2015-2016 NBA Season Review

This NBA season was filled with a lot of ups and downs for me. There were some spectacular moments, some cool moments, and some not so cool moments. It is all up for review here.

Let's start with the main team that this blog has focused on, the San Antonio Spurs...
The Spurs had a monumentally successful regular season. San Antonio won 67 games this year, which is a franchise record. However, the team was shocking ousted in the 2nd round by a younger and seemingly hungrier Thunder team. It was great to see the regular season and Duncan still being a contributor at his age, while hoping for him to get another ring and go out on top. It was cool to see the transformation to it being Kawhi's team and to see Leonard emerge as a true MVP candidate. Seeing Popovich's unselfish system continue to thrive is never a bad thing either...

So what happened in the playoffs?
The Spurs like I said, were outworked by a younger and hungrier team. It seems that everything was clicking all the way through Game 1 of the second round. This team dismantled the Thunder in Game 1. Then Father Time caught up with San Antonio in a big way for the rest of the series. Tim Duncan looked terrible all series until the deciding Game 6 when he tried to give it one last hurrah. It was painful to see at times. The knees and back were affecting his play and he just seemed to be losing it. For someone that has seen Duncan dominate for so long it was sad. It was sadder in knowing that this is probably it for Duncan and that he likely will not get to 6 championships now. A class individual and class player like Duncan should get to go out on top for the classiest organization in sports. Not meant to be though. The Thunder wanted it more and deserved the Western Conference Final appearance more. While it is sad that Duncan is likely done, the future is bright for Kawhi Leonard and possibly for the San Antonio Spurs still because of Leonard.

Now to the team that ousted the Spurs....
I have not focused too much on the Thunder here at ran. I don't think most of the people that read my stuff care too much. However, the Wizards fans care about Durant and the team has intrigue because they knocked out the Spurs. Kevin Durant is perhaps the most likable guy in the league and him leading the Thunder to knock out the Spurs is good for him and probably for the NBA. Getting more eyeballs on him and Westbrook is great for the NBA. Speaking of Russell Westbrook, I'm happy to see the haters starting to go away. The guy is an elite NBA player. Easily top 10 in the game and probably top 5. He needs to be treated as such. Glad to see Westbrook finally get that respect. The 1,2 punch of Durant and Westbrook will likely stay. Sorry for all of the #KD2DC fans out there. This combo is too great to break up.

The combo also has one of the best coaches in the NBA. As a die-hard Nole, I cannot tell you how excited it makes me that Billy Donovan is coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder instead of coaching in Gainesville. This guy just knows basketball. He is one of the elite basketball minds on the planet. Assuming that Durant stays with the Thunder (I assume he will), this team has future NBA Champs written all over it.

Heck they almost won this year. The Thunder were up 3-1 on the team with the best record in the NBA during the Western Conference Finals. Did it all come crashing down?
Yes. It came crashing down when the Warriors made the proper adjustments and their two best players finally started playing like they had all season. Klay Thompson took over the series and the Warriors ended up winning. The team had the best regular season record in NBA history for a reason. Still, the Thunder had them down 3-1. That says a lot about the potential of Oklahoma City.

The Thunder certainly upgraded over Scott Brooks with Billy Donovan. However, Brooks was a good coach that helped the Thunder get to the next point. He helped develop two young superstars. Brooks is a great hire for the team that I do regularly talk about, the Washington Wizards. Hired just a few weeks ago, Brooks looks to improve on his career 62% winning percentage in a weak Eastern Conference. There is absolutely no excuse for the Wizards being as horrendous as they are, and Brooks has the potential to mold this team at least into a consistent playoff contender. With Brooks, they should at least make the playoffs every year. With some solid roster movement, this team can contend in the Eastern Conference.

Which leads me to my next topic, the underachieving Bradley Beal. This guy is supposed to be offered a max contract this offseason. Why?
Beal played in just 55 games this season and his injury prone status is a large reason why this team underachieved so much. Do they really want to make the playoffs only when an injury prone guy is healthy?
Beal has played in just 247/328 regular season games in his career. The career just started and its been filled with injuries. This is the guy you want to offer the max to. The guy you want to make Wall's 2nd best option. Sure he has a pretty 3 point shot, but why risk it. Can't we go with a safer and more reliable alternative here to giving Beal 22 million?
He says he is past the injury thing, but is he really?
The dude derailed the Wizards season and they missed the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. That he averaged 17.4 is of no consequence, he played in just 55 games. There are a lot better ways to spend 22 million. He has a nice shot, but he isn't a great defender and rarely can create his own shot. Not to mention that he has the 39th worst turnover rate among NBA guards. The guy doesn't play and when he does, he turns it over. I just don't see why this guy deserves a max deal. If you want to bring him back, fine, but structure the deal in a way that the team still has financial flexibility. A team with two injury prone max guards will stay a fringe playoff contender. That playoff status will continue to remain on the backs and legs of two injury prone guys. Not how I want to spend my time as an NBA fan. If you give Beal the max, you deserve the broken player you get. Here is a solid article on what the Wizards should offer Beal.

