win the State Class C championship in the 4x400, Connor and Opara want a weightroom title. 4. TEAM MENCHI: Rasheed Wells, Sophomore Wells is expected to toss up some impressive numbers at today's testing. Menchi has seen Wells at work and will be excited if he slips to the fourth pick. 5. TEAM GRAHAM: Kyle Cushing, Junior There have been some rumors floating through the halls of MHS that the man known as Newman could rise into the top 3, if not the overall first pick. There are some issues with Newman's availability to travel all the way from the E to reach the high school three times a week but Graham, pending an investigation of the DMV into some unpaid parking tickets, has a drivers license and a car to transport his first round pick to and from the weightroom. 6. TEAM BROWN: Chris Collier, Senior The "Thriller" has moonwalked into the first round according to people who are in the know. 7. TEAM CARTEN: Joey Major, Junior The combination of Carten and Major is a match made in Coach Turrissi's heaven. These two are constant reminders to the rest of the team that dedication and effort with weights and running does pay off. 8. TEAM DURGIN: Ricmyr St. Cyr, Senior Durgin's scouts have been keeping tabs on St. Cyr for weeks. Will his agent, Randy Omoregie, accept late first round money for a lifter who provides top 3 value? That will be an issue. ROUND TWO 9. TEAM DURGIN: Daejon Simpson, Junior "Mustard" is first round value at the top of the second round. Durgin adds strength to his team after taking speed with St. Cyr. 10. TEAM CARTEN: Rashawn Poochie, Senior I have heard rumblings of Durgin having a strong interest in the Pooch but if he slips to Carten, he won't get past him. 11. TEAM BROWN: Matt Hunt, Sophomore Hunt is rising up the big board. The kid is a fixture in the weightroom and I would not be shocked to see someone take a chance on him in the first round. 12. TEAM GRAHAM: Kingsley Pierre, Junior Pierre has only been in Milton a short time but he has spent the bulk of that time lifting and running. 13. TEAM MENCHI: Nick Noonan, Sophomore Noonan has leaped over Rodeny Denis according to most experts because of his no-nonsense attitude. 14. TEAM CONNOR: Tom Phelan, Junior If Connor goes for speed in round one, he will need to add some bulk in round two. Phelan has been putting in the hours, he could have a breakout summer. 15. TEAM BRESLIN: Justin Stancato, Junior Breslin knows that his fellow wide receiver and cornerback will put in the time to improve. A potential steal this late in the draft. 16. TEAM SOMMERS: Sean Adley, Junior The talk of Adley vacationing in Maine won't go away but Sommers has assurance he will be here. ROUND THREE 17. TEAM SOMMERS: Rodney Denis, Junior The "Hot Rod" may be the clown prince of the MHS football team but beneath that irritating personality their is a competitive kid who wants to get better. 18. TEAM BRESLIN: Tomas Zayas, Junior An absolute steal if he lasts this long. The suspension for fighting is behind the "Doctor" and he is ready to get that bench press up to 250 pounds. 19. TEAM CONNOR: Chris Harrison, Sophomore This kid is the total package but there are questions about his attendance. 20. TEAM MENCHI: Matt Regan, Sophomore Menchi will be happy to have Regan as an understudy in the weightroom and on the field. 21. TEAM GRAHAM: Phil Clark, Senior Is this the summer that Clark answers the questions about his commitment? 22. TEAM BROWN: Ebuka Nwanekezi, Sophomore Is there a week when this kid skips a workout? 23. TEAM CARTEN: Kamani Jones, Sophomore Another newcomer, Jones could slip under the radar of most teams because they don't know who he is yet. He will prove that he belongs and is a potential first round pick in 2009. 24. TEAM DURGIN: Darner Alteon, Junior Getting a talent like Alteon this late makes Durgin a happy camper. ROUND FOUR 25. TEAM DURGIN: Olajuwon Dickerson, Sophomore A potential number one overall pick in 2009 or 2010, "Tootie" could lead TEAM DURGIN to a ring. 26. TEAM CARTEN: Ronald Calixte, Junior No one can challenge his effort during the winter and spring. 27. TEAM BROWN: Peter Tufts, Senior He has said all the right things this spring. Now, can he follow through? 28. TEAM GRAHAM: Kevin Walsh, Junior This kid puts in the time and is starting to get big. 29. TEAM MENCHI: Adrian Donahue, Sophomore Any kid that is compared to Forrest Gump -- strictly because of their speed on the gridiron -- is a great fourth round pick. 30. TEAM CONNOR: Cullen Cockrell, Junior Like the Colts taking undersized defensive lineman, Connor loves guys who run the ball and play secondary. 31. TEAM BRESLIN: Seamus Queally, Sophomore Can "Lude Jr." step up and help a contender? 32. TEAM SOMMERS: Alex Rush, Senior Rush is often overlooked because of injuries but he spent many a day or night in the weightroom last summer. ROUND FIVE 33. TEAM SOMMERS: Karl Rene, Junior ODK is telling his agent that he will never forgive the teams that passed on him. 34. TEAM BRESLIN: Rob O'Neil, Sophomore O'Neil can help out a team today, not many fifth round picks can claim that. 35. TEAM CONNOR: Tyler Dynan, Senior Connor needs to add bulk. "T-Bone" needs to add effort. 36. TEAM MENCHI: Tariq Taylor, Junior "Buddha" brings it every day. 37. TEAM GRAHAM: Jeremy Middleton, Junior A smart pick late in the draft. 38. TEAM BROWN: Simon Doktor, Senior Simon has shown signs lately that he can be a contributor. 39. TEAM CARTEN: Kerrigan Griffiths, Sophomore T-Cart prides himself on leadership and the "Squash" needs someone to follow in the weightroom. 40. TEAM DURGIN: Brendan Dempsey, Sophomore Tickets are sold with first and second round picks. Championships are won with fifth and sixth round picks. ROUND SIX 41. TEAM DURGIN: Cam Flaherty, Sophomore See above. 42. TEAM CARTEN: Jack Davis, Sophomore A potential mid-round pick, Davis could drop because of his commitment to Legion baseball. 43. TEAM BROWN: Dorall Hilton, Sophomore Brown takes a chance on a linebacker. 44. TEAM GRAHAM: Ryan Smith, Junior Possibly the steal of the sixth round. 45. TEAM MENCHI: Steven Cimildoro, Junior Cimildoro is fast and could be a factor. 46. TEAM CONNOR: McKendy Jean-Gillis A poor man's Ebuka Nwanekezi, "Big Mac" could be a force if he puts in the time. 47. TEAM BRESLIN: Dylan Olson, Sophomore Adding depth this late is the mark of a true champion. 48. TEAM SOMMERS: Sam Dorilas, Sophomore The Marty Moore of the 2008 lifting draft. Check in tomorrow or Friday to get the results of the draft and draft grades for each team.

