With the 20th pick.....
Yes the time has arrived, another addition of the NBA draft diary. I do this every year just to prove to my constituents that I have absolutely no life, and this is the most exciting thing that will happen to me all summer.
9am-1pm- I spend the better part of my work day perusing over draft reports to official confirm that I still have no idea who Andrea Bargnani is and that Patrick O’Bryant still is a poor mans Samuel Dalembert.
1:02- I hear on the radio the first official Allen Iverson trade rumors; these won’t die all night long
4:17- I get an IM from a friend questioning the talent of Tyrus Thomas. Listen David, you are not the only one with those questions.
7:08- Ok baby, I am at my official draft headquarters (the home of Coach and Mrs. Barry Sanderson). And the chili cheese dip has just come out of the oven, easily the best thing that will happen all night long. Also we have seen the Adam Morrison “I cried” commercial for the first time officially tonight
7:13- Finally someone miked up Dick Vitale so I can hear him scream about Tyrus Thomas’s “upside.”
7:30- Seconds before the draft is to begin, we see the “I cried” commercial again, #2.
7:37- Moments after selecting Bargnani ESPN gives a look inside the Raptors “war room” where we see the most staged handshake and hugging on camera since Arafat and Rabin.
7:42- The crowd promptly boos the Bulls being on the bored, because it should be the Knicks who get to watch Tyrus Thomas miss jump shots.
7:46- Brian Colangelo just said the word minutia during the NBA draft. I don’t know who is more confused, Stephen A. Smith or the thousands of double digit IQ’ed basketball fans watching at home who have never heard that word before.
7:56- Tyrus Thomas was just selected and traded to the Bulls as expected. What wasn’t expected was the man crushing orgy that Jay Bilas just had when describing Thomas’s talent. I think Bilas needs to go have a smoke and change his underpants.
8:01- Shelden Williams goes to the Hawks and now instant ACC analysis from the ACC Commissioner Dick Vitale.
8:05- Thank the Lord, the Adam Morrison commercial is on again, #3.
8:11- Jay Bilas has easily breeched protocol by awarding Randy Foye next season’s rookie of the year before he has even been picked.
8:16- One of my favorite draft moments, Foye gets drafted hugs grandma first than some slick looking white guy who is presumably his agent, I love that.
8:17- Mark Jones interviewing Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright, how good is that guys tans.
8:28- Rudy Gay has finally been drafted. Dicky V. just praised Gay for being a workaholic. Huh? Where the hell has Vitale been? That is the biggest knock on the guy, shut up Vitale, stick to evaluating ACC guys.
8:29- The Warriors select Patrick O’Bryant. Do they ever wonder why they are always picking in the lottery?
8:36- Finally, Sair Sene has been drafted and emerged from the crowd to walk on stage and shake hands with the commish.
8:42- JJ Redick fits in nicely in Orlando, let’s go to instant analysis from JJ’s Uncle, Dicky V.
8:48- Hilton Armstrong, also from the crowd emerges to climb up on stage.
8:54- For the 3rd time in the last 4 picks the player emerges from the crowd, Switzerland’s favorite son Thabo Sefelosha.
9:00- Congratulations to Ronnie Brewer, you get to go to Utah, and you have easily the worst suite in the draft.
9:04- Cedric Simmons gets picked, I wish I knew anything about him. I know so little about him I can’t even make a good joke.
9:06- Marcus Williams still sitting in the green room. He’s falling faster than a Tibetan serape at Mt. Everest summit base camp.
9:23- And another random foreign dude from the crowd Olexsiy Pecherov, #4.
9:27- It has been almost an hour and half since the Adam Morrison commercial, I am going through withdrawal.
9:29- The Kings select Rutgers Quincy Douby, and David Stern puts in shameless plug for RU. And now the Knicks are on the clock.
9:32- Screaming Knick fans are attempting to be interviewed by Mark Jones. They want Steve Francis gone and they want Marcus Williams now, they need a passing Point guard for sure.
