NBA Mock Draft Picks 6-10

Here goes my next 5 selections for the mock draft.

Disclaimer: Many sources have said that the Cavaliers are probably going to pick Nerlens Noel Number 1 overall. With that being said, I'm still sticking with my pick and hoping they select Otto Porter.

To recap the Top 5 as predicted by Sportacular Sports
1. Otto Porter
2. Trey Burke
3. Nerlens Noel
4. Ben McLemore
5. Victor Oladipo



6. New Orleans Pelicans 

The newly named Pelicans have one piece set. That's their big Center from Kentucky, Anthony Davis, who they selected with the first overall pick last year. He didn't quite live up to the hype but produced a solid first year. In an attempt to build on their team, the Pelicans can get better in a lot of places. I actually like their backcourt in Grevis Vasquez and Austin Rivers. I think it might be smart to hold on to Eric Gordon because he can fill the stat sheet but it might not be a bad idea to move him for some role players. So, I think the Pelicans might be set...for now..with the guards and will try to solidify their front court. While this forward from UNLV may go at 3 to the Wizards, the Pelicans will gladly select ANTHONY BENNETT with the 6th overall selection. Bennett can possibly develop at the 3 position but also bang with the bigs down low when needed. He is a nice versatile option that will help build this young team.

7. Sacramento Kings

Wow, did the Kings have a season in flux last year. First off, they didn't know where they'd be playing next season. Next, they were just awful. And finally, they traded their top draft pick from last year's draft in Thomas Robinson. The Kings, for some reason, are terrible. They actually have some pieces that you would think could place them at least in the middle of the West. Demarcus Cousins, even with the character issues, is a stud center. Tyreke Evans is electric. And the bench players can fill it up from outside. The Kings, I believe are going to take another big man to compliment Cousins down low and take away some double teams. Their man will be ALEX LEN out of Maryland. Residing from Maryland, I watch Len play often and I personally would hate this pick if I were a Kings fan. Len plays soft down low and can't really dominate a game. He's being purely picked by potential and will enter the season recovering from a broken bone in his foot. Nevertheless, the Kings grab Len with the 7th selection.

8. Detroit Pistons

Like the Kings, the Pistons actually have a few nice pieces. After a decade of dominance, Detroit has been awful for the past few years. With Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, the Pistons will look to strengthen their guards. Which is why I think they'll take MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS out of Syracuse. MCW, as they nickname him, is my pick for the steal of the draft and possibly the best player in the entire draft class. Yeah I said it. Carter-Williams stands at an enormous 6-6 for a point guard and has tremendous vision. In a draft class lacking in star power, I think Carter-Williams could be the guy. It may take him a few years to develop a more consistent jump shot but I believe he has the ability to be great. The NBA is becoming more dependent on athleticism than basketball skills this day and age and that is exactly what MCW presents.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

The T-wolves are just never healthy. They have guys like Kevin Love (all-star) and Ricky Rubio but they never ever seem to be on the floor together. Kevin Love, when healthy, is actually one of the best big men in the league. He gets the team 20 and 10 every night and can even stretch the floor with a trey ball. Rubio is the same but different. He obviously is a point guard who is an excellent facilitator. But he has two problems. He can't stay healthy and he has no one to facilitate to. Therefore, Minnesota will look for a strong wing. So for the second straight pick, a long name will be selected. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE out of Georgia. He fits the team's need and can knock down the deep ball. Pope has great potential but will he fill out is the question.

10. Portland Trailblazers

As the draft progresses, we see that the better teams have the better pieces. The blazers have Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, big man LaMarcus Aldridge, and a bunch of other solid complementary pieces. I think Portland has two options at the number 10 spot. First, they could go for another big man and push Aldridge to the 4 or select a big wing like the Timberwolves a slot before. If Minnesota does select Caldwell-Pope then I believe the Trailblazers go big man at #10. So, in the final pick of today's mock draft, the Portland Trailblazers select CODY ZELLER out of Indiana. This may be a reach at 10 but my argument for why this is a reasonable pick is this. The scouts and critics say Zeller should stay an extra season at Indiana to develop his game. While I totally agree with this, Zeller is still going to be able to develop his game in the pros. So essentially he may be wasting a year in the NBA but that doesn't mean he won't be a great player when he does become fully developed. Only about a quarter of all NBA drafts have an impact on their team in their rookie season. So I think Zeller will develop into an energy guy who can aid the team.

