NCAA Basketball
Rambeeni Mock Draft (1-15)
Let’s attempt a mock draft, while looking at team needs and prospect fit. This is the best draft since Lebron, Darko, Melo, Dwayne, and Chris Bosh shook hands with the comish. Imagine that starting lineup! With Darko as the go-to guy, bam! This is the deepest draft since, not because there will be 4 superstars coming out, but because this year’s class is so deep, I can almost guarantee there will be a future All-star selected in the 2nd round. Let the GM games begin!
1. Cleveland Cavs: Joel Embiid, in typical lucky bastard fashion, the Cavs will fuck this up. I have a feeling they chose Embiid with his stress fracture, all while jinxing him from the moment he puts on a Cavs uniform. Embid is a great talent that came out of nowhere. He’s a long, a legit 7-foot center with great athletic ability. He can run up and down the floor like a Gazelle, he has a post up game and adds a deadly baseline shot. Most importantly he has a good stroke from the line that has drawn comparisons to legend Hakeem Olajowan. This is where people get carried away. Part of that assessment comes from his stone-cold demeanour, which resembles the dream, but come on folks, he’s not spinning like Hakeem, he’s not wheeling and dealing or soaring like Hakeem. I think he could be a less durable Kevin Willis, which is still notable, but not life changing.
2. Milwakee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, once again the Bucks will mess this up and choose Wiggins. He has potential and can shoot, he has the athletic ability to be a star. I’ve watched three Wiggans’ games and none of them were impressive. I get it, the smooth jumper, the athletic finish, but he’s not Paul George and he’s not taking the world by storm. A decent NBA comparison is Eddie Jones, Jones was a great 3rd option and an All-star, that’s where I see Wiggins.
3. Philideliphia Sixers: Jabari Parker is the top player in this draft. He’s NBA ready and has the tools to be a perennial All-star and winner. I love what Philly has done with their roster, especially their Jrue Holiday trade that is a quintessential sell high fantasy trade. With MCW and Nerlens Noels beefing up with more Philly cheese Stakes and Jabari Parker taking over this team, I think Philly will be a 7 seed in 2016. The city of brotherly love hope to get a Melo-esque player that can pass out of a double team and can rebound and defend better than Melo. He’s not the unstoppable scorer that Carmelo is, but he has more attributes than Melo and is an incredible athlete with size and dexterity. Jabari Parker will be the face of any franchise that drafts him.
4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, the 6-6 point guard out of the land down unda! Just like everyone else, I’ve been looking at highlights and drills, the talent and potential is clearly there, but it’s all so grey. How will he handle Patrick Beverly bullying him? How will he average less than 7 turnovers without facing NCAA defenses? I think this guy’s upper limit is a Shaun Livingston with shooting range, which is saying volumes about his potential. Orlando has been searching for a replacement for Jameer Nelson and it looks like they found him in Exum. The Penny Hardaway comparisons are ridiculous!
5. Utah Jazz: Noah Vonleh is a typical Jazz draftee. He has the biggest hands in this draft and has loads of potential, but needs time to develop. He looks to gain some familiarity and will eventually bolt when he’s ripe for a breakout, in typical Utah jazz fashion.
6. Boston Celtics: Julius Randle, the Celtics may have Randle fall in their laps and they won’t think twice. Randle is still unpolished and has a lot of mental work to do, but he already possesses an NBA body. He could be solid or fade into obscurity, I’m leaning towards somewhere in the middle, maybe one or 2 All-star appearances and a solid post presence down low for 9 years. A poor man’s Zach Randolph, he should produce right away, which may place Sullenger on the trading block. A future front court rotation of Olynik, Sullenger and Randle would cause some bruises. Maybe a guard like Smart could help? Celtics need everything and anything.
