NBA lottery mock draft

Anthony Davis

1. New Orleans- Anthony Davis (Kentucky, PF)
A no brainer.  Davis is unanimously considered the top prospect in the draft.  Davis is a defensive game changer and a tremendous shot blocker who can cover lots of ground.  Offensively he is a work in progress, but possesses excellent hands, runs the floor very well,  and uses his athleticism to finish at the rim.
2. Charlotte Bobcats- Thomas Robinson (Kansas, PF)
If Charlotte keeps the pick they will select Robinson, who will be effective from day one.  Robinson is the most NBA ready player in the draft and will immediately rebound and score in the paint for the Bobcats who are desperate for talent.
3. Washington Wizards- Bradley Beal (Florida, SG)
The Wizards greatest need is for outside shooting, which luckily for them is Beal's forte.  Beal's silky smooth shooting-stroke will alleviate defensive pressure on John Wall, and the two complement each other very well.  Beal is also a tremendous rebounder for a guard, and uses his pump fake to get to the rim.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky, SF)
Kidd-Gilchrist is the most relentless player in the draft and plays as hard as anybody.  He is a winner, a defensive stopper, and was the leader of the Kentucky Wildcats national championship team.  His slashing ability will allow reigning rookie of the year Kyrie Irving to flourish.
5. Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes (North Carolina, SF)
General Manager Geoff Petrie is trying to trade down in the draft, possibly with the Houston Rockets who covet Andre Drummond.  If the Kings keep the pick, they will select Barnes an ultra athletic scorer with a very high basketball IQ.  Barnes has an excellent mid range game, and is a great shooter.
6. Portland Trailblazers- Damian Lilliard (Weber State, PG)

Andre Drummond

Portland desperately needs a point guard receiving poor play from Raymond Felton who is a free agent.  The Trailblazers have reportedly fallen in love with Lilliard who is a dynamic scorer and unselfish passer.  Lilliard is a tremendous athlete, great shooter and makes excellent decisions in pick and roll situations.
7. Golden State Warriors- Andre Drummond (UConn, C)
Golden State can't pass on Drummond, who has the potential to make multiple all-star appearances, or join Kwame Brown as an NBA bust.  No player in this draft carries the risk and reward of Drummond, whose 7 foot, 280 pound athletic body was made for the game of basketball.  Drummond was very inconsistent in his one year at UConn and many question his desire.
8. Toronto Raptors- Dion Waiters (Syracuse, SG)
With big man Jonas Valanciunus, Toronto's lottery pick last year, joining the team this year, the Raptor's greatest area of need is at shooting guard in order to move Demar Derozan over to his natural position of small forward.  Waiters, Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers are all possibilities, however, Waiters strength and ability to drive to the basket and finish will make him the selection.  At Syracuse Waiters served as the Orange's 6th man, providing instant offense which the Raptors hope he is able to do for them at the next level.
9.  Detroit Pistons- John Henson (North Carolina, PF)
General manager Joe Dumars is hoping that Drummond falls to them.  In the likely scenario that he does not, the Pistons will  scoop up Henson who will give the team an athletic shot blocking presence in the paint to pair with Greg Monroe.  Henson needs to add weight to his frame, but has the potential to be an impact defender in the NBA.
10. New Orleans- Austin Rivers (Duke, SG)

Austin Rivers

General Manager Dell Demps and Head Coach Monty Williams were former teammates of Rivers' father Doc, and having known Austin since he was 4.  Rivers is an exceptional offensive talent, is very difficult to defend in isolation and is exceptional at splitting double teams.  Many expect Rivers to clash with his coaches in the NBA because of his supreme confidence in his abilities as a basketball player.
11. Portland Trailblazers- Tyler Zeller (North Carolina, C)
The Trailblazers who will have already drafted Lilliard, will look to pair him with a big man.  Zeller is one of the most NBA ready players in the draft and runs the floor exceptionally well for a 7 footer.  He is ready to come into the league and contribute immediately.
12. Houston Rockets- Jeremy Lamb (UConn, SG)
It is very possible that Houston, which has been busy wheeling and dealing in the hopes of acquiring a franchise big man, will not have this pick when the draft rolls around.  Lamb is one of the most talented scorers in the draft and has an effective jump shot.  Lamb struggled with consistency and failed to assert himself as a leader on a Uconn team that was desperate for one.  Lamb did play a huge role in the team's run to the national championship in 2011.
13. Phoenix Suns- Terrence Ross (Washington, SG)
Phoenix will likely begin a rebuilding process, with the departure of Steve Nash probable.  Ross would be an excellent addition for the Suns who are looking to add scoring power to their team.  Ross has a good outside shot, and plays an effective mid range game.  He could be one of the top wings to emerge from this draft when it is all said and done.
14. Milwaukee Bucks- Meyers Leonard (Illinois, C)
The Bucks need a big man to replace Andrew Bogut, who the team traded to Golden State for Monta Ellis at the trade deadline.  Leonard is not at all NBA ready, but with his excellent size and strength he has the potential to develop into a quality big man.

