Fantasy Basketball Top Fives
Aaand we’re back!

Number 1 pick for 2011-2012 (photo courtesy of mister35.wordpress.com)

Welcome back to another season of Fantasy Basketball! In what seemed like a season lost to the NBA lockout, the players and owners were finally able to cut a deal that both sides agreed to. The NBA will start off with each team playing 2 preseason games before heading into a 66 game season. With the first regular season game tipping off on December 25^th, 2011, it’s time to prepare for your very own fantasy draft! I have compiled a list of the top 5 players at each position in terms of fantasy play, with more emphasis being placed on the stats that are expected at each respective position. We all have our own opinions on which players are better than the next, but when it comes down to fantasy basketball, the numbers don’t lie.

Point Guards

1. Chris Paul
2. Derrick Rose
3. Deron Williams
4. Stephen Curry
5. Russell Westbrook

Just missed the cut: Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton.

When I think point guard, the first few categories I am looking at are assists, threes, and steals, everything else is a bonus. Chris Paul has been a staple since his inception into the league, but I feel he’s no longer a top 2 fantasy player due to his drop in scoring. (He needs to get back to his 20-10 days!) Derrick Rose, on the other hand, surprised everyone with his 3 point shot last year. He literally went from averaging 0.2 threes per game to a respectable 1.6 per game. A lot of people wondered why Stephen Curry was ranked so high last year, well let me tell you. Not many point guards, let alone NBA players, are a legit threat to average 2 threes, 2 steals and 6 assists on a nightly basis. Combine that with his superb 48% FG% and 93.4% FT% and you have a fantasy gem.

Ranking the point guards was probably the hardest of the group. How could I make a top 5 list and exclude both of the players (Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash) who lead the NBA in assists? Nash was a little easier to justify as assists are his only true asset while his scoring took a considerable drop (check his post All-star numbers). Rondo was consistently one of the league leaders in assist and steals. However, I figured Russell Westbrook was essentially the same person and that Westbrook scoring 11 more points than Rondo (not to mention more and higher FT%) was slightly better than Rondo averaging 3 more assists than Westbrook.

Shooting Guards

1. Dwyane Wade
2. Monta Ellis
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Eric Gordon
5. Manu Ginobili

Just missed the cut: Andre Iguodala, Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans, Joe Johnson.

When you think of the league’s premier shooting guards, the first stat that should pop into your head is the scoring. Here, along with the small forwards, is where most of your points are likely accumulated. While your main source of assists will come from your point guards, the shooting guards will likely be the second option. Three point shots are also very welcome since your next line of players will be the front court, where threes become less apparent. Both guard positions are usually the players with the ball in their hands when the clock is winding down, if possible, try to find someone with a high free throw percentage as they will likely be fouled to stop the clock.

I may catch some heat for ranking Monta Ellis over Kobe Bryant, but here me out. While most of their stats look similar, the big number to look at is the minutes played. Whereas Kobe plays about 33 minutes per game, Monta clocks in about 40 minutes per game. In a 66 jam-packed game schedule, there is already talk of teams resting their superstars and older players on the tail end of back-to-backs and (for this season) back-to-back-to-backs. You know what that means, less time on the court leads to less production shown on the box score. Another line to gauge is steals. While Mr. Bryant (5.1) has a slight edge on rebounds per game over Monta (3.5), Monta’s 2.1 steals per game compared to Kobe’s 1.2 holds more weight. What I mean is that rebounds are the easiest stat to cover; anyone on the court has a chance at grabbing a board. Amassing steals is a harder category to fill and if you have someone who averages over 2 steals a game, consider yourself lucky as only 3 people were able to accomplish that feat over the whole last season (Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, and Monta Ellis).

Small Forwards

1. Kevin Durant
2. Lebron James
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Rudy Gay
5. Paul Pierce

Just missed the cut: Danny Granger, Gerald Wallace, Dorrell Wright, Luol Deng.

As I just mentioned above, aside from the shooting guards, the small forwards are also scoring machines that will greatly help your team’s point column. Since the small forwards operate in the front court, you’ll begin to see higher rebound numbers as opposed with the shooting guards. If you’re lucky, you might be able to snatch a small forward who can help contribute in the three-point shot or block section.