NBA Mock Draft- Picks 1-5

The NBA Draft is a month away, June 27th, and now that the lottery process (very confusing) has been completed, I will be doing my first ever Mock Draft in any sport. So, here we go!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

For the 2nd time in 3 years, Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) sent his son to the draft lottery and his good-luck charm claimed the Number 1 overall pick. After securing their franchise player, Kyrie Irving, this draft seems much different than 2 years ago. This draft presents, in my eyes, only one immediate superstar. Ben McLemore out of Kansas I think will have the most immediate impact, yet for the Cavs he doesn't fit their needs. With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters in the backcourt, the Cavaliers really need a wing that can space the floor with shooting but then playing lock down defense on the other end, this is why I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick will select Georgetown's Otto Porter.

2. Orlando Magic 

The Magic actually owned the best chances at owning the number 1 pick but much like their season, they lost it to the Cavs. But fortunately for the Magic, I don't think Porter would have been their guy anyways. The Magic don't have much anywhere but they are mostly lacking a point guard. With Jameer Nelson way past his prime, the Magic are going to select the top Point Guard in the draft, Trey Burke from Michigan. This is a scary pick in my mind. I love Burke, as a Michigan fan, but his draft stock has sky-rocketed purely because of a tournament run. This may or may not be a fair judge on Burke but this is a high-risk high-reward pick for the Magic. For an analogy, imagine if Joe Flacco's pass hadn't sailed over Rahim Moore's head in the AFC Divisional round. Does Flacco really get the $20 Million he earned after claiming a World Championship? No one knows, just like no one knows where Burke would have been drafted if he doesn't hit a 30 footer to tie the game against Kansas in the tournament. Just saying.


3. Washington Wizards 

The Wizards have a similar backcourt to the Cavaliers, in that they possess John Wall and Bradley Beal, two very strong guards. Also like the Cavs, they lack that wing player that is an integral part to the team. From my studying, I feel that the Wiz are leaning towards Antony Bennett. He's a 4 man out of UNLV currently recovering from injury. This is a perfect fit for both players but I feel that at number 3, Kentucky big man, Nerlens Noel, might be too good to pass up. So my prediction for Washington will be, if they don't trade back a few spots to grab Bennett, they'll settle for Noel. And when I say settle, I'm saying they'll gladly select the player with the biggest upside in the draft.

4. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats were not the main laughing stock of the NBA this season which is an improvement from the year before but holding the #4 pick usually means they didn't have a great season. I'll keep this prediction short and sweet. The Bobcats have Kemba Walker and Kidd-Gilchrist, need a 2 man. Ben McLemore is a 2 man. Perfect fit, no brainer, biggest superstar in the draft, book it. The Bobcats franchise will be ecstatic if McLemore falls to them at #4.





5. Phoenix Suns 

With the final prediction of my first Mock Draft, the Phoenix Suns have a lot of options. They could really use a player at any position which is why I think they'll take the best player remaining on the board in Victor Oladipo out of Indiana. While Oladipo may be a 3 year project, the least he'll do in his rookie season is lock down your top guard and bring highlight plays. The Suns actually are in the worst position out of any of these top 5 teams amazingly but I think Oladipo can help the healing process.

Attention D.C. Sports Area- I'm Sorry

In spirits of my Washington Capitals falling in the most of embarrassing ways last night, I want to write an article to preach my condolences for the fans of our Nation's Capital.

October 13th, 2012

The Washington Nationals had shut down their ace Stephen Strasburg for the season. Not to mention he has not returned to form but yet the Nats still held the top pitching staff-Starters through Bullpen- in the MLB. With Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the 9th in a winner-take-all Game 5, Nats' manager Davey Johnson called on Drew Storen (Recorded 43 saves during the season) to send the Nats to the NLCS. After winning a triple digit 100 games and holding the Number 1 seed in the National League, the Nationals allowed 4 runs in the top of the 9th and fell to the defending champs, the Saint Louis Cardinals.

