Basketball Direct

USF corrects NCAA ticket error

2006-03-14T05:14:00.000-08:00

USF athletic director Bill Hogan says the school, which is hosting the NCAA Regionals, March 23-25, at the Arena in Oakland, changed part of its ticket-marketing plan when officials found it in conflict with NCAA guidelines.

Initially, the school set aside several hundred tickets to offer later as part of a travel package to Oakland.

Hogan said the school then learned the NCAA was offering its own travel packages to fans. USF contacted the governing body, which told the school to change its ticket-marketing plan.

Hogan said the tickets were returned to the mix and were part of the 7,600 already sold to the general public through a lottery.

"No one benefited," Hogan said, acknowledging the school -- without a ticket manager or marketing director -- was feeling its way through the business of hosting the regional.

In setting aside the tickets in question, Hogan turned to Neil Slater, the owner of the Real Deal, a Chicago firm that, among other things, provides security at athletic events and for a number of NBA players. Slater, a Dons season-ticket holder, a corporate sponsor of the basketball program and an acquaintance of head coach Jessie Evans, bought the tickets and held them.

After the NCAA directive in late January, he returned the tickets.

"He was trying to help us," Hogan said.

Hogan also said that tickets being offered for sale on the Internet are not part of the stock of tickets in question, but apparently were purchased by scalpers through normal channels.

In a statement given to Hogan, the NCAA said the matter would be part of its routine post-tournament review, then took note of USF's cooperation in addressing the issue.

Evans said he had known Slater for some time but was not part of any dealings.

"I'm not involved, never was and never will be when it comes to tickets," Evans said.

The 19,000-plus-seat Arena is nearly sold out for the regionals, including 5,000 tickets for the NCAA.

E-mail Bruce Adams at badams@sfchronicle.com.

The NBA Playoffs

2006-03-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

The NBA Playoffs
By Peter Portero

In April, 8 NBA teams from each conference qualify to play in the championship playoffs. The top three teams based on their regular season record are chosen for the top three seeds based on the NBA seeding system. The next five teams with the best records take the other five seeds. The one difference of the NBA seeding system from any other American major league sport is the fact that the division championships are not guaranteed home court advantage in the playoffs. Rather, home court advantage is based on the team’s regular season record and not on who won in the division.

In the NBA seeding system, the team given the first seed will face off against the team given the eight seed; the second seed will face off against the seventh seed and so forth. Therefore, the highest advantage a team can get is to have a high seed so they can face a weaker team. The team with the best regular season record is given the home court advantage.

Once the playoffs begin, they follow a tournament format. The team’s face each other is a best of seven series. The first team to win four rounds gets to advance into the next round. Teams are not reseeded once the playoffs begin therefore the first or eight seed team who wins will face off with the fourth or fifth seed team that wins. The second and seventh winner will face off against the third and sixth winner, therefore keeping the balance between the teams.

The final playoff round is between the top teams in each conference in another best of seven series of games. The NBA finals are typically held in June. Most of the time, but not always, the Most Valuable Player Award will go to someone on the winning team. The exception to this was in 1969 when Jerry West won the MVP award even though his team did not win the NBA Finals.

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A Regular NBA Season

2006-03-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

A Regular NBA Season
By Peter Portero

After a break in the summer, basketball-training camps begin in October. During this time, coaches decide which players to add to the twelve person active roster. Following training camp there is a series of preseason exhibition games. The regular season for the NBA starts in the first week of November.

Over the course of a regular season, an NBA team will play 82 games that are divided into an even number of home and away games. Over the course of a season a team will face teams in their own division four times each, teams from their conference three or four times each and teams in the other conferences twice each. The NBA remains the only major league sport where a fan can see every team in the league play in their hometown at least once in a season.

In February, fans vote on the top players in each position for the All-Star game. Coaches vote for the remaining fourteen players. There are two teams during the All-Star game, the East versus the West. A Game MVP award is given to the player that performs the best. After the All-Star game teams can no longer exchange players with each other although they can still sign and release players. Most of the major trades in the league occur right before this trading deadline.

The NBA regular season ends in April. At this time, the NBA awards are handed out to players. During the postseason players are put into teams of five players who are the top in their position. Three All-NBA teams have the top players in each position and are often the most desirable players for the next season. Two All-Defensive teams have the top defenders from the previous season. Two All-Rookie teams have the top first-year players no matter what their position.

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History of the National Basketball Association

2006-03-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

History of the National Basketball Association
By Peter Portero

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) started the first basketball season in 1946. In 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the National Basketball League to become the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the start, there were seventeen franchises in the nation. However, in 1950 the franchises were consolidated to eleven. In 1950, the NBA became integrated, accepting the first African American players. Chuck Cooper joined the Boston Celtics, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton joined the New York Knicks and Earl Lloyd joined the Washington Capitols. The Minneapolis Lakers won the first NBA Championship in 1950.

The NBA was at its smallest in 1954 when it had only eight franchises, all eight of which remain today. These are the Knickerbockers, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals/Kings, Pistons, Hawks and Nationals/76ers. 1954 also saw the introduction of the 24-second shot clock to increase the tension of the game.

The NBA played with the six-team format until 1967 when it expanded by adding two teams. This expansion was in response to the founding of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in an attempt to tie up the best cities. The following year the Division Semifinals was changed to a best-of-seven playoff. Two additional teams were added each in 1975 and 1977. In 1976, the NBA reached a settlement with the ABA, which added four ABA franchises to the NBA, raising the total to 22.

The current sixteen-team tournament was not started until 1984. The First round was then changed to a best-of-five playoff, to accommodate the new teams. It wasn’t until 2003 that first round became the best of seven we have today. During the last 2004 to 2005 season, the NBA underwent additional changes. There are now thirty NBA franchises and the division structure has been realigned. There are now three divisions with five teams each.

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Final Four History

2006-03-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

Final Four History
By Bob Johnson

The term “Final Four” is often used to describe the final four teams remaining in a sports playoff tournament. The term is most widely used in conjunction with the final four teams participating in the annual NCAA basketball tournament. In 1974, the first public random drawing for Final Four game tickets was held. In 1975, the official NCAA publication featured the term “Final Four” for the first time as a 32-team bracket was accepted under the terms that no conference could be represented by more than two teams. By 1981, the NCAA decided to register a trademark for the “Final Four” term with a first use stated to be in 1978.

Over the next several years, the Final Four competitions became more and more popular with a greater demand for tickets and an increasing number of fans in attendance. As basketball fans scrambled to obtain Final Four tickets, players prepared for a tournament that they would hope to participate in. By 1983, the league decided that the venue, which would be chosen to hold the Final Four competition, must consist of a minimum of 17,000 seats. With the computer industry gaining in popularity, the first computerized random drawing was held by the NCAA for the public’s allotment of Final Four competition tickets. In 1989, the NCAA committee determined that three of the next four competition facilities should offer a minimum capacity of 30,000 seats. With an anticipated increase in crowds, the league wanted to be prepared to house every fan who wanted a seat for it’s largest fan attendance games of the season.