To be honest, both Kevin Durant and Lebron James could be drafted first depending who you ask or what you’re looking for in a team. For me, I’ll label Durant as 1A and Lebron as 1B. I’ve given the slight edge to Durant as his contributions to the three-pointer (1.9 per game) and free-throw percentage (88%) are considerably superior to Lebron’s 1.2 and 75.9% respectively. Both categories tend to be overlooked on draft day but could potentially be the key determinants in a tight finals match. Lebron, who was part of the rare 1 three-pointer, 1 steal, and 1 block family (let’s call it TSB – three, steal, block for short), saw his blocks drop to 0.6 last season. While it is only a paltry 0.4 percent, that leaves only 2 players in all the NBA who are able to accomplish that feat – Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay. (Side note: Rudy Gay was limited to only 54 games last season due to a season-ending shoulder injury.)

Power Forwards

1. Kevin Love
2. Pau Gasol
3. Amare Stoudemire
4. Dirk Nowitzki
5. Lamarcus Aldridge

Just missed the cut: Josh Smith, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph, Tim Duncan.

As we move deeper into the front court, rebounds will more significant as this is what you expect of your bigs (pass the message to Il Mago). Look no further than Mr. Kevin Love! Actually, I considered placing Pau at number 1, but Kevin can practically carry your team in rebounds himself. Where Kevin Love lacks in blocking shots he makes up in the three point category. As well, not only is his free throw percentage a tad bit better than Gasol, but he averages more free throw attempts per game. Since the fantasy basketball calculators tally up total free throws taken by your whole team, having more volume on good percentage could give you that extra push. A bonus that you’ll get from these top power forwards comes in the form of assists. Aside from Aldridge (who averaged 2.1 assists per game), the rest of the top 5 averaged at least 2.5 assists per game last season. You may want to keep these players on your watch list if you are not able to grab one of the top point guards.

You’ll also start seeing a lot more blocks from your power forwards and centers as compared to the back court. While Dirk doesn’t average a block per game and averages only 7 rebounds per game, he is still considered a ROTO beast because of his field goal and free throw percentages. Again, because he takes such a high volume of shots and hits at such a high success rate, your team’s percentages should be in good shape with Dirk on your team. While I gave Tim Duncan a mention, it’s hard to gauge his fantasy value because, like Kobe, it is highly likely that he will be limited minutes or even miss games because of the shortened yet crowded schedule.

Centers

1. Dwight Howard
2. Al Jefferson
3. Al Horford
4. Nene Hilario
5. Serge Ibaka

Just missed the cut: Andrew Bogut, Joakim Noah, Javale McGee, Marc Gasol.

Finally, we have the Centers. Like the power forwards, your centers are your main foundation for rebounds and blocks. While field goal percentage is often higher due to the lack of a three-point shot and most points coming from dunks, most centers generally do seem to suck at their free throws. If you are able to corral a center who can hit at least 75% of their free throws (à la Al Horford, Al Jefferson, or Serge Ibaka), hold on tight as they tend to get drafted in the first few rounds. I would not recommend trading away any of these centers unless the deal heavily favours you.

I originally had Serge ahead of Nene, but the fact that J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler, and Kenyon Martin are now balling in China, Nene could have a breakout season in Denver. Now that he is officially staying with the Nuggets, as the main big man of the team, Nene will see a nice bump in points, rebounds, steals and blocks.

Breakout season? (photo courtesy of nba-pictures.tk)

Those are my top 5 picks at each position along with some honourable mentions. Don’t be discouraged if you are not able to draft a top 5 player, the fantasy game is about keeping on your toes and finding out who’s on a hot streak and who’s simply hit a wall. Part of the fun comes in making trades. If you are able to trade for someone in the top 5 (or even for an honourable mention), give yourself a pat on the back but don’t stop there! Fantasy basketball is like fine-tuning your car, you will be continuously tweaking your rosters until you can yield the best performance in your league.

Before I sign off, let me carry on tradition by hitting you up with some sleepers in the 2011-2012 draft.

DeMar DeRozan: the first of the batch is Raptors’ very own, DeMar DeRozan. Last season, we saw the Raptor’s starting shooting guard improve in virtually every facet of the game. Points more than doubled going from 8.6 points per game in the ’09-’10 season to 17.2 points per game in the ’10-’11 season. He’s been quoted for having worked on his 3-point shot and free throws in the offseason. With his work ethic, we can expect DeMar to finally crack 20 points per game and hopefully make a dent with some much needed range. (Side Note: Actually, DeRozan might have made quite the impact last season as he is currently being drafted on average as the 81st pick in Yahoo! leagues and 73rd in ESPN leagues, roughly the 7th or 8th round depending on your league size. I guess Toronto’s budding star has finally caught the rest of the league’s attention.)

Jared Dudley: With Vince Carter out of town, Jared is already penciled in to start. Having started 15 games last season, his per game averages included 16.3 points, 1.7 three, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.4 blocks. If he can maintain that type of production he could be a steal. However, much like DeRozan, it appears as the fantasy world is already on top of that. In Yahoo! leagues, Dudley is being drafted on average around the 84th pick. Whereas ESPN leagues have him going around the 121st pick. It seems like the Yahoo! crowd has a lot more faith in Jared Dudley.