Game 3 Loose Balls

Last night was the perfect atmosphere for a Laker rout. The NBA sent Bennett Salvatore to LA to make sure the Lakers got to the free throw line (the Lakers took 34 free throws). Kobe Bryant played like the early '90s Jordan, scoring 36 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Sasha Vujacic shot the ball like Reggie Miller and added 20 points off the bench. The crowd at Staples Center was into the game. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined to shoot 8-for-35 from the floor. Rajon Rondo hurt his ankle at the start of the third quarter and played very little in the second half. Final score? 87 - 81, Lakers. That tells me that the Celtics are the better team. On a night that they should have been blown out of the building, they hung tough and had a real chance to win the game. If the Celtics come back Thursday and Sunday with the intensity they had last night and get solid shooting nights from both KG and Pierce, this series will not return to Boston... Seriously, how amazing is Kobe when he decides that he is going to score... I am a little concerned that Doc Rivers turned the game over to Pierce in the final minutes. Pierce did not have a good game last night and I don't like when he gets the ball 20 feet from the hoop and tries to create, more bad things usually happen than good things. I know this is how the C's did things all season but on a night when Pierce was off and Ray Allen (25 points, 5-for-7 from behind the arc) had it going, I would have liked to see Allen and KG play a two-man game on the left side -- which they played to perfection during the third quarter when the Celtics tok control of the game -- with Pierce, Eddie House (a very good effort in relief of Rondo; nice move by Doc to finally sit Sam Cassell in favor of House) and James Posey on the weak side. The Lakers could not stop the Allen-Garnett tandem in the third when Doc went to this set because they had to respect the shooters on the weak side... Let's hope Rondo is back to at least 75-80% health by tomorrow night. He admitted after the game he was at about 50% in the second half... Gasol is a force on the low block when he chooses to be but he gives the Lakers next to nothing as an interior defender... I'm still sticking to my Celts in 6 prediction...

