2008 NBA Draft Diary - Part IV

By Felipe Melecio

2008 NBA Draft:
12th PICK—Stern comes out and we’ve noticed that he’s stumbling and stammering a lot in this draft. He’s getting too old. Jason Thompson, 6’11” and 250 lbs. Bilas just describes him as “solid.” There’s real trouble brewing when Bilas can’t muster the energy to hype a player up. MUST IMPROVE ON: POST-DEFENSE. Again, just another player that will fit in with his new team (in this case, the Kings).

Stu wants to talk now: Brings up the fact that Thompson wants to be a broadcaster one day and joked that he will be helping out ESPN’s telecast starting in the 2nd round. Talk about a room getting very quiet. That brings Stu’s Joke-O-Meter to .000.

13th PICK—Donny’s guy Brandon Rush gets picked. At 6’6” how’s that for a real “tall guard?” Finally, after all the Combo Guard hype, a real shooting guard is taken. I don’t know how he’ll fit in Portland because they have plenty of guys just like him (Outlaw, Webster, Roy, etc.), but whether Rush is better than most is all for naught at this point [and not just because he’ll get traded soon]. At any rate, for a draft that was supposed to be “deep” a lot of teams are opting to pick up backups. That’s my take so far at least.

Bilas: “A really good prospect. Has smoothness to his game.” Oooh, smoothness, eh? There’s more: “Can guard multiple positions.” Wow, tell me more! NEEDS TO WORK ON: ASSERTIVENESS. Huh? That’s an attribute? I know of “Aggressiveness” in hockey, but I don’t think the NBA wants players to be fighting. There’s no 5 minute majors in basketball. Notch this up to Bilas reaching for criticism here. I turned to Donny, “this guy might be the best player right now.” Donny, of course, agreed.

14th PICK—Anthony Randolph gets selected as Stu was given the green light to say the following: “Golden State goes big and young!” (Brigham Young?). Bilas: In his last 9 games, he averaged 20.1 PPG (that’s a heck of a resume). Oh, but the following is where Bilas shines. Please, read on:
--Has great “Linear Extent in Space.” (He’s either trying to be the next Bill James for aspiring NBA draft gurus or he’s really pulling out terms out of his butt. I’m thinking more of the latter than the former. I’m not impressed).
--Talented young prospect (aren’t they all?)
--Can rebound, can block, he can play (holy moley, he’s Tyrus Thomas, but with some offensive game. I know Randolph has game because he was able to prove it in NINE GAMES!)
--Needs to hit the weights (of course) and learn how to play in the NBA

Ok, I’m confused with that last statement, but there’s no time for me to mull it over because DICKEY V is on the air. Awesome, baby!

Vitale: YOU DON’T NEED A DR. IN HOOPOLOGY TO COME OUT OF HARVARD (I’m sorry?)
--Seattle might regret not getting Love (echoing Donny’s sentiments from earlier in the night)
--Just compared the Knicks selection of The Rooster as being the same incident that the Pistons were a part of when selecting Darko Milicic.
--Surprise Pick: Jason Thompson and demands that Reggie Theus gets a contract extension because of it (is he serious or did Dickey V just pull out the sarcasm on us?).
--Finally, what I was able to decipher from Dickey V. was that he was getting upset because most, if not all, of these picks were purely based on “Potential, potential, potential!” Someone please explain to Vitale what an amateur draft is, please!

Bilas just announced his best available list for the 15th pick as being “mostly big guys.” Thanks for the update, Bilas.

15TH PICK—Robin Lopez. I guess he didn’t have to wait too long. He’s now attempting to find his brother as he really doesn’t like being separated from him for too long.
BILAS: He’s defensive-oriented, has BIG hands, and is learning how to use his left-hand (I turn to Donny and Gabe and tell them “so am I.” That got a nice chuckle going in the room. I must say, I’m proud of my achievement).

Bilas is still talking?: Will bring energy (that’s good because with these gas prices...), will get better, has a chance to improve on offensive end.

That’s some big time hype for a player selected 15th overall. Come on, Bilas! Finish this off right! Bilas: “He’s solid.” That’s it? All that for a “solid” player?
Stu: How will he play without his brother? (Why even ask that, anyway? Who cares?)

Robin’s turn to sit on the hot seat across the Little Man Who Met His Waterloo A Long Time Ago, Stephen A. Smith: THIS MAN IS BOLD as Smith points to Robin. No Stevie A., you’re bold!

Cut to the Lopez mom being interviewed and she’s a pretty tall woman. I turn to Donny and Gabe and proclaim that “the Lopez bros. came out of the womb 7 feet tall!” That got the biggest laugh of the night. It’s pretty much all downhill from here. Cut to a bathroom break.

Next: 16-20