7. Los Angeles Lakers: Aaron Gordon, the Lakers are already hoping and praying these idiot analysts keep bashing Gordon. The Lakers are dreaming of having a player of his caliber chosen at 7, and this is the true magnificence of this draft. I adore this guy’s game and I love his potential, attitude and skill set. He’s a special player that can play the 3 or the 4. If it was up to me, I would draft him 3rd or 4th. He has great handles and can jump out of the gym. His jumper needs work, but it could end up being deadly in a couple of years. I see Aaron Gordon as a 7 time NBA all-star that will add to his game year after year.
8. Sacramento Kings: Marcus Smart, will they blow this again? Kings have so much talent but so little cohesiveness it all seems like some sort of adventure #sacramentoadventures. They must take Smart, despite the fact they have Mclemore. Smart is NBA ready and has veteran savvy before even entering the league. He has potential to be an unyielding player but his ceiling is near. His vertical is lacking but the power and wits are there. He’s an undersized shooting guard that can play the 1. I’d compare him to a deprived shooting guard version of Baron Davis, with less hops. If you guys remember BD, this is a compliment and not an insult.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Dario Saric, this is going to be a tough pick for Charlotte with so much talent still available, but Saric looks to be a super version of a Josh Mcroberts. A point forward that can shoot and pass and create. He may be too tempting to pass up and MJ’s previous draft picks of high level college scorers like Adam Morison (barf!) will shy them away from the likes of Doug Mcdermot.
10. Philedlphia Sixers: Doug Mcdermot, this historic scorer will fit right in with Philly’s athletic core. He can shoot and can play the 3 or the 4. Imagine a small ball lineup of MCW, Parker, Noel, Mcdermott and Thad Young. I don’t know how that would work, but it’s uber versatile.
11. Denver Nuggets: Adrian Payne makes sense for the Nuggets. He can play forward and center and can step out and shoot it. He plays big and could fit into a starting role in a year or two. Even though a guard is most needed, Denver may take a risk on this Spartan.
12. Orlando Magic: James Young shot himself into the forefront of the draft when the lights were brightest in the NCAA tournament. This athletic silky smooth shooter has good height at 6-7 and great athletic ability. His finals facial dunk is considered one of the greatest of all time. He will be ready once Aaron affalo nears the end of his contract so expect him to start for the Magic in the next couple of years. He is a below average defender, so until that’s improved, he’ll have bench splinters.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rodney Hood is a 6’8 shooter that has a great NBA body and plays with passion every second on the floor. The Blue Devil is still a work in progress and could end up being a more efficient Wilson Chandler. This could be a long term pick for the Wolves that are looking for anything to get over Kevin Love’s recent infidelity.
14. Phoenix Suns: Nick Stauskas, some analysts have Stauskas lower, but this would be a smart pick for the Suns. Senior college shooters with high IQ are usually looked over, but Stauskas isn’t only a knock down shooter. This past year he added accurate play making skills and was an average defender. He can give the Suns’ core the outside threat they love. At 6’6, he’s the best prospect at moving without the ball. Even though a center is needed, Stauskas fits the bill. Nick isn’t a sexy pick but he’ll have a long NBA career and is a great addition to the Suns’ already scary bench mob.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Tyler Ennis, the Hawks must draft the best player here, passing up on Ennis would be dim-witted. Regardless of Jeff Teague and the blond German, Ferry will draft Ennis if available. Easily the top point guard in this draft, Ennis has heart, vision and leadership and is only 19. Expect Ennis to be traded on draft night.
Rambeeni
Hoop Changes
When Lebron James shot 22/33 last week, on his way to a Miami Heat franchise record 61 points, Lebron stomped his foot and reverberations were felt all the way in Oklahoma City. It’s the highest field goal percentage, while scoring 61 points, since Shaq did it years ago. This brought up how pro basketball is run today, how and why the game has changed. The top basketball rule structures in the world: NCAA, FIBA, Euroleague & NBA are different. Basketball will naturally move to a unified from, taking the best and worst from each. Let’s take a look at what the perfect game would look like, while analyzing the good and the bad of each.
NBA
We start with the big mama; the NBA. The top pro league has evolved, hand-checking has been ruled out and illegal defense has been replaced by the defensive 3-second violation to name a few.
