Friday, June 29, 2012

06/29 (Beal) Quickie

So my near-hysteria leading up to the draft that the/my Wizards would get out-hustled for my favorite draft pick, Bradley Beal, ended up being gloriously unnecessary. When David Stern said "Michael Kidd-Gilchrist" for the Bobcats and the Wiz picking Beal was secure, it was as giddy as I've been as a Wizards fan -- such is the life of the Wizards fan.

(Of course, it wouldn't be a Wizards draft without a huge screw-up, which in this case was taking a positionless Euro without a jumpshot at No. 32 when terrific talents like Draymond Green and Jae Crowder were available -- smarter teams snatching them up as soon as the Wizards made their bungling pick was a pretty good indication that the Wizards mis-handled that completely.)

Still: I give the Wizards a very high grade for landing the best wing prospect in the draft -- "high" and "Wizards draft grade" doesn't happen very often, so I'll take it.

More fans that should be happy with their teams' drafts:

*Hornets: Davis is a franchise-changer. Hate the Rivers pick.
*Bobcats: MKG and Jeff Taylor aren't stars, but so valuable.
*Kings: Thomas Robinson is the bizarro DeMarcus Cousins.
*Pistons: Drummond was worth the risk at No. 9.
*Suns: It's cliche to say Kendall Marshall is the new Nash, but there it is.
*Rockets: Don't get the bad grades for Lamb/White/Jones - love these.
*Magic: Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O'Quinn both on everyone's sleeper list.
*Celtics: Sullinger and Melo were more than worth the risk.
*Thunder: Perry Jones III found his ideal spot. A steal for OKC.

Less good:
Cavs: I like Waiters; most Cavs fans seem underwhelmed.
Warriors: Barnes is meh. (Love 2nd-rounder Draymond Green pick.)
Hard to nick teams picking in back half of 1st round -- it's a mixed bag.

There is always a little day-after-Christmas feel to the draft -- so much anticipation and discussion heading in, then you either get what you want... or you don't. I'm thrilled with Beal, and now it is time to move on to NBA free agency, MLB zooming into mid-season and the Olympics. NFL training camps are only a month away.

-- D.S.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

06/28 (NBA Draft) Quickie

I'm way too invested in tonight's NBA Draft: Bradley Beal is my guy and has been for a long time. My Wiz pick 3rd, which means they will just miss him (if Charlotte trades their pick) or they will get him at 3 (unless the Wiz GM, inundated with offers for Beal, trades the pick). I'm antsy.

Otherwise, it's an awesome night for Hornets fans -- the path to title contention starts now.

My annual list:

Players I like: Beal, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Thomas Robinson, Damian Lillard, Royce White, Andrew Nicholson, Draymond Green, Jeff Taylor, Quincy Miller, Bernard James, Doron Lamb, Drew Gordon, Kyle O'Quinn, Jae Crowder.

Players I don't: Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers, Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones, Will Barton, Tony Wroten.

Nights like this I miss my old "Draft Fashion" column -- that was a fun one to do.

-- D.S.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

06/27 (CFB Playoff) Quickie

On the road traveling today, but a quick note that college football is better served by the new playoff format. The battle over the 3rd and 4th playoff teams will be even more fierce than the complaints about who was being left out of the 1-2 game, but college football has always fed off of that kind of controversy -- and been stronger for it, frankly. It's going to be an odd pair of lame-duck years between now and then, with plenty of "If the 4-team playoff were in place..." talk. That's not a bad thing. Quickish has a great stream of playoff reactions.

Also, pop by Quickish for some great reads on the NBA Draft (including two interesting profiles of Royce White) and the Olympic Trials for swimming, which remain riveting.

-- D.S.

Monday, June 25, 2012

06/25 (Olympic Trials) Quickie

Things I'm loving: The US Olympic Trials, nice things being said about Kevin Youkilis (the only Red Sox player I like), the final few days before the NBA Draft, Anthony Rizzo being called up, Lochte vs. Phelps.

Things I'm not loving: The idea that Bradley Beal will get yoinked by the Cavs before he can go to my Wizards on Thursday night, an idea that is currently driving me batty; Venus being bounced from Wimbledon, the idea that Ray Allen and Steve Nash could join the Heat.

-- D.S.