The NCAA determined that no team could play on their home court, which established the precedent for holding the annual tournaments on a neutral court for all teams involved. In 1990, the general public was limited to purchasing no more than two Final Four tickets. By 1996, the internet age was becoming the “norm” for newsworthy reports and, as such, the Final Four website was created. By 2003, the Final Four seating capacity was increased to 40,000 for any venue being chosen to host the annual NCAA tournaments.

Attendance at Final Four tournament games has filled arenas to nearly full capacity and done so in all-time record fashion. With no signs of slowing down, the NCAA and the Final Four tournaments are sure to continue packing the house with cheering fans hoping to see their favorite team advance to the championship.

Bob writes for fanfrenzyzone.com and EZTicketSearch.com. Where you can purchase a Final Four Apparel or NCAA Tournament Tickets

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2006-02-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Steeped in Tradition - A History of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
By F.R. Penn

It is a looking glass for human hope, excellence and positive social change. It is, in short, a microcosm of the human existence, with all of its exuberance, tragedy and triumph.

The excitement and tradition of "March Madness" as we know it today has been shaped by many significant events in NCAA tournament history: The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament was held in 1939 with the first championship game held at Northwestern on March 27, 1939. Only eight teams competed in two regions. Oregon defeated Ohio State in the championship, and the West region held a third-place game.

Although the NCAA tournament now determines the national champion, that was not always the case. Until the 1950's, the NIT was considered a more prestigious tournament than the NCAA, and teams often chose to enter the NIT and bypass the NCAA tourney. Because of this dichotomy, two of the best centers of the 1940's never met in an NCAA tourney. George Mikan's DePaul team traditionally entered the NIT, while Bob Kurland's Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) won two NCAA titles. Several schools entered both tournaments. One such team, City College of New York (CCNY) led by Irwin Dambrot, won both in 1950. Ironically, CCNY defeated Bradley University in the finals of both tournaments. Another school, Utah in 1944, entered the NIT, lost in the first round, and then went on to win the NCAA title. Kentucky pulled off a similar accomplishment in 1949, losing in the second round of the NIT and then going on to win the NCAA Tournament.

In 1941, the East region added a third-place game into the schedule, and in 1946, a national third-place game was held for the first time; the game would be a fixture until 1980. In 1951, the tournament expanded to 16 teams, and in 1952, Seattle was the site of the first true "Final Four," with both semifinal games and the championship game in one city. It was 1956 when the tournament was divided into four regions. Some of the most astounding and telling events in college basketball were to follow: North Carolina defeated Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas 54-53 in three overtimes to win the title in 1957. The legend of dominance emerged in 1962 when John Wooden's UCLA team makes the first of 13 Final Four appearances over the next 15 seasons.

Reflecting the race and civil rights issues of the time, Loyola (Illinois) was matched up with Mississippi State in a 1963 men’s basketball tournament regional semifinal. Mississippi State, an all-white team, fled the town in the middle of the night despite protests from the governor and state police of Mississippi to play a Loyola team that features four black starters. Mississippi State overcame an unwritten Mississippi rule against playing integrated teams with a cloak-and-dagger flight to the North just one step ahead of a court injunction. Triumphantly, Loyola beat Mississippi State and went on to win the title. In 1966, Texas Western (now UTEP), with an all-black starting five, defeats an all-white Kentucky team to win the national title.

In 1973, with the championship game held on Monday night for the first time, UCLA behind Bill Walton's 44 points on 21 of 22 shooting, won its seventh straight championship, defeating Memphis State. NC State, led by David Thompson, ends UCLA's title run in 1974, defeating the Bruins in the national semifinals in double overtime.

The following year, the NCAA tournament expanded to 32 teams, and then allowed more than one school from each conference to participate. Prior to this ruling, the restriction prevented several great teams from competing in the tournament, including the 1974 Maryland team. They finished the season nationally ranked #4, yet lost the ACC Conference final game to top-ranked NC State prior to the start of the tournament. After that, the NCAA began to allow more than one team per conference to participate. In 1976, Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosier squad completed an undefeated season with a victory over Michigan in the championship game. The Hoosiers are the last team to go undefeated and win the title.

The tournament expanded to 40 teams in 1979, and teams were seeded for the first time. "Magic" Earvin Johnson leads Michigan State over Larry Bird and Indiana State to win the national championship. The game drew the attention of millions throughout the country; its 24.1 TV rating remains the highest ever for a college basketball game and is still considered one of the greatest match-ups in NCAA Tournament history.

Expansion followed in 1980 to 48 teams, and then in 1983, to 53 teams. In what many believe is the greatest Cinderella story in college basketball, North Carolina State’s Lorenzo Charles dunks the ball as time expires in the 1983 championship game to lead the Wolfpack to a 54-52 win over heavily favored Akeem Olajuwon and Houston. Perhaps no one figure in college basketball history more personified the spirit of March Madness than Coach Jim Valvano. His underdog North Carolina State Wolfpack did what many consider a miracle by making an incredible run through the 1983 Tournament. Culminating in the defeat of the highly touted "Phi Slamma Jamma" squad from the University of Houston, Valvano was rocketed into the media limelight and quickly became the symbol of exuberance and enthusiasm. He discovered soon afterward that he had bone cancer, and for a short time became a commentator for college basketball. Before his death at age 47, he was named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe award for courage at the first ESPN ESPY awards. It was at this time he announced the formation of the V Foundation for cancer research.

In 1985 the tournament expanded to 64 teams. A Villanova Wildcat team shot a 22 for 28 field goal percentage to defeat Patrick Ewing and defending champion Georgetown in the championship game. Villanova remains the lowest seed (#8) to win the championship. In 1991, Duke upset undefeated UNLV in the semifinals and went on to win the national championship. In 1997, Arizona, led by Mike Bibby, Jason Terry and Miles Simon, becomes the first school to defeat three #1 seeds en route to the national championship, winning against Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky.

The NCAA Tournament’s popularity has grown to rival that of the World Series, the Olympics and the Super Bowl. CBS Sports in 1999 negotiated an 11-year, $6 billion agreement for television, radio, Internet, corporate marketing, licensing, publishing, home video and Hoop City rights for the Division I men’s basketball championship.

In 2002, the NCAA tournament committee developed a "pod" system for the first and second rounds. The system allows the top four seeds to play at a site as close to home as possible, without regard to the school's tournament region. In that year’s tournament, Maryland became the first school to defeat five former national champions on their way to win their first title. In 2004, the regions became known by the regional final’s host city instead of by their geographic names. The Final Four match-ups were set by committee prior to the tournament instead of on a rotating basis. Connecticut, behind center Emeka Okafor, won its second title in six seasons. Last year, 2005, Roy William’s North Carolina Tar Heels led by Sean May, held off the Fighting Illini to win the title game by a final score of 75-70.
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Adversity, tragedy, and ultimate triumph; the downtrodden and beleaguered emerge through the journey as champions. The drama of hope intensified to euphoria, only to be dashed on the rocks of defeat in the ultimate test of poise and determination. The human experience in all its excellence and all its failures. Yes, this Tournament has it all.

