a baš si našao ko će izbaciti Indianu 

Knicksima će trebati ludi run da bi uopće ušli u playoff jer trenutno tamo ne štima apsolutno ništa. jedini ko se može veseliti je maxi jer se Denveru smiješi lutrijski pick 

neda mi se ponovo o hardenovom trade, ali reći ću samo nešto...samo ekipa koja ide u rebuilding trejda odličnog igrača za nedokazane mladiće i pickove (plus rentanje Martina na godinu dana). jednostavno dođe trenutak kad moraš biti spreman platiti da bi osvojio naslov...

uostalom, mogli su mu dati taj max ugovor i trejdati ga godinu ili 2 kasnije za igrača približno iste vrijednosti 

Naravno da Gee nije Mojsije, ali masu toga što kaže pokrijepi vrhunskim argumentima i uglavnom se složim s njim, ne svaki put ali u većini slučajeva.
Istina, Spursi su podligli razinu obrane, ali je zato OKC dobio klasu boljeg KD-a u odnosu na period prije 2 godine. Russ je također briljirao, imao je Roseovske brojke, Ibaka je dodao šut sa poludistance i osim vrhunskog blokera postao ponajbolji  majstor u branjenju pnr-a a to je Spursima glavno oružje.
I nisam rekao da bi ih OKC otresao, ali vjerujem da bi ih izbacili, poprilično sam siguran u to, samo da je Russ bio spreman. Jebiga, uzmi Parkera Spursima i također ne bi vidjeli finale.
Prvu titulu je Heat također osvojio kao nedefiniran tim, na leđimaLebrona..a Okc ima top 5 obranu lige i top 5 napad lige, pa to je definicija contendera. Istina, nemaju sistem kao Spursi, ali kad imaš KD-a koji uvijek može preko izolacije lagano zabiti koš ili Russa koji ima divljačku energiju nisi ovisan o sistemu kao Spursi.
Poprilično sam siguran da OKC ulazi u finale lige ako im svi igrači budu zdravi, da li će osvojiti ne znam, ja nisam sklon vjerovati da bez Hardena mogu, a bez njega ne mogu.

naravno, ovde ostajemo na predviđanjima ŠBB KBB... Nema jedne istine.

Ja nekako za dobrobit košarke ne želim da prihvatim da ovakav OKC može uzeti titulu. Poštujem tandem KD-RW, ali i dalje ne vjerujem da su bolji od tandema Jordan-Pippen ili Shaq-Kobe. A onda mi je dovoljno pregledati rostere Bullsa 1991. i Lakersa 2000. i vidjeti koliko su oni imali bolje i zaokruženije rostere, sa nekoliko dobrih komplementarnih igrača, sa po jednim killerom sa klupe i nekoliko dokazanih veterana.

Uprkos svoj genijalnosti tandema MJ-Pippen i Shaq-Kobe, za potpunu sliku potrebna je bila daleko ozbiljnija prateća grupa od onoga što sada ima OKC (Ibaka, Collison, Lamb, Reggie, Tabo).

Mislim da Indiana i Miami imaju previše odgovora na sve to, a ne isključujem mogućnost da ih neko na putu po zapadu debelo ošteti. Ponavljam, osovina je odlična, ali širina je mala, i ovde su potrebna najmanje još dva druga imena da bi roster bio šampionskog kvaliteta.

ne shvacam sto si htio reci ali ...

nebi li bila lijepa prica da OKC, nakon migracije iz Seattlea (za neke je to tuzna prica, ali americka realnost seljakanja iz grada u grada vise desetljeca), prakticki iz nicega, sa briljantnim managmentom, u doba kad se slazu megalomanske momcadi preko tjedna placanjem stotina milijuna poreza; usred FA se skupi 3 superstara i odluce da ce oni osvojiti sljedeca prstenja ...
OKC samo svojim radom, strpljenjem (Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Jackson, Collison, Jones, rec cu i Lamb(Presti je inzistirao na njemu), pokazuje da se i na malom trzistu moze doci blizu prstenja ...

Utakmicu sve cesce zatvara petorka koju su sami draftirali (uracunat cu i Lamba), a u tom smjeru ce se odvijati i zavrsnice najbitnijih utakmica ...

zasto bi to bilo lose za dobrobit kosarke ?
to je mozda tvoj osobni pogled, ali kada bi sagledao nasiroko, nebi li fanovima Phille, Charlotte, Utahe trebalo biti drago da postoji primjer na koji se mogu ugledati i koji pokazuje da je sve moguce ...

Nbadraft.net opet vratio Wigginsa na drugo mjesto a Randala je na petom mjestu izgurao LaVine.

Top selection by draft position (30-26)

Izgleda da ne gledaju prva runda ili druga, Rodman je bio izabran u drugoj rundi, Parker, Lee u prvoj.

