tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post3993422818741624490..comments2023-03-03T02:28:27.462-08:00Comments on Walton's Wisdom: My 2008 NBA Mock Draft LotteryWalton's Wisdomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07497163381534553584noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-75862217499097921822008-06-12T00:35:00.000-07:002008-06-12T00:35:00.000-07:00I'm not a huge Jordan fan, either. I do like him ...I'm not a huge Jordan fan, either. I do like him better than Lopez, though. Given the Knicks' needs, I see them drafting a legitimate Center and he's probably the best available. Curry will never be well-enough conditioned to be effective in D'Antoni's system. <BR/><BR/>I'm not head-over-heels about Bayless, but I like him better than Augustin & Gordon. As a frosh, he already displayed an ability to create his own shot, and I think this would take some pressure off Durant. To be honest, I like Westbrook better than any of those guys due to his defensive tenacity, but I don't see him getting drafted as high as fourth and don't think he'll ever be a full-time point guard. I watched UCLA try to make him into a PG and then watched him excel once they put him at the 2. I see him as a near-replica of Monta Ellis, but with a higher defensive upside. It's tough when putting together mock drafts, because it is a combination of who you feel are the best prospects, a team's needs, and how you honestly believe teams will use their picks.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you on Lopez -- he'll probably never reach his full potential because he doesn't appear to have the "it" factor. Nevertheless, he'll go in the top 10 because he has the tangibles that can't be taught.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to see that someone other than Bill Simmons agrees with me about Durant. I'm convinced I drove people crazy in Portland with my insistence that Durant was a better pick than Oden. I am convinced he will be one of the greatest players in the league within 5 years and has the aforementioned "it" factor -- he already drained a few game winners as a rookie. You can't teach players to be clutch, and it is only once in every three years or so that a player like Kobe or Pierce comes around and has the desire/ability to take & make huge shots in the clutch.<BR/><BR/>I'm gonna disagree with you about Rose. I see him as a slightly lesser version of Paul in terms of the all-around impact that he will have on the NBA game within 2-3 years. I'm sort of scared he will go to Chicago and play in a system that will not fully utilize his abilities, though. Hopefully Del Negro will not utilize this stupid platooning approach that has been used in Chicago the last few seasons.Walton's Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07497163381534553584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-37971364240088357282008-06-11T22:52:00.000-07:002008-06-11T22:52:00.000-07:00nice blog. I saw Deandre Jordan and don't like him...nice blog. I saw Deandre Jordan and don't like him at all. I'm not that high on Bayless either. I have changed my mind and now have OJ Mayo going first. My reasoning is this: to win a championship, you need a #1 guy. The top teams got lucky in the NBA draft and either scored the top pick and drafted James or Duncan or benefitted from other teams passing on players like Paul, Pierce, Nowitski or Bryant. The exception, of course, is the Pistons.<BR/><BR/>I don't see Rose or Beasley as the #1 guy on a championship team. However, I think Mayo could be that guy. So, I have to take Mayo #1. It's the same argument I had when I said I would take Brandon Roy #1 and Kevin Durant #1.<BR/><BR/>And, it's the same reason why I probably wouldn't draft Brook Lopez in the top 10. To be the best, you have to love playing the game and Lopez doesn't love the game. He'll be a decent pro and has a nice game, but he'll never be great unless he develops the passion for playing and practicing.Brian McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-13760335197145760972008-06-10T22:46:00.000-07:002008-06-10T22:46:00.000-07:00After Portland signed Rudy Fernandez, they need to...After Portland signed Rudy Fernandez, they need to do anything in their power to land a solid pg, whether it be through trading up for a higher pick, trading their pick straight-up for a point guard, or getting lucky and having one land in their lap at #13 (Augustin could fall that far depending on what the Clips do).Walton's Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07497163381534553584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-71815561940997177532008-06-05T22:39:00.000-07:002008-06-05T22:39:00.000-07:00One at a time...GB: I'm with you on the commentary...One at a time...<BR/><BR/>GB: I'm with you on the commentary. I say that from this point forward, he is known as Sergio "perpetual dribble" Rodriguez. Sorry about the no-show tonight... some stuff came up and I wasn't about to leave mid-game. Now excuse me while I go have bad dreams about PJ Brown grabbing offensive rebounds.<BR/><BR/>SSC: As I said, I just sincerely hope Memphis doesn't take him and institute the most heinous (spelling?) front line in the history of the game. A Lopez/Darko combo would ensure at least two broken noses via elbow swings per game... fairly certain Rip wouldn't even risk playing against them.Walton's Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07497163381534553584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-24515254003022040312008-06-05T21:43:00.000-07:002008-06-05T21:43:00.000-07:00Nice post...genuinely thought out draft..I enjoyed...Nice post...genuinely thought out draft..I enjoyed your picks.but a quick message for Lopez, do the NBA fans a favor and save your self the embarrassment and torment of an NBA career, its not going to work out like you hope.Sager's Suit Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15051812576727201424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614547562192482672.post-5246709347596165142008-06-05T17:06:00.000-07:002008-06-05T17:06:00.000-07:00If Portland is forced to choose at #13 I would lov...If Portland is forced to choose at #13 I would love to see Alexander taken. If both Augustine and Alexander are available It would be a tough choice to be in KPs shoes but I think DJ is likely to be gone at 6, 7, 11, or 12. If Westbrook is somehow still on the board around at 11 like you think he will be, KP will be wetting his pants when he calls Larry Birdman with a trade offer of a 2nd and the #13 to draft Westbrook. If it were legal I would even toss in Sergio "I dribble the ball till it goes flat" Rodriguez.<BR/><BR/>GBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com