Nicolas Batum: If his recent international performance is any indication, Nicolas Batum could be primed for a breakout season. As of late November, playing for Nancy Basket, Batum was ranked top 5 in the Euroleague in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Before he returned to the States, he left with per game averages of 16.6 points, 1.2 threes, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks all while shooting 46.1% from the field and 82.9% at the charity stripe. Not too shabby. The assists are the biggest surprise since Nicolas only averaged 1.5 per game last season. With Brandon Roy declaring retirement, look for Batum to solidify his presence on the Trailblazers.

Ricky Rubio: Now here’s a name that might ring some bells. Drafted 5th overall in 2009, basketball’s point guard prodigy has finally decided to cross the pond to test out the NBA waters. You may have to temper your expectations as this is his rookie season and he may need some time adjusting to the fast pace of the NBA. Nevertheless, once he settles in, Rubio should be a good source of assists and steals (especially for his value) considering where he is being drafted. In Yahoo! leagues, Rubio is being drafted on average around the 134th pick mark. In ESPN leagues, he is being drafted a little earlier around the 102nd spot. In a standard 12 team league, if you’re nearing your final few picks and in desperate need of a point guard, look no further than Ricky Rubio.

That’s it for now. I was about to mention the whole Denver Nuggets squad for sleeper consideration. But upon writing this out, news broke out that Denver had just acquired Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer from the Dallas Mavericks for a 2nd round pick. Key word a. I wonder how those players feel that both were traded for 1 second round pick. Regardless, I still have faith in that kid Kenneth Faried though. He lead the college nation in rebounds at 14.5 per game, they didn’t call him the next Dennis Rodman for nothing.

And with that, best of luck on your Fantasy Basketball 2011-2012 draft! Whether you are drafting first or drafting last, the great thing about this game is that everyone has a chance to win. No matter how far behind, work the trading block to see who’s obtainable and who’s untouchable. Every player will have their  ups and downs. When a player is having a cold streak, buy low! If a player is over performing, sell high! Here at Red of Tooth and Claw we will keep you updated with the current buy lows and sell highs throughout the course of the season to help you win. As always, I’ll be more than glad to answer any questions regarding your draft, team, or trades in the comment section. Good luck and have fun!

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By Nicolas Chow, Contributing Writer.

Shocked. That’s how I felt once I heard the Toronto Raptors’ only draft pick of 2011 being called by David Stern.

It was only a few weeks prior to the draft when Bryan Colangelo proclaimed that if Brandon Knight fell to the Raptors, he would not have to drop any further. As Utah drafted Enes Kanter with the third overall pick, Torontonians were already thinking of what clever nicknames they could bestow the next Raptors point guard. Cleveland proceeded to draft Tristan Thompson, making him the highest drafted Canadian in modern history! This was a surprising move as many mocks had pegged the Cavaliers to pick-up Jonas Valanciunas. As a commercial break ensued, I wondered whether the Raptors would go by their word and select Brandon Knight, or would they make a stretch pick and opt for Bismack Biyombo. On the day of the draft, word had spread like wildfire that Bryan Colangelo was strongly considering drafting the Congolese Center EVEN IF Brandon Knight was still on the board. The commercials ended and David Stern was back on the podium ready to announce the next pick:

“With the 5th pick in the 2011 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jonas Valanciunas.”

Jonas Valanciunas (photo courtesy of grungygentleman.com)

What?

I was shocked. Not only did we skip on Brandon Knight, but we also drafted a player who would not join the team until the 2012-2013 season. Although Jonas Valanciunas was projected to be drafted fourth in a majority of mocks, Cleveland decided to select a player who could contribute to the team right away. Bryan Colangelo, who is no stranger to choosing the best player available, felt the Cavaliers made a big mistake by passing up on Jonas. He then pulled an Ed Davis by drafting the best player available who’s stock dropped due to contract buy-out issues (in Ed Davis’ case it was due to injury). During the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft, Toronto media had provided coverage on Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Jan Vesely, and Bismack Biyombo. Not much was said in regards to Valanciunas as many believed he would not be available by the fifth pick. So who IS Jonas Valanciunas? What can he do? What can’t he do? We will cover the pros and cons of the pick and verify whether Jonas Valanciunas was the right choice for the Toronto Raptors.

