Tag: DeAndre Ayton

2018 NBA Draft Recap

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Draft night, in any sport, is a special time….

Everyone becomes an expert for a day. Thursday night’s NBA Draft was no different.

Before these prospects ever step foot on an NBA court, “experts” think they know (definitively) who will be a bust,or a superstar.

They don’t know. I don’t either, but I’m going to give you my best (educated) guess.

To see the entire draft results, click here.

#1

ayton

Deandre Ayton was selected with the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Considering Ayton was an Arizona Wildcat, this should be a seamless transition. Ayton can be summed up in two words; physical specimen.

At 7’0″, 261 pounds, Ayton should contribute at the NBA level immediately. While I like Ayton’s game, I believe the Sacramento Kings were gifted the best player in the draft.

#2

bagley

Marvin Bagley III. What experts call unpolished, I call raw talent. Bagley’s game fits the NBA perfectly. He is a skilled scorer and rebounder with a high motor. His energy level, and ability to outwork opposing big men, will lead to a long, successful career in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns may regret passing on Bagley.

#3

doncic

The Dallas Mavericks must love them some Luka Doncic. They traded the rights to Trae Young, and their 2019 protected (top-five) 1st round pick, for Doncic. I don’t care who you are, international players are a complete mystery. The track record of players from other countries is less than stellar, and all of the tape in the world can’t paint the whole picture. The NBA and international games differ so greatly, international stars either excel right away, or crash and burn.

There’s no in between. 

By the way, Trae Young will be the biggest BUST in this draft!!

The New York Knickerbockers

kevin knox

Por fin, I am NOT mad about a Knicks’ 1st round pick; Kevin Knox. While I believe Collin Sexton is a star in the making, the Knicks couldn’t pick a player who wasn’t available (Sexton went 8th to the Cleveland Cavaliers). The Knicks’ only other option was to choose Mr. injury-in-waiting, Michael Porter Jr. The Knicks, as well as 12 other teams, felt Porter Jr.’s injury was too risky to gamble on, as he fell to the 14th pick (Denver Nuggets).

The question is: Will Michael Porter Jr. be the next Joel Embiid, or Greg Oden??

You know where the comment section is. USE IT!!!!

You can find me on the Radio as well. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’m on live, every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. Each show is also broadcast on Facebook Live via: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you LOVE my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! NOW GO TELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!

IT’S BRACKET TIME!!!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s here. It’s finally here!!

No, not Christmas, March Madness!!

It’s like Christmas, minus the awkward, social obligation to buy people you barely know (or like) gifts.

Anyway, this is, ‘I collectively watched 12 minutes of college basketball this season, but I’m suddenly an expert’ week. Others fill out brackets based on their favorite mascots or jersey colors. Either way, filling my bracket(s) with check marks and x’s fills my soul with happiness. Before we get to my predictions, let’s analyze the field of “68”.

#1 Seeds

Virginia, Villanova, Kansas, and Xavier. They got these right this year. While watching the #1 overall seed, Virginia, play basketball is like watching paint dry, their defensive style is effective. They finished the year 31-2, their only losses coming to West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Villanova, the #2 overall seed, overshadowed by Virginia, will look to sneak their way through the weakest bracket in the tournament (East).

To see the entire bracket, click here.

Bubble Teams

No matter how many teams are in the tournament, 64, 68, there will always be an odd man out. This year, it’s Notre Dame. According to the NCAA Tournament Committee, Notre Dame was team 69, so Davidson upsetting Rhode Island Sunday afternoon was the final nail in the Notre Dame coffin.

bonzie-colson-010218-getty-ftr_67ptbt2886k317wbtq3tig4mp

The last team in, Syracuse. In year’s past, I would have thrown my arms in the air, stomped my feet like a child, and screamed about tournament snubs. Honestly, I don’t have the time or energy for that anymore. Every team straddling the “bubble” has an argument one way or the other. Syracuse, Louisville, UCLA, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, St. Marys, and Oklahoma State all fall into the same category; mediocre basketball teams.

The crazy part is, one of the last teams in, usually makes a deep run in the tournament, “justifying” their entrance. Even though Oklahoma has only won two games since February 1st, Trae Young’s Oklahoma Sooners can beat anyone on any given day. Arizona State has also shown the ability to beat anyone, with wins against not one, but two #1 seeds; Kansas and Xavier.

Under Appreciated and Under Seeded

DeAndre-Ayton-Arizona

While I’m not going to throw my hands in the air, I do have an issue with some of the seeding in this tournament. Arizona and Auburn deserve better than #4 seeds. Arizona won the Pac-12 regular season title, the Pac-12 conference championship, and they have presumably the #1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft on their roster (DeAndre Ayton). They should have been swapped with Texas Tech (a #3 seed), losers of 5 of their last 7 games.

auburn

Auburn should also feel slighted. They finished with a better record then Tennessee, AND they beat Tennessee, IN TENNESSEE!! How are they a #4 seed, while Tennessee is inexplicably a #3 seed??

As for my predictions, they’re coming….

 

 

 

on Thursday.

Check back with DaveTalksSports.com on Thursday morning to find my upsets, locks, and most importantly, my National Champion.

 

What do you think of the bracket?? Who were the biggest snubs?? Who was under seeded or over seeded?? Answer my questions in the comment section below!!

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!