Speaking of the weak Eastern Conference.....

LeBron certainly continues to dominate the pathetic conference. However, as a hater of the LeBron narrative, I thought it was worth pointing out that the Miami Heat pushed the Raptors (that gave LeBron fits in the Finals) to 7 games the series before. They did it with largely the same team LeBron had, just minus LeBron. They also did it injured. Guess they are solid help and I guess Wade did have plenty in the tank, just like I said. The biggest difference between this Heat and LeBron's Heat in my opinion is that this Heat did not include Chris Bosh either. They must have some pretty solid contributing parts. Led by a pretty fantastic guard in Dwayne Wade.....

Stay tuned next week, for more from the world of sports...

-Noland

100 Most Likable American Athletes (20-11)

Weeks ago, I started looking at the most likable athletes in this country following the retirements of Derek Jeter and Champ Bailey. That continues today with the latest look at some awesome American athletes. First, let's look back at what we have gone over so far...
Preview
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61
60-51
50-41

40-31

30-21

Every athlete from here to #1 has a strong case for that top spot. However, the cases get stronger the closer we get. Here are your top 20.

20. Mike Trout

Millville, New Jersey

Current Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

After three full seasons as a pro, Trout has appeared in three all-star games. Last season, he was the American League MVP. His two previous seasons he finished as a runner-up for the MVP Award to Miguel Cabrera and many thought he should have won. Now, most people would consider him the best player in baseball and everyone seems to enjoy his play. After only three seasons in the league it is hard to put Trout any higher than this, but he could not have had a much better three years than he has had. Mike Trout has been absolutely fantastic and the best is yet to come. Hard to believe he wasn't the #1 overall pick in the amateur draft. As you can see the cases are getting really strong for #1.

19. Missy Franklin

Pasadena, California

Swimming

The most recognizable female swimmer from the past Olympics has got to be Missy Franklin. She got nearly as much airtime as Phelps did in London. It helps that she won 4 gold medals and a bronze during those Olympics at just 17 years old. Franklin, now 19 has simply dominated international competition and has a lot more of it to do. This girl is going to break a ton of Olympic and international records. She has 22 international medals to her credit already. 14 of those medals are gold, 5 are silver, and 3 are bronze. It is amazing the amount of medals she has picked up in such a short period of time. It is more amazing that her first international medal was won at age 15. I was nowhere near an Olympic athlete at age 15 and I doubt any of you were. As a sophomore in HS this girl was destroying the world's best athletes. In order to remain an amateur during these events, Franklin refused prize money and endorsements. Despite refusing prize money, Frankling is heavily involved in charity work. There is not much not to like about Franklin.

18. Kawhi Leonard

Los Angeles, California

Current Team: San Antonio Spurs

Kawhi Leonard is my second favorite player in the NBA. It is tough not to like the hustle, the dedication to defense, the unselfish play, and the pure excellence. I feel that it is safe to say that his improvement from day 1 in the league is pretty much unparalleled. This guy is young and he is getting better. He is such a lockdown defender and key member of this San Antonio Spurs machine. I believe that he has been spectacular for a while, but the rest of the world caught on during these past NBA Finals. When you outplay LeBron in the NBA Finals, people notice. LeBron still got his, but Kawhi had him flustered in each of the past two finals. You can not ignore the impact that Kawhi Leonard has had on lengthening the Spurs run. If the Spurs are going to do damage again this year, Leonard will have a major role. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP has only good things to come.

17. Charles Tillman

Chicago, Illinois

Current Team: Chicago Bears

If Charles Tillman was not hurt this past season, then he would be Top 5 with a very strong argument for #1 overall. However, Tillman suffered his 2nd consecutive season ending injury this past season. It is hard for you to stay very high on the list when you can't stay on the field. Still, Tillman has to be in the Top 20 because you don't get much more likable than him off the field. His dedication to community service is truly amazing. Tillman was the 2013 NFL Man of the Year and contributes to numerous charitable causes. His Cornerstone Foundation improves the lives of critically ill children and is one of the greatest charities out there. In fact, there have been several stories from people inside the foundation and the recipients of help who have been speaking about how wonderful a person Tillman is. Add in how great he is with NFL fans everywhere and Tillman is a treasure for this league. They do not come much better than Charles "Peanut" Tillman.

