The Real OC

Shavlik Randolph has sent me way over the edge and has officially put this years draft in the OC category (Outta Control). Every year this same crap happens. All these no talent ass clowns declare for the draft, what is worse is half of them wind up staying in the draft and not getting picked. They have basically a fool proof system, they allow you to not sign with an agent and see where you are going to be drafted, and four days before the draft you can decided to go back to college. This is of course if you do not sign an agent. The other snag in the system is you can only test the waters once, the second time you declare you have no choice but to go.

This is what is happening to Brandon Bass. Now every SEC Coach is happy to see him leave, but had he not tested the waters last year when he had no chance he could have tested the waters this year to see that he is most likely a mid second round pick. In fact one site I know and trust has him listed as the 32nd pick, in the 2006 Draft!!!! I found 8 more players who have declared for this years draft who are all predicted as non lottery and second round picks in next years draft; Jarrett Jack, Ike Diogu, Dee Brown, Torin Francis, Matt Walsh, Eric Williams, Steven Smith, and James White.

So far this season 53 college players have declared for the draft. Thankfully only 19 of them have hired an agent. But that does not mean that the others will not remain in the draft. What I do not understand is truly what are these guys thinking. Some of my favorites include; Olu Famitimi who has not played more than 25 MPG during his 2 seasons at Arkansas. Torin Francis who’s scoring average has actually gone down in his collegiate career. Then there is his Notre Dame teammate Dennis Lattimore (whom I have never heard of before) who in 3 seasons at Notre Dame has scored a robust 340 total points, for a career average of 3.9 ppg. Then there is TJ Parker of Northwestern who has the Torin Francis syndrome of dropping scoring averages throughout his career. Another character that I have rarely heard of, Chris Rodgers of Arizona who averaged 5.5 ppg in his 19 minutes per game. And of course the great Shavlik Randolph who’s 4.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg should really prove him worthy in the league.

You could easily be saying to yourself, hey fat man you have no idea what you are talking about. Look at the list of all the guys who have come out early and are stars in the league. And looking at this years NBA All-Stars you would be correct. The Eastern Conference squad contained only 2 four year college guys (Grant Hill & Ben Wallace), 7 Early Entry players (Arenas, V. Carter, Iverson, A. Jamison, Shaq, Pierce & D.Wade) and 2 high schoolers (J. O’Neal & LeBron). The West All Stars is horribly skewed 5 high schoolers (R. Lewis, KG, Kobeef, T-Mac & Amare), 2 Early Entry Guys (Ray Allen & Shawn Marion) and 2 four year guys (Nash & Duncan). So you would think, hey if their doing it, why can’t I?

Out of this seasons 24 All Stars 9 players were early entry guys and there were 7 players who came directly from high school. However, here is the key. Out of those 16 players 12 of them were top 10 picks. That is what we call the Lottery people. Only 3 were non lottery selections (Arenas and Lewis were early 2nd round picks, and Jermaine O’Neal was a mid 1st rounder). The one odd man out was Kobe, who was picked 13th, still in the lottery but not the top 10. So that tells me that these no talent ass clowns who are getting picked in the 20’s-60’s should probably just take their ass back to school. Heck half of them do not even make their teams.

Here is a list of non lottery early entry guys from last year. Christian Drejer, never actually played this year for the Nets that I can find, presumably he stayed in Spain and played, who knows? Kris Humphries contributed a big 4 ppg to a miserably averaged and injured ravaged Utah Jazz, he barely player double digit minutes. His teammate Kirk Snyder poured in 5 ppg. I actually thought the Jazz got 2 decent players, but initially their careers are starting slow. David Harrison played 17 mpg for the Pacers this season, but honestly with all their suspensions and injuries anyone who did not play on that team must be a miserable player (see Jonathan Bender & Scott Pollard). Then there is Kevin Martin, the NCAA’s leading scorer last year, who did not even make his team this season. Let us not forget about high schooler Robert Swift, who since being drafted by the Sonics seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. I tried searching his name and could not get any solid leads on his whereabouts.

Now onto more pressing matters that concern the NBA Draft. Which players I think are underrated and overrated? This year we are back off the foreign bandwagon, all foreigners suck, especially this tall skinny bum from Lithuania and the two Spaniards who are projected as Lottery picks. Again, only 4 foreigners were All Stars this year (Yao, The Big Z, Manu & Dirk Diggler). So poo poo on all European and South American floppy haired big nosed weirdo’s invading my league.

Here are some other overrate clowns. Chris Paul, I watched this guy play a lot and am just not sure what all the hype is about? To me he is vastly undersized for the pro game, he does not have consistent NBA range and he is a shoot first PG. whom I do not believe will get his shot off that easily in the league. Chris Taft, and believe me I know why everyone is in love with this guy. He is big, strong, athletic, and quick off the floor, however he lacks one ingredient, he does not have one ounce of toughness or fight in him. He will get pushed around by the NBA guys until he throws up the white flag. He also has zero face up game, and that is so necessary in the current NBA, you cannot be a strictly back to the basket player. Joey Graham, now I know my Big 12 correspondent may disagree slightly with this. I just do not see this guy translating into an NBA player. He has not natural position, not even in college, he was just bigger and stronger in college and he would impose his will on others all over the court. Maybe he can become a defensive specialist in the league, but offensively I do not see him scoring big in the league. Danny Granger of New Mexico is someone I just do not know a lot about. I remember him earlier in his career, but apparently he is going to be the first Senior chosen. Does he have the range and handling ability is what I question, we shall see.

Here are my underrated players; some of these are just personal favorites. Francisco Garcia is so far under the radar right now. I must have watched a different guy play ball this season; what I saw was a man who could play all 3 perimeter positions, can defend his ass off, know how to take over games and has all the intangible skills that you want. But again, maybe he is not foreign enough or young enough to drool over. Hakim Warrick, now this is just a guy I love watching play. Honestly, he is no different that Amare Stoudamire when he came into the league. Yes he is skinny, but he can explode off the floor, he is ultra quick, and has decent handles and can face the basket and shoot at a good 18 feet. Lastly, I am still on the Lawrence Roberts bandwagon. I know people will say he is undersized, and while that may be true he is certainly as talented as Drew Gooden or Carlos Boozer both of whom hare carving out careers as undersized PF’s. I have seen Roberts just take over games with his physical ability to control things on the glass both offensively and defensively.

Wow this is a really long and boring entry. Some of you know how worked up I get over issues like these. My head only fell of 3 times while writing this garbage!!!