A team's entire fortunes can be swayed by just the right or wrong pick, no matter where in the order that pick may come. The draft officially began rounds in 1960, when teams had ten rounds by which to mold their fortunes. Nowadays, though only given a comparably paltry 60 picks in total, teams hope to find the next big thing in one of two rounds. Though more than a few golden selections have been mined in the second round: Marc Gasol #48, Manu Ginobili #57, Antonio Davis #45, and Clifford Robinson #36 - just to name a few - it's typically the first round that yields the future stars of the league.

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the greatest picks at each number if adhering to the current 30-pick format. For example, the greatest player to ever be selected utilizing the 26th overall pick is Vlade Divac by the Los Angeles Lakers, just barely eeking out Kevin Martin, selected 26th by the Sacramento Kings.

This list is baring in mind both the player's success, and his team's success, and is also compiled with the idea that in this era of due diligence teams have the information to let them know what type of person the player is, as well. Thusly, David Lee gets the nod over Gilbert Arenas, because Lee - who may be the inferior on court performer - is highly unlikely to pull a gun on Steph Curry. Some slots are easier to single out the greatest pick than others, as you'll see with the number 28 overall pick. But as the numbers get lower, the options for greatness get higher.

Here are selections 30-26:

#30: David Lee - the number 30 overall pick in the history of the NBA draft isn't one quite rife with a multitude of stars, Spencer Haywood notwithstanding. (Haywood is disqualified because no player averaging 32.1 ppg and 21.5 rpgs in college would be selected this low, but Haywood had an issue with the eligibility rules governing potential pros and had already played a year in the ABA for the Denver Rockets. In his season with the Rockets, he became the youngest ABA MVP ever. Most selections here quickly become bench players or after thoughts). That being said, the competition came down to two players that seem to tantalize and polarize most basketball fans: David Lee and Gilbert Arenas.

While “The Hibachi” had one of the most prolific 3 year scoring stretches in recent memory (27.7 ppg from 2005-07), Arenas became known more for his erratic behavior - both on and off the court - than for is irradiant scoring. Lee, on the other hand, has been about as steady as they come. If Lee is on the floor, a double-double is likely to ensue, as the former Florida Gator has led the league in total double-doubles over the last four years and averages just .2 rebounds per game below a career double-double (Lee's career numbers are 14.9 ppg and 9.8 rpgs). Though GM's and metric pundits are quick to point out Lee as a liability on the defensive end - and they're not wrong - there is something calming about knowing what you're gonna get night-in and night-out from a 3rd team All-NBA caliber performer (Lee was named to the All-NBA 3rd team last season). While perhaps a notch below star level, the crafty power forward and two-time All-Star (2010 & '13) has been a consistent contributor since entering the league and is a key cog in the resurgent Warriors' success.

#29: Dennis Johnson - While the number 29 slot seems to have yielded several more notable players in the annals of the NBA than the 30th slot (Tony Kukoc, P.J. Brown, Eddie Johnson, and Phil Smith), the competition for the greatest 29th selection was virtually no contest at all.

The Seattle Supersonics watched the future of their franchise continue to turn for the better when the team chose a dogged defender out of the University of Pepperdine by the name of Dennis Johnson. A future Hall of Famer, Johnson quickly found a home in Seattle, garnering finals' MVP on his way to his first NBA title in 1979. This was the first of three championships for Johnson who would go on to win two more titles with the Boston Celtics (1984 & '86). "DJ”, as Bostonians loved to refer to Johnson, was one of the preeminent perimeter defenders of his time, or any time for that matter, and was named to the All-NBA defensive team nine times during his illustrious career (6 first teams and 3 second teams). Johnson was also a five time All-Star and has had his number 3 jersey retired by the Boston Celtics. Not bad for a slot that was once used for the likes of Mark Madsen.

#28: Tony Parker - For quite some time, the lower picks in the NBA draft were slots usually relegated to role players and reclamation projects. Yet now, with the expansion of the NBA talent pool to foreign lands, there has been a recent influx of late round international talent. With a widened group of options in terms of players for teams to select, added to NBA franchises now being willing to draft a foreign player late and let him gestate in his perspective league overseas, there has been a discernible upswing in late round trans-continental talent. At the number 28 slot, Tony Parker is one such player.

In 2001, the San Antonio Spurs made the Belgium-born Parker the 28th overall pick, a selection that only furthered the growing interest in international players at the time. The Spurs, who had already drafted foreign players in Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina), soon would become the preeminent team in terms of finding and drafting global talent, (in large part due to the success of players like Parker; crafty performers, imbued with a less selfish style of play thanks because of the difference in the international brand of basketball)

Since joining the Spurs in 2001, Parker has been a revelation, as the "floor general" has helped lead the Spurs to three titles (2003,'05, &'07) and was just one rebound - or a Jesus Shuttlesworth miss - away from a fourth. It should be noted that Parker was a lock for finals MVP last year before Ray Allen changed the narrative. Parker has been named to the All-NBA team three times in his career - impressive for a point guard in an era where the NBA has a bevy of high quality players at that position (Parker was named to the All-NBA 2nd team twice, 3rd team once). Most importantly, Parker is a proven winner. While it can't hurt that Parker plays with the greatest power forward to ever fundamentally lace them up, and one of the greatest minds in coaching, the '07 Finals' MVP and five time All-Star has a personal career winning percentage of 70%, putting him above all-time great point guards like Isiah Thomas, Oscar Robertson and John Stockton.

