10/28/05: NBA pre-season predictions

KNICKS:

Marbury or Crawford traded by end of year.
Nate Robinson jerseys outsell top two other Knick top-sellers COMBINED.
Mike Sweetney averages 17 points 10 rebounds ..Eddy Curry 14 points 6
rebounds.
Jerome James explodes at Palms casino buffet table.
Isaiah fired next day.

Rest of league:

Indiana comes out of the East.
Miami massively disappoints due to chemistry probs.
Cleveland, Utah, and Milwaukee all have a massively overachieving year.
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of year: Chris Paul
Shocking impact rookie team:

PG: Little Nate
OG: Sailm Stoud/F Garcia
SF: D Granger
PF: H. Warrik
C: S May

David Stern exposed in huge weirdo sex scandal.

7/19/05: The Draft, Past and Future

TOP FIVE NBA DRAFT STEALS & BUSTS (1999-2002)

1999

TOP BUSTS

1. F. Weis/NY (15) *bonus points for taking him right ahead of local hero R. Artest.
2. T. Langdon/Cle (11)
3. Radjanovic/Tor (12)
4. W. Avery/Minn (14)
5. J.Bender/Ind (5)

TOP STEALS

1. Manu/SA (57)
2. A.Kirelenko/Utah (24)
3. R.Artest/Chi (16)
4. S.Marion/Phoe (9)
5. K.Thomas/Hou (22)

2000

TOP BUSTS

1. M.Fizer/Chi (4)
2. D.Johnson/Atl (6)
3. J.Moiso/Bos (11)
4. M.Cleeves/Det (14)
5. J.Collier/Hou (15)

TOP STEALS

1. M.Redd/Mil (44)
2. J.Maglorie/Charl (19)
3. Q.Richardson/LAC (18)
4. D.Mason/See (17)
5. M.Jaric/LAC (30)

2001

TOP BUSTS

1. D.Diop/Cle (8) (*note: I'm not giving up on K.Brown ..yet.)
2. K.Haston/Charl (16)
3. R.White/Det (9)
4. K.Brown/Bos (11)
5. J.Forte/Bos (21) *ironic: the ONE guy they trade away that draft is J.Johnson --dummies.

TOP STEALS

1. Arenas/GS (31)
2. Z.Randolph/P-land (19)
3. T.Parker/SA (28)
4. R.Jefferson/NJ (13)
5. J.Tinsley/Ind (28)...SDalembert/Phil (26)..M.Okur/Det (38) *Call it a 3-way tie.

2002

TOP BUSTS

1. N.Tskaveilli/Den (5)
2. M.Haislip/Mil (13)
3. R.Humphry/Orl (19)
4. D.Wagner/Cle (6) *I cut him (& J.Will) a break due to injuries & fact he may still make it.
5. M.Ely/LAC (11)


TOP STEALS

1. A Stoud/Phoe (9)
2. C.Boozer/Cle (35)
3. T.Prince/Det (23)
4. N.Kristic/NJ (24)
5. D.Gadzuric/Mil (34)

and...

To all haters: Yes, an occasional prediction or two will be off --but like all haters the wrongs are all you'll remember. That said I'm once again putting my money where my mouth is via print. 

2005 rookie first team:

D. Williams: He'll get an ample opportunity to play and reporters will hype him to death for his "the right way"-style of game.
C. Paul: He's too good to not come in and put a major hurt on the league pronto (*unless Dan Dickau suddenly turns into John Stockton).
Bougat: Enough of this borderline racist stuff about Bougat not being a player because he's white. The WORST he'll be is a the second coming of all-star Brad Miller. This Aussie is a hardcore motherfucker who will not back down from anybody.
L. Scola: ~Manu's Argentine teammate is coming to a town near you. It's scary to think how perfect a cog this Horace Grant-clone will be in making the champions an improved dynasty for years to come.
M.Williams: He might not live up to the hype early but by the end of the season...

second team

Felton: He'll get ample opportunity to strut his stuff and prove to be real nice starter.
McCants: His O is made for the NBA and with Spree gone he'll get a chance to show it off (*if he doesn't wind up in jail or drug rehab).
S. May: Look at what I said about Felton ...same thing.
Diagou: He's a beast and a skilled one at that. His lone obstacle is that T. Murphy plays ahead of him. Still, he'll find a way.
M. Webster: Trust me, this kid can shoot and has an NBA-ready body and (*unlike Green) has a brain to boot. Mark it; he's got no comp at his position and should have a very productive rookie campaign.

third team

Sarunas Jasikevicius: He might actually be FIRST team if he signs with LaBron (*For those who don't know or remember; this guy has won the last 3 Euro championships and kicked all our American point guard's asses in international a couple years back).
S. Stoudamire: McCants part II --'nuff said.
H. Warrick: I don't like him on Memphis but Hakeem is a flat-out "baller". If he woulda gone to the Nets (*as he should've) my personal homeboy would rank higher on this list.
G. Green: For a guy this talented to slip so far they must have uncovered him as assisting the BTK-killer or some shit. Maybe he does crack? Maybe he likes kiddie-porn? ..I dunno. Still, if Bill O'Reilly can get away with a dildo fetish ---I think this guy can overcome his background to show he's a big-time player ...down the road.
J. Hodge: Rip Hamilton without range. Still, this guy has so much heart and open court skill he's gonna make it ---never doubt a hardcore baller from Brooklyn! 

Note I: losers like C. Frye and Villanueva maaaaaaay sneak in but ONLY because their GM's are gonna be forced to play them minutes or face the firing squad. Trust me, in the long run both these chumps will bust.

Note II: If we trade Marbury (*as we should) Nate "Little Big Man" Robinson will become one of the most beloved and talented Knick point guards in history.

DLEE

PS: I can't believe my brother's actually playing for the Knicks next year ..he's a better athlete than I thought.