Mock MHS Lifting Draft

After decades of anticipation, hours of negotiations with administrators and a last minute waiver granted by Jeff Eckler, the first annual Milton High School football team weight lifting draft is just a day away. After talking with esteemed Milton Times columnist Ed Baker last week, this seems to be the first weight lifting draft at MHS since 1953. Back then, scores were given out based on the amount of times a player wore his "I Like Ike" button, how dedicated he was to Senator McCarthy and their ability to differentiate between a North Korean and a South Korean. How times have changed. This year, scores are to be based on individual participation and improvement as well as team participation. It will be a summer like no other in MHS football history. Yesterday I broke down the individual needs of each team. Today, I will unveil my Mock Draft for rounds one and two (check the MHS weightroom tomorrow for the full Mock Draft). Check back on Thursday as a I break down each teams selections and give out draft grades. ROUND ONE 1. TEAM SOMMERS: Maduka Nwanekezi, Junior Maduka is a solid first choice. He has commitment to the program and has really improved both his lifting and running numbers in the past year. 2. TEAM BRESLIN: Rasheed Wells, Sophomore The man known as "Coach" combines his natural gifts with a great work ethic. There are questions about his ability to improve on his speed. 3. TEAM CONNOR: Maxwell Opara, Senior Maxwell is strong and fast. After teaming with Connor to win the State Class C championship in 4x400 relay, Connor knows he can rely on Maxwell to get himself a championship. 4. TEAM MENCHI: Joey Major, Junior If you were to combine the hours spent in the weightroom by Menchi and Major, you might reach the amount of hours spent by Coach Gustowski at Fenway Park. 5. TEAM GRAHAM: Daejon Simpson, Junior After talking with the people at TEAM DURGIN, I know they will be disappointed if "Mustard" doesn't fall to them at No. 10. Graham has done his homework on this pick. 6. TEAM BROWN: Brendan Gallahue, Junior The first potential red flag selection. Gallahue is a hard worker but my sources tell me he is planning on attending an off-site workout facility this summer. His numbers should improve but he will cost any team that takes a shot at him crucial attendance points. 7. TEAM CARTEN: Kyle Cushing, Junior Newman could slide under the radar coming off a spring spent on MHS successful JV baseball team but Carten knows first round value when he sees it. 8. TEAM DURGIN: Rycmyr St. Cyr, Senior The "Quiet Assassin," St. Cyr will log as many hours in the weightroom this summer as Coach Turrissi. Great value at this end of the first round. ROUND TWO 9. TEAM DURGIN: Tomas Zayas, Junior Some experts felt that Zayas was first round material but after being suspended for figthing in school, character issues became a problem. I doubt he slides too far down the list. 10. TEAM CARTEN: Tom Phelan, Junior Carten and Phelan play basketball together in the winter so Carten knows Phelan will work hard. 11. TEAM BROWN: Rodney Denis, Junior Spending a summer with Rodney might be too much on some peoples nerves but Brown knows Rodney will work hard to improve. 12. TEAM GRAHAM: Justin Stancato, Junior Injuries have hurt Stanky to this point but if he can stay healthy, he could have a huge summer. 13. TEAM MENCHI: Chris Collier, Senior A dead-on Michael Jackson impersonator, Collier has 300-pound bench potential. 14. TEAM CONNOR: Darner Alteon, Junior If Connor makes a move on both Opara and Alteon he will be trading size for speed. That's not a bad trade considering the effort of Opara and Alteon, regulars in the weightroom. 15. TEAM BRESLIN: Kingsley Pierre, Junior Pierre is new to the scene at MHS. Remember though that at one point, David Ortiz was new to the Red Sox. 16. TEAM SOMMERS: Rashawn Poochie, Senior This is a classic high-risk, high-reward pick. Pooch could either be a regular in the weightroom or on Mars, no one really knows what will happen.