Washington Wizards Draft Preview

The Washington Wizards were rewarded with the 3rd overall pick in this year's NBA draft following yet another terrible season in which they finished with the 2nd worst record in the league.  The Wizards  have made two major trades dating back to last season's trading deadline.  In the first trade the team, eager to no longer be the laughingstock of the league, dealt young knuckleheads Nick Young and Javale Mcgee and received a borderline all-star big man in Nene.  The Wizards were much improved following the trade, which brought the team a much needed veteran presence, and ended the season on a 6 game winning streak.  A few days ago the Wizards further reinvented the team's identity when they shipped out Rashard Lewis and his massive expiring contract for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.  Okafor is a very intelligent, high character player who, along with Ariza, will provide the Wizards with the defensive ability that the team has sorely lacked.

These trades signal that the Wizards have decided that after spending several years acquiring young talent and attempting to build through the draft, the team needed veteran leadership and is now ready to make a playoff push.  With that in mind, the Wizards pick in this draft will in all likelihood be the team's last high lottery pick in a while, making it crucial that the team draft a quality contributor.

Bradley Beal

The Wizards' most dire need is at shooting guard, which is why most NBA analysts believe that the Wizards should draft Bradley Beal the freshman out of Florida.  Beal is an excellent three point shooter,  making him a prime candidate to fill one of the Wizards' greatest weaknesses which is outside shooting.   Beal's shooting ability would provide point guard John Wall with help offensively and spread the floor for him.  Wall, who the Wizards selected first overall in 2010, possesses elite quickness, is a terror in transition and can get to the basket as well as anyone, however his perimeter shooting is subpar.  Beal would complement Wall extremely well and alleviate the constant defensive pressure that the point guard has been under throughout his tenure in Washington.  In addition to being a lights out shooter, Beal is extremely effective at using a pump fake to get to the rim, where he can finish thanks to his athleticism.  Beal rebounds at an elite level for a guard, and is very solid defensively.  Beal is an all around contributor and is universally considered a humble, high character kid who fits in with the team's newfound identity.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

There are rumors circulating that the Charlotte Bobcats, who have the 2nd pick in the draft, may trade their pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers who hope to acquire Beal and pair him with Kyrie Irving, the reigning rookie of the year.  If this scenario were to unfold, the Wizards would be left with several options to choose from.  The Wizards could draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist the freshman small forward from Kentucky, where he won the national championship.  Kidd-Gilchrist is the most relentless player in the draft, plays harder than anyone, is a true leader and most importantly a winner.  His intangibles are off the chart, as is his athletic ability.  Kidd-Gilchrist is as good a defender as anyone in the draft, and can use his length and tenacity to cover any position from point guard to power forward.  In transition he and Wall would make a fearsome duo, as good as any in the league.  Kidd-Gilchrist's biggest weakness is his outside shooting, which is coincidentally the Wizards' greatest area of need.  Kidd-Gilchrist has an awkward hitch in his shot caused by holding the ball for too long, however, with his unparalleled work ethic, he should be able to improve it substantially in the next few years.

Harrison Barnes

Another option for the Wizards is Harrison Barnes, the sophomore small forward out of North Carolina.  Barnes is one of the most athletic players in the draft, and his greatest strength is his shooting ability.  Barnes has an excellent mid-range game and could help spread the floor for the Wizards.  If drafted by the Wizards, the team would likely try to convert Barnes to shooting guard, something that Barnes, a natural small forward, has described as "an adjustment".  Barnes came into UNC as one of the most hyped collegiate players of all time, and while he had a very good college career, not living up to the immense expectations has caused the public's perception of Barnes to sour.

Thomas Robinson

Thomas Robinson out of Kansas is yet another option for the Wizards.  A native of D.C., Robinson is a player capable of stepping in immediately and providing the Wizards with rebounding, interior scoring and athleticism.  Robinson, who tragically lost his mother and grandparents in a car accident, is one of the feel good stories of the draft and very easy to root for.  The Wizards' trades make Robinson unlikely to be drafted by the team, however, he is considered one of the top prospects in the draft and therefore a possibility.

All four players are widely considered high character players with excellent work ethics, and will likely be key contributors to the team if drafted.