Cons

1) I figure it would be more more reassuring to discuss the cons before the pros. The first thing I noticed from footage found online was that Valanciunas appeared noticeably stiff in his movements. His game simply did not look smooth or comfortable in his own body. However, I guess this could also be attributed to his rugged style of play and call him a non-finesse player then leave it at that. Once he is more accustomed to the ebb and flow of the league he should develop a better feel for the game.
2) The next drawback is his size. If Jonas wants to play the 5 in the NBA, he will most definitely need to bulk up. Valanciunas’ length is what allows him to rebound over opponents, but he will likely be pushed around and routinely boxed-out unless he can put on some weight. He’s got over a year to accomplish this goal and adding 15-20 pounds to his 240 pound frame is certainly attainable.
3) So far, he is unable to create his own offense. Most of his points begin with lead passes, put-backs from offensive rebounds, and hitting his free throws. If he can develop a couple of post moves before entering the league, he could be quite a formidable player straight from the get go.
4) Struggles to pass out of double teams. Without offensive variety near the basket, Valanciunas tends to panic when the defense closes in on him. While he has no problem deferring a play for another teammate, completing the pass has not always been successful. Jonas will have to learn how to relax and let the game come to him. Again, with more in-game experience, he should grow out of this. He’s already unselfish enough, he now just has to learn to stay calm and find the open man.
5) And finally, the biggest con is his current contract buy-out situation. Although it was reported that Valanciunas’ buy-out was officially agreed upon, Jonas still won’t be able to sign with the Raptors until the 2012-2013 season. Even though I have listed this as a con, it could very well be a blessing in disguise. The question is no longer if there will be a lockout or not, but how long. Whether the season is cut in half or the whole season is gone, it will be much easier for Raptor fans to endure the 2011-2012 season without any significant changes to the team. Frankly, it may not be that bad. While the NBA may be put on hold, Jonas Valanciunas will still be constantly improving his game on the other side. And if the whole season is subjected to the lockout, it makes Bryan Colangelo’s risk on Valanciunas all that much more worth it.

Pros

1) Perhaps one of the more important benefits to having Valanciunas is that he helps fill an utterly enormous void at our Center position. Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis are all better-suited to play Power Forward. The only real center the Raptors have is the raw as sushi Solomon Alabi, who appears about as ready for the NBA as me. Without a true 5 holding down the fort, the Raptors have been forced to play Bargnani at the Center. Needless to say this has been failure. Valanciunas will give the Raptors an inside presence that has been missing since… Antonio Davis (mainly during his prime in 2001), and he was only 6’9″.
2) From what I’ve seen, Jonas has the pick and roll down to a T. The greatest part is that he is highly efficient on the finish and is able to convert over 70%(!) on FG% alone in the Euroleague. He’s starting to develop a hook shot that could very well be his go-to move in the NBA. If he can perfect this shot, it will be a difficult task for anyone to defend.
3) Along with his incredible field goal percentages, a more astonishing stat is his 88% free throw percentage. When you think of Centers in the NBA (Shaq, Howard, Bogut, etc), you rarely associate such players with high free throw percentages. Jonas once stated that he takes 200 free throws after every practise, this is dedication to the game that many centers could learn from.
4) Another attribute that many scouts admired was his great length and high motor. Never one to give up when the ball is within reach, Jonas also understands the importance of boxing out whereas many young players tend to forget about getting into position for the rebound. Boasting a standing 6’11″ frame with a gargantuan 7’6″ wingspan, Valanciunas is able to corral rebounds beyond other players’ reach and block shots on defense. It is not surprising that Jonas Valanciunas’ name was constantly mentioned along with great rebounding and solid shot blocking. Both of these characteristics were largely absent in the Raptors’ last season.

A sight we hope to see in the 2012-2013 season (photo courtesy of valanciunas.com)

Early Projections

Jonas will need some time getting used to the power and speed of the NBA. If he is given a long enough leash during his rookie season, I feel he could be a solid 10/10/1 (pts/reb/blk) player right out of the gates. His peak season should hover around 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. The rebounding numbers should remain steady considering his front court mate shuns from such endeavors. But if Bargnani is traded or simply leaves, Valanciunas’ points scored should see a definite spike. Jonas’ deft free throw shooting will undoubtedly help pad his scoring numbers.
I am thinking at worst he will be an Andris Biedrins with superior free throw shooting and best case scenario being a Joakim Noah less the passing.