This article was written by F.R. Penn sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ Searching for those hard to find NCAA tickets? Look no further than StubHub where fans buy and sell the hottest sports tickets. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link back to http://www.stubhub.com/

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2006 NCAA Basketball Tournament Schedule

2006-02-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

NCAA Tournament Tickets - Final Four Tickets
__________________________________
National Championship - Final Four
NCAA Final Four - Indianapolis at RCA Dome
4/1 & 4/3/06 • Winners of the Regional Tournaments
-------------------------------------------------
2006 NCAA Tournament Tickets - Regionals
Minneapolis - Midwest Regional at the Metrodome
3/24 & 3/26/06
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Oakland - West Regional at Oakland Arena
3/23 & 3/25/06
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Washington DC - East Regional at the MCI Center
3/24 & 3/26/06
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Atlanta - South Regional at the Georgia Dome
3/23 & 3/25/06
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First and Second Rounds
Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
3/17 & 3/19/06
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Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
3/17 & 3/19/06
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Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
3/17 & 3/19/06
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Dayton, OH - Dayton Arena
3/17 & 3/19/06
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San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
3/16 & 3/18/06
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Salt Lake City, UT - Jon M Huntsman Center
3/16 & 3/18/06
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Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
3/16 & 3/18/06
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Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
3/16 & 3/18/06

The Best Detroit Piston Team Ever

2006-01-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

By Christopher Luck

Which is the best Detroit Piston team of all time? I have pondered this question deeply and have engaged in many a bar stool debate. As a lifelong sports fan and hoops junkie, I find asking which the best team is in the history of a storied franchise like the Detroit Pistons is big part of what makes sports fun. For the purposes of this particular debate, there are really only two options by anyone’s standards: the championship Detroit Piston teams of the mid to late 80’s and the more recent teams of 2004 and 2005 who went to two finals series and won a championship.

The arguments for the Detroit Piston teams of the late 80’s are certainly easy to make. Those “Bad Boys” teams were trend setters. The 80’s were a time of high scoring offenses and soft defenses. Scores routinely made it into triple digits as teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Rockets, and Sixers ruled the league. Then the Detroit Pistons came along with their tough, hard nosed, no easy baskets style of defense. They gave way to teams like the Bulls and Knicks who adopted similar defensive philosophies. Setting such a trend in a league like the NBA is certainly cause for consideration of greatness.

The Bad Boys Piston teams also had names and recognizable talent that the later championship teams would lack. Names like Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer are still known throughout the league. They are the greats of Detroit Piston basketball and to some degree of the NBA. Not only were these names recognizable and historic in league and team history, but also they were names of winners. Obviously the more recent teams are winners, but they have yet to combine the historical names, the winning, and the stamp on history that comes along with setting a trend.

There is, however, an argument to be made for the Detroit Piston teams of the early 2000’s. Those teams have represented that city of Detroit with their blue collar methods. The collection of cast-offs from around the NBA shows that a true team can be the personification of the idea that the whole can be more than the sum of its parts. You could also make the argument that when it is all said and done, the names Billups, Wallace, Wallace, and Prince will be just as well known as those of the Bad Boys. With one championship ring, another appearance in the finals, and a quick start to the 2005-2006 season, the modern Detroit Piston team may even end up with more championships to their credit. And in the end, isn’t it all about rings when it comes to the legacy of any great team?

When it comes to great basketball franchises, the Detroit Pistons may not be the first name to roll of the tongue, but they certainly will come in at some point. With at least two great runs in the history of the franchise, the argument over who is the best Detroit Piston team is one that may end in a draw. However, it is those great debates that will help both Detroit Piston teams to maintain their place in the mindset of Piston fans as well as basketball fans for years to come.

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NBA Odds: Why Is Vegas So Good?

2006-01-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

By Proloy Bhattacharyya

Whenever looking at the odds for NBA Basketball, it is important to keep in mind the fact that Vegas is motivated by profit. If Vegas knows that 80% of the public will favor a certain team, you can expect the odds for that team to be shaded by 1-3 points. For example, a team that would under normal circumstances be a 3 point favorite can be set as much as a 6 point favorite. This is what they say as the public betting up the line.

There is no doubt that the astute handicappers will always profit if they are good. There are two types of handicappers: systems bettors and power ratings bettors. Both are good in their own right but both have significant disadvantages.

A systems bettor would look at a team's situational factors and make a wager one way or the other. A quite common system would include something like "going against a team on zero days rest against a rested foe with revenge". The disadvantage of such a bettor is that Vegas always keeps track of systems and fades their lines. For example, teams on zero days rest will get an extra 1.5 points to their nba odds compared with if they were rested.

A power ratings bettor makes a prediction on the final outcome of a game based on the teams involved, the home court advantage. The disadvantage to the power ratings bettor is that they do not have the ability to predict situations where a team will outperform and underperform. Will a team be looking ahead?

Vegas uses a mixture of power ratings, systems, and public perception to develop good NBA Odds. They start with a power ratings prediction on what the final outcome should be. They then use commonly used single-scope systems to adjust the line. If they are rested, they will be giving up more points. If they have a division rival or a great team coming up, they will be getting more points. Single-scope means that Vegas does not look beyond 1 or 2 systems factors together. Doing so would require too much effort. After this is done, they will analyze public betting tendencies and fade the line against the public by a point or two.

Think about all those games you lost by a half point or a full point. If you were going with the public, Vegas ate you alive. If you are a systems bettor and continued to use the same lame system that Vegas finally caught up to, Vegas ate you alive. If you are a power ratings bettor but disregarded situational factors, Vegas ate you alive.

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NBA Basketball Games: Dec. 21 - 24, 2005

2006-01-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

By David Pincus

Wednesday (12/21)

Best:
Wizards @ Nuggets: Denver has been disappointing this year, with losses to several bad teams. They have continued to be a great Home team, which is keeping them in contention. If they’re going to be as good as they were at the end of last year, they need to annihilate teams like Washington. So far, they haven’t done so.

Runner-up:
Clippers @ Pacers: Indiana lost enormously at home to the Clippers early last year, when Ron Artest was still on the roster. With him gone, the Pacers are worse talent wise. But now the team can go on the momentum that propelled them to the postseason last year. It’s the Clippers game to win (which I’m not used to saying), so can they deliver?

Blowout:
Raptors @ Rockets: T-Mac and company are leading Houston back into contention. Despite all their injuries, a win here against Toronto won’t be denied. McGrady has to realize that he shouldn’t take stupid fade-aways when he can just drive it to the hoop. Against Toronto, he should have a highlight montage of dunks when it’s all over.