January 6th, 2013

After trading their future for what hoped to be their future, the Washington Redskins and Rookie of the Year, Robert Griffin III, jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. As Washington saw their lead escape them, things got even worse for the Washington D.C. diehards. MarShawn Lynch scampered in for a 27 yard touchdown but worse was to come. On the Redskins ensuing possession, that Redskins' future buckled, literally, in front of them. Griffin, on some terrible playing surface, tore his ACL and is still questionable for next year. It comes without saying that the Redskins fell and the D.C. fan's nightmare continued. (Not to mention their cross-town rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, captured the Super Bowl title.)

March 22nd, 2013

Otto Porter, Big East Player of the Year, and his Georgetown Hoyas held the number 2 seed in the ever so famous March Madness tournament. Heading into their matchup with Florida Gulf Coast a David (15 seed) had taken down a Goliath (2) a mere 6 times total. But unfortunately for the most supported University in the greater D.C. area, the Hoyas became the 7th. While the FGCU Eagles became a lovable team and great underdog, the Hoyas have fallen to a double digit seed in the first round of the tournament 5 times out of the last 6 years. A truly harsh run for the District of Columbia.

May 13th, 2013

The run ends here, for now. To cap off the worst 9 months thinkable for a major sports town, last night my Washington Capitals fell 5 to NOTHING in a Game 7 game against the New York Rangers. Let's break down the series. The Capitals led 2-0 meaning that they would have to lose 4 out of their next 5 to not advance to the Conference Semis. Next we thought we had seen the revival of Alexander Ovechkin with his league leading 31 goals in a lockout-shortened season. Rather, we saw the Ovechkin from the recent past who posted his lone goal in Game 1 of the series. Finally, the Caps didn't even manage to put a puck in the net in the final 2 games of the Best of 7. The Capitals in fact tried to break the hearts of D.C. fans everywhere.

Now I understand that the city of Cleveland hasn't had a Championship in too many years to count but I think the D.C. fans have endured an absurd amount of disappointment in these short 9 months. Not to mention that they have an awful Wizard's team. Regardless of that, the D.C. fan's have experienced slow and painful heartbreak as well as a rip of the heart. So all I want to say is Sorry. Sorry to the fans that represent our Nation's Capital and next time you see a Nationals, Redskins, Hoyas, or Capitals fan, tell them you're there for them.

LeBron James- Are We Witnessing Greatness?

LeBron James-Are We Witnessing Greatness? 

If you haven't heard, LeBron James claimed his 4th MVP in the last 5 years officially Sunday afternoon. James averaged 27 ppg, 8 rebounds a game, and topped that off with 7 assists per contest. LeBron led Miami to the number 1 overall seed in the East, was obviously the key component of their 27 game win streak, and guided the Heat to a 1st round sweep over the Milwaukee Bucks. That's just a short statistical recap of James' unbelievable MVP season which is far from over.

James received 122 of the 123 1st place votes. Not really sure who had anyone else in the top spot...
Anyways, with James winning his 4th Most Valuable Player trophy in the past half-decade, the question must be asked is he the greatest or will he be the greatest?

Me personally, have never cared for LeBron after his shenanigans in leaving Cleveland but as a sports fan I would be doing a disservice to not at least respect him. LeBron James does not belong in the sport of Basketball. He is a physical specimen that the game has never seen before and quite possibly might never see again. He can guard your Point Guard one possession, than battle down low with your 7 footer the next. He can take the inbounds and run your offense one possession, than take you down into the post the next. He's a 6 foot 8, 250 pound machine which is why as sports fans we must appreciate what we have.

James in Cleveland had no supporting cast which is why he had to score 40 points a night for them to compete. Now that he has the talent around him like Jordan had we can see that he can truly do it all. He's the most powerful dunker in the league but can also hit the deep 3. The reason I'm writing this post tonight is to understand what we truly have in LeBron James. In your lifetime, you will never see another player like this which is why I think it's important to appreciate his greatness.