Verdict

As I have already mentioned, I was initially not a big fan of the Raptors’ newest acquisition. After doing my homework on Jonas Valanciunas and attempting to step into the shoes of Bryan Colangelo, only then was I able to realize that this pick was simply bittersweet. Bitter because the Raptors will not be receiving immediate help for the upcoming season yet sweet because we will finally be able to fill our void at the center position. Think of it like trying dark chocolate for the first time. Bitter, but once you warm up to the taste you learn to truly appreciate its flavour. In addition, should the lockout negate the whole season, it just makes Colangelo’s decision that much more logical. Not only were the Raptors able to select the best player available, they were also able to fill a desparate need. (Even if that need is not set to join the Raptors until the 2012-2013 season.) It was not the sexiest thing to do, but it was definitely the smartest move.

Welcome to the Raptors, Brother Jonas!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksk5Z9OYyx4

By Nicolas Chow, Contributing Writer.

Fifth overall pick, Jonas Valancunias.

Cue all the groans.

Before I begin, I must admit that I was one of those Raptor fans who were completely excited over the Utah Jazz selecting Enes Kanter at number three. But after the Raptors made their selection, I thought that we blew our chances of landing Brandon Knight, Bismack Biyombo or even Kemba Walker. Those players were the most popular topics of discussion amongst the Toronto Raptors fan base and for good reason. Brandon Knight was the point guard from Kentucky who possessed great size and accurate shooting skills. Bismack Biyombo was the dude from Congo that notched a triple double in points, rebounds and blocks at the Nike Hoop Summit, and is blessed with an unnatural 7’7 wingspan. Kemba Walker was the little motor from UCONN that led his Huskies to an NCAA title, which was initiated by his intensity, heart, competitive fire and remarkable leadership. Among these three players were only a select few from the potential draftees that Raptors could have chosen, but they decided to go towards a route that Raptor fans hoped they wouldn’t turn to. They drafted a Euro.

“Not another Euro,” a typical Raptor fan might say.

The notion of Euro’s as being soft has somewhat become the norm of many NBA fans across America, and Canada’s lone city that holds an NBA franchise is probably a primary example of that. The Toronto Raptors have struggled to shake off the identity of being a team that loves their European players because of Bryan Colangelo’s philosophy: the NBA has evolved into a different league where shooting and passing has become a key component to becoming a winning team. This has become imminent around the culture surrounding the Toronto Raptors; it all started with the selection of Andrea Bargnani as the number one pick in the 2006 NBA draft.

Obviously, the Euro-experiment failed after Jorge Garbajosa went down with a gruesome ankle injury, and the Raptors have not looked great since 2006 where they went 47-35 to finish the season. Why would Bryan Colangelo go out and draft another European player?

It’s simple. In North America, we are simply more exposed to the players that we deem as popular. Jonas Valancunias was not on many fans’ radars with the fifth pick and as fans, we were expecting a splash at drafting an explosive guard like Kemba Walker, or a knockdown shooter in Brandon Knight. After much pondering and listening to various interviews, I can safely say that my mind has changed about Jonas Valancunias.

Before fans jump on Bryan Colangelo and call for his firing, consider the sacrifice that he just made for this Raptors organization. Colangelo is on a two-year contract. To draft a project coming out of Lithuania that will surely take a few years to develop takes a lot of courage on his part. And of course, the center position is the most difficult position to learn in the NBA because of its responsibilities in rotating, boxing out, rebounding, providing help and anchoring a team defense through communication and positioning. This shows commitment in building a defensive team by Bryan Colangelo, who is sometimes perceived as stubborn from being an architect of great offensive teams.

Many scouts and executives rave about Jonas Valancunias and congratulated Colangelo and his staff on making a smart pick. This draft pick is a long-term solution at the center position for the Raptors, who have been lacking a true center for years. This also shows that Bryan Colangelo has kept his word on sticking to a proper rebuilding process for the team, instead of making impulsive and risky moves like signing a Hedo Turkoglu or trading for a Jermaine O’Neal.

Bryan Colangelo has always had a reputation of being a gutsy GM. NBA draft night 2011 was no exception – he did just that with the fifth pick. He drafted a European big man without regard of what the fan base thinks and has complete confidence with his selection. Jonas Valancunias is definitely far from a finished product, but he brings a 6’11 frame with a 7’6 wingspan to add to his already athletic body. He won’t be able to handle the likes of Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum and other opposing NBA centers, so he’ll need to work on adding bulk to his body to fill his entire frame. However, Valancunias rebounds the ball well, provides a defensive presence in the paint that the Raptors have not had in years, and has a hard working and aggressive mentality. On offense, he is often used in pick-and-roll situations and has a soft touch around the basket. He’s not afraid of contact and always plays close to the rim. Valancunias also shoots close to 90% from the free throw line, shows enthusiasm for the game, and has great ball instincts. His potential is off the charts and he’s only nineteen years old.

Valancunias will the a long term solution for the Raptors.