Thursday (12/22)
[As usual, only two games are on TV this Thursday]

Best:
Mavericks @ Kings: Dallas has continued to be a semi-contender in the West, while Sacramento has fallen out of it. Already they have nearly as much home losses as they did last year. They aren’t going in any real direction positively. Still, they can score. Defense is problem, as it is for Dallas as well. But they’ll need a little more than offense to get anywhere in the West.

Runner-up:
Cavaliers @ Bulls: Cleveland is struggling. After a 9-2 start, they haven’t gotten much help from anyone but LeBron. When you lose at home to Atlanta, something is seriously wrong. Chicago is inconsistent. The have lost at home to Miami and San Antonio (both were tight losses) but are the only NBA team to win in Detroit. Both teams have shown a capability to be better than they are now. Larry Hughes needs to get 20 points, or he could be fish food for a Ron Artest trade.

Friday (12/23)

Best:
Lakers @ Magic: These two teams always produce an entertaining game when it’s played in Orlando, so why miss out on this one? Last year, Mobley was injured when they played, so the Magic will face LA with nearly the same team. Smush Parker now guards Steve Francis instead of Chucky Atkins. Otherwise, it’s the same team for LA as well.

Runner-up:
Mavericks @ Sonics: Two teams, no defense, good offense. Blah, blah, blah you know the drill. The final score should 100-something to 100-something. What’s interesting is ESPN pushing this game to ESPN2. What sports game pushed basketball to ESPN2? Why none other than the Fort Worth Bowl. Who the hell watches the Fort Worth Bowl? Houston vs. Kansas? -please. If we’re going to boycott the BCS, lets start with this pile.

Blowout:
Nets @ Heat: New Jersey’s greatest weakness is Center, where Jason Collins is filling the position. Miami’s greatest strength is their Center Shaq, so this game should be a blowout. After all, Miami did beat the Nets in a sweep last year. The Payton-Kidd confrontation was always good to watch, but is now impossible just to track, with Payton leaving teams every year. The Nets need to find their place in the East; they’ll get a better understanding with this loss.

Saturday (12/24)
[There are no games on Christmas Eve] Most of the NFL games move to Saturday though, so you can live without basketball for one day. Kobe-Shaq deux on Christmas.

Articles on Basketball Betting has more expert articles on sports.

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Top College Basketball Arenas

2005-11-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of college basketball then these are the courts
that are said to be the best of best to watch a game in. Between
the skills the seating and the concessions there's no better
place to see a game then these courts.

In first is Kansas' Allen Fieldhouse. Built in 1955 it gets
16,300 fans surprisingly close to the action and makes your
eardrums feel on the verge of popping. This place has a charm to
it that you just can't find in many arenas. Composed of almost
all bleachers fans can populate this building with ease. It was
ahead of its time with the bleachers in the corners angled in
toward the court and three concourses that spread out the crowd
to relieve pedestrian congestion.

Minnesota's Williams Arena comes in second. Built in 1928 it's
historic and charming. With a raised playing floor, the first
row of fans look at the players at about knee level. They also
did a good job of honoring their history by having large banners
hanging in the arena of past Gopher greats. The concessions
won't put a strain on you're wallet either. This arena can hold
about 14, 395 for basketball.

Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse is another one built in 1928. Try to
catch an afternoon game when the sun is shinning in from the
windows at the top of the arena as if the heavens are watching
the game too. If it doesn't send chills down your back, you are
not a genuine hoops fan. The Fieldhouse can house about 11,000
for basketball.

The historic Palestra home court for Penn comes in fourth. It
was built in 1927 and seats 8700 for basketball. It is loud and
when you walk around the outer concourse, you get a real sense
of the history of this sacred basketball building. There are
pictures of many of the past greats from the Big 5 who played
there hanging on the wall and in display cases.

Finally, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium ranks fifth. The student
crowd, known as the 'Cameron Crazies', are mind blowing with
their well-embedded actions and chants for all 60 minutes of the
game. A forceful half-time show gets everyone pumped as well.
Fans have to squeeze in here a little more than they would like,
but the history is great from the architecture of the building
to the numerous displays documenting the past. The stadium seats
9,314 screaming fans.

About the author:
Jobby is with EZ Ticket Search - providing premium seating in the secondary market to sports, concerts, broadway events and College Basketball Tickets. Visit my blog Event Outlet to read more College Basketball articles.

The NBA's Best Courts

2005-11-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

Fans will argue about which NBA team they feel is better. Some
will argue about which players are better. Now here's the real
scoop on which NBA teams have the best courts that will get the
fans pumped up to see the game.

If you're a fan that likes to get into a game without having to
pay enormous amounts of cash, then New Orleans is the court you
want to watch it at. For just $51.00 a fan is able to get a seat
six rows off the court floor. If you want to upgrade to club
seating though it will set you back $135, but from these seats
you can practically touch the players as they walk from the
tunnel to the court. When it comes to parking, no one wants to
park several miles away from the arena. That's why if you're one
who wants to get cheap, close parking then the Phoenix Suns'
arena is the place for you. Parking costs only about $7 and its
less than three minutes from the farthest spot to the arena.
Plus, traffic doesn't sit around for long periods of time so one
will be in and out when it comes to parking.

One of the best things about enjoying a basketball game is the
concessions. There's nothing better than a nice snack while
watching a basketball game. So if you're one who doesn't like to
spend a tremendous amount on food then the Atlanta Hawks will be
a team you might enjoy. At this arena one can get a 32 ounce
soda for only $3.50, or you can spend a little more and get a
team jersey for $125. The area itself has a nice atmosphere to
it with garbage cans painted as nets. You can even check up on
the stock market as it is flashed on one wall with updated
scores on another.

For fans who like to get very involved into the game, a good
arena to attend would be that of the Sacramento Kings. With a
banner hanging above the court stating, "The NBA's No.1
Home-court Advantage" anyone can feel like they're part of the
game. With the team being the only show in town, sellouts are a
routine for Sacramento fans whether the team is not doing as
hot, or they're on fire.

Now for those Laker Girl fans out there, here's a little
surprise for you. The Miami Heat have dancers that will make
you're jaw hit the ground. With dancers that are well drilled
and just as good as those Laker Girls, they can make any man
love basketball. Just because they're not as hyped about as the
Laker Girls doesn't mean they still can't give the audience a
performance they'll never forget. So if you like watching
beautiful girls dance around a basketball court in tight
clothes, then you might want to check out the arena of the Miami
Heat.

About the author:
Jobby is with EZ Ticket Search - providing premium seating in the secondary market
to sports, concerts, broadway events and >NBA Tickets. Visit my blog Event Outlet to read more
NBA articles.

MJ tribute

2005-10-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Race for Number Eight

2005-10-14T03:48:00.000-07:00

In any type of normal world, the race for the No. 8 seed in
either Conference wouldn’t matter at all, save for adding some
interest to the final third of the season. In the East, the No.
8 crew will probably draw the Miami Heat in round one, facing
off against the inside-outside twosome of Shaq and D-Wade, who
are poised to bring a big golden trophy to South Beach. It won’t
be pretty.