16. Clint Dempsey

Nacogdoches, Texas

Current Team: Seattle Sounders FC

Clint Dempsey was the Captain of the United States during this past World Cup run and affectionately called Captain America by many throughout the country. He has been an outstanding leader for the US in soccer as he has represented the team admirably in international play. Dempsey has participated in 3 World Cups and scored goals in all three. By scoring goals in multiple World Cups, he joins and elite club of two. He also happened to score the quickest goal in US World Cup history scoring a goal 30 seconds into a match against Ghana. That is my kind of soccer! Quick with lots of scoring is the way to play! Dempsey is 2nd all-time in goals scored for the national team and doesn't look to be done. In fact, Dempsey is only one behind Landon Donovan in World Cup scoring. Most endearing by him may be the fact that he chose to continue to play in the United States instead of internationally. In addition to all of this, Dempsey is very involved in charity pursuits and is a Roman Catholic (like me!). He is a great person and well deserving of a high spot on this list.

15. TJ Oshie

Mount Vernon, Washington

Current Team: St. Louis Blues

TJ Oshie is the highest ranked hockey player on this list and for good reason. To me, he is the face of the last US Olympic Hockey Team. After he scored a game winning goal during those Olympics he said "the American heroes are wearing camo. That's not me." This was after someone asked him how he liked being the hero for the team. How do you not like the guy after a statement like that? Forget about the game winning goal, that statement alone was enough for inclusion on the list. His play in the NHL and internationally for the US put him firmly in the Top 20.

14. Madison Bumgarner

Hickory, North Carolina

Current Team: San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner soared up this list with a historic postseason run in 2014. I was very tempted to put MadBum in the #1 overall spot. These past playoffs he had as good a postseason as I have ever seen in any sport. His World Series performance was just other worldly. There are no words to describe how good he was. Then you add in that this is his 3rd WS title already and that he is so young and wow! It isn't just a postseason thing either. While he rises to the occasion in the postseason, Bumgarner is just a flat out stud. He does it with class too and he makes you like the way he carries his business. The devout Christian is about as likable as it gets in sports.

13. Gabby Douglas

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Gymnastics

Gabby Douglas had an epic run in the 2012 Olympic Games. She was absolutely dominant and the face of the United States gold medal team. During those Olympics she became the 1st American woman to win an individual all-around and a team gold medal in the same Olympics. That is a pretty fantastic accomplishment and was the highlight of the games for much of the country. The Virginia native has a lot of quality gymnastics left in her and does not look to be stopping anytime soon. Her faith in God keeps her grounded and adds to that likability. Gabby Douglas is a great American and a very likable athlete.

12. Drew Brees

Austin, Texas

Current Team: New Orleans Saints

In the same Forbes survey that listed a Steelers safety as the NFL's most liked player, Drew Brees was listed as the #2 player. Brees is widely acknowledged as the most liked QB in the game. He doesn't have any of the baggage that some of the other QBs have and puts on a show every Sunday. While his skills have diminished at this point, Brees is still quite good at what he does. He isn't perceived as a choke artist ala Peyton, he isn't a cheater ala Tom Brady, and he seems to be liked by everyone as a result. Brees is the guy you root for if you don't like the other elite QBs and a guy you root for even if you do. There is very little not to like about Drew Brees. In addition to all of the obvious on the field stuff, Brees is an absolute superstar off the field. This guy does as much charity work as any athlete and is just a great person. I had Brees in the Top 5, but dropped him down to #12 due to his diminishing skills. The guy is an absolute treasure though.

11. Stephen Curry

Akron, Ohio

Current Team: Golden State Warriors

The 2nd ranked basketball player on this list and #11 athlete overall is Stephen Curry. Curry will likely be the MVP this year and everyone will be happy with it. There is absolutely nothing to hate about this guy. He slipped in the draft because of his size. Before that, he received no big school scholarship offers and took a scholarship at Davidson. While at Davidson he led them on one of the biggest Cinderella runs in NCAA history. Really this guy is about as good as it gets and a rising star in the sports world. He proves it day in and day out and has to earn his keep. His story is the American Dream, well other than the NBA dad part. Not everybody has those genes haha. Curry was able to overcome his obstacles and prove that he belongs and everyone loves him for it.

-Noland

Spurs Win 5th NBA Championship

The San Antonio Spurs proved to be one of the best teams of all-time with a dismantling of the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals. These Spurs absolutely blasted the Heat in these past three games. Last night, the withstood a 22-6 barrage to start the game and won the game 104-87. The Heat were so dejected at the end of the game that Lebron visibly quit with about 5 minutes left in the game and the Big Three was removed with 2 minutes left. This "super team" couldn't handle the unselfishness and passing ability of the team. San Antonio is the ultimate team with their unselfish play. It never mattered who got the headlines (as it hasn't for the entire Duncan-Popovich era), just that they came out on top. This team was destined to finish on top and all of this was by design, I will tell you how this championship was won.

Tim Duncan Is Historically Great

It is time we start finally appreciating Tim Duncan for all he has accomplished in this league. The guy just won his 5th championship. He has three Finals MVPs, he has two regular season MVPS (robbed of at least two more), 14 all star appearances (12 starts), and yet is underrated. Nobody ever talks about Lebron as one of the truly all-time greats. Lebron and Kobe get compared to Jordan, but not Duncan and it doesn't make sense to me. For the record, Jordan is the best-ever, but Duncan might be the 2nd best I have seen, and no I am not kidding.

