INCOMPETENCE REWARDED

Tonight's NBA Draft Lottery was, again, won by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers won their 3rd draft lottery in 4 years. They had the 9th best odds of receiving the #1 pick. In a stunning case of luck, the Cleveland Cavaliers were rewarded, once again, for losing and incompetence.

Last year the Cavs drafted SF/PF tweener Anthony Bennett out of UNLV. It was the wrong pick. Bennett had a historically terrible 1st year, and it does not seem he will ever recover to become the player he was expected to be as the top pick.

There are several issues with the current draft lottery system. First, this should not be allowed to happen. Pure luck must be taken out of the equation, as it is unfair to the teams who put their fans through living hell this season in Milwaukee and Philadelphia. These teams must now wait and hope Cleveland does not draft the players they had hoped to grab in this year's draft. Second, losing should not be rewarded, in general. The NBA Draft currently rewards the losing teams, and gives teams not capable of winning the incentive to fail miserably.

To rid of this luck, which the Cavaliers have obviously been exposed to, the NBA must, at the least, dispose of the "ping pong ball" system. If anyone is to be rewarded for losing, it should be the worst teams. As such, NBA teams should receive their respective picks based on their records alone. Nevertheless, a better option exists.

Instead of continuing the current system, where luck and losing play too significant of a role, a new system altogether should be put in place. A system, for example, where every 30 years each team is slotted at each of the 30 drafting positions. Every 5 years, each team receives a top 6 pick, 7-12 pick, 13-18 pick, 19-24 pick, and 25-30 pick. With this system, luck and losing are taken out of the equation. They are replaced with equality, whether a team is winning or losing. This system would force teams to try and win, as their draft positioning would be predetermined. Teams that consistently lose will always gain chances to succeed through the draft.

I think what Masai Ujiri really meant to say was "F*CK CLEVELAND"

-Wes

WESTBROOK SHINES BRIGHTEST

On a night where Kevin Durant received the MVP trophy in front of his hometown crowd, it was Russell Westbrook's star that shone brightest. While both players put up similarly impressive statistics, Westbrook made the vital plays in the 3rd quarter to pull away from the Clippers for good. Whether it was picking Chris Paul's pocket, or crashing the offensive boards, Westbrook's play was spectacular. It was one of the most amazing displays of effort and athleticism you will ever see. If Westbrook continues his relentless play, the Thunder will win the series no matter how well he shoots. At this point, this series appears to be a tossup. It is the effort plays, the ones that Westbrook is most capable of making, that will determine the end result.

A NEW KING IS CROWNED

Today, the NBA announced Kevin Durant as the league's MVP. Durant had a spectacular season, where he averaged 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, per game, on over 50% shooting. Durant had one of the greatest statistical seasons in NBA history. In fact, Durant's statistics in his 7th season were better than Michael Jordan's 7th season.

Durant's most impressive feat was his offensive outbreak during a 2 month stretch where his partner in crime, Russell Westbrook, was injured. In the simple isolation based offence Scott Brooks runs, Durant was handed the ball on almost every possession, and he executed flawlessly. To maximize Oklahoma City's offence, the Thunder must ensure Durant maintains control of the majority of the team's possessions, similar to, yet not as extreme, as what occurred without Westbrook on the floor.

Another of Durant's monumental achievements this season was his streak of 41 straight 25 point games. Despite Durant's brilliance, it will be extremely difficult for him to finish his MVP season with an NBA Championship. Unlike Miami, Oklahoma City's roster, and choice of lineups, has not been tailored to the skill-set of their best player. Nevertheless, Durant is to be commended for his amazing year and continuous growth as a playmaker.

-Wes

REVEREND JACKSON

The separation of Church and State has been a major cause of conflict throughout history. Today, as Mark Jackson appears to be fired from his position as Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors, the theme arises once again. The Warriors, a talented young team, with unlimited potential, have failed to progress because of locker room issues, which stem directly from Jackson's consistent use of religious language.

There is no place for forced religion in the NBA locker room. Jackson has gotten in several feuds this year due to his lack of restraint in preaching his religious beliefs to his basketball team. In addition, Jackson has been criticized for his stubbornness, as he has failed to accept input from management or even his coaching staff as to how the Warriors should play. With Jackson at the helm, a dysfunctional environment has been created that must be reconciled immediately. This can only be done by bringing in a new player's coach, one who is open to criticism and capable of keeping the focus in the locker room on basketball rather than religion.

A great lesson to take away from this decision is that no matter the success of the team on the court, the team's owner always has the final say. Joe Lacob, the Warriors majority owner, did not like Jackson, and decided to fire him even after a 50 win season and hard fought 7 game series to a potential NBA champion.

-Wes

RAPTORS MOVE QUICKLY TO SECURE A KEY PIECE

The day after the Toronto Raptors season ended, Masai Ujiri signed Head Coach Dwane Casey to a new 3 year deal. This was a quick and decisive move that shows the unity of this Raptors organization and belief in what the Raptors did this year. The Raptors success this season was not a fluke. The chemistry that was developed amongst the team can largely be attributed to Coach Casey. In their post-season interviews, each player was quick to praise Dwane Casey and discuss the best locker room they had been a part of. Casey is a player's coach. The players trust and respect him. He has preached defence since his first day as the Raptors coach, and the team's defence has continuously gotten better.

Lowry and the team now see the Raptors organization want to move forward with the team's core from this past year. Signing Dwane Casey is the first stepping-stone in keeping Kyle Lowry a Raptor, and keeping this core group of players together.

-Wes

IT ONLY GOES UP FROM HERE

It was an unfortunate end to a great Raptors season, as they fell in Game 7 to the veteran Brooklyn Nets. Now begins the offseason, and the Raptor organization can begin looking to the next step in the building process; the NBA Draft.

The Raptors have obvious holes to fill off the bench. Moving forward, only Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson have proven they belong. In filling the 4th available big position, the Raptors should look to add a veteran player. With that said, the Raptors should focus on shoring up obvious bench holes on the wing positions in the NBA Draft. As was proven in their series against the Nets, the Raptors need wing defenders. But, the downfall of many teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, are players that play only one side of the ball. While John Salmons and Landry Fields defended Joe Johnson to the best of their capabilities, they possess no offensive firepower. The Raptors need 2-way players off the bench that are capable of finishing games because of their shooting and defence.

The Toronto Raptors have the 20th pick of the 1st round, and 2 picks in the 2nd round. The 1st of the Raptors 2 2nd round picks will be the 37th pick, which they received in the Rudy Gay trade. Due to the unpredictability of the drafting, here are some potential prospects for our 1st 2 picks:

Kyle Anderson - It is highly unlikely Anderson falls to the Raptors at 20, but he would be a welcome addition. Anderson possesses a rare combination of size and skill. Similar to Shaun Livingston, Anderson is a talented ball handler with a high basketball IQ. He is a mismatch nightmare for defences. At 6'9, Anderson can play anything from Point Guard to Small Forward. Anderson averaged almost 9 rebounds per game in only his 2nd year at UCLA. Anderson still has room to grow and has All-Star potential, which would make him a steal at 20.

P.J. Hairston - Though Hairston has had off court issues, the strong bond in the Raptors locker room would certainly compensate for them. Hairston is a 3D guy (three point shooter and defender), attributes that every team is looking for. He was 6th in the D-League in scoring at 21.8 points per game. Hairston is a very good athlete and has the potential to be a great scorer off the bench for the Raptors.

Cleanthony Early - If you saw Early's performance against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament, you understand why I am so high on this guy. Early has experience as a key cog for a winning team. He is a lethal shooter, with great athleticism, and is capable of getting to the rim. Early plays calm and under control. He has good size and a strong frame. Early projects to be a great Small Forward in the NBA. Early is the safest pick because he is NBA ready and has no holes in his game.