MHS Lifting Draft

After years of watching Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay tell me what to expect from the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars on NFL Draft weekend, I come to you today as the prophet for the latest phenomenon in the Milton High School football program. Yes, that's right, the MHS Wildcats are hosting a weight lifting draft. The brainchild of MHS quarterbacks coach and fitness guru John Turrissi, the draft will be among eight of our football seniors. Each of the eight senior general managers will draft a team of six lifters and will compete all summer in lifting and plyometric workouts. Points are awarded on individual attendance and performance as well as bonus points for total team dedication. The draft will be held on Wednesday and no, ESPN will not be on hand to cover the event this year. But when you think of the wasted hours of poker, billiards and Woody Paige on ESPN, maybe this event will get some love sometime in the next few years. Today I will give you a breakdown of the GM's and what needs they will bring to Wednesday's draft. Tomorrow there will be a full mock draft and Thursday morning I will give a recap of the draft as well as some grades. Here are the captains: Shad Sommers, OL/DL Shad is a beast in the weightroom. With hair that would make Sideshow Bob jealous and a physique that makes one remember Don Muracco's glory days, Shad's strength and speed give his club a huge advantage. Shad can lift for power and for a man of his size (6'2, 275) he runs an impressive 4.9 seconds in the 40 yard dash. Look for Shad to seek out fellow lineman Maduka Nwanekezi and Daejon Simpson in early rounds. Adding speed will be a priority in later rounds. Zack Breslin, WR/DB Breslin is one of Milton's most dedicated lifters. Often coming early or staying late during baseball season, Zack gets his work in whenever possible. Adding some strength will be a key. Don't be surprised if Zack makes a calculated risk and goes after a senior offensive lineman or two in the middle rounds. Phil Clark's name has been tossed around in some circles but I sense Breslin has taken a liking to Chris "Thriller" Collier. Paul Connor, FB Milton's top rusher and the state champion in the 400 yard dash, Connor is finally developing into a weightroom threat. Paul's numbers have improved and a summer spent in the hellfires of the MHS weightroom will make him tough to tackle in the fall. Like Breslin, Connor needs to add strength to his team. I noticed Connor scouting some sophomore cornerbacks at the combine so watch out for a late round selection of Darner Alteon or Cullen Cockrell. Eric Menchi, QB When you look up commitment in the dictionary, you will find two pictures. One will be of MHS defensive line coach Brian Mackinaw as he struggles fiercely in a padded room, the other will be of Menchi doing extra sets on a Friday, long after most of his teammates have called it a night. No less an expert than Bill Parcells once said, "You are what you are." Well, Eric Menchi is a worker and if I was being drafted, I'd want to be on this young man's squad. Sophomore linebacker "Coach" Rasheed Wells would be a perfect fit early and if he could add cornerback Ricmyr St. Cyr, Team Menchi could be an early favorite. Doug Graham, QB Graham is the Jim Druckenmiller of the MHS squad. The quarterback is stronger than most lineman, which is either an indication of Doug's strength or the weakness of most of our line. Or, maybe, it's both. Either way, look for Graham to take a midseason look at adding current rookie free agent Kevin Graham, his younger brother. His scouts have also been seen on the trail of a player simply known as "THE POOCH" and lineman Alex Rush. Jack Brown, TE/LB "Brownie" is a three year starter on defense for Milton and has serious potential to have a break out summer on the bench press and squat rack. The personal favorite of coaches Mackinaw and Jack Raymer, Brown has a lot of pressure on his young shoulders. A possible sleeper pick for Brown is Max Opara,a powerful and fast halfback. Brown was seen negotiating with Opara's agent, Randy Omoregie, over chocolate chip cookies in the cafeteria late last week. Tom Carten, OL/DL T-Cart is a warrior in the weightroom who usually does his best work without sleeves. Any player drafted by Carten better be committed to improving or there will be hell to pay. Keep an eye on Carten possibly moving up to nab Tyler "T-Bone" Dynan. Peter Tufts is another pick that makes sense for Carten. Coleman Durgin, OL/LB Picking last will be Coleman Durgin who like Menchi, Carten and Sommers, is as dedicated to improving his strength and speed as anyone who has put on a Wildcat uniform in the last five years. Picking at the end of round one and top of round two, Durgin will be able to make strength/speed selections, building up some necessary depth. Jake Feeney, James Walker and Simon Doktor would all benefit from a year under Durgin's guidance.

