The Don’s Quick Hits

While we wait for athletic testing results, which are probably of much less importance than we think, thought I would post some quick hits on this board that has been drier than the Sahara. My first try was completely deleted, but I will try and make this quicker and shorter.

• Dirk Nowitzki may not have been a top 10 player as Rick Carlisle suggested, but he is definitely amongst those that have to be discussed for top 30. He has carried a successful franchise for years and he is the MVP of these play-offs thus far. If you missed his Game 4 performance, dude was incredible.

• Have no idea how to feel about Rich Cho other than confused. He made a great trade for Gerald Wallace, and it just seems that Paul Allen is micromanaging the team to the point where it is impossible for a GM to do their job successfully. Blazers are in limbo, not good.

• Starting to feel like Aran is on to something with Valanciunas pulling out of the draft. Yes, he who shall not be named said he was higher on some draft boards than Kanter, and seemed optimistic about his buyout, but he appears to be the only one saying this. I think his contract is a major red flag, and while his combination of length/athetlicism may give him a higher ceiling than Kanter, I think their is little doubt that Kanter is much more ready at this current point in time. You could gamble, but why do that with a top 10 pick on a guy who might take a couple years to come over? Plus, next year is sure to have a drought at Center, and Valanciunas should still maintain a relatively high stock. Aran has been pretty spot on about these things, and I think he might have hit it on the head again. Also, I think Lucas Nogueira will probably withdraw as well.

• Kevin Durant does not deserve blame for not being clutch, but he is not really getting any either. For a guy many are expecting to battle with LeBron James for being the NBA’s best player in the coming years, he seems to get a free pass on the nitpicky criticism many gave to LeBron. Guess he is lucky he has Russell Westbrook, who has been the scape goat. Russell may not be showing the best judgement at times, but Durant has been incredibly passive and has showed some end of game jitters. Did you see him on the bench in OT? They looked completely out of it, and they were still well in the game.

• Tyson Chandler was a magnificent trade for the Mavericks. The guy has won every match-up he has had in the play-offs. For someone that OKC pretty much marked as being damaged goods, he is damaging them good right now. Dallas is a team full of players who have been doubted, many of whom are on the downside of their careers, but they have fantastic chemistry and finally have some much needed length inside. They will be a tough out if they do indeed make the Finals.

• New ESPN rankings came out today with Andre Drummond, Isaiah Austin, Shabazz Muhammad, Mitch McGary and DaJuan Coleman making up the top 5 in order. Props to paradigmn, who posted about McGary’s probable ascent to the top of the rankings. Still do not think he is Anthony Davis, but he will be facing much better competition to try and get that top spot.

• For those interested, Class of 2013 has a top 5 of Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, Nerlens Noel, Chris Walker and Chris Thomas. Also, class of 2014’s top 3 is SG Theo Pinson, St. Patrick’s young C Dakari Johnson and SF Andrew Wiggins, who many think could become one of the best Canadian prospects of all time.

• I feel the Noah fine was just. I know many people talk about Kobe having a higher fine and that being hypocritical, but I think Kobe paid much less of his comparative salary than Noah did. Not to mention with 5 rings and a higher position in basketball history than Noah will ever have, I think the NBA has failed substantially if they wanted to keep Kobe Bryant down. Either way, we learn a couple things. One is that security could do a better job of crowd control, as this guy was apparently incredibly obnoxious, and that is no cooler in a public setting than anything Joakim Noah said. Also, players should really try to watch what they say in a public setting, emotion and all.

• Articles you should read: Dana O’Neill on Will Sheridan, a crucial F for Villanova’s Final Four team who came out as being gay. Always liked Sheridan as a player, and really liked how his teammates and coach handled the news. Plus, his teammates knew while he was still on the team, though his coach Jay Wright did not. SLAM posted an excerpt from Chris Herren’s book "Basketball Junkie". Herren played for Fresno St. and for a few teams in the league, and was addicted to painkillers and heroin, even as an NBA player. Intense stuff, definitely want to cop the book. Also, for college football followers, ESPN did a very good article on Harvey Updyke, the Alabama fan who poisoned the trees in Toomer’s Corner. Paint the picture of his two different personalities, pretty crazy stuff.

• Finally, in my thus far utter failure to make Canadians Oregon Ducks’ fans, I believe I might have gotten a big helping hand. Olu Ashaolu chose to play his final year of college ball for the Ducks, joining fellow Canadian Devoe Joseph. Big news for me as a Duck from and living in Toronto, and it was great to beat out Texas for Olu’s services. Texas was quickly becoming Canadian’s favorite college team due to Tristan Thompson and Corey Joseph, and this year they get Kevin Thomas and Myck Kabongo. But, the Ducks may indeed be the better team next year. GO DUCKS!