#27: Dennis Rodman - Few players have better exemplified the value of due diligence in terms of scouting more than a small, high energy power forward from Southeastern State University by the name of Dennis Rodman. The selection by The Detroit Pistons of Rodman, or “The Worm” as he would be called through most of his career, is a testament to the type of value that can be found from teams savvy enough to look where most won't. Though in this day and age of media saturation and over exposure, it would be hard for a talent such a Rodman to go unnoticed.

Rodman began his career with the “Bad Boy” Pistons of the late 80's and quickly supplanted himself as one of the best rebounders (he led the league in rebounding seven times for his career, a feat only topped by Wilt's 11) and defensive forces in the league (Rodman was named to eight All-Defensive teams, seven of which were 1st teams.) More than just a force on the boards and in a defensive stance, the former two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1990 &'91) was a player willing to do the dirty work necessary to win, which he did prolifically as his five titles (1989,'90,'96,'97,'98.) stand testament to. Rodman was also an All-NBA third team selection on two separate occasions (1992,'95) - a feat not seen typically from a player considered to be so offensively limited (the '88 season was the only year Rodman ever averaged double digits in scoring for a season.)

Though often noted as much for his off-court antics as his on-court play, Rodman was always considered a great teammate and competitor. His recent inclusion into the Hall of Fame and his retired Pistons' jersey only further exemplify this. Five titles and a Hall of Fame presence at the number 27 slot is about as valuable as they come.

#26: Vlade Divac - At a slot that was a bit more inauspicious in terms of notable players than some of the slots below, number 26 has had several value guys (Taj Gibson and George Hill) but no real stars. At pick 26, The Lakers selection of another international star gets the nod over the Kings' selection of Kevin Marin.

In 1989, the Los Angeles Lakers helped usher in the trend of drafting seasoned international talent with their selection of a seven-foot center from Belgrade, Serbia by the name of Vlade Divac. Divac, who was known more for his guile than grit, quickly became a fan favorite with the "Showtimes" Lakers.

Though never a dominate presence or the scorer Martin is, Divac was a stabilizing force at the pivot position throughout his career, averaging a respectable 11.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game during his time in the league. But what separated Divac, and placed him as the best overall 27th selection, was his ability to make teammates better. Divac was a deft passer, averaging 3.1 assists per game for his career, including an impressive 5.3 per game in his second to last season.

Divac was the type of player who functioned greatly within a team setting, allowing teams like the Kings to run their offense directly through the big man - a ploy we see used far more often now, but was relatively a new concept in Divac's era of block-to-block plodding big man. Though never having won a title, Divac did make it to the finals with the Lakers in '90 and was a key player on one of the most exciting and talented teams to never make a finals as a member of The Kings. Divac will go down as one of the pioneers in the international migration into the NBA.

ne vjerujem da ce Lavine biti tako visoko...

Malo o LaVinu

Rising

Zach LaVine 6-5 185 PG/SG UCLA Fr.

What would you get if you could somehow combine Stephen Curry's shooting ability with Russell Westbrook's freakish agility and explosiveness? The answer could be something similar to Zach LaVine. 

The UCLA freshman is a player that we have been extremely high on since before the season began, placing him in the top 5 picks for the 2015 mock draft. He has made us look good making an immediate impact for UCLA and appears to be the top overall long term prospect in the Pac 12. 

LaVine is the hottest name among scouting circles at the moment as scouts have suddenly taken notice of him after his performance in the Las Vegas Invitational, blowing up for 21 and 18 in games against Nevada and Northwestern and hitting a combined 8 of 11 on 3s in those games.

We compared LaVine to Westbrook in the summer after seeing him, and even though he was not considered a top 50 recruit by many scouting services, the elite level talent was evident. LaVine grew a couple of inches and has really become automatic with his outside shot. 

On an undefeated team that suddenly appears to be a Final Four contender, LaVine is second in scoring, averaging 14.3 ppg 2.3 apg, 0.7 to and a blazing 57% 3 point shooting. 

What makes him so difficult to defend is that jumpshot is nearly indefensible as he gets it off so quickly and with great elevation. Combine that with his freakish speed and athleticism and the fact that he seems to never miss and he becomes a real problem for opposing defenders.

He's currently playing the off guard position with Kyle Anderson running the point. So if he indeed would like to transition to point in the league, a la Westbrook, returning for a sophomore year would be beneficial. That is provided teammate Anderson follow through with his intention to leave after this season. It would also give him a chance to add weight and develop better ball handling, vision and play making skills. But with the way he's currently playing, a top 7-10 pick is well within his reach for this year's draft.

LaVine has moved up to #1 on the 2015 mock and will surely have to consider declaring for this year's draft at season's end if he continues to play at his current ability.