Duncan is certainly one of the best defensive players of this generation. He has been rated by basketball reference as a top 5 defensive player every season of his NBA career. This guy rates as the #1 active player and number two defensive player of all-time. For defensive win-shares, Duncan received the highest scores in 5 different seasons. For blocks per game Duncan has the 2nd most active and is #15 all-time. Rebounds per game he is 2nd for active players and #24 all-time. Total rebounds Duncanis #2 currently, and #11 all-time. Total blocks, he is #2 currently and #7 all-time. Duncan has 14 all-defensive 1st or 2nd team awards (5 of those are 2nd team). 

We can add in the offensive statistics to. For points per game, Duncan is no slouch. He has averaged 19.9 points per game over his brilliant career. That is good for 10th among current players and 55th all-time. Despite, being one of the most unselfish players in history, the 5 time champ, has shown he can score when he needs to. Let's not forget the record setting pace for double doubles. Again, according to basketball reference, Duncan is #1 currently for win-shares for the entire league over his career. He is #6 all-time ahead of both Lebron and Kobe. For the record, Kobe is 17 and Lebron is 18.

Look again, I am not saying Duncan is the best ever, but looking at his career and his 5 championships, it is time to put him in the conversation.

Popovich Also All-Time Great

Some people credited Duncan and some people credited Pop. Finally, I think everyone is crediting both of them for this historic amount of success. They are the best organization in sports currently and it starts with those two. The unselfish play of Tim Duncan has to be credited slightly to Pop, and also slightly to his mentor, David Robinson. The unselfish play of the entire team and the system he used has to be credited to Popovich. This guy made this team the most unselfish in sports that I have ever seen. It really is incredible what they have done. While this team was built around Duncan, it was perfected by Popovich and he deserves credit for that. Maximizing talents of guys like Danny Green and Patty Mills is something nobody else has been able to do.

No Excuses About Help

Look this win is about the Spurs and how every player, even the great Tim Duncan, is so unselfish that it doesn't matter who gets the glory. This has never happened with one of Lebron's teams. Lebron always gets the glory. I do not consider myself a Lebron hater, but give it a rest already. The help excuse went out the window when he teamed up with two other current top 10 players to form this Super Team. He said he wouldn't get 1,2,3,4 titles, he claimed he could get more. This guy acted like he could run through the NBA with no resistance now that he finally got help. Also I know that he's old, but they had Ray Allen too. 

Don't forget the important parts though. The personnel moves demanded in Cleveland. Lebron begged Cleveland to get an over the hill Antawn Jamison (a move that strapped Cleveland financially) and give up valuable picks right before he left. He held the team hostage with saying they needed to make moves. His team was never good enough. While he was on Cleveland, they had an all-star in Carlos Boozer and a young guy by the name of Danny Green. None of it was ever good enough for Lebron. Danny Green was so terrible in fact, that he ended up being cut by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Well, look at Green now.

Right behind Tim Duncan, is that same Danny Green. That same Danny Green that Lebron couldn't make better. That same Danny Green who was not good enough. That same Danny Green is a starter for the unselfish team, the San Antonio Spurs.

Kawhi Leonard Has Arrived

Let's not forget what Kawhi Leonard has done. this guy for two straight years has been the answer for Lebron James. Sure, the Heat won last year, but save that miracle finish and questionable officiating in Game 6, Kawhi wins an MVP last year too. This guy was out of this world. He defended Lebron very well for three straight games and outplayed him even. He certainly outhustled Lebron. This guy wanted it more. This team wanted it more.

Now, the rest of the world sees what San Antonio sees and what I have been saying. Kawhi Leonard is a superstar and he has arrived. At 22 years old, he already has one Finals MVP trophy. Don't be surprised if he picks up a few more in his career.

The Other Guys/The Other Effects

Many guys are afraid to admit that they are wrong. Not me. I thought that Manu Ginobili was finished, I thought he played to wreckless at times. However, that was not the case. Manu Ginobili just needed an offseason of rest. The guy plays so much basketball and just needed a break. At 36 years old, Manu has still got it. Manu can still play and after Game 5 of these finals, the NBA was put on notice. This legend is not done yet.

One guy I was not wrong about was Patty Mills. The great Patty Mills has such a great shot and is very useful off the bench. There is nobody that is more likable on this team than Patty. My sister texted me last night, "I love Patty Mills." How can you not love this guy? His energy, his playmaking ability, his demeanor, his selflessness, it is all unmatched. Well unmatched by anyone outside this Spurs organization. In some ways, Patty Mills is the face of this franchise. That is that he never has given up. When counted out, he never gave up. On the court he never gives up. That is the difference between these Spurs and other teams, they never give up on a possession ever.