Game 2 Loose Balls

I am one extremly lucky sports fan. Not only are my favorite teams on top of the NBA, MLB and NFL, I have been a live spectator at some of their most important contetsts. Multiple ALCS games (Game 3 of 1999, Game 5 of 2003, Games 5 and 7 of 2004 and Game 7 of 2007). Multiple AFC Championship games (2004 and 2008). And now, finally, an NBA Finals Game. Last night was a great game to witness. The Celtics were absolutely blowing the Lakers out of the Garden. The few Lakers fans in my section were crying into their blackberries. Leon Powe had one of the great performances off of the bench in NBA history. Rajon Rondo looked like Bob Cousy. It was a 20 point game with under four minutes to play. And then Kobe struck. As much as Kobe fits the villain role to perfection, it's hard not to be in awe of his talent. Kobe completely took the game over in the closing minutes. Seriously, sitting in the stands last night, I was in fear of him every time the orange leather touched his fingers. He began to pull the Lakers back by driving into the Boston defense and when it collapsed on him, Kobe found open shooters. The Lakers looked like Hickory High in the fourth quarter, bombing open jump shots from everywhere. As this was happening, the Celtic offense, as it has done all through the playoffs, crawled to the finish. There was too much isolation for Pierce and not enough of Rondo going to the basket to create opportunities. As Kobe sensed the Lakers had a real shot at the comeback, he decided to get greedy. The kind of greedy that made legends out Jerry West, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Kobe glided past the defense and made shots that most of dream about in our backyard. He looked like a contortionist as he dipped under one defender and then rose over another to nail a jumper. With :38 seconds left, the Celtics were clinging to a 104 - 102 lead. Paul Pierce then rose to the occasion, forcing his way to the basket for a shooting foul and then he nailed both attempts. The ensuing Lakers possession ended without Kobe taking a shot (how does that happen?) and James Posey closed it out with two more free throws. The Celtics might lead this series 2 - 0 but they CAN NOT afford to let up on the Lakers as the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Games 3 - 5. They must go into Staples Center with the mentality to close out Kobe and the Lakers. If not, Kobe could put our championship hopes to rest... The chants of "LEON POWE!!! LEON POWE!!!" gave me serious goose bumps... Pau Gasol plays no defense but he is a joy to watch in the post. His footwork and ability to finish either right or left is McHale-esque... Two more wins. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant seem like distant memories today...

Game 1 Loose Balls

Unless some new medical information becomes available after the Finals, I have to qualify Paul Pierce's effort to return to the court last night for now as below Willis Reed's performance in the Knicks Game 7 win over the Lakers in the 1970 Finals but above Larry Bird's return from a mild head injury in the 1991 playoffs against the Pacers. Reed led the Knicks to the championship, Pierce won his team the crucial first game of the Finals, Bird clinched a first round series victory. When Pierce first went down, I thought the season was over. He was clutching his knee in a way that looked like he would be going under the knife at the New England Baptist and he was carried off and placed in a wheelchair, the magical season over, being pushed into the locker room. 6:49 remained in the third quarter of Game 1 but with no Paul Pierce to match Kobe Bryant, hope was vanishing. Then a funny thing happened. Pierce came back to the bench, walking under his own power. He checked back into the game with 5:22 on the clock in the third. The Garden was rocking and the team lifted its game to the moment. Pierce hit two huuuuuge three-pointers off great feeds in transition from Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett took control inside and the Celtic defense choked the Laker offense into submission. Pierce and the Celtics still have to win this series for last night to be validated as a truly legendary Celtic moment but for me, last night put Pierce's No. 34 into the rafters. He lifted his team to victory on the highest level of basketball, something that Boston will never forget... Doc Rivers finally figured out his playoff rotation. Since losing Game 4 to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, Doc has shortened his bench. Pierce, KG, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are playing a majority of the minutes with a bench of PJ Brown, James Posey, Sam Cassell playing regularly and both Leon Powe and Eddie House seeing situational duty. This isn't all Doc's fault. Perkins and Rondo were too inconsistent in the early rounds and Ray Allen didn't find his shooting touch until the end of the Detroit series. That forced Doc to try different combinations. Game 1 was a rousing success for Doc. He rode his top seven -- the starters plus Posey and Brown -- like Big Brown down the stretch, getting every single ounce of energy out of them. With television timeouts lasting longer than Flip Saunders on the Pistons bench and the extra days off in the Finals, Doc can afford to push his top players. The biggest challenge for Doc now will be his ability to counter the adjustments that Phil Jackson will make for Sunday's Game 2... The Celtic defense was very good last night but unlike the streaky LeBron James, I doubt Kobe will have too many more 9-for-26 nights... The C's not only won last night, they easily covered that three-point spread... Another Vegas-worthy note, I'm very happy with my +140 wager on the Celtics to win the series... Rajon Rondo arrived last night. It looked like Tony Parker in the 2003 Finals. He was aggressive and shot the ball fairly well. Although I pray every night that he will stop lobbing in some of his entry passes, they youngster showed he is ready for the big stage and hot lights... I know that Jeff Van Gundy will eventually return to the sideline and that Mark Jackson would like to be an NBA head coach as well, but the team of Mike Breen, Van Gundy and Jackson has made the playoffs interesting to watch on television... BEAT LA!!! BEAT LA!!! BEAT LA!!!

