The 2008 Ping Pong Ball Awards

[djthesonicsfan]

Yes, we are nearing the end of a long & painful season. Somehow knowing it would hurt didn't make it hurt any less. Looking forward, which is one of the few remaing pleasant aspects of this godaweful season, all that remains is to determine how many ping pong balls the Sonics will get. Well, here's how I see it.


1. Heat (16-66)
It appears there's no stopping their inevitable dive to the bottom of the pig pen. D Wade, too valuable an asset to risk further injury on such a worthless season, has been shut down. P Riley is too busy putting his March Madness brackets together to be bothered coaching the team. But what really seals the 2008 Heat into the all-time record tanking record book is their mystifying outright release of Smush Parker, who just several short months ago was signed to a 2 year contract in a move hailed by President Pat as one of his most brilliant ever. (Yes, this last point is actually another sarcastic dig at General Riley.)

2. Sonics (20-62)
The thrill is gone. We all knew this season would come to this. And the remaining schedule is totally brutal. I see only four winable games (TWolves, Bobcats, Kings & Clippers). Maybe five if you think they've a chance against a Trailblazer squad trying to build something going into next year. But there has been a bright side... K Durant has proven he has the skills & is coachable, J Green is clearly going to be an excellent player in this league for many years to come and N Collison has become a solid big. I know it's bad karma to say it, but here's to hoping the kid on the left finds his way to Seattle.

3. Timberwolves (21-61)
An early season favorite, the TWolves "faltered" with the return of R Foye, winning four games and 2 of their past 3. Their remaining relatively light schedule, combined with the emergence of A Jefferson, could result in up to nine wins (Sonics, Clippers, Grizzlies three times, Pacers, Knicks, Bobcats & Bucks). TWolves got it right against the Sonics, managing to lose at least three times. Too bad for the Sonics.

4. Grizzlies (23-59)
I've always thought this wasn't a bad team. At least before they gave away P Gasol. Anyway, at least M Miller's back (no pun intended). A soft remaining schedule shows ten winable games (Bobcats, TWolves three times, Knicks twice, Kings twice, Clippers & Heat). But, as if it matters, six of those are on the road. If they're close with the Sonics at the end they'll regret winning 3 of those 4 games.

5. Knicks (24-58 )
Amazingly the Knicks somehow slipped out of the playoff picture this year despite I Thomas' repeated assurances this was a playoff team. This team, no, this organization, is so bad they can't even tank right. Some things just have to be seen to be believed. Thank god I don't have to see any Knick games. I hope to god I won't see any more J Crawford or N Robinson trade to the Sonic ideas.

[AbdicatedReign]

It's gonna be tough to catch the Heat. Snatching last week's (two weeks? can't remember) defeat from the jaws of victory was crucial. It's a tall order to lose to such an intimidatingly terrible team as the Heat but, the Sonics really showed me something in pulling that one out.

[big L]

I think we may end up with a better record than the T-Wolves, but your analysis is great. So who's everybody's top seven on the draft board? Mine's:

1. Rose; 2. Beasley; 3. O.J. Mayo; 4. Bayless; 5. Eric Gordon; 6. Westbrook; and 7. Batum

I'm still not a big believer in Eric Gordon, and Batum may be a stretch. I just can't bring myself to go with any of the bigs in this draft, Beasley being the only exception.

[BenjaminH]

Smush Parker's release wasn't mysterious. We all expected it because he wasn't with the team all year. (It was sort of, in my opinion, in bad taste to release him so late. This prevents him from making the playoff roster. That part is a little bit mysterious.) What is really mysterious is his original falling out. He signed a contract, and then after that valet incident, he was banished. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

[HeavyP]

1.) Beasley 2.) Rose 3.) Mayo 4.) Bayless 5.) Brook Lopez 6.) Nicolas Batum 7.) Russell Westbrook

[djthesonicsfan]

Smush Parker's release wasn't mysterious. We all expected it because he wasn't with the team all year. (It was sort of, in my opinion, in bad taste to release him so late. This prevents him from making the playoff roster. That part is a little bit mysterious.) What is really mysterious is his original falling out. He signed a contract, and then after that valet incident, he was banished. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

Ben, did you miss the note in parenthesis? S Parker is an aweful basketball player. The real mystery is why Riley ever signed him. Well, it's not much of a mystery actually. Riley had lost out on all the other players (eg C Bell, M Williams, etc) he was trying to sign and got desperate. Other than Thomas, Riley was easily the worst GM in the league this year. Until he dumped S O'Neal for S Marion.