Now the most ridiculous part about LeBron James. How high is his ceiling? As I predict, the Heat will cruise, yes cruise, to their 2nd straight title with Bron Bron casually leading the way. But the crazy thing is, will he get better. Like most players in their prime, they gradually get better and it's a scary thought to think that Mr. James could be a more dominating force than he already is.

With all this being said, and we much more could be, I think their are still many but very possible goals for LeBron to reach before he is declared the Greatest of All Time.

Win a Title without another Star player (Dwyane Wade)- I understand that MJ won it with Pippen and Shaq with Kobe, but because of the way he left, the critics will never let that go until he does it himself.

Compete in the Dunk Contest- One of Jordan's most iconic moments is his Free Throw line dunk in the Dunk Contest. All LeBron has to do is show up and he'll win.

Hit the Big Shot in the Big Game- This final task would seal the deal for me. Michael Jordan's most famous moment is sinking a game winner in Game 6 of his last Finals with the Bulls. LeBron's whole career has been down played because he has been missing the "clutch factor". While James seems to be finding his confidence late in games, he still needs that Iconic Moment to be the best to ever play the game.

NFL Draft

With the NFL Draft set to start Tomorrow night, rather than come up with an inaccurate Mock Draft or analyze the over talked about Quarterback debate, Sportacular Sports will look at the most intriguing NFL Draft storylines.

Tyrann Mathieu-Cornerback-LSU

Mathieu, the 2011 Heisman runner-up, was required to take a year off from football because of his Marijuana arrest. Although Mathieu has had a drug problem, no one is going to ignore his play making skills matched with his Heisman appearance. What people may not know, is that Mathieu is actually an undersized corner, standing at 5 foot 11 inches, and doesn't have blazing speed. But how are we going to ignore his play making abilities. Mathieu caused numerous turnovers, many for touchdowns, in the 2011 season and in an entertainment based league, Mathieu's punt return abilities, specifically his change of speed and vision, add to his draft stock. The major red flag I give to Mathieu is obviously the drug problem but more specifically my impression of him in an NFL Network Draft interview. The hours Mathieu has been coached seemed to have gone to waste. His never put the drug rumors away, he kept making excuses for himself, and admitted to chewing tobacco. If I was a team like the 49ers who have 13 draft picks and a very strong locker room, I would take a shot, otherwise no deal.

Manti Te'o-Linebacker- Notre Dame
Manti Te'o's draft stock was high and rising entering the National Championship game. As you all know, it took a tailspin from there. After an egregious appearance, the girlfriend scandal came about and nothing has been great for Te'o since. Add in an awful combine and you somehow still have a surprisingly highly rated prospect. Te'o is still projected to go in the first round and his endeavors may have improved the team in which he'll be playing for. Te'o should be an immediate starter and now may go to a team like the Ravens or Patriots late in the first round where he'd be playing on a championship team right out of College. While the money might not be there, the chance to play for titles will. Te'o is a guy I would want my team to take a chance at.

Star Lotulelei-Defensive Tackle-Utah

Lotulelei at one point in the draft process was projected to be the Number 1 overall pick in this very draft. This happened in last year's draft where Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers at one point was projected to go first overall but slipped into the second round. Lotulelei fell for a different reason though. Doctor's discovered a potential heart problem. Later though, the doctors confirmed that the heart condition was perfectly fine for playing. With that being said, I don't think Lotulelei should drop past his projected 14th selection to the Carolina Panthers. I think the NY Jets should take him though. They can go out and get their favorite player at Number 9 and then potentially steal the draft at 13. Lotulelei has drawn comparisons to Haloti Ngata and Ndamukong Suh and his name and playing style will both fit their production at the next level. Decent sized risk but amazing sized reward.