Love:
- 48 minutes: We love 48 minutes of basketball.
- 2-minute review: It’s great that refs can get it right at the end of games.
- The 3 point-line: With NBA players being the best of the best, the 3 point-line is perfectly placed. The NBA 3-point line was further in the early 90’s and was then moved closer to the FIBA 3, it’s somewhere in between, perfect.
Hate:
- Flagrant fouls: the Malice at the palace changed the NBA forever. No one expected it to be that ugly, so cleaning up the game makes sense. But hold on a second. Are we going to waste 20 minutes to figure out who punched who? There are three refs as well as a fourth off the court. T-up who is out of order, if guilty of a push or aggressive action and eject the punch throwers, along with Patrick Beverly. Check for fines later, we have girlfriends that demand attention.
- Flopping: I’m planning a write-up on flopping alone. Flopping has always been a part of the game, I likerewardingnon-floppers, but there is a real issue with charge calls specifically. Flopping needs to be defined,some is gamesmanship and some is Dwayne Wade yelling “Ouch! My perm! Awww…
Controversy in Indiana last night - Pump fake fouls: Any pump fake and lean in results in a foul? How many players apart from Kobe, Dirk and Melo can make a shot over a defense after picking up their dribble? Very few. It’s a bailout call, let it go.
- Offensive Goal tending: The game is played above the rim, keep it that way. The ball is hanging and rolling, go get it!
- Delay of game: the newly instated rule assesses a delay of game when a player touches the ball after a score is annoying. Ok fine, when a player wants to be a dick, assess the delay of game, but if he’s merely giving it to the ref or just touching it, what’s the point? The delay of game call is delaying the game! That’s like struggling in quicksand, you’re making it worse Silver.
- Width of the court: The corner three is too tight in the NBA. With big men shooting the corner three, their 20 sized shoes make them tiptoe like Sean Elliot in 99. I’m not suggesting anything major, maybe an inch wider off each side, that’s it.
FIBA
Bam:
- The Pace: The pace and speed of the FIBA game is fantastic, just play, inbound, shoot your free throw without praying or waving to your kids (Hornaceck, Kidd), this is basketball, it’s a fast paced game, not for the lazy (Andrew “Douche” Bynum).
- Aggressive D: I like how the contact game is called, maintain control while bumped slightly, be strong, stand your ground, the refs aren’t there to bail you out.
- Offensive goal tending: off of a free throw or just a roll around the rim, athletic players can change games in FIBA.
Damn:
- Time: 40 minutes isn’t enough basketball, as mentioned above, the frenetic pace is wonderful, but the game is too short. We want story lines to develop, a chance at adjustment. The Philippines and Chinese pro leagues have 12 minute quarters, which is a start, but some FIBA games are finished in an hour and 15 minutes, fans want more, thank you.
Euro League
Euro league and cup officials have been active rule changers, to make the game faster, clearer, fairer and more spectacular. The rule changes include shorter timeouts, a reduction of breaks in between periods, as well as a reduced, single free throw penalty, plus possession for technical fouls. They were first proposed more than a year ago by the EBI Basketball Rules Summit experts’ panel where coaches, players, referees, clubs, leagues, TVs, marketing and journalists were all represented.
Another change will restore jump balls in place of possession arrows. Additionally, the team that wins the game’s opening tip will have the first possession to start the fourth quarter, while the other team will start the second and third quarters with the ball. All overtime periods will now begin with a jump ball. Euro league basketball wants to make the game stop less often; they work closely with FIBA and their Technical Commission. The majority of the modifications will be incorporated into the official rules of basketball and applied to FIBA competitions starting 2014-15. The Euroleague is clearly the leader in this evolution and much credit should be given to the 2nd best pro league in the world. In terms of rules, it is the fairest and most progressive league today.
NCAA
Flows:
- The one-and-one free throw: When in the bonus, the old one-and-one adds intrigue, pressure and excitement to the game. Bring it back!
