The Dream Links - June 3rd, 2009

by Tom Martin on Jun 3, 2009 12:42 PM CDT in Links Comment 9 comments

Via ESPN.com

Today's ESPN Insider-free links delve into NBA predraft workouts, former Rockets Rafer Alston and Kirk Snyder, and how awkward it must be for Jeff Van Gundy to analyze his brother on television. Post any missed links in the comments section.

Draft Stuff

Morey, Sikma attend predraft workouts in Minneapolis - BostonHerald.com

"...Houston General Manager Daryl Morey and Rockets’ assistant coach Jack Sikma...attended Monday’s workouts. Ohio State’s B.J. Mullens, UCLA’s Darren Collison, Gonzaga’s Austin Daye were among the 12 players who worked out Monday."

Group Draft Workout Update -- DraftExpress
A group workout is scheduled for today. No word yet if the Rockets are attending, but I would think so.

List of predraft workouts held by the Rockets -- DraftExpress
Many of you may have already seen this, but I felt like posting it in order to update everyone.

DraftExpress: Pre Draft Measurements and Combine Results
Uh, Damion James is fast.

Dionte Christmas on Life As a Sleeper -- NBA FanHouse
FanHouse's Matt Steinmetz attended the big NBA draft work-out in Oakland, Calif., on Monday and Tuesday. Temple's Dionte Christmas was one of the prospects. Some people think Christmas could be on the Rockets' radar.

Rockets Related

Former Rocket Kirk Snyder's life is spiraling out of control
"Kirk Snyder was in the news a few weeks ago, having been accused of breaking into a home and assaulting a man. He has been indicted on two felonies, and has since received another assault charge for allegedly attacking an inmate at the county jail. Believe it or not, it gets worse."

Jeff Van Gundy Elaborates On Calling Brother's Finals Games

Obviously I was a little bit leery of doing the games, and I remember speaking to Mike [Breen] and Mark [Jackson] about it, and I said maybe I shouldn't do the games because I'm not sure I could be critical of Stan. And Mark said, "Well that's no different, you're never critical of any coaches."

Chris Ballard on how similar Rafer Alston's play has been to another former Rockets point guard - SI.com
Matt Maloney gets some love.

Houston Rockets announce summer skills camps - abc13.com
Have you got a kid who likes basketball? Here's a chance for him to get better.

General NBA

President Obama predicts Lakers in six - Ball Don't Lie
Well, I guess that's it then. L.A. is going to win, because the president said so.

In the N.B.A., ‘Flagrant’ Is a Matter of Interpretation - NYTimes.com
A nagging question is dominating the N.B.A. playoffs. The question: When is a flagrant foul not a flagrant foul? The answer: When it is changed the next day.

Toothpicks Do Not Add up to Salvation - FreeDarko
Mike Breen best not read this.

Why Everyone Doesn't Hate Lamar Odom - The Baseline
Bethlehem Shoals's take on Lamar Odom.

Lopsided Trades - Blazer's Edge
Interesting and thorough information about lopsided trades from Ben.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

There are some interesting names in the guys Houston worked out.

Lots of SG/SF types, no surprise to anyone there, I guess. Downs read like a guy Houston would take a chance on.

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Jun 3, 2009 6:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Downs is Novak at best.

The Dream Shake
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak

by Tom Martin on Jun 3, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meaning I would love the pick.

The Dream Shake
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak

by Tom Martin on Jun 3, 2009 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The writeup had him more athletic, and a swing guy, pretty good D, finish in transition but not from halfcourt set.

I personally thought the upside was Trevor Ariza with a more reliable 3.

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Jun 3, 2009 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I'd happily take Novak on a Non-Draft or for buying a 2nd...

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Jun 3, 2009 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

when you think about it

how many late-1st-round picks just completely fail? If you had, say, the #26 pick, and you knew for absolute certain that two guys would turn into carbon-copies of Chuck Hayes and Steve Novak, would you take it over someone with Von’s profile (athletic swingman, but he doesn’t do anything great, and if he doesn’t develop really well he might be total crap)?

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 3, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Novak failed because he was the worst defender in the history of the NBA.

The Dream Shake
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak

by Tom Martin on Jun 3, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he has failed at all.

He was a second-round pick who has developed into a decent specialist. That’s my point, though. A lot of teams are faced with the choice of drafting a guy in the late first round or in the second who doesn’t have all that much “upside,” but it’s virtually guaranteed that he can do one thing really well. There’s wasn’t much chance that Novak would (or will) develop into a starting-caliber PF (though there’s a good argument to be made that he should have started for the Clips last season, even with his defensive and rebounding issues), but he’s really, really good at spreading the floor and shooting threes.

Same thing with Chuck. There was very little chance he’d ever develop into an even average offensive PF. But he became one of the best post defenders in the NBA.

And those players have a lot of value, right? You need those types of players on your bench. So, if you’re a team in the position to draft either a player who’s virtually guaranteed to be a specialist or another who has a lot of potential but might not ever contribute for a championship-level team, then which do you choose?

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 3, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Much like in the NFL, the NBA is always going to be about what if guys

While you make a solid point, and one that Daryl Morey may be thinking about, it’s always about finding the diamond in the rough during the draft. Mostly because you can get the solid role player guy without drafting him

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on Jun 4, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs