The Jazz and Clippers kept tying and forced a double-overtime. The Jazz were led by Deron Williams, who scored 30 points, while Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson each had double-doubles. Blake Griffin had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but fouled out, missing all of overtime.
Even in defeat Eric Gordon continues to impress me, leading the Clips to the double-overtime with 27 points.The emergence of Gordon this season as a very good pro player leads me to believe that 20 years from now people will remember the 2008 NBA Draft as one of the best of all-time. You have Derrick Rose and Brooke Lopez, who are without possible future MVPs/All-NBA team members, OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Danilo Gallinari, and Eric Gordon who could easily (and definitely will) be all-stars one day, and JJ Hickson, Anthony Randolph, Robin Lopez and Michael Beasley could easily be the 4th or 5th best player on any championship team some day. It's like the 1996 NBA Draft of the new millennium.
Notes for the day:
-The Hornets are now 6-0, when many (including one UB writer, I can't remember who) thought they'd be a lottery team this year. Now it's still extremely early in the season, but the Hornets are looking like a sleeper team.
- Memphis' Rudy Gay put up 39 points in a win vs. the Sacremento Kings. All Grizzlies starters besides Marc Gasol got into doule figures. I don't know if this team is playoff ready, but if they can acquire a true PG, this team could be filthy.
-LaMarcus Aldridge is having an all-star season this far, notching another double-double. He faced the man who was taken 1 spot before him in the 2006 NBA Draft, Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani had only 12 points and 8 rebounds. The 8 rebounds is actually decent for the Italian center, who averages around 4 most games.
-Carmelo Anthony had 27 points, going 4/4 from beyond the arc in a victory vs. the Mavericks. Anthony is playing greatso far this year, possibly because he wants some teams coughKnickcough to pay him top dollar to get him on their teams.
Tonight the Celtics take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, which should be a good team. While the Thunder are coming off an OT victory, the Celtics are coming off two. The main issue for the Celtics in this game will be energy. If they can keep the tempo up after two exhausting games, it should be another win for the C's. Plus, it's another PG battle, with Rajon Rondo (the second best PG in the league) taking on the young Russell Westbrook (who I feel is the 6th best in the league.)Can Rondo keep up the recent "double-double" streak against another very good PG?
MVP of the Night: LaMarcus Aldridge (22 points, 10 rebounds)
Besides 1984 and 1996, the 2008 draft could be one of the best, in time.
ReplyDeleteVery good draft, nothing even close to the '96 draft. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash are two of the best player to ever play the game. Nash has more MVP's than Bryant, and Bryant may go down as a top 3-5 player in the history of basketball. (Jordan, Russell, Bryant for me)
ReplyDeleteDerrick Rose will be a top NBA player for most of his career, and Brook Lopez will probably be the 2nd best center in the league (behind Howard) for most of his, but neither of them (in my opinion) seem like they'll be in the same category of greatness as Bryant and Nash.
I see alot of Tracy McGrady's in this draft, and less Kobe Bryant's. (Players who are among the best in the league when they're playing, but wont achieve greatness that makes them memorable for decades.)
My view of Rondo: Best in the league at doing his job. Not nearly the most talented at his position though. I'd put him around 4th or 5th. Paul, Williams, Nash, Rondo/Rose. Perfect fit for the celtics though.
... and tool, the '84 shouldn't even be mentioned with any other draft class. 4 Hall of Famer's including the Best Player to ever lace them up.
ReplyDeleteIf we were measuring greatness by ESPN coverage can we agree that the 2005 Draft takes the cake?
ReplyDeleteThe 2005 Draft definitely got a crap load of coverage, even though only three players from it are elite at this point (Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Danny Granger.)
ReplyDeleteI can't rank Nash higher than 4 because he absolutely sucks at defense. And my point is as a PG Rondo is the second best.
And 1984 is unequivocally the best. Hakeem, Jordan, Barkely, and Stockton. Also Alvin Robertson. Then 1996, 2003, and in time possibly 2008.
When I said 2005 I 100% meant to say 2003. WIth LeBron Wade and Bosh was the joke because the Heat have gotten more coverage than secondaries get on the Patriots receiving core. And Carmelo to boot. That draft ultimately got so much coverage it gives me a headache.
ReplyDelete1996 Draft: Kobe, Iverson, Nash, Ray Allen, Peja, Abdur-Rahim, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Marcus Camby, Derek Fisher, and a few other solid players
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that 1996 was right up there with '84. I definitely don't think there's been a better draft since '96. Even though Kobe's a douche bag.
ReplyDelete