Now this is when all hell broke loose at the Sanderson household and in my diary. I actually have no more entries in my diary because David Stern said, with the 20th pick the 2006 NBA Draft the New York Knicks select…………..Renaldo Balkman from the University of South Carolina.
My Knicks. My Rey Rey.
I was absolutely stunned when Stern uttered those words. Listen, I love everything about Renaldo’s game. Obviously, nobody has seen him play more than I have. He does have a great amount of ability and enthusiasm, but his game lacks a certain type of refinement for the NBA right now. But leave it to Isiah to what he wants to, you can say this about Isiah he doesn’t give in to public opinion. Because if so, he would have hung himself long ago.
I am torn about this pick. I am so happy for Rey that he got picked as high and gets guaranteed money, but as a Knicks fan I need to truly evaluate the pick and its value. As a Knicks fan I am somewhat disappointed, Balkman was a second round guy according to everyone’s expert opinion. Couldn’t the Knicks have chosen him later in the draft and drafted Marcus Williams in this spot, yes I believe so. What was Isiah thinking? Now I know some people will tell me Isiah has drafted well in the past, but I am still not a believer.
Before that pick the analysts agreed that the Knicks needed to make some sort of splash, as Stephen A. Smith was saying they need a dog, someone to bring excitement, someone to get in others faces. Well I can say this, Balkman is that type of guy. If Rey is coming down the lane, and Shaq is there, Rey will try and climb him and dunk the ball. Then when Shaq throws him to the ground, Rey will get up on his face. Balkman has a chance to endear himself to New York fans, he is there type of player. He will get down and dirty, he can be a junkyard dog.
Overall, I think it was a D+ pick as of right now. Rey needs to go in and prove himself and prove Isiah right. As much as New York fans can be harsh, if you come in and help them win and play your ass off you will become a favorite.
9am-1pm- I spend the better part of my work day perusing over draft reports to official confirm that I still have no idea who Andrea Bargnani is and that Patrick O’Bryant still is a poor mans Samuel Dalembert.
1:02- I hear on the radio the first official Allen Iverson trade rumors; these won’t die all night long
4:17- I get an IM from a friend questioning the talent of Tyrus Thomas. Listen David, you are not the only one with those questions.
7:08- Ok baby, I am at my official draft headquarters (the home of Coach and Mrs. Barry Sanderson). And the chili cheese dip has just come out of the oven, easily the best thing that will happen all night long. Also we have seen the Adam Morrison “I cried” commercial for the first time officially tonight
7:13- Finally someone miked up Dick Vitale so I can hear him scream about Tyrus Thomas’s “upside.”
7:30- Seconds before the draft is to begin, we see the “I cried” commercial again, #2.
7:37- Moments after selecting Bargnani ESPN gives a look inside the Raptors “war room” where we see the most staged handshake and hugging on camera since Arafat and Rabin.
7:42- The crowd promptly boos the Bulls being on the bored, because it should be the Knicks who get to watch Tyrus Thomas miss jump shots.
7:46- Brian Colangelo just said the word minutia during the NBA draft. I don’t know who is more confused, Stephen A. Smith or the thousands of double digit IQ’ed basketball fans watching at home who have never heard that word before.
7:56- Tyrus Thomas was just selected and traded to the Bulls as expected. What wasn’t expected was the man crushing orgy that Jay Bilas just had when describing Thomas’s talent. I think Bilas needs to go have a smoke and change his underpants.
8:01- Shelden Williams goes to the Hawks and now instant ACC analysis from the ACC Commissioner Dick Vitale.
8:05- Thank the Lord, the Adam Morrison commercial is on again, #3.
8:11- Jay Bilas has easily breeched protocol by awarding Randy Foye next season’s rookie of the year before he has even been picked.