The picture’s a bit different in the West, though --- the battle
for the No. 8 slot is a tighter affair, and there’s interest
from close NBA watchers. Granted, the last team in draws either
the Spurs or the Suns, and both are going to be hard to knock
off. But --- let’s say Steve Nash’s injuries continue to nag at
him. Let’s also take into account that playoff basketball slows
down and focuses on half-court sets. The Suns suddenly seem
beatable, right? The Spurs are a bit tougher --- they thrive in
half-court sets, and they’re the definition of consistent.

Still, let’s say the Lakers get the No. 8 seed --- a possibility
we’ll investigate. The Lake Show has reached 4 of the last 5
Finals --- granted, with a vastly different chemistry. But Kobe
is still a rare player. Let’s say Minnesota gets in just under
the line --- they were the No. 1 seed last year, and possess
arguably the league’s most game-altering player in Kevin
Garnett. And if the Nuggets --- a young, eccentric mix of
quality players --- get the nod, they might have enough
firepower to run a full series with either San Antonio or
Phoenix.

Since the No. 8 seed in the West could, theoretically, knock off
a potential No. 1, we decided to investigate who’s most likely
to come out as No. 8 in late April. We evaluated only the
Lakers, T-Wolves, and Nuggets, because let’s be honest --- as
good as the Clippers have played this year, do you honestly see
them anywhere near the NBA Playoffs? We thought so.

Each team is assigned 3 (highest), 2, or 1 (lowest) points in
four different categories: Personnel, Coaching, Remaining
Schedule, and Intangibles. Scientific, no?

Personnel: The Lakers have Kobe, who is arguably the best player
in the game. He’s struggled without a presence in the middle (no
offense to Chris Mihm…), and there’s serious strains on his
image following the rape trial and tumultuous breakup of the
championship run Lakers. Beyond Mr. Bryant, though, Los Angeles
doesn’t have much. Caron Butler was promising as a rookie, but
hasn’t done a ton since then. Lamar Odom is the second key to
this team --- he needs to play at the level he’s capable of
playing at, and he hasn’t been doing that. He goes in the tank
more than Vince Carter claims he went in the tank in Canada,
especially against higher-level foes.

The Timberwolves have an amazing team on paper. Garnett, the
reigning MVP, can beat you every which way. Sam Cassell is an
experienced, showstopper point guard, and Latrell Sprewell can
still score in buckets. Wally World gets injured, sure, but he’s
got game. The problem is, the entire team has underachieved this
year, which creates a need for big games from Trenton Hassell
and others. That shouldn’t be necessary given this squad,
especially when Sprewell is playing for 14 million per (even
though he’s apparently below the poverty line).

The Nuggets are good all-around. We’re still waiting for Camby
to tear something, and Nene has been on the injured list since
Valentine’s Day. Carmelo Anthony has slumped a bit in his
sophomore campaign, and he doesn’t play defense much at all.
Earl Boykins has become a star here, regularly pacing the team
in scoring, and Andre Miller --- who must be with his 19th NBA
team by now --- seems to have acquired the poise of a true floor
general, leading this team pretty well on most nights. K-Mart
has been energized by the recent hire of George Karl.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Coaching: Who’s Frank Hamblen? He’s not Rudy T. He’s not Coach
K. He’s not Phil Jackson. In sum, he’s probably not good enough.

Kevin McHale probably shouldn’t have pulled the plug so soon on
Flip Saunders. Saunders was a great coach, and a playoff upset
this year would have re-invigorated his team. Now, McHale’s got
himself on the bench. Let’s consider other 1980s Celtics as
coaches --- ML Carr, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird. Moderate
successes, yes, but are any still coaching? There’s a reason
why… eventually, they all underachieved. Putting an
underachiever with a group of underachievers probably isn’t the
best mix…

George Karl is a savvy veteran coach. You can say all you want
about his conspicuous lack of jewelry, but he’s won 60 games
twice. The Nuggets have never won 60 games. The Nuggets have
been on fire since he got the job from Michael Cooper by way of
Jeff Bzedlik, recently winning six in a row. ‘Melo’s game is
more diverse, more guys are getting quality minutes, and the
team seems to play with a confidence and unity previously
lacking. Karl was the right addition here, even counting rumors
that he might be looking to ship Anthony away for his fear of
playing tight defense.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Remaining Schedule:

The Lakers, who are 20-11 at Staples Center, play only 10 of
their remaining 23 games at home. In addition, they go on a road
trip next week which features games at Dallas, Washington,
Philadelphia, Miami, and Indiana. They end the season with
relative cream puffs Golden State and Portland, but play three
consecutive games right before that against Phoenix, Sacramento,
and Dallas. All of those games are at home, but are still tough
draws.

The Timberwolves, only 17-14 at home this year, play only 9 of
their remaining games at Target Center, and their last two home
games are against Seattle (on pace for 59 wins) and San Antonio
(on pace to win the West). In addition, they have road games at
Phoenix, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Dallas
sprinkled throughout their final month and a half.

The Nuggets are 18-9 at Pepsi Center this year, and play 14 of
their final 23 contests at home. In the final month, they do
travel to Minneapolis, but they also get 2 games against the
Hornets --- the worst team in the league --- and also play
Portland and Golden State, both in the Mile High City. The
Nuggets also draw the Grizzlies twice in the final three weeks.
While the Grizz are playoff-bound themselves, it’s a favorable
match-up for a streaking Denver squad.

Points: Nuggets 3, Lakers 2, Timberwolves 1

Intangibles Kobe needs to reach the playoffs as a No. 8 seed,
score 50 points every night, and off the No. 1 team in the West.
In some ways, it would help restore his credibility and erase
notions he can’t do it without Shaq. Also, it might help Frank
Hamblen not become an assistant again next year.

The Timberwolves need to prove their 2003-2004 campaign was no
joke, and some of their contract year players could benefit from
the extra playing time and bigger stage of the playoffs.

The Nuggets are young, and aren’t expected to do much besides
make the playoffs. They have a determined team and a determined
coach, but aside from Anthony keeping pace with LeBron (who’s
probably going to make the playoffs this year), the team doesn’t
have a ton to prove right now.

Points: Lakers 3, Timberwolves 2, Nuggets 1

The Final Score: Nuggets 10, Timberwolves 7, Lakers 7

Karl’s bunch is streaking, all right --- straight into a
first-round date with the best of the West.

About the author:
Seth Berkman writes for
Hoops Avenue

Go Articles

Could the NBA regular season end a couple of weeks earlier?

2005-10-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

Could the NBA regular season end a couple of weeks earlier?

Yes.

The season now ends on April 20 and the playoffs begin April 23.

If the regular season ended on April 6 it would fit nicely with
hoopla that surrounds the NCAA’s men’s Final Four plus the NBA’s
playoffs could begin April 9.

This maneuver would reduce the regular season from the current
82 games to 74.

Would this provide for more meaningful late season games, and
more inspired play?

