2010 NBA Draft - The Dream Shake Invades NYC, Part 1: Media Day (w/ Interviews)
by Tom Martin on Jun 23, 2010 5:09 PM CDT
in NBA Draft
Email
PrintIf there's one thing that stood out most about the 2010 NBA Draft Media Day, it's the glasses. DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Evan Turner and Al-Farouq Aminu made sure to take out the Kid Cudi-esque shades for the cameras. Also, Cousins is a very, very big man.
Some general impressions: Patrick Patterson is just as professional as I had heard - he takes these interviews very seriously. I came away impressed with Paul George and Xavier Henry as well. They said all the right things and came off as very well prepared. I'd be happy with taking either one of them. Lastly, Gordon Hayward looks younger in person. He might be 12 and we just don't know it.
Now, to the real stuff. Here are a couple of scattered rumors here and there (to be taken lightly, of course):
1. Hassan Whiteside's stock is soaring and the Rockets like him a lot. No word on whether or not they made any specific offers, but apparently Whiteside could make the jump into the top ten.
2. Derrick Favors is sliding down draft boards after his poor workout against DeMarcus Cousins. It's almost a lock at this point that Wesley Johnson will go third overall to New Jersey. Minnesota didn't like what they saw from Favors, leading me to believe that they may look to trade out of the fourth slot. Houston, anyone?
Below are brief interviews with I managed to get with players whom I consider to be on the Rockets' radar. Lastly, I managed to catch Jonathan Givony for a quick exchange before the day came to an end. Each link has a quick highlight from the interview next to it. Take a listen.
Xavier Henry - Looks up to Joe Johnson as a player, likes how business-like he is.
Cole Aldrich - Says the Joel Przybilla comparisons are a good thing. Going to a winning team doesn't concern him.
Patrick Patterson - Says he's not sure if he can play center. Hopes teams recognize his perimeter game.
Ekpe Udoh - Would love to stay in Texas and play. Also referred to me as 'sir,' which is awesome.
Ed Davis - Models his game after Chris Bosh.
Paul George - Models his game after Tracy McGrady.
Jonathan Givony - Talks Whiteside, Paul George and the possibility of a trade with the Timberwolves.
I was also able to attend the NBA Fit event that took place at Madison Square Garden, featuring many of the players who will be projected to be taken in the lottery. Walked around the court, took pictures on my phone, but that was about it. It was a great event nonetheless and I'm sure the kids enjoyed it. Pictures after the jump.
Gordon Hayward entering the Madison Square Garden court.
What's up, Evan Turner?
Rumor has it that this man will be the number one overall pick. Sounds about right.
Players with the kids.
Xavier Henry, Paul George and Patrick Patterson in the front of the line. Makes plenty of sense.
More to come tomorrow. Stay tuned.
43 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm hearing that...
Al Jefferson will be traded by the T-Wolves. They’ve already tried to deal him to the Pistons and Grizzlies, but weren’t successful. Rockets and T-Wolves might end up working something out.
Jefferson for Z-Bo is what I'm hearing.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
There were talks
but they are dead now. T-Wolves apparently think they have a different team that could give them a better deal. I seriously think Morey is behind this.
by danielcp0303 on Jun 23, 2010 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions
There have been whispers in the past
That Morey really wants Jefferson. Although he wants Bosh more, but maybe he already knows his chances are slim to none.
by danielcp0303 on Jun 23, 2010 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions
any chance we can have a designated RUMORS thread
from now up till and including tomorrows draft?…that way we can all read rumors and get sources since we all like to read different rumors
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jun 23, 2010 5:53 PM CDT reply actions
Guys
New rumor thread up in the FanPosts. Go nuts.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Really?
"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley
by bone31crusher on Jun 23, 2010 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions
and on that note
FU, Paul George… no one should pattern shit after T-Mac.
by grungedave on Jun 23, 2010 6:13 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I think Paul George could be the next Danny Granger. He has all the tools.
Yeah, T-Mac sucks and all but if we could get the next T-Mac…
I find it strange how much Rockets fans hate T-Mac but how most NBA players like Kevin Durant love his game (not the person).
rec'd
"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley
by bone31crusher on Jun 23, 2010 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions
fun fact
Budinger has said he models his game after t-mac’s. I don’t see it (much more of a more athletic rip hamilton than anything) but he said it.
Wafer . . . again. (Marv Albert, HOU v. CLE Feb 2009)
-one of the FEW at Toyota Center who has the Wafer jersey
by olivarezq1 on Jun 23, 2010 8:29 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Why wouldn’t you model your game like T-Macs?
Terrific passer, great shooter, great at driving, great court vision, one of the best scorers, pretty clutch, can play solid D if he wants to (forced to gaurd Dirk and all).
In his prime, every metric puts him equal to Kobe. He lead one of hte worst teams to the playoffs and almost upset the number 1 seeded Pistons…
Sure, he’s an asshole, but he wass a fucking basketball player.
every metric?
metric #1: Playoff series victories?