Finally, I can say that I told you so. I told you that as soon as David Stern retired and they stopped letting Joey Crawford ref closing games the Spurs would win a title. Sure, I didn't go out and say the NBA was fixed, but it looked questionable. Joey Crawford's career reffing Spurs games has been highly questionable. David Stern has long been accused of fixing outcomes. The Oklahoma City-Miami Finals of two years ago was very suspicious. These type of things happened under Stern frequently. However, it didn't happen under Silver. Silver did not try to manipulate the outcome. The NBA is better for not having a meddling owner. This guy could bring a lot of fans back to the NBA, this seemed legit.

This was an awesome season and an awesome outcome. I have very much enjoyed this season and loved last night. The NBA is finally back and I could not be happier. They still got some kinks to work out with the refs, but they are oh so much better. This all just feels right. The Spurs are back where they belong. An unselfish team won the title. Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich got ring number 5. 

The San Antonio Spurs are NBA Champions!

-Noland

10 Things I Am Thankful For In Sports

I love the holiday of Thanksgiving. Every day should be thanksgiving and we should be thankful for everything we have. However, having a day dedicated solely to that purpose is awesome. Having a day where we just spend time with family and get to enjoy football is flat out amazing. In that spirit of giving thanks, I decided to rank the ten things I am most thankful for in sports.

10) Clayton Kershaw
I am thankful for Clayton Kershaw because he is such a class act. Here we have the best pitcher in all of baseball and he is God first. Over a year ago I wrote a post about how much I admired that Clayton Kershaw is able to put himself second. He doesn't care about individual accolades or success. He wants to lift others up. Kershaw is a shining example in sports. You can read and view a post about Clayton Kershaw here and admire him pitching next season. His pitching is pure artwork.

9) Kawhi Leonard
I have long considered Kawhi Leonard one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Here I talked about him being underrated. This guy plays the game the right way. He is a throwback, unselfish player. He fits the Spurs model perfectly and is the future when Duncan is gone. It is refreshing to see a newer athlete have such a team attitude.

8) Myles Jack
If you do not know who Myles Jack is, you should. He is a really good two way player for the UCLA Bruins. As a true freshman Jack is an amazing impact player for UCLA. A great linebacker and RB it is a pleasure watching Jack play. It is just amazing that someone can be that good at two positions in major college football as a Freshman.

7) Bobby Bowden's Return
I love FSU. I love Bobby Bowden. I love Jimbo Fisher. However, let's be honest, the exit for Bowden was ugly. Part of it felt dirty liking Bowden and FSU, but seeing Fisher successful. Bowden's welcome return and acceptance makes everything alright and everything great. So thankful that he is back.

6) Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is the class athlete in sport. Took less money to help his team. Never talking about individual accolades. All he talks about is his teammates. Never blames anyone. I love Tim Duncan and want him to go out with a ring.

5) The Orioles Being Relevant
I suffered through more than a decade of completely awful teams. These last two seasons where the Orioles have mattered in October have been awesome. Dan Duquette, Buck Showalter, Jim Presley and others have been a godsend to this organization. I could not be more thrilled. I put all the Orioles in this category. I am so thankful for players like Manny Machado and I didn't want to separate any of them.

4) All the FSU Pro Athletes
Seeing my favorite athletes in the pros succeed so much has been a great thrill. From Buster Posey to Anquan Boldin these guys have been fantastic. When there is no rooting interest in a pro game, it is nice to root for my Seminoles instead and I usually do have plenty to root for.

3) FSU Football Being 11-0
Surprised this isn't #1. I could easily have made it #1, but the job isn't done yet. In addition to that, some things are more important than winning and losing. My top two are some of those things.

2) Jimbo Fisher Coaching the Noles
Jimbo Fisher has once again made FSU the premier team in college football. Not only that, but he has done it with class. These three stories mean more to me than any win or loss ever could.
Jimbo's Son Fights Rare Blood Disease
Jimbo Visits Syracuse Player in the Hospital
FSU Honors Scholarship


1) All of Our Military Athletes
In the past I have written about many athletes who have done service to this fine country. How can these individuals not be the group we are most grateful for in sports. These people allow us to enjoy our sports and freedoms. So grateful for these individuals and all our service men and women. These are just some of our brave heroes.

Top 100 NBA Players

With all this talk about top 100 in my past few posts, I decided to start doing my own top 100 list for the 3 major sports. These lists will be based on value provided next year. For instance, Jason Kidd is not eligible because he will not play in 2014. It is a list for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Past accomplishments factor in, but it isn't an all-time list, so a guy like Kobe Bryant will not be in the top 10, eventhough he is arguably the best player of today over his career. Defense will factor in a great deal with these rankings. Finally, no players linked to steroids will be included, although they don't really catch people in basketball.