8:16- One of my favorite draft moments, Foye gets drafted hugs grandma first than some slick looking white guy who is presumably his agent, I love that.
8:17- Mark Jones interviewing Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright, how good is that guys tans.
8:28- Rudy Gay has finally been drafted. Dicky V. just praised Gay for being a workaholic. Huh? Where the hell has Vitale been? That is the biggest knock on the guy, shut up Vitale, stick to evaluating ACC guys.
8:29- The Warriors select Patrick O’Bryant. Do they ever wonder why they are always picking in the lottery?
8:36- Finally, Sair Sene has been drafted and emerged from the crowd to walk on stage and shake hands with the commish.
8:42- JJ Redick fits in nicely in Orlando, let’s go to instant analysis from JJ’s Uncle, Dicky V.
8:48- Hilton Armstrong, also from the crowd emerges to climb up on stage.
8:54- For the 3rd time in the last 4 picks the player emerges from the crowd, Switzerland’s favorite son Thabo Sefelosha.
9:00- Congratulations to Ronnie Brewer, you get to go to Utah, and you have easily the worst suite in the draft.
9:04- Cedric Simmons gets picked, I wish I knew anything about him. I know so little about him I can’t even make a good joke.
9:06- Marcus Williams still sitting in the green room. He’s falling faster than a Tibetan serape at Mt. Everest summit base camp.
9:23- And another random foreign dude from the crowd Olexsiy Pecherov, #4.
9:27- It has been almost an hour and half since the Adam Morrison commercial, I am going through withdrawal.
9:29- The Kings select Rutgers Quincy Douby, and David Stern puts in shameless plug for RU. And now the Knicks are on the clock.
9:32- Screaming Knick fans are attempting to be interviewed by Mark Jones. They want Steve Francis gone and they want Marcus Williams now, they need a passing Point guard for sure.
Now this is when all hell broke loose at the Sanderson household and in my diary. I actually have no more entries in my diary because David Stern said, with the 20th pick the 2006 NBA Draft the New York Knicks select…………..Renaldo Balkman from the University of South Carolina.
My Knicks. My Rey Rey.
I was absolutely stunned when Stern uttered those words. Listen, I love everything about Renaldo’s game. Obviously, nobody has seen him play more than I have. He does have a great amount of ability and enthusiasm, but his game lacks a certain type of refinement for the NBA right now. But leave it to Isiah to what he wants to, you can say this about Isiah he doesn’t give in to public opinion. Because if so, he would have hung himself long ago.
I am torn about this pick. I am so happy for Rey that he got picked as high and gets guaranteed money, but as a Knicks fan I need to truly evaluate the pick and its value. As a Knicks fan I am somewhat disappointed, Balkman was a second round guy according to everyone’s expert opinion. Couldn’t the Knicks have chosen him later in the draft and drafted Marcus Williams in this spot, yes I believe so. What was Isiah thinking? Now I know some people will tell me Isiah has drafted well in the past, but I am still not a believer.
Before that pick the analysts agreed that the Knicks needed to make some sort of splash, as Stephen A. Smith was saying they need a dog, someone to bring excitement, someone to get in others faces. Well I can say this, Balkman is that type of guy. If Rey is coming down the lane, and Shaq is there, Rey will try and climb him and dunk the ball. Then when Shaq throws him to the ground, Rey will get up on his face. Balkman has a chance to endear himself to New York fans, he is there type of player. He will get down and dirty, he can be a junkyard dog.
Overall, I think it was a D+ pick as of right now. Rey needs to go in and prove himself and prove Isiah right. As much as New York fans can be harsh, if you come in and help them win and play your ass off you will become a favorite.
2 Comments:
I am going to argue that Odom and Sanderson have seen Balkman play more than you have. Anyway, could we get those tapes over here so I can get my job done and go home.
I am going to argue that Odom and Sanderson have seen Balkman play more than you have. Anyway, could we get those tapes over here so I can get my job done and go home.
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