Due to contract complications in Europe, Valancunias may or may not play with Toronto for his rookie year. Regardless, this gives the Raptors an opportunity in continuing to develop their younger players and to look forward to another high pick in the 2012 NBA draft – a draft that’s potentially stacked and loaded with very talented players. The Raptors failed to pick a point guard in the draft, but this presents the chance for 22-year old Jerryd Bayless. He has the chance to show what he can do without worrying about other new point guards competing for his position. It’s all up to Bayless if he wants to take it to the next level by working on his passing game because we all know he can score. If Bayless does not succeed next season, then the Raptors have the luxury to select a point guard from the 2012 draft class –miles ahead better than the 2011 draft class.

All in all, the Raptors made a solid choice in drafting Jonas Valancunias. This was a move that was primarily done for the future of the Raptors franchise. Bryan Colangelo should be applauded for not trying to look for any quick-fixes to save his own tail and for looking after the greater good of the Raptors in the long term. We must also keep in mind that every player who gets drafted isn’t a guaranteed success. Jonas Valancunias is obviously one of those players, but so are the four players that went above him.

Most importantly, Raptor fans must dismiss this fabricated Euro-loving tendency that the Raptors have. The Raptors went that route before, but now things are different. Defense is the primary focus. Players whom are selected in drafts, acquired through trades and signed via free agency are simply players that know how to play. Regardless of where they come from or what color skin they are, if they can play basketball – they can play.

Jonas Valancunias will be the start of something good.

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Thanks for reading! Please leave any comments below. You may also follow me on Twitter at @awsmc !

Toronto Raptors new head coach, Dwane Casey (Courtesy: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Raptors announced the signing of Dwane Casey as their new coach for two years at $3 million after declining the option of Jay Triano’s contract. Similar to Tom Thibodeau in Boston, Casey as an assistant coach led his Dallas Mavericks to a championship with his defensive schemes in the NBA finals before leaving for another team as a head coach. Loaded with professional coaching experience, one of the most recognized among all his coaching stints was during his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2005-06 season. Casey finished with 53-69 record with the Timberwolves and was fired at the mid-point of the 2007 season, where they were stuck at .500 (20-20). He was replaced by assistant coach Randy Wittman and went 12-30 the rest of the season (NY Times).

After the firing of Jay Triano, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo made known that he was looking for a head coach with an abundance of experience. Although the information was never officially released, the Toronto Raptors interviewed several candidates including Lawrence Frank (currently the Boston Celtics assistant). Other floating names were Ettore Messina (Italian basketball coach) and Maurice Cheeks (assistant for the OKC Thunder). For a long period of time after Triano’s release, Lawrence Frank was the leading candidate and odds on favorite to land the head coaching job with the Raptors. Unfortunately for Frank, the Dallas Mavericks – mainly known for their offensive abilities – made a surprising run and ousted the Miami Heat in six games with their incredible defense.

Dwane Casey was a catalyst for drilling a defensive mindset into the Mavericks in that series, which ultimately gave him the edge over Lawrence Frank. In the press conference announcing his hiring, he provided hockey analogies for his Mavericks through video and pointed out the strategic similarities between defending the net in hockey to protecting the basket in basketball. Although somewhat irrelevant, it’s interesting to point out Casey’s ability to think outside the box by incorporating other sports and their defensive philosophies, and applying them to the game of basketball. In a hockey obsessed city, Toronto sports mediums must already be jumping on his sack.

All joking aside, the Toronto Raptors desperately needed a head coaching change. Jay Triano has a great basketball mind and will still be a part of the Raptors staff as a consultant to Bryan Colangelo. It seemed unfair to Triano, who was completely dedicated to the rebuilding phase and was seemingly used like a pawn to develop the players on the current Raptors roster. Nevertheless, he did not provide the accountability that was required to discipline a young team like the Raptors, who finished with a 22-60 record in the 2010-11 season.

Dwane Casey and Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo (Courtesy: raptors.com)

Casey has always been known as a defensive coach and emphasized that effort would be the most important trait when his players step on the floor:

“One thing I do plan to do in this upcoming season is to help this team develop an NBA defensive identity. I think that’s the number one goal with this team… I want to establish that culture of hard play. Offensively, we’ll be playing a playoff style of offense; a more freestyle flowing of offense… We want to trust the players offensively. But the way you earn that is on the defensive end of the floor.”

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Dwane Casey acknowledged Triano’s work and assured the press that he would confide with Triano on extracting any information that is required from his players. As long as Casey provides the accountability that Jay Triano didn’t give and the intelligence that Sam Mitchell lacked, this hiring would be a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t take much to see that previous Toronto Raptor coaches were somewhat below par in comparison to other NBA teams, so seeing Dwane Casey take this position should be exciting for the Raptors organization and its fans.