Absolutely.

Approximately one-third of the league is realistically out of
the playoff picture. They have lost a combined 500 games. Who
wants to watch New Orleans and Atlanta square off?

Another large group are heading into the playoffs and are trying
to stave off the threat of injuries. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan
has sprained his ankle twice in the last two weeks, and may not
play again this regular season. The second sprain may not have
even occurred if the season ended April 9. Obviously the loss of
a key player can severely jeopardize a team’s quest for a
championship. Ray Allen of Seattle is a similar example.

The most interesting games now belong to a few teams battling
for the 8th and final playoff spot.

In summary, with approximately a month left in the NBA regular
season, many of the games have hardly any value to the fans.

Would this severely reduce revenue for the league?

No. Of the thirty teams in the league only a select few
consistently fill the seats of their arenas. And by the
beginning of March many sports fans are preparing for baseball,
golf, and auto racing. The NBA teams would be better off keeping
the fan’s interest and selling tickets to those already empty
seats. In addition teams have two weeks of expenses off the
books.

Plus, with the NBA finals ending just past mid-May instead of
going into June, television ratings could be better equating
into a more lucrative TV contract.

About the author:
Seth Berkman writes for
Hoops Avenue

Go Articles

The Balance of Power in the Atlantic Division

2005-10-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

It’s funny how a term can so be honored in one place, yet so
degraded in another --- within the same sport.

In college basketball, the word “Atlantic” conjures up images of
ACC powerhouses such as Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, and the
University of Maryland, all perennial Final Four and Top 25
powerhouses. The eastern seaboard along Interstate 95 has come
to be associated with pure dominance.

The pros are a different story. Since the NBA realignment two
years ago, the Atlantic has become a laughingstock, occasionally
referred to as “The Wacklantic” or other invented names. There’s
good reason --- the current Atlantic Division leaders, the
Boston Celtics, are a very average 29-28, good for a .509
winning percentage. Among the other five division leaders, the
lowest winning percentage is .648, presently held by the surging
Pistons.

What’s worse is this --- whoever emerges as the Atlantic
“champion” draws the three seed in the East, yet might lose home
court advantage to the eventual six-seed (probably the Bulls,
Wizards, or Cavs). David Stern has gone on record as saying the
six-seed will be investigated for possibly going in the tank
down the stretch to draw a more favorable first-round match-up.

The Atlantic is a poor complement to torrid play in other
divisions this season, but there may be cause for hope. At the
trading deadline last Thursday, several division “powerhouses”
beefed up their weak lineups, causing us to reconsider the
entire balance of power within the Northeast. Hoops Avenue now
presents the new “power” rankings for the Atlantic Division:

1) Philadelphia 76ers: AI’s crew nabbed perennial All-Star, 20
and 10 man Chris Webber at the deadline, sending tremors
throughout the entire East. Webber does play on a bum knee, but
Iverson has never had a sidekick of this magnitude before.
Consider this: Iverson, who is the most prolific scorer in the
league but regularly suffers from being banged up since he’s the
only true option in Philly much of the time, reached the Finals
once --- in 2001, with Dikembe Mutombo as his running mate. Not
to dismiss Deke, but Webber is an excellent four-man who can
drain it from the elbow or ram it inside. The Sixers did fall in
Webber’s debut to the Kings (ironic), but the team hadn’t had a
chance to jell yet --- and when they do (Iverson is actually
awaiting practice), watch out. Philly plays the majority of its
remaining games at home, and C-Webb will get it on with
inexperienced Mike Sweetney (Knicks) and overhyped Raef LaFrentz
(Celtics) as division ball heats up. The Sixers should easily
capture the Atlantic behind the AI/C-Webb dynamic alongside a
blossoming Samuel Dalembert, and might even serve as a tough
draw for the eventual sixth team in the East.

2) Boston Celtics: The Celtics have played good ball this year,
and they just re-acquired a do-everything forward in “Employee
Number Eighty-Eight,” Antoine Walker. If you’re confused about
why Danny Ainge re-acquired ‘Toine after shipping him out two
years ago, don’t worry --- so are we. We just figure he’s trying
to win the Atlantic this year to bide himself some time and
build the Celtics towards prominence again. It’s not a bad plan
--- Boston has a solid young crew, including Al Jefferson,
Marcus Banks, Tony Allen, and Delonte West. The only problem is,
Ainge lost the “big deal at the deadline” award to Philly.
Webber means more than ‘Toine, and this young team isn’t
prepared for a stretch-run battle in the Atlantic.

3) New Jersey Nets: You would think, logically, that a team
anchored by Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson ---
all of whom have received MVP whispers in the past four years
--- would walk away with this division, right? Not quite. The
Nets are as deep as a piece of looseleaf paper, running former
Hawks retread Jacque Vaughn behind Kidd, with luminaries such as
Rodney Buford, Ron Mercer and Jabari Smith spelling at other
positions. To add to the litany of problems for Jer-Zee, their
middle is softer than your average Krispy Kreme selection,
currently “anchored” by rookie Nenad Krstic.

4) New York Knicks: It’s hard for me to admit how far the Knicks
have fallen, considering they were the team of my boyhood. Ewing
with those arms outstretched, imploring MSG to explode --- ah,
fond memories. Now, the Knicks have a variety of over-priced
talent (Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Allan Houston), some
decent emerging talent (Mike Sweetney), and virtually no backups
at the PG and C slot. For the past three years, the Knicks have
essentially run an offensive set of four guards and one power
forward, which does very little outside of private high school
basketball in the southeast. For sheer talent alone, you have to
like the Knicks to not bring up the rear in the Atlantic, but
then again, they do have Bruno Sundoy running the paint

5) Toronto Raptors: One problem the Raptors don’t have is the
paint, where superstar-in-waiting Chris Bosh plays alongside
inferior Arizona product Loren Woods (we’ll bet you weren’t
entirely sure he was in the league). Unfortunately for
north-of-the-border basketball fans, that’s the only problem the
Raptors don’t have. Otherwise, rookie coach Sam Mitchell has
lost control of the team while feuding with former street-ball
prodigy cum NBA point guard Rafer Alston, Jalen Rose wants out
more than a man in Nine West, and fading stars such as Donyell
Marshall and Lamond Murray are looking for some final paychecks
here (with more tax, mind you). The Raptors are currently fourth
in the division, but don’t have the chemistry or the talent to
finish anywhere except the cellar.

About the author:
Seth Berkman writes for
Hoops Avenue

Go Articles

4 Steps to Sure-Fire Basketball Free Throws

2005-10-14T03:37:00.000-07:00

NBA Finals, Game 7...Your team is down one point...One second
left... A foul and two free throws coming... Who do you want at
the charity stripe?

Of course, we’d like to have a Reggie Miller or a Larry Bird or
even better Michael Jordan at the line to sink those crucial
shots. Chances are, though, they’re not on your team. So now
what? It’s up to you!