NBA Playoff Predictions- Sportacular Sports

I know all you NBA fans won't want to hear me say this, but I'm a College Basketball fan at heart. With that being said though, as I scanned the NBA Playoff matchups, I got a little giddy. In most first round matchups, the 4-5 and 3-6 games are of most interest but this season the 2-7 games are actually pretty intriguing.

Heat vs. Bucks
The Miami Heat have been by far the most dominant team all year. They have the best player in the world right now in LeBron James and his sidekick Dwyane Wade ain't that bad either. Throw in the knock down shooters off the bench and the playoff experience of the Heat veterans and you have a clear favorite. While I don't think the Bucks have any chance of taking down Miami, this series could be entertaining based off the fact that the Bucks can shoot the ball. They have Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, JJ Redick, and Ersan Illyasova to stretch the floor. Add Larry Sanders to protect the rim and I think this series goes farther than expected. Miami in 6.

Thunder vs. Lakers
If Kobe Bryant were playing in this series, I think it goes 7. Without their leader and top scorer the Lakers, you would think, should pose no threat. But think about this team without Kobe. They still possess the top 1-2 punch in the league between Howard and Gasol. L.A. has a 2 time MVP point guard in Steve Nash and the surprising play of Earl Clark to help them out. The Lakers aren't terrible without Bryant they're just not good enough to beat OKC. Thunder in 5.

Knicks vs. Celtics
Wow. A 2-7 matchup between two historical power houses. While NYK has only won one playoff game in the past 11 years, they are still always at the center of the basketball universe. Carmelo Anthony is blazing hot right now and so are the Knicks. After a promising start to the season, the Knicks slid a little but are now right back at the top. For the Celtics, they'll obviously be without their top Point Guard Rajon Rondo, but am I really going to doubt Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Shocker. Upset Alert. Boston in 6. (Melo please prove me wrong)

Spurs vs.Warriors
No one under 85 years old on this earth enjoys watching the San Antonio Spurs play. They aren't exciting, they play good defense, and they just win games. But if you are looking for some exciting basketball in a Spurs game, check out this kid Stephen Curry. He became big after he took Davidson to a magical Elite 8 run in his college days and hasn't stopped since. Curry can explode for 50 at any moment. I believe he's the best pure shooter in the game right now and he isn't afraid to fire. Golden State has plenty of decent players, David Lee, Klay Thompson, and Harrison Barnes. I think the Warriors win a few games, call it a season, and continue to build on their young team. Spurs in 5.

Pacers vs. Bulls
Unfortunately for basketball fans, it appears that Derrick Rose will NOT be returning this season. While I think it is the RIGHT decision, it's not going to make Bulls fans happy. With Rose, the Bulls can compete for an NBA title. Without him they'll fall in 7 to the Pacers. The Bulls will be happy to match Indiana's physical play, which has been deemed the way to beat the Heat. The Pacers are the favorite right now to take down the Heat if any team can do so but a grueling 7 game series with the Bulls won't help. Once again, Pacers in 7.

Nuggets vs. Rockets
This without a doubt will be your most exciting playoff series. If you like points, like most people do, your going to get a ton in this series. Denver and Houston both prefer to play offense and put up big numbers rather than lock each other down. Just check their last game on April 6. 132-114? Even for NBA standards that's a lot of offense. James Harden could be the deciding factor in the series but I think the Nuggets have too much depth. We'll have to watch and see how the loss of Gallinari hurts Denver in this series. For now, Nuggets in 5.

Nets vs. Hawks
Finally, we've reached the 4-5 matchups and I'm sad to say I'm not as intrigued as the games above. Don't get me wrong both these series should go no shorter than 6 or 7 games but I actually don't think they will. The Nets have a younger looking Deron Williams right now paired up with ex-Hawk Joe Johnson. While I don't think the Nets can compete for the title, they're making a step in the right direction. The Hawks have a Josh Smith who is a great player but would rather be playing somewhere else. I say Brooklyn in a sweep. 4 to zippo.

Clippers vs. Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have held their own since trading their Superstar Rudy Gay before the deadline. Although they have held their own, I don't see them holding up in the playoffs. In a rematch of last year's first round matchup (Clippers in 7), I see Chris Paul calmly leading his team to the next round. If the Clippers do move on, I'm very excited to see the high flying LAC squad against the light it up Thunder team. Clippers in 5.