Of course, much responsibility will be placed on Casey’s shoulders. Both Bryan Colangelo and Dwane Casey are signed to two-year deal contracts. A major challenge that Casey will face with regards to dealing with players is the inept Andrea Bargnani. Unlike Jay Triano, Casey emphasized his willingness to bench players that don’t place effort on the defensive end. Without a doubt, Bargnani’s laziness will produce a negative vibe surrounding the team. The best offensive player on the team should not be the best slacker. This does not paint a good image on the team, nor bodes well for its players. Dwane Casey will look to take Andrea Bargnani and change his defensive mindset (or lack there of), similar to how Dirk Nowitzki transformed into a defensive force for the Mavericks in the playoffs. “My charge is to make sure he gets that passion every night to be the best offensive player he can be and that he can give it to us on the defensive end,” Casey said. “The system has got to be where Andrea gets there on time, every time, consistently. We’ll drill that every day.”

Casey already has a relationship with shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (who seems to know everyone in the league) and demands respect from his players. He wanted to become a head coach to be respected; not to be liked. With a young core of Andrea Bargnani, Ed Davis, James Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, Amir Johnson and an upcoming draft pick, the Raptors must continue to develop their young talent and not make any foolish transactions to disrupt this rebuilding process. Implementing Casey’s strong personality to this young core is an essential part of the rebuilding process. The Toronto Raptors have no place to go but up from here on end. This is the perfect situation for Dwane Casey. And as Raptors fans, we’ll be watching him like hawks on the sidelines.

Let’s see what you got, coach.

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Thanks for reading! Please leave any comments or questions below. You can also follow me on Twitter at @awsmc !

The NBA Draft is only a couple of days away and our Red of Tooth and Claw Mock lottery is on its finishing touches. As the media continuously overstates the lack of talent within this draft, Kyrie Irving has maintained atop most mock drafts even though he refused to attend the athleticism testing at the combines, refused to work out against other prospects, and refused to work out for teams other than the Cavaliers. Draft work outs are well on their way and many prospects are seeing huge boosts in their stock, most notably Kahwi Leonard and Jimmer Fredette. Without a definite lock in the rankings, every team will have to evaluate their options after each selection. We will examine who the Raptors may draft in each potential scenario. But first, have a look-see at our most recent Mock Draft update. (You can view our previous mocks here.)

Kemba Walker for the Win (Photo Courtesy of nydailynews.com)

Mock Lottery 2011
1) Cleveland – Kyrie Irving
2) Minnesota – Derrick Williams
3) Utah – Brandon Knight
4) Cleveland – Enes Kanter
5) Toronto – Kemba Walker
6) Washington – Kawhi Leonard
7) Sacramento – Jimmer Fredette
8 ) Detroit – Jonas Valanciunas
9) Charlotte – Jan Vesely
10) Milwaukee – Alec Burks
11) Golden State – Klay Thompson
12) Utah – Marcus Morris
13) Phoenix – Tristan Thompson
14) Houston -  Bismack Biyombo

Dropped out of Lottery
Donatas Motiejunas

Bubblin’ (Potential to break into the lottery)
Jordan Hamilton
Chris Singleton
Tobias Harris

Enes Kanter (Photo Courtesy of bettor.com)

Keep in mind these scenarios may play out completely differently come draft night, these are just a taste of what I feel will happen. Don’t be surprised if the Raptors decide to draft Kahwi Leonard instead of Kemba Walker. I understand we have a versatile small forward in James Johnson, but Linus Kleiza is still injured and Leonard could bring some defensive intensity that the Raptors have been sorely lacking. And we still have a very capable Jose Calderon manning the point. I did not list Jonas Valanciunas as a potential Raptors target mainly due to his currect contract issues. Bryan Colangelo has been extended for another 2 years (with a team option for the third year) and simply does not have the luxury of waiting for Jonas to debut for the team during the 2012-2013 season. Recent reports state that the Raptors are showing strong interest in the International prospect and shot blocker extroadinaire, Bismack Biyombo. However, it would be quite the reach to draft him 5^th overall and he has not received good reception during his offensive work outs. One scout pointed out that Biyombo was involved in one-vs-none drills and lost. If the Raptors feel his defensive presence is worth rostering, they may trade down on draft night.

It’s rather unfortunate that some of the top prospects pulled out of the draft, but there is no point dwelling on who the Raptors could have drafted if Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, and Jared Sullinger all stayed in this draft class. All we can do is look forward to who the Raptors select and welcome our newest member to the team.