Oooooh, sorry to bring that one up. It does kill the argument, doesn’t it?
By that same metric, Yao isn't exactly great shakes, either.
by DribbleHooper on Jun 23, 2010 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions
yea
you just cant measure a players greatness by playoff wins. maybe by performance but just not wins cuz its not fair to the player in question. its the team that wins the series. Everyone wants Bosh but he aint won a playoff series himself. Everybody hates McGrady and i can bet you none of the reasons y (if any) has to do with how he performed in the playoffs because his playoff numbers rival Jordan
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics
“his playoff numbers rival Jordan”
You mean leading a completely shit Orlando Magic team to the playoffs when Kobe was whining and bitching about not having a superstar next to him and quitting on his team?
Why are you defending T-slack?
He’s the biggest whiner I have ever seen. He whines more off the court than Kobe and Melo do about foul calls on the court. I was a fan of him, until he wanted out like a bitch.
"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley
by bone31crusher on Jun 23, 2010 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions
uh no it doesn't
i know this is dave being dave, but this is the dumbest metric you could use to determine quality of player.
Case-in-point: Adam Morrison has 2 rings. Brian Scalabrine has a ring. etc etc.
Not to mention you can’t ‘model’ your game after events.
Wafer . . . again. (Marv Albert, HOU v. CLE Feb 2009)
-one of the FEW at Toyota Center who has the Wafer jersey
you are missing the point
My favorite player is Robert Horry. All the guy did was win. And not just little things… he won rings. With three different teams. And there isn’t a statistic anywhere that can pinpoint how awesome and important Horry was except for “rings won”.
Morrison and Scalabrine don’t count because they weren’t in the rotation. A player who wins multiple rings while being a key contributor each time……. that is quite the important stat, fellas.
Great shooter is pushing it.
One of the least-effective 3-pt shooters of his time, at least for how good he was considered to be. I like T-Mac’s game in some respects, others not so much. You HAD to revolve your offense solely around him, and how many teams do that anymore and win?
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
I would say Kobe has the same problem. I started watching basketball seriously in 2001 and the Kobe – T-Mac thing was pretty big then.
Honestly, I think T-Mac is slightly better than Paul Pierce and yet Pierce is a solid HoF because he had a better team.
TMac
may have physical gifts that are slightly better than Pierce, but at some point, you’ve got to win games. Van Gundy always says “you are what your record says you are,” which fits here.
About as far as I’m willing to go is that we never really learned how good TMac could be because the combination of poor teammates, injuries, and attitude problems prevented him from achieving the possibilities that his physical gifts seemed to enable.
Yeah, but IMO, he achieved it for a breif few years in Orlando and the first couple of years in Houston. I feel like everyone completely ignores how good he was at the start of the decade and just focuses on the shitty overconfident complainer he is now.
But whatever. He’s basically gone from the NBA now.
Teams that make the Playoffs-and then get booted
Atlanta,Portland,Cavs all geared their Os around 1 player and ended up in Playoffs. Until a good defensive team could lock in and shut them down.
Sort of,
but the Cavs made the finals recently, and Portland has at least an Aldridge-Roy 1/2. Of course, Roy wasn’t really there for the playoffs, so yes the were a 1-headed team, but it’s not really fair. Everything Phoenix does revolves around Nash, and they had a nice run. Just seems like an oversimplification. Are you saying that teams with fewer all-star caliber players tend to lose to teams with more all-star caliber options? If so, that hardly seems like an insight.
Well,
if Whiteside’s stock is somehow rising, then Morey may go with him at 14 if we can’t move.
"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley
Anyway back to the guy who started my T-Mac defense-
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ArzaRdFZ3ANsevwy7DT18ga8vLYF?slug=mc-georgedraft062210
on TMac
I think there has to be a distinction between players natural ability (can rebound really well, shoot really well, score in traffic, good passer, etc…) and the mental aspects of the game (team player, spoiled brat, lazy, etc…)
TMac could be the best at the SF and SG position in the NBA if he was mentally much stronger. Too bad he and his cousin shrink from pressure like the worst of them.
I would take a player with TMac’s bball skills anyday, as long as he wasn’t lazy, demanded the ball, and basically just thought the world and the team should revolve around him.
Now back to important things…Kendrick Perkins in Rockets Red?
Any chance we can trade up AND keep our 14th pick?
Agreed on tmac.
He had great skill sets, but he was lazy, and wasn’t there mentally all the time. I cringed when he took late 4th quarter pull up 3s. And the Tmac and Kobe comparison was more for the media cuz it was so early in their careers, but clearly (and I say, I REALLY REALLY hate kobe) Kobe has came out on top.
oops, i just read what i posted,
disregard why they were compared, it came out wrong, and no time to fix it.
I can imagine 10+ different senarios when dealing with Morey....
with all these teams trying to lean out so they can go after the FA market, I bet we have tons of options of which draft pick we want, unfortunately may not be the one we want tho.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