T.J. Warren - Warren has a knack for scoring. In only his Sophomore season at North Carolina State, Warren scored 24.9 points per game on over 50% shooting. Warren is a good shooter, with a lethal floater. He is an unorthodox player, offensively, but he always finds a way to score. Defensively, Warren has been a weak on ball defender. Warren was forced to carry the scoring load for his N.C. State team, though, and it is unclear whether he was merely saving his energy for the offensive end. Nevertheless, Warren has quick hands, and, as a backup, he will not be matched up with starting Small Forwards. Warren would provide Toronto with a much needed scoring punch off the bench and he would maintain the shooting that made Toronto a top flight team in the East this past season.

Nik Stauskas - Fans would be delighted if Masai Ujiri drafted the Mississauga native, Stauskas. Stauskas is a lethal shooter and great ball handler. While he would provide shooting and scoring off the bench for the Raptors, he is a weak defender. Though it would please many hometown fans, I do not believe Stauskas is the right player for Toronto to draft. At the end of the day, though, every team could use an automatic knockdown shooter that is more capable of scoring and ball handling than a Steve Novak.

Glenn Robinson III - After helping Michigan make the NCAA Tournament finals in his Freshman season, expectations were high for Robinson's Sophomore year. Robinson disappointed, though. The efficiency he showed as a 3rd option behind Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. did not continue in his Sophomore year. Robinson is quick, long, and a a great athlete, and he projects to be an elite defender at the next level. With his capable shooting, and finishing abilities around the rim, Robinson would be a viable option for Toronto with the 20th pick. While Robinson is not a go-to option offensively, he has no weaknesses on either end of the floor, and has room to grow. Robinson also has genetics on his side, as his father is former NBA All-Star Glenn Robinson Jr. Robinson would be a welcome addition to Toronto's young rotation.

DeAndre Kane - While most see Kane's 4 years of College Ball as a negative, his experience would allow him to come in and immediately help the Raptors off the bench. Kane has great size for a Guard and is a great ball handler. He and Greivis Vasquez would make a ferocious backup Guard tandem due to their complete offensive games. Having another ball handler on the floor would allow Kyle Lowry more time to rest. Kane is already a man, and as he proved against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, he is ready to compete. Kane is a great rebounder for a Guard, and he would be a welcome addition to the Raptors roster.

Sean Kilpatrick - Kilpatrick has a similar style to his game as Cincinnati alumnus, Lance Stephenson. Kilpatrick attacks the basket with ferocity and typically finishes with athletic off-balance moves. He is capable of finishing with contact, and hit his free throws this past season at an 85% clip. At 6'4 Kilpatrick may be undersized guarding some Shooting Guards, but his bulk and athleticism will allow him to contain bigger players on the defensive end. Kilpatrick is a good three point shooter. Similar to James Harden, Kilpatrick plays the percentages. He either takes the three, or attacks the rim. Kilpatrick would be a great 2nd round pick, as he would give the Raptors much needed easy points when Lowry and DeRozan are out of the game.

At the end of the day, there are plenty of beneficial options for the Raptors at 20. All of these players  would provide much needed help for the Raptors wing positions off the bench. Through the draft process, the players that possess the physical and mental capabilities to help progress this Raptors team forward should begin to shine. It is the beginning of a painful offseason, but we are well on our way to seeing a Raptors team contend for a title in the near future. Masai, the stage is yours.

-Wes

F FOR EFFORT

On a series closeout game, one of the most important in the history of this Raptors organization, the often gritty Toronto Raptors team did not show up. From the opening tip, the intensity and effort were never present for the road Raptors. For the Brooklyn Nets, it was target practice. Toronto's weak man defence, and even weaker help defence, had them scrambling on every possession. 

To achieve a different result in a do-or-die Game 7, here is what Toronto can do:

Start Landry Fields at the Small Forward position: Ross is giving the Raptors nothing on the offensive end. Which, other than a few solid cuts, is what Fields is worth. Yet, Fields plays hard, with veteran-like experience. Defensively, the Raptors need Fields' presence on Joe Johnson. As was the case in tonight's Game 6 loss, Toronto cannot afford to have Demar DeRozan guard him. Fields will provide the effort and tenacity on defence to allow Toronto's other four players to stay with their men, who are usually shooters on the perimeter.