Thank you guys for reading (if you made it this far) comment below your predictions.

#PrayForBoston

NCAA Championship-Michigan Wolverines vs. Louisville Cardinals

The National Title game has been set! With that being said, Sportacular Sports will analyze and predict Monday Night's game.

Background:
CBS
9:23 PM ET
#4 Michigan Wolverines vs. #1 Louisville Cardinals

Final Four Recap:
In case you missed the two National Semi-finals, here is a quick recap.

Louisville-72
Wichita State-68

At one point in this game, the Shockers actually held a 12 point game. Unlike the Ohio State, Elite 8 game, this WSU lead slipped away. It was not the constant Louisville pressure that spurred a 15-0 crazy run (this did not happen), it was a more gradual comeback by the Cardinals. One you would expect from the Number 1 overall seed. The Shockers played a great game but the Louisville bench, led by Luke Hancock's 20 points, were the main reason the Cards play Monday night. The pivotal play of the game came after a missed Hancock free throw in which the ball was corralled by Wichita State. Unfortunately for WSU fans, Hancock clasped onto the ball and forced a jump ball. The rest is as they say history because Louisville owned the possession arrow and then the National Championship berth.

Michigan-61
Syracuse-56

The matchup between Michael Carter-Williams and Trey Burke could have been the greatest matchup of the Tourney, instead it was the role players who put on the show. Freshmen Spike Albrecht and Caris LeVert both hit important threes and the other freshmen big man Mitch McGary tallied his 3rd double double of the Tournament. With all those Freshman superstars, the MVP should truly go to Jordan Morgan. As McGary's play has improved, Morgan's minutes have diminished to the point where he didn't record a minute in their opening round game. After being a starter for most of the past two seasons, it is fitting Morgan owns MVP honors of the Semi-Final game. While it might not seem that he played a large part in the box score (3 points) it was his two charges taken that really won the game for the Wolverines. Michigan couldn't hit a Free Throw down the stretch connecting on only 3 of their Final 11 attempts but it was Morgan's charges that got them those extra possessions to save the game. He fittingly ended the game with a Monster slam to put Michigan in the Finals.

Now for the National Championship prediction!

To think that this is the National Championship matchup is a Hard Core fan's dream. The casual fan understands the Guard play matchup between Burke/Hardaway Jr. and Smith/Siva and that's a great storyline but for someone like me, sports lunatic, we see the real storyline. 

Michigan ranks #1 in Offensive efficiency while Louisville ranks #1 in Defensive efficiency. 
For a National title to have the top ranked offenses and defenses is hardly a reality. Fortunately for us that's what we have. Throw in that Louisville loves to force turnovers (2nd to VCU) and Michigan doesn't cough the ball up (2nd to none) and we have two amazing story lines. 

These two teams matchup as evenly as can be. For example, Russ Smith and Trey Burke. Both sporadic shot takers at time, can instantaneously take over and win their school a National Title. Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Siva. Both have amazing leadership and will will their to victory. Chane Behanan and Glenn Robinson Jr. Both slash the lane but have the ability to stretch the floor. 

Louisville has the edge in the experience department. Michigan has 5 Freshamn in their rotation, a Sophomore, a Junior, and a Senior (see above-Jordan Morgan). Louisville went to the Final Four last year and have plenty of Senior leadership. While people say experience doesn't really matter, check Louisville vs. Michigan's free throw shooting down the stretch. 

With the equality of both these teams, I am waffling a ton on my pick. I picked the Cardinals pre-season (I'm impressed with myself) but my favorite College Basketball team happens to be Michigan. Seeing both teams in action this weekend, I can't point out one thing that will separate one from the other.

With ALL this being said, I'm going with the...Wolverines...no Cardinals... tie?...OK

Michigan Wolverines!!!

I think the difference in the game is Mitch McGary down low and Trey Burke being the best player in the Nation. 


Wolverines-67
Cardinals-66