100. Bradley Beal                  Washington Wizards          SG
99. JR Smith                          New York Knicks               F
98. Raymond Felton                New York Knicks              PG
97. Samuel Dalembert             Dallas Mavericks                C
96. Eric Bledsoe                     Phoenix Suns                     PG
95. Jimmy Butler                      Chicago Bulls                   SF
94. Kosta Koufos                    Memphis Grizzles              C
93. Jarrett Jack                       Cleveland Cavs                  PG
92. Marcin Gortat                   Phoenix Suns                     C
91. Spencer Hawes                 Philadelphia 76ers               C
90. Kevin Martin                    Minnesota Timberwolves    SG
89. Gerald Henderson             Charlotte Bobcats               SF
88. Danilo Gallinari                 Denver Nuggets                 SF
87. JJ Reddick                        Los Angeles Clippers        SG
86. Jeff Teague                      Atlanta Hawks                   PG
85. Carl Landry                     Sacramento Kings               F
84. Derrick Favors                 Utah Jazz                           F
83. Omer Asik                       Houston Rockets                PF/C
82. Shawn Marion                  Dallas Mavericks               SF
81. Tyreke Evans                   New Orleans Pelicans        G
80. Ryan Anderson                 New Orleans Pelicans        PF
79. Monta Ellis                       Dallas Mavericks               G
78. JJ Hickson                        Denver Nuggets                 F
77. Paul Millsap                     Atlanta Hawks                    F
76. Nikola Pekovic                 Minnesota Timberwolves    C
75. Andre Drummond             Detroit Pistons                   C
74. Amare Stoudemire            New York Knicks              PF
73. Al Jefferson                      Charlotte Bobcats              C
72. Gordon Hayward              Utah Jazz                          SG
71. Nene Hilario                    Washington Wizards           PF
70. Jameer Nelson                  Orlando Magic                   PG
69. Nikola Vucevic                 Orlando Magic                   C
68. Tiago Splitter                    San Antonio Spurs             C
67. Chandler Parsons             Houston Rockets                F
66. Danny Green                    San Antonio Spurs             G/F
65. Jose Calderon                  Dallas Mavericks                 G
64. Kemba Walker                Charlotte Bobcats                PG
63. Luol Deng                        Chicago Bulls                     SF
62. Robin Lopez                     Portland Trail Blazers         C
61. Kenneth Faried                 Denver Nuggets                  F
60. Brandon Jennings              Detroit Pistons                   PG
59. Lance Stephenson             Indiana Pacers                   SG
58. Serge Ibaka                     Oklahoma City Thunder       F
57. Grevis Vasquez                 Sacramento Kings              PG
56. Kevin Garnett                    Brooklyn Nets                  F
55. Jeff Green                          Boston Celtics                 G/F
54. Anthony Davis                   New Orleans Pelicans       PF
53. DeAndre Jordan                Los Angeles Clippers         C
52. Ty Lawson                        Denver Nuggets                PG
51. Andre Iguodala                 Golden State Warriors        G/F
50. Dwayne Wade                  Miami Heat                       G
49. Tristan Thompson             Cleveland Cavs                 F
48. Larry Sanders                   Milwaukee Bucks              PF/C
47. Tyson Chandler                 New York Knicks              C
46. Pau Gasol                         Los Angeles Lakers            C
45. Joakim Noah                    Chicago Bulls                     PF/C
44. Jrue Holiday                     New Orleans Pelicans         G
43. Dirk Nowitzki                  Dallas Mavericks                 PF
42. Mike Conley                    Memphis Grizzles               PG
41. Thaddeus Young              Philadelphia 76ers               F
40. Ray Allen                        Miami Heat                         SG
39. Marc Gasol                      Memphis Grizzles               C
38. Carlos Boozer                  Chicago Bulls                     PF
37. Josh Smith                       Detroit Pistons                    F
36. Rudy Gay                        Toronto Raptors                 G/F
35. Blake Griffin                     Los Angeles Clippers          PF
34. David Lee                        Golden State Warriors         PF
33. David West                      Indiana Pacers                    PF
32. Ricky Rubio                     Minnesota Timberwolves     PG
31. Rajon Rondo                    Boston Celtics                     PG
30. George Hill                       Indiana Pacers                    PG
29. DeMarcus Cousins           Sacramento Kings                PF
28. Al Horford                       Atlanta Hawks                     PF
27. Klay Thompson               Golden State Warriors          G/F
26. LaMarcus Aldridge          Portland Trail Blazers           PF/C
25. Joe Johnson                     Brooklyn Nets                     SG
24. Chris Bosh                       Miami Heat                         PF/C
23. Greg Monroe                   Detroit Pistons                      C
22. Brook Lopez                    Brooklyn Nets                      C
21. Roy Hibbert                      Indiana Pacers                     C
20. Damian Lillard                   Portland Trail Blazers          PG
19. John Wall                          Washington Wizards            PG
18. Paul Pierce                        Brooklyn Nets                     F
17. Zach Randolph                  Memphis Grizzles                PF
16. Deron Williams                  Brooklyn Nets                     PG
15. James Harden                     Houston Rockets                G/F
14. Kawhi Leonard                  San Antonio Spurs               G/F
13. Kyrie Irving                       Cleveland Cavs                    PG
12. Kevin Love                        Minnesota Timberwolves     F/C
11. Tim Duncan                        San Antonio Spurs              F/C
10. Tony Parker                       San Antonio Spurs               PG
09. Dwight Howard                  Houston Rockets                 C
08. Carmelo Anthony               New York Knicks                SF
07. Paul George                        Indiana Pacers                    SF
06. Derrick Rose                      Chicago Bulls                       PG
05. Russell Westbrook             Oklahoma City Thunder        PG
04. Stephen Curry                    Golden State Warriors          PG
03. Chris Paul                           Los Angeles Clippers           PG
02. Kevin Durant                      Oklahoma City Thunder       G/F
01. Lebron James                     Miami Heat                          F