So how do you build the skill and confidence needed to win the
big games at the charity stripe? 4 simple steps: Ritualize -
Visualize - Optimize - Capitalize.

Free throws are an important part of your game. How many times
have we seen games come down to the final seconds and either be
won or lost at the free throw line? All the time! So learn these
4 timeless secrets and join the ranks of John Stockton and
become a Great free throw shooter.

1. Ritualize

Ritualize means you create a specific repeating pattern of
behavior prior to performance, a regular pre-task routine, which
sharpens your focus, concentration and attention.

Reggie Miller would step up to the line holding the ball on his
hip with his left hand and place his feet about 12-14 inches
apart with his right foot slightly forward. He then would raise
his arm straight up towards the basket with his hand bent as if
he had just released the ball. Then he would take three
consecutive dribbles, sit back into a slight crouch and let if
fly. Every free throw was exactly the same.

Karl Malone could be seen mouthing something to himself (We have
no idea what he was saying) right before he shot the ball.
Whatever ritual you develop for yourself, know that it’s the
most effective device for delivering yourself into the mindset
you must be in to sink every free throw.

"Repetition brings familiarity, and familiarity is the opposite
of the unknown." - Steven Levenkron

2. Visualize

Visualize means mentally rehearsing or "seeing" in your mind
what you intend to do before you do it. When you visualize
perfect form and a flawless shot that draws nothing but the
bottom of the net, it becomes exponentially more likely to
happen.

You’ve heard the saying, "What you see is what you get", haven’t
you? Focus on the process and see perfection. You’ll find that
visualization is a powerful tool.

"I see a mental movie before I hit every shot." - Jack Nicklaus

3. Optimize

Optimize means allowing yourself to trust in yourself and your
capabilities, to have the self-confidence to pull the ripcord,
knowing the parachute will open. Simply put don’t hesitate!
Delay does damage. Nike said it best with their million dollar
slogan: "Just Do It!" This is when shooting free throws just
becomes automatic.

"You must seek to have control and then act with abandon!" -
Anonymous

4. Capitalize

Capitalize means celebrate your success as well as the success
of your teammates. Pat yourself on the back with each success at
the line. When you make your free throws savor the success,
nourish it, grow it, use it - capitalize on it. Allow it to
build your confidence in other aspects of your game - defense,
offense or whatever. Let this positive energy ooze out all over
you and your team.

"What I do best is share my enthusiasm." - Bill Gates

With these easy-to-follow principles you can become the elite
free throw shooter of your team. Actually, you can apply these
principles to every part of your game. Whatever you do, keep on
shooting!

Author: David Huizar & Matt Zavadil

About the author:
Matt & Dave run
Basketball Plays and Tips and enjoy
teaching basketball players and coaches more about the
basketball plays, drills, fundamentals and tips that result in
individual and team success. For our free report, "5 Keys to
Discovering the Successful Coach Inside You", plus two
additional player/coach reports, send a blank email to
mailto:basketballtip@aweber.com .

NBA Draft Notes

2005-10-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

If the 2004-05 season ended five days ago with the Spurs
regaining the crown, then the 2005-06 campaign unofficially
began last night with the 58th annual NBA Draft, held at The
Theatre at Madison Square Garden. HoopsAvenue.com was there,
with notes on what its like to experience the draft first hand.

7:00- the gates open outside MSG, (if you’ve never been, most
fans enter near Penn Station on 7th Avenue and its unlike
entering any other arena. While you can see the arena’s
structure from the outside, when you walk in its almost as if
you are entering a stadium inside of a building.) The Knick City
Dancers greet fans with sweatbands and towels- as a diehard Nets
fan, I promptly wipe the sweat from my brow all over the orange
and blue Knicks logo.

7:02- As the crowd begins to enter, the talk among the
predominately Knick contingency voices their overwhelming
affection for Channing Frye. Some Illinois fans are seen as well
as a large contingent of Syracuse enthusiasts- there is only so
much orange one person can take.

7:05- After walking through the lobby and towards the Theatre,
which is separate from MSG itself, the NBA shows that even in
the off-season the marketing and draining of millions of
corporate dollars doesn’t stop, as fans are given War of the
World T-shirts and posters and handheld radios compliments of
AMEX.

7:07- Arriving in my seat in the 300 section, I notice that the
overly priced ticket I bought is in prime location, dead center
and not too far back. I also learn after riding on a train in
from Jersey for the past few hours, that Utah has swapped picks
with Portland. The fans next to me start exclaiming that they
must be going after Deron Williams of Illinois...we’ll see. (We
also found out Jiri Welsch was traded to Milwaukee, but no one
seems to care). One thing you notice about the setup of the area
is that the "green room," which sometimes appears to be
backstage or in an off location is actually right down by the
front of the stage by all the fans. ESPN’s NBA shootaround crew
are stationed to the left of the stage, with Stuart Scott’s
interview zone behind them.

7:10- Uber-Knick fan Spike Lee makes his way through the crowd
to applause. He seems focused on thinking of new targets to yell
at with the retirement of Reggie Miller.

7:10-7:30- I notice that even after the season lets out,
everyone loves to rock a jersey. Some of the more notable
replicas seen; Bryant Reeves (Grizzlies), Darko Milicic
(Pistons), Patrick Ewing (Georgetown), Jameer Nelson (Magic) and
of course only in New York, a Mike Sweetney jersey.

7:30- David Stern walks out to a loud chorus of boos and some
cheers. One thing you can’t tell on television is how loud and
raucous a crowd is at a draft

1st Pick- Andrew Bogut is announced, some fans start a chant of
Sam Bowie. The two or three Bucks fans in attendance seem
pleased.

2nd Pick- Marvin Williams. Big ovation from the crowd, as the
Carolina fans in attendance; family, alumni and those on the
bandwagon go crazy.

3rd Pick- Deron Williams. The obvious choice to run the Jazz is
greeted warmly, but some fans yell that the second coming of
Stockton, he is not.

4th Pick- Chris Paul. Loud ovation for another ACC star, some of
the Carolina contingent begin to chant, "Overrated!" Dick Vitale
is shown on the screen, beginning his annual spiel of how this
kid who went to college will excel at the next level.

5th Pick- Raymond Felton. The crowd once again goes wild as that
makes two UNC players in the top 5. Almost 25 family and friends
of Felton are sitting behind me, ecstatic that their boy will be
staying in the Tar Heel state...and probably the fact that
they’ll get to meet Nelly now.

6th Pick- Martell Webster. The first surprise pick, a lot of
people didn’t expect Webster to go this high. I notice in
between picks that on the ESPN studio setup, nobody seems to
notice that Jay Bilas is there. Stephen A. Smith, Greg Anthony,
Mike Tirico, they all converse in between picks, but Bilas just
sits there with his hands folded.

7th Pick- Charlie Villanueva. Another first round shocker, the
UConn faithful applaud loudly. Right after the 6-11 forward
exits stage left, the hype begins for the Knicks selection.