Heat win championship with game 5 blowout

The Miami Heat claimed their 2nd championship in franchise history following a game 5 blowout of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Miami won the game 121-106 and at one point had a 27 point lead.  The Heat opened the game with a barrage of three-pointers set up by Lebron James, one of the best passing forwards in the history of the NBA.  The Thunder repeatedly threw double teams in James' direction in hopes of slowing him down, however James made the correct play time after time, setting up spot up shooters with open looks.  Mike Miller was one of the primary beneficiaries of Lebron's exploitation of the Thunder's defensive scheme and knocked down 7 of his 8 three-point shot attempts.
James, who was awarded the NBA Finals MVP award, concluded his historic postseason with a triple double finishing the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists despite being hobbled by the cramps that forced him to leave game 4 early.  James averaged 30, 9 and 5 for this postseason, in which he showed off the post game that he had worked so hard to develop last summer.  Particularly in the Finals series, James attacked the basket with a ferocity that had been missing from his game in the Finals a year ago.  Rather than settling for jump shots, James took the ball into the paint play after play, either resulting in a high percentage shot for himself, a trip to the foul line where he is much improved, or an open look for a teammate when help defenders rotated his way.

Lebron James

Dwyane Wade, the 2006 Finals MVP won the second championship of his career, and scored 20 points in the title clinching game.  Chris Bosh, the final member of the Heat's big 3 scored 24 points in winning the first championship of his career.  James, Bosh and Wade, all members of the NBA draft class of 2003, signed contracts with the Heat in the summer of 2010 in the hopes of establishing the NBA's next dynasty.  After last summer's devastating loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals, the Heat's players rediscovered their love of basketball, blocked out all distractions and focused only on redeeming themselves and achieving their mission of winning a title.  During the trophy presentation ceremony James was asked about winning his first NBA championship.  He responded with the words "It's about damn time," capturing the thoughts of basketball fans everywhere, who had long been wondering when the world's best player would finally be coronated as a champion.
With the loss, the Thunder completed a remarkable season in which the team became among the elite organizations in the league.  The Thunder will return next season with the team's core intact and another season of experience to prepare the team to start its own dynasty.

Despite legendary performance by Westbrook, Heat take 3-1 series lead

Russell Westbrook provided the Oklahoma City Thunder with one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history and scored an electrifying 43 points, however, it was not enough for the Thunder who fell to the Miami Heat 104-98.  The Heat took a 3-1 series lead over OKC with the game 4 victory and move to within a game of the first championship in the big 3 era.  Miami's big 3 of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh played extremely well yet again, with Wade scoring 25 points and James leading the Heat with 26 and falling one rebound shy of a triple double.

Chalmers and Bosh

The key to the game for the Heat was the production it received from Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at the point guard position, a position of relative weakness for Miami.  The Thunder took an early 17 point lead in the first quarter, but the Heat were able to march back and tie the game within minutes thanks in part to the tremendous energy off the bench by Cole who scored 8 points in only 8 minutes of gameplay.  Chalmers who had struggled early in the game appeared to be motivated by Cole's performance and was sensational for the Heat, scoring 25 points including 12 in the 4th quarter and the final 5 points for Miami to seal the victory.  

Russell Westbrook

The Thunder wasted a legendary performance by Westbrook who almost singlehandedly kept the Thunder in the game in the 4th quarter by scoring 13 straight points for the team over a 4 minute stretch.  Westbrook had a very efficient performance converting on 20 of his 32 field goal attempts which included several athletic drives to the basket, pull-up jumpers in semi-transition, midrange shots off crossovers or pick and rolls, and an incredible outback dunk off a missed layup by Thabo Sefolosha.  The Thunder received a relatively quiet 28 points from Kevin Durant and very little offensive production from anyone else.  In order to extend the series the Thunder have to get James Harden going offensively.  Harden had only 8 points in yet another disappointing game this series and must provide the Thunder with a 3rd scoring option.

Lebron James suffered muscle cramps which forced him to leave the game with 2 minutes remaining in the game, but was able to make the go ahead three-pointer that put the Heat ahead for good just before he left the game.

LaDainian Tomlinson retiring as a Charger

LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the greatest running backs of all time, spent the first 9 years of his illustrious career with the San Diego Chargers.  On June 17th he will be signed to a ceremonial contract with the team in order to retire a Charger.  Tomlinson's accomplishments on the field make him among the most prolific players in Chargers' history.  Tomlinson retires 2nd in NFL history in career rushing touchdowns, 3rd in total career touchdowns and 5th in career rushing yards. Tomlinson's performance in the 2006 NFL season, the first of his two rushing titles, was arguably the greatest ever by a running back and earned him the titles of NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year .  In 2006 Tomlinson had a single season NFL record 31 touchdowns, an NFL record 28 rushing touchdowns and 1815 rushing yards in helping lead the Chargers to an NFL best 14-2 record.  In addition to his proficiency running the ball, Tomlinson was one of the best receiving running backs of all time, highlighted by his 100 receptions in 2003, only the second time a running back had ever caught 100 passes in a single season.