Most Underrated Players In the NBA

On Saturday, I did my list of underrated players in the MLB.
Today, I do my list for the NBA.
I love watching the Spurs and the Pacers play because those two teams are filled with unsung guys and underrated players. I could easily make my five man list of players from those two teams, but I didn't do that. However, both of my guards are from those two teams.

Point Guard
George Hill            Indiana Pacers
George Hill being traded to the Pacers from San Antonio is one of those rare trades that works out for both teams. The Pacers got a fantastic point guard and the Spurs got a lockdown defender and great all around player. People still don't give Hill his props though. George Hill is the point guard of the team that took the Miami Heat to the brink. He plays very efficiently and runs a very dynamic team. He is a top 10 point guard, but is rarely mentioned in conversations about who is best. That may start to change soon.

Shooting Guard
Kawhi Leonard      San Antonio Spurs

Did you see what Leonard did in the NBA Finals? Well, that is what he does for the Spurs every night. He plays unselfish, all out basketball and I love watching it. If it wasn't for Tim Duncan, Leonard would be my favorite basketball player. He does all the little things well and is always there when you need him. Naysayers will point to the missed free throw in Game 6, but those people don't pay attention. Leonard was the best player all series long. One missed free throw doesn't change that. The guy is money. I ask those naysayers who scored in overtime for the Spurs? The answer is Kawhi Leonard. In fact, Leonard was the only Spur to score in overtime of Game 6. He scored all 5 of the Spurs overtime shots. He didn't constantly turn over the ball like Manu, he just missed one shot. Kawhi Leonard may be the face of the franchise in the near future and is becoming a superstar right before our eyes. No wonder Popovich gave up George Hill to draft this guy.

Small Forward
Thaddeus Young    Philadelphia 76ers
If we were doing this list before the Eastern Conference Finals I would have certainly told you that Paul George was the most underrated Small Forward. In fact, I would have told you he was the most underrated player in all of basketball. That series though finally really put George on the map. It was mainly George's fantastic play and the Pacers size that pushed Lebron & Co. to 7 games. George was fantastic in that series as he has been all year, and finally started to be seen by most as the superstar that he is. Because many see him as a superstar now, I could not pick him.
The guy I picked is a guy who is seen by most as a solid player, but not as good as he really is. If I had you guess who the most efficient small forward was other than Lebron, Carmelo, KD, and Paul George, who would you say? If you guessed Thaddeus Young you are correct. If you didn't, which is most of you, you can see why Young is the most underrated small forward in the game today.

Power Forward
Tristan Thompson   Cleveland Cavaliers
Tristan Thompson is one of the best young players in the NBA. He is a big reason that many are predicting the Cavs to go to the playoffs this season. Not only are they predicting that, but many are predicting them to get back Lebron and win it all. Players like Thompson increase that possibility. Thompson scored 12 points a game last year and pulled in 9 boards a game. A very solid player for the Cavs.

Center
Greg Monroe          Detroit Pistons

Greg Monroe was a beast last season, but nobody knows it because he plays for Detroit. However, Monroe is their best player and should really be recognized for what he did. Monroe was 11th in rebounding and averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. The guy averaged a double double. His production was off the charts. Everyone knows he is getting it and he still makes it happen. Monroe was a more efficient player last year than Carlos Boozer and Zach Randolph. Nobody knows what he does though outside of hardcore basketball fans. Well now you know.

-Noland

Spurs Win 20th Straight

This team moved to 10-0 in the playoffs with a fantastic game again last night. It was also their 20th straight win period. The amazing streak leaves the Spurs just two games shy of the NBA Finals as the series shifts to Oklahoma City. So how did they get here?

It all starts with Gregg Popovich obviously as he has this team on a mission. All season long he has pushed all of the right buttons and it is easy to see how he won coach of the year. He helped create of team of unselfish players as well which definitely helps.