[BenjaminH]

I did not miss the note. But, I also didn't think I was disagreeing with you. I was elaborating your point.

[Downtown]

I don't see the Heat, Timberwolves, or the Grizzlies overtaking Seattle, which puts us picking fourth. And the Knicks are close behind.

Seattle will pick either #4 or 5 in my estimation. Sorry, just the reality of it.

It's looking like a no brainer with Beasley and Rose going one/two. After that I feel it's a crapshoot with Bayless, Lopez( big men always command a high pick if they have some skills), and Mayo. But usually there's at least one surprise selection in the top five that raise a few eyebrows. So maybe Bayless drops to #4 or 5 and the Sonics get him, which I'm happy with, that's for sure. But if it goes Beasley( T-Wolves), Rose(Heat), Lopez(Grizzlies), then Isiah Thomas becomes a wildcard if the Knicks end up below Seattle in the standings and I wouldn't bet money on who he will select.

So I'm thinking Bayless or Mayo will be who Presti picks.

[Ex-hippie]

( big men always command a high pick if they have some skills),

This is true. I call it the Spencer-Doleac-Longley Hypothesis. There is also the Constantin Popa Corollary: big men will most likely get picked at some point even if they have no skills at all.

But I hope the Sonics aren't the team that falls into the trap this year.

[Downtown]

At least Rick Sund and Wally Walker aren't around so things are in our favor in that regard.

[pr0wler]

I think the Sonics could easily have the 2nd worst record by seasons end. Miami is the clear worst, but the T-Wolves and Grizzlies are in a dead heat with Seattle. Not to mention ever since the Szczerbiak/West/Thomas trade the Sonics have been pretty craptastic...so I could definitely see their losing streak continue.

And I want either Beasley, Rose, or Mayo. Everyone else is just "blah" to me.

[big L]

I'm not crazy about too many folks beyond Beasley, Rose, and Mayo, either, but I'm liking Westbrook more and more. The big men just don't do it for me this year. Just say no to Lopez!

So who's your seven for our second first round pick? We're at 24 right now, I believe. Here're mine:

1. Darren Collison; 2. Weaver; 3. Tyler Smith; 4. Ty Lawson; 5. Johnny Flynn; 6. Courtney Lee (don't know much about him, but I'm always intrigued by a small conference guy like this); 7. Brandon Rush.

[HeavyP]

OJ Mayo keeps impressing me, he had a great game today against Arizona St.

[nwsports253]

OJ Mayo keeps impressing me, he had a great game today against Arizona St.

Same here, I wouldnt mind seeing with the Sonics next season. If we cant get Beasley or Rose I say we go for Mayo. Then take a look at a big with our pick from PHX.

[Downtown]

A player I think Presti could use a second round pick on is Lester Hudson. A combo guard, he is compared to Rodney Stuckey. Physically strong at 6'3" and 205lbs. he is third in the country in scoring and first in steals. He has decent assist averages but is looked on to provide the scoring for his team.

He's been under the radar since he doesn't play at a large college. But so do other quieter prospects like Jason Thompson and Courtney Lee. Plus he's 23 years old and most scouts probably look at the younger prospects.

Presti has to at least bring this guy in for a pre draft workout.

[Downtown]

And lately I've been thinking about who Seattle should take with their own first round selection. Since early in the season I've been on board with pretty much everyone else who has had their mind set on a pointguard such as Rose, Bayless, or Mayo. But there's a chance Rose and Bayless could be gone when Seattle picks.

I could see if Memphis gets the #1 pick then all bets are off as to who gets picked where. The Grizzlies would pick Beasley for sure. After that it's a question mark whether or not Miami and Minnesota would go big or pick a guard. Both Rose and Bayless might be gone.

After that I'm not completely certain that OJ Mayo is the player for the Sonics. Plus I could see Isaah Thomas liking Mayo if the Knicks continue to tumble and pass Seattle on the race to the bottom.

So then what does Presti do if he's looking at the #5 pick? Could it happen yet again where the Sonics take a center? I have to say that I like Brooks Lopez. He reminds me of Andrew Bogut in that he has a nice offensive game to compliment a better than average defensive game, although he's not an enforcer back there.

But regardless how much we've seen that a leader in the backcourt is needed badly, an inside scoring threat in the middle is also a big need.

So the closer it gets to seasons end the more I'm beginning to open up to other possibilities other than the standard pointguard pick that I've been on board with for this year.

[Ex-hippie]

Plus I could see Isaah Thomas liking Mayo if the Knicks continue to tumble and pass Seattle on the race to the bottom.

Oh wow, it will be like watching the Marbury era all over again. Pass the popcorn!