8th Pick-Before Stern walks out, the crowd is loud the entire
five minutes leading up to the selection. A lot of "Gerald
Green" chants go around, followed by some "Channing Frye"
uprisings. The buzz continues as the Commish steps to the
podium, then all of a sudden, like a Roman emperor speaking to a
crowd, there is a complete silence with everyone standing on
their feet, then Frye’s name is called to a mostly warm reaction.

9th Pick- Ike Diogu is picked, there are a lot of shocked fans
in the crowd. Some of it is because they didn’t expect him to go
so high (I personally am upset because I wanted to see him in a
Net uniform), the rest is probably because supposed top 5 pick
Gerald Green is still on the board.

10th Pick- The Laker fans next to me begin a "Gerald Green"
chant of their own. One of them has been talking from the
beginning how he wished Green would be available...and now he
is. (If you’ve never been to a draft, I say that any real NBA
fan who lives in the area MUST go. It’s a few hundred people who
all have a deep passion and knowledge of basketball and who talk
nothing but hoops for four hours.) Andrew Bynum is selected and
there is a sense of confusion by the crowd, but the Laker fans
next to me heads drop in dismay as their buddies laugh at them.
I wonder where Kobe is at this moment?

11th Pick- One thing I notice, I don’t know if they showed a
clock on the screen at home, but the one above the draft board,
it always goes to 0:00 and then it takes another minute or so,
or whenever Stephen A. Smith stops talking, for them to go to
the next pick. Fran Vazquez is the pick and the confusing looks
continue through the crowd.

12th Pick- A heated argument breaks out next to me about who is
better, Julius Hodge or Rashad McCants. Everyone keeps it cool
though, which is what makes actually being at the draft great.
Each fan has their own guy they want to see make it as well as
their team loyalties, even the Michigan State alum by me who
shouts for Alan Anderson before every pick. Yaroslav Korolev is
taken. The first reaction for most fans is one of bewilderment,
but then you realize it’s the Clippers and it all seems to make
sense.

13th Pick- Stephen A. begins yelling throughout the theatre,
that how could two star UNC players not get picked before some
of the foreign prospects. What do you know, Charlotte takes Sean
May, building a Carolina connection for the Bobcats. I can only
start to think about a few years back when Chicago loaded up on
Duke players...that worked out well.

14th Pick- McCants is drafted next, making Stephen A. look like
Nostradamus. The Carolina delegation in the crowd has been quite
vocal these past 10 minutes.

15th Pick- The Nets fans by me all want Hakim Warrick, who I
wouldn’t mind but would rather have Joey Graham. In utter
disbelief, they take Antoine Wright. Knicks fans begin to smirk
at the Nets fans in the crowd who definitely wanted a forward.

16th Pick- Joey Graham is taken by the Raptors- some Nets fans
sigh. I begin to think though that the previous pick for Wright
wasn’t so bad, since they have needed outside shooting for the
past 4 years and this kid can supposedly light it up. Plus he
was a consensus top 10 pick and maybe luckily slipped into NJ’s
hands.

17th Pick- Danny Granger is announced to subtle applause.

18th Pick- Gerald Green goes to Boston, quite fitting that he
puts on that color uniform, don’t you think? His crew sitting
behind the green room cheer wildly, while a lot of the crowd
begins to exit. A "Boston Sucks" chant begins in the back as New
Yorkers make sure to show their ever-loving admiration for
Beantown sports.

19th Pick- In between picks, Roy Williams walks through the
crowd to the delight of the Tar Heel fans. I feel like starting
a Let’s go Duke chant. I then think that Hakim Warrick would be
a perfect fit for the Grizzlies to team up with or replace
Stromile Swift. Warrick is picked up by Memphis and the Syracuse
fans go wild. Still no one has said a word to Bilas off-camera.

20th Pick- Julius Hodge, a Harlem naitve receives a warm
ovation, perhaps one of the biggest of the night. He probably
seems the most happy of any draftee to be there, pumping his
fist in the air and smiling the rest of the night through.

21st Pick- Phoenix takes Nate Robinson who a lot of people seem
to have forgotten about. The crowd likes the pick and then likes
it even more when they learn he may be a Knick as part of the
Quentin Richardson-Kurt Thomas deal.

22nd Pick- Jarrett Jack. A guy next to me exclaims afterwards,
"Man, the ACC is runnin’ this @#$!" Indeed they are.

23rd Pick- Francisco Garcia. Nice applause but the New York
native is absent from the festivities.

24th Pick- Luther Head. Decent reaction from the crowd, but they
are beginning to disperse at a faster rate, with about 70% just
waiting around to see the Knicks at no.30.

25th Pick-Johan Petro. The Anti-France bashing begins and most
fans laugh at the pick. There is a slight buzz after the
announcement of the potential trade of the 22nd pick (Jack) to
Portland for the 27th and 35th picks.

26th Pick- There seems to be less on the trade front in this
draft as compared to year’s past. Greg Anthony gets about a
makeover in between commercial breaks, he loves the face makeup.
Jason Maxiell is the pick for the ‘04 champs, some of the crowd
overly support the pick, some loathe it. Hate it or love it,
this underdog is going to one of the top teams in the NBA.

27th Pick- Portland takes Linas Kleiza and almost in unison the
crowd says, "Who?" Fans search frantically in their Draft
handout booklets to find out who was just taken.

28th Pick- Ian Mahinmi. Most of the crowd may not know who he
is, but they love it when a player comes from the pay seats
through the fans and onto the stage.

29th Pick- Wayne Simien is chosen to a decent ovation, although
I’m sure Dickie V. will burst a vein yelling about how 28 teams
could pass this kid up.

30th Pick- The buildup to the pick, the Knick fans
overwhelmingly want Chris Taft. When David Lee’s name is called
though, they are PO’d and many leave disappointed, a seemingly
annual ritual at recent drafts.

2nd Round Notes: Russ Granik must be the most loved man in the
building as he gets a huge response from what is left from the
crowd. Before every pick they chant his name and you can tell he
eats it up. The fans like Salim Stoudamire at 31 and as typical
with Duke players, there is some love, mostly hate when Daniel
Ewing is taken at 32. The next two picks consist of Who’s?
(Brandon Bass) and Ooooh’s (CJ Miles). I notice that when Granik
comes to the podium, Bilas is the only one on the ESPN crew who
pays attention to the pick. There is a lot of love for Ronny
Turiaf who is sitting in the crowd. They loudly chant his name
before he is selected by the Lakers and his family gives hi-5’s
to all the fans around. I stick around ‘til the Nets at 43 and
don’t even bother looking up who Mile Ilic is. Exiting Hakim
Warrick walks by the lobby, shaking hands and signing autographs
as well as Fran Vazquez. I leave somewhat disenchanted by my
team’s selections, but glad to have come to the event. All I can
wait for now is summer leagues to get started and training camp
to roll around, only four months left until the new season
officially begins.

About the author:
Seth Berkman writes for
Hoops Avenue

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