Those unselfish players were lead this year by a man who probably should have been MVP, but didn't even make first team All-NBA. That man is Tony Parker. Usually, Duncan is the leader, but no questioning that it is Parker this season. The point guard again played amazing last night as he had 34 points and 8 assists. Not only that, but he did it efficiently. Parker was 16-21 from the field. When is the last time you saw someone shoot that good from the field. Find me a box score of Lebron's or Kobe's where they shot only 21 times and scored 30+.



Tim Duncan did not have his best shooting night, but he was great and looked fresh. Duncan finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also gave Serge Ibaka a nice facial during the 1st half when he slammed it home. The best power forward ever also blocked 4 shots which may not seem that significant. However, those four blocks tied him for 2nd all time in the playoffs with Hakeem. Duncan needs four more to tie Kareem for the all time record. Five more blocks and Duncan has himself an NBA record. That should happen this season.

Look at this stat and see exactly why the Spurs were so dominant. Rookie Kawhi Leonard recorded a double double. Leonard had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2. This team just plays well together and it does not matter who gets the credit.

They even have Manu Ginobili coming off the bench. He accepts his role as 6th man because it is better for the team. Remember when Allen Iverson said how many all-stars, scoring champs, and MVPs come off the bench? Well, at least one all-star Allen. Also this all-star has a couple rings. Maybe you should have tried it. Ginobili finished with 20 points for the game.

Now the Spurs take their winning streak to Oklahoma City.

-Noland

Spurs Up 3-0

The San Antonio Spurs now have a 3-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers. This series is as good as done. You can see why the Spurs are the title favorite by how much they have dominated thus far in the playoffs. No team has recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in NBA History. The question seems to have shifted to when will these Spurs close this out. It is looking like a Spurs-Thunder showdown is coming very soon. That should be a fantastic series, but for now we will stay focused on the current series.

Blake Griffin had an outstanding game in the loss for the Clippers. Griffin had 28 points and 16 rebounds while looking like the best player on the court. Unfortunately for him, the Spurs had their whole team look good when it mattered. Tony Parker had 23 points and 10 assists in the win. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Manu Ginobili had 13 points. Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and 9 rebounds. It is incredible how these guys are playing together.

This game was especially impressive. At one point, the Spurs were down 24 points. They were ice cold to start the game, only scoring 11 points in the 1st quarter. They were able to overcome that though and go on their own 24-0 run in the 3rd quarter. Gregg Popovich must have made some really awesome adjustments to key the comeback. It is going to be incredibly difficult to beat this team.

-Noland

Spurs Continue Playoff Dominance

The San Antonio Spurs have done it again. These Spurs took a 1-0 lead as they edged the Clippers in Game 1. This win is the 15th straight win for the Spurs as they look to capture another NBA title. They did this one behind the veterans as well. They beat the Clippers by 16 points. Look out NBA.

Superstar forward Tim Duncan scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds in the victory. This game was vintage Duncan. Double double and dominance down low, what a great game. Not only that, but he played 35 minutes in the game. He did that while getting almost a full quarter of rest.

Manu Ginobili had 22 points for the Spurs. The Clippers had no answer for Ginobili or Duncan. They also had no answer for the Spurs on the glass. Boris Diaw had 12 rebounds last night. Two guys in double digit rebounds does not speak well of your rebounding totals.

The Spurs also got key contributions from two other players. These players, who others didn't know would react to the playoff stage came up big last night. Rookie Kawhi Leonard had 16 points in a tremendous effort and castoff Danny Green had 15 points. Each of them has 6 rebounds in the game. If Green and Leonard keep coming through, this team will be near impossible to beat. I guess we will find out Thursday Night in Game 2.

-Noland

Popovich wins 2012 NBA Coach of the Year

Who is shocked? I know I am not. Popovich is the best coach in the league. He should probably win every year and yet, this is only the second time that Popovich has won this award. It is the second time in a row that the Spurs have won the West despite Tim Duncan being past his prime. You cannot ask for much more out of Popovich as a coach.

The ultimate testament to Popovich is the career of Stephen Jackson. Look at what Jackson did when he was with the Spurs. The guy was a likable, unselfish, team player who played defense. Then he goes to Atlanta and becomes a selfish ego manic. After Atlanta Jackson went to Indiana and got into the brawl. During a few other stops Jackson did not get any better. Yet when Jackson got back to San Antonio this season he once again is a model citizen. How does that happen?

Do you want more proof of Popovich's skill? Matt Bonner is a solid contributor on the Spurs who is considered a vital part to their success. Tell me one other team that considered Matt Bonner critical in his career. What about Danny Green? The guy rode the bench in Cleveland. Once Green got to San Antonio he becomes a starter and a focal point. Then there is Kawhi Leonard. Popovich developed Leonard as a quality starter in just his rookie season allowing him to have a shot at rookie of the year despite not being a lottery selection. Gregg Popovich can coach, and he is doing a fantastic job of it.

-Noland