All kidding aside, I'm starting to warm up to Mayo, something I didn't think I would say. I haven't seen much Pac-10 ball this year, in fact I think I only saw Mayo once all year, but I like what I've read about his development.

[Det the Threat]

Yes, we are nearing the end of a long & painful season. Somehow knowing it would hurt didn't make it hurt any less. Looking forward, which is one of the few remaing pleasant aspects of this godaweful season, all that remains is to determine how many ping pong balls the Sonics will get. Well, here's how I see it.


1. Heat (16-66)
It appears there's no stopping their inevitable dive to the bottom of the pig pen. D Wade, too valuable an asset to risk further injury on such a worthless season, has been shut down. P Riley is too busy putting his March Madness brackets together to be bothered coaching the team. But what really seals the 2008 Heat into the all-time record tanking record book is their mystifying outright release of Smush Parker, who just several short months ago was signed to a 2 year contract in a move hailed by President Pat as one of his most brilliant ever. (Yes, this last point is actually another sarcastic dig at General Riley.)

2. Sonics (20-62)
The thrill is gone. We all knew this season would come to this. And the remaining schedule is totally brutal. I see only four winable games (TWolves, Bobcats, Kings & Clippers). Maybe five if you think they've a chance against a Trailblazer squad trying to build something going into next year. But there has been a bright side... K Durant has proven he has the skills & is coachable, J Green is clearly going to be an excellent player in this league for many years to come and N Collison has become a solid big. I know it's bad karma to say it, but here's to hoping the kid on the left finds his way to Seattle.

3. Timberwolves (21-61)
An early season favorite, the TWolves "faltered" with the return of R Foye, winning four games and 2 of their past 3. Their remaining relatively light schedule, combined with the emergence of A Jefferson, could result in up to nine wins (Sonics, Clippers, Grizzlies three times, Pacers, Knicks, Bobcats & Bucks). TWolves got it right against the Sonics, managing to lose at least three times. Too bad for the Sonics.

4. Grizzlies (23-59)
I've always thought this wasn't a bad team. At least before they gave away P Gasol. Anyway, at least M Miller's back (no pun intended). A soft remaining schedule shows ten winable games (Bobcats, TWolves three times, Knicks twice, Kings twice, Clippers & Heat). But, as if it matters, six of those are on the road. If they're close with the Sonics at the end they'll regret winning 3 of those 4 games.

5. Knicks (24-58 )
Amazingly the Knicks somehow slipped out of the playoff picture this year despite I Thomas' repeated assurances this was a playoff team. This team, no, this organization, is so bad they can't even tank right. Some things just have to be seen to be believed. Thank god I don't have to see any Knick games. I hope to god I won't see any more J Crawford or N Robinson trade to the Sonic ideas.

I'm with you on this one.
Looking at the schedules of all of those teams, i have a hard time not believing that we'll end up with the 2nd worst record of this league.

Here's what the Sonics, Knicks, Grizzlies and Wolves still have on their schedule:

Knicks: 2x Grizzlies, 1x Heat, 1x Wolves, 3x Hawks, 2x Pacers = about 4 more (23 all together)wins

Grizzlies: 3x Wolves, 2x Knicks, 1x Bobcats, 1x Heat = about 3 more wins(18 wins)

Wolves: 3x Grizzlies, 1x Knicks, 1x Pacers, 1x Clippers = about 3 - 4 more wins(18 - 19 wins)

Sonics: 1x Bobcats, 1x Clippers = about 2 more wins(17 wins)

At the end of the season, i think it will look like this:

1) Heat(14-68 )
2) Sonics(17-65)
3) Grizzlies(18-64)
4) Wolves(19-63)
5) Knicks(23-59)

[GreenMachine 22]

[quote="Downtown"]
So then what does Presti do if he's looking at the #5 pick? Could it happen yet again where the Sonics take a center? I have to say that I like Brooks Lopez. He reminds me of Andrew Bogut in that he has a nice offensive game to compliment a better than average defensive game, although he's not an enforcer back there.

Brook Lopez sucks. He's going to get burned in the NBA, he's to weak and won't be a defensive presence in the paint against other nba centers. Maybe someday he'll be at best an average starting center, but I'd rather go with DeAndre Jordan, because he has way more upside. Best case scenario he ends up being like Dwight Howard, worst case scenario ends up like Saer Sene. I think its a risk worth taking if your looking at picking Lopez with the #5 pick.

[Hiphophead101]

If no Beasley, with our picks I would hope for Rose, Westbrook, Ibaka and Weaver. If we could get all 4 of those players I would be a happy camper.