Celtics - Lakers

I am one of those people who constantly wishes that I had grown up a generation before my time. It's not that I wanted to be older (I'm trying to reverse the aging process already) or that I missed the Spuds McKenzie commercials or that I wanted to see White Snake perform at the peak. I always wished that I were a product of the 1980s because of the rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers. Celtics versus Lakers is what the NBA is all about. The NBA was a dying organization with a tiny fan base before Larry Joe Bird came to Boston and Earvin Magic Johnson went to Los Angeles. The two superstars shot a bolt of basketball lightning through their teams and the league, kicking off a decade of tremendous basketball. The two teams met for the championship three times in the decade of acid washed jeans, big hair and Ronald Reagan. The Celtics won the 1984 championship and the Lakers won both the 1985 and 1987 championships. Together, the franchises combined for eight of the ten NBA championships in the 1980s and at least one of them played for the Larry O'Brien trophy during the decade. When you combine their rivalry of the 1980s and their matchups from 1959 - 1969 (when the Celtics defeated the Lakers seven times for the championship) with their total championships (16 for the Celtics and 14 for the Lakers), you have the greatest rivalry in the history of the NBA. Celtics and Lakers also transcends the NBA. It's right up there with North Carolina and Duke, Red Sox and Yankees, Michigan and Ohio State, Pepsi and Coke. Before the Lakers took the championships in 1985 and 1987, they were 0-for-8 against Boston in the NBA Finals. Most Boston fans didn't even consider the Lakers a true rival. But you bet your ass that when the Red Sox finally beat the Yankees when it counted in 2004 to actually become a rival of the Yankees that Lakers fans everywhere thought back to 1985 when they finally became the equals of the Celtics. This series will be a fabulous parade of memories -- I wonder if Kurt Rambis still gets pain shooting up and down his neck this time of year -- and the start of a new generation of Boston fans shouting "BEAT LA!!!" over $3.00 beers at Sully's Tap and Laker fans showing up right before halftime. Kobe Bryant will become the Elgin Baylor/Jerry West/Wilt Chamberlain/Magic Johnson/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/James Worthy of his era, the Laker that Boston fans love to hate. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will try to replicate the success of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish in the 1984 Finals. The people in Vegas have the Lakers as a 2-to-1 favorite to bury the Celtics and the talking heads on ESPN say that there is no way that Kobe and Phil and the rest of the Purple N' Gold can be stopped. I don't buy it. Boston is still Boston, the home of champions. Kobe might get his 30 or 35 points each night but Gasol, Odom and the rest of the cast of characters sucking up to Kobe won't get by the Celtic defense and the Lakers are so soft inside that the Celtics should score at will near the basket. KG, Pierce and Allen have there shot at immortality on the line. They will not blow this opportunity. Celtics in 6.