- Referees: There‘s lots to love about the college game, the officials are usually spot on and the game has continuity.
Blows:
- Shot Clock: Give me a break, or give the defense a break. 35 seconds is an eternity, try 30 if you want to be unique. 35 seconds often kill a team’s chances of a comeback, bringing it down to 30 can make the most exciting postseason in sports even more exhilarating.
The Future
To sum it up; the perfect game is a cocktail, plus or minus the good and the bad. Let’s have a 48 minute game with Fibaesque rules, NCAA referees and an NBA three point- line, the NCAA one ’n one free throw, official 2-minute review, no futile technical fouls for being human, no defensive 3 seconds maybe 5 seconds, 24 second shotclock, a slightly wider court (1 inch on each side). We can’t talk about TV timeouts or commercials, but the NBA’s habitual game stoppage has to change. The ideal regulation game should last for 2 hours, give or take 10 minutes. This is the evolution we seek for the game. Feel free to share any arguments, disagreements, suggestions, and omissions you may have.
Much Love and Basketball,
Rambeeni
March Madness Preview
The time has come for Madness to commence. It’s the time for painted faces, broken hearts, improbable upsets, and rising stars. Which coach has their kids ready to moonwalk in 2014? Which team is dropping their shoes this year? Let’s take a glance at this years’ NCAA tourney. One condition, Rambeeni Basketball get 1% of your winnings if you hit a perfect bracket! Deal? OK, let’s do this! Forgive me for not commenting on every team, but I can’t comment on a team I haven’t seen play more than once.
Finalists
Duke: I know many of you think this is a cheesy pick, but hold on. Didn’t one Carmelo Anthony carry Syracuse on his back all the way to the title years ago? Melo did have a great supporting cast, but Jabari Parker is a star and has solid supporting cast, add the legendary coach K and it sounds like a winning formula. Parker is the closest thing we have to Carmelo, and then some. He can score like a middle class Melo, he’s a better passer, better defender and an all around great team player. His size is the most impressive; he’s a man playing with boys. If Parker proves unstoppable and his teammates hit shots, would you be surprised if the Blue Devils hoist the trophy for 5th time? Ish don’t think so.
Syracuse: Jim Boheim’s zone has tortured many young players over the years. If teams take too long to find the open spaces in the zone and break the zone with middle dribble penetration and kick outs, Syracuse can make some noise. They had a tough stretch mid-season but were a number 1 seed for the better part of the season and just had a drop off, hence their 3 seeding. I think they can beat Florida.
Underachievers
Uconn: What are the Huskies doing? The changes have downgraded this perennial power house. I have them out in the 2nd round.
Florida: A 1 seed and they have the easiest road until they play Syracuse. That’s where it gets tricky.
Kansas: Wiggans’ is overrated, there I said it. He can score and has potential, but he isn’t changing the game. He’s an upgrade on Ben Mclemore at this point and even though he can score, it seems like this team is too young to go far. All the Hoopla may catch up, with their big man Embid injured with a stress fracture in his back. I don’t see Kansas jeopardizing Embid’s career this March by playing him. I think their ceiling is the sweet 16.
The Cinderellas
Iowa State: Iowa State has 2013 Wichita State written all over them. They catch opponents off guard and play unselfish fast break basketball. Coached by Fred Hoiberg, the Cyclones are coming off a Big-12 title and have the talent to hold go ahead.
Oklahoma State: This is easy. Marcus Smart, the future NBA ready 1st rounder smells blood. Similarly to Parker, Smart is a man among boys. Their record is blemished because of his suspension, after he bitch slapped a racist fat guy a month ago.
I won’t share Rambeeni Basketball’s perfect bracket until tomorrow. Sorry ballers, who could share a pot of Warren Buffet’s billion Dollars?! I’ll tell you this though, I don’t have one number 1 seed in the final four this year. When filling out your bracket just go with your gut and enjoy the best postseason in sports!
Much love and basketball,
Rambeeni
Rambeeni Basketball 