Try a Zone Defence: While Brooklyn has a lot of great shooters, they are hesitant to take open three point looks. Deron Williams, Alan Anderson, Joe Johnson, and Paul Pierce have consistently passed up three point shots and have instead looked for more difficult drives to the basket. Toronto's weak rotations and interior defence, at all positions, has allowed for way too many easy looks at the rim. 

Another reason for attempting a Zone Defence is that Brooklyn has shot poorly from three point land thus far in the series. While the Nets have no doubt become familiar with Toronto's rims, the "Law of Averages" does not bode well for road teams from the three point line. Playing a zone defence would hopefully put a stop to the easy baskets that allowed Brooklyn a huge 1st half lead in Game 6. 

Don't Rest Your Starters, Dwane: This is it. Game 7. There is no tomorrow. Up next is a Miami team neither of these squads is capable of beating in a 7 game series. Casey has allowed his starters too much rest at key moments of the games. If players need a rest, call a timeout. The Raptors need to maximize every minute of play, and this cannot happen with Steve Novak, John Salmons, Chuck Hayes, or Tyler Hansbrough in the lineup. Tighten the rotation even further and force maximum effort from your star players on both ends. While the Raptors need Demar's scoring on offence, they need his defence, as well. 

This is the beginning of a process that will conclude with a contending Raptors team. For now, Raptors fans must remain patient as a young team gains the necessary experience to propel them to new heights. Nevertheless, if the Raptors are able to put their best foot forward, and leave it all out on the floor, they will leave Game 7 victorious. 

-Wes

HISTORICAL IGNORANCE

Today is a sad day for basketball fans in Oklahoma City. The cover of their hometown newspaper, The Oklahoman, portrayed Kevin Durant as a villain (as shown above). After years of playoff frustration, and nobody left to blame, the newspaper decided to point their finger at Kevin Durant. Durant had a magnificent season, where he led the NBA in scoring, and will likely be crowned the NBA's MVP. Durant is the sole hope for this Oklahoma City franchise. He is the only player worth keeping on their entire roster. This was an enormous mistake.

Over the past six years, Durant has made Oklahoma City his home. He has given his all to a team that lacks the skill and chemistry to achieve championship success. The blame on Durant is severely misguided. Instead, the blame should be directed at Oklahoma City's Point Guard Russell Westbrook.

As has been the case in this series, Durant is often double-teamed and forced to move the basketball. When this happens, others must make plays. Westbrook, when put in this position, lacks the playmaking ability to continuously get others involved. This poor decision making is heightened by his below average shooting. Westbrook has elite level athleticism, but chooses to settle for jump-shots and three-point shots far too often, rather than attacking the basket. His ignorance on the basketball court is only surpassed by the ignorance of today's Oklahoman cover story.

The third important piece on the Thunder's roster is Serge Ibaka. As he showed in last year's playoffs, when Russell Westbrook got injured, Ibaka is not capable of being a secondary option on a contending team. He is simply a good player, not a great one.

Outside of these three players, there is nobody on the roster that is capable of playing well on both ends of the floor. At times, Reggie Jackson is a calming presence off the bench. But, players like Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, Caron Butler (at the end of his career), Steven Adams, Derek Fisher, Jeremy Lamb, and Hasheem Thabeet are not going to help their cause.

Kevin Durant is the only player not at fault for Oklahoma City's first round troubles against Memphis. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City's General Manager, has failed to make the necessary changes around Kevin Durant since trading James Harden. At this point, it may be too late for a city that has already turned on their once beloved superstar.

The Oklahoman, by labeling Kevin Durant, one of the two best players in the world, "Mr. Unreliable," have forced their best player to turn his back on a city he loves. A series loss to Memphis may be the final straw that breaks the MVP's back.

-Wes