From the moment he was drafted 5th overall by the Chargers in the 2001 NFL draft, Tomlinson had become the face of the franchise and one of the most popular players in the league.  During his tenure with the team, the Chargers won the AFC West division 4 consecutive times from 2006-09 and made the AFC championship game in 2007.  Following his final season with the Chargers in 2009, Tomlinson signed with the New York Jets.  Tomlinson helped the Jets reach the AFC championship game in 2010 before struggling through injuries and succumbing to age in 2011, the worst season of his career by all measures.
Because Tomlinson has meant so much to the Chargers in the 21st century it was only natural that he retire as a member of the team, in order to be honored as one of the franchises' all time greats.

Heat win game 3, take 2-1 lead in NBA Finals

The Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-85 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals.  It was an ugly, sloppy yet hard-fought game in which neither team shot over 43% from the field.  Miami's big 3 of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had another tremendous game.   James lead the way with 29 points and 14 rebounds, Wade attacked early and often en route to finishing with 25 points, 7 boards and 7 assists, and Bosh played excellent defense and was crucial in helping the Heat shut down the Thunder's driving lanes to the basket.
The Heat dominated the paint early in the first half with 10 of the team's first 11 made shots coming from within the paint.   Despite the Heat's interior domination in the opening half, the Thunder were kept in the game by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook who each had 13 points in the half, including a three-pointer by Westbrook with 2 seconds left in the half that cut the Heat lead to 1.  Westbrook responded to the widespread criticism of his performance in game 2 by playing efficiently and successfully blending aggression with control.
The Thunder opened the second half with scorching offensive production, taking a 10 point lead when Derek Fisher converted a 4 point play.  With 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and the Thunder seemingly poised to blow away the Heat, Durant picked up his 4th foul and was sent to the bench for the remainder of the quarter along with Westbrook.  By the end of the quarter the Heat had regained the lead, and swung the momentum of the game in its favor.
Neither team played particularly well offensively in the 4th with Miami committing 9 turnovers and the Thunder missing free throw after free throw.  Despite being the best free throw shooting team in both the regular season and the playoffs, OKC has struggled to convert on its free throws in the Finals making only 15 of 24 in game 3.  Miami in comparison made 31 of 35 free throws, a remarkable shooting performance for the Heat which swung the game.  James played excellent defense on Durant in the 4th quarter, limiting him to only 4 points after he torched the Heat for a combined 33 4th quarter points in the first two games of the series.  To win the next game, OKC has to get more production from James Harden who struggled shooting the ball and finished with only 9 points in the game.

Wade, James and Bosh silence their critics as Heat win game 2 to tie NBA Finals

Coming off the Miami Heat's game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder the team's numerous haters claimed that Dwyane Wade was old and washed up, Lebron James wilted in big moments and lacked the ability to make plays in the 4th quarter and knock down his free throws, and that Chris Bosh was a soft, perimeter oriented player.  The Heat's 100-96 victory in game 2 of the NBA Finals silenced the critics, for one night at least.  James had an NBA Finals career high 32 points and repeatedly worked the ball into the paint, and used his unique combination of size, strength and athleticism to finish around the rim.  James also made all 12 of his free throw attempts, including two with 7 seconds remaining to give the Heat a 4 point lead.  Wade delivered an inspired performance finishing with 24 points, 6 boards and 5 assists, and proving that declarations about his demise were greatly exaggerated.  Bosh played a physical game and had points and 15 rebounds, including 7 crucial offensive rebounds that gave the Heat several opportunities for second chance points.  Shane Battier provided the Heat's big 3 with plenty of help finishing with 17 points and 5 three-pointers that helped spread the floor.  As a team the Heat absolutely dominated the Thunder inside, outscoring the Thunder 48-32 in the paint, a stark contrast to game 1.  The Heat also did a much better job preventing the youthful and athletic Thunder from getting easy points in transition, limiting OKC to 11 fast break points, less than half as many as the team had in game 1.
The Heat got off to an excellent start, beginning the game with an 18-2 lead before James Harden went on a tear scoring 10 of his 21 points in the last four and a half minutes of the first quarter.  The Heat had a 12 point halftime lead, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored a combined 44 second half points, including 16 in the 4th quarter by Durant, to lead a furious comeback by the Thunder.  The Heat had a 13 point lead with 9 minutes remaining in the game.  With under a minute let in the game and the Thunder trailing by 7, Durant, who had 32 points in the game, made a layup and on the following possession drained a three-pointer in semi transition off a difficult assist from Westbrook, who had 27 points, 8 boards and 7 assists, to cut the Heat lead down to 2.  After a missed three-pointer by Lebron, the Thunder called a timeout and inbounded the ball to Durant with 12 seconds left in the game.  Durant caught the ball on the baseline, guarded by James, took 1 dribble and missed a fadeaway shot.  James appeared to make plenty of contact with Durant, however, the officials did not call a foul.  After the Heat rebounded the missed shot, James was sent to the free throw line where he knocked down both attempts to ice the game.