Draft night, June 23^rd, 2011. See you there.

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by Nicolas Chow, Contributing Writer

Bryan Colangelo has a good drafting history, dating back to 1995 when he selected Michael Finley. (Courtesy: Raptors Republic)

With the 2011 draft night just looming around the corner, the Toronto Raptors have an opportunity to make a splash with a solid pick in an otherwise weak draft class. Kyrie Irving from Duke is the clear-cut number one pick in this year’s draft, while Arizona’s Derrick Williams is the projected number two pick in various mock drafts. Following these two picks, the decisions on who will be picked are all up in the air. The Utah Jazz possess the third pick and will desperately need a point guard after the trade which sent franchise point guard Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets. Their most logical choice would be point guard Brandon Knight, a 6’3 freshman from the Kentucky Wildcats. And unless the Cleveland Cavaliers have David Kahn as their GM, their fourth pick will probably not be used to draft another point guard because of Kyrie Irving.

Of course, this brings us to the Toronto Raptors, a team that always seemed to fall short by not making the playoffs in eleven of the sixteen years since its inception. The team as a whole started to have a reputation of not being able to get their superstars to stay in town while critics had instilled the notion that players didn’t want to come to play in Toronto because it was in a country that was outside of the United States. All this speculation turned loyal Toronto Raptor fans into skeptics, who were begging for a winner.

The Toronto Raptors have the number five pick in the 2011 NBA draft and will have to start rebuilding their team since Chris Bosh’s departure for Miami in 2010.  The Raptors are not in a situation to draft a player to fill in a position of need, and must take the BPA (best player available). In last year’s draft, Ed Davis was not projected to fall as low as number 13. If there’s one thing that Colangelo does very well, it’s his ability to study and dissect potential prospects on their strengths and weaknesses, thus making a solid pick for his club. His draft history is impressive – he drafted Steve Nash in 1996 at fifteen, Stephen Jackson in 1997 at forty-three, Shawn Marion in 1999 at nine, a very raw Amar’e Stoudemire in 2002 at number nine, Luol Deng in 2004 at number seven and of course, drafted our current starting shooting guard DeMar DeRozan in 2009 at number nine. And although it could be widely debated, Andrea Bargnani was a solid number one choice for the Raptors despite the uncertainties that plagued Brandon Roy’s knees and the redundancy of LaMarcus Aldridge due to the presence of Chris Bosh at the power forward position in 2006.

With all that being said, expect Colangelo and his scouting staff to do a great job with making the best possible selection for the Raptors. If for some reason, the Utah Jazz do not select Brandon Knight at number three (which is highly doubtful), the Raptors must snag him at the number five pick. However, if Brandon Knight is off the board before the Raptors come to make their decision, there are a wide number of prospects that could be of interest for Bryan Colangelo and his Toronto Raptors. Potential selections consist of Enes Kanter, a 6’11 center from Turkey and another 6’11 center from Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas. Other intriguing picks are small forwards Jan Vesely, an athletic 6’11 player from the Czech Republic, defensive specialist Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State and of course, the greatest of all enigmas, the 6’9 power forward/center Bismack Biyombo from the Congo, whose wingspan measures at a ridiculous 7’7.

For years, the Toronto Raptors lacked a crucial trait on their team that is essential to winning: leadership. This all starts at the point guard position – in other words, the point guard gives instruction for his teammates to go where they need to go and to establish a positive influence on the court and in the locker room. Jose Calderon is slowly on the decline and Jerryd Bayless has not completely proven that he’s the future point guard for the Raptors despite being only 22. Quality point guards and centers are the most difficult type of players to find. Although undersized at 6’1 with shoes, Kemba Walker is an NBA ready player that led his UCONN Huskies to an NCAA championship. In his workout with the Raptors, Jim Kelly and other Raptors scouting staff raved about his passing performance. Many critics question Kemba’s ability to transition smoothly into the NBA because of his size and overall game. In an interview after his workout with the Toronto Raptors, he had great responses towards those critics:

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“I could care less to tell you the truth… A lot of people question whether I’m a scoring guard or a passing guard. This is the first year where I’ve had to score a lot of points (for UCONN). But if you put me in a position where I can be a guy who can get others involved, I can do it … Throughout my whole career I was being questioned, but I always seem to do well. People question whether I can score or not and now I’m scoring, now people question whether I can pass or not.”

Kemba Walker, your fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. (Courtesy: NY Daily News)

Kemba Walker’s performance at the NCAA tournament gave merit for the Toronto Raptors to select him at number five. He would be able to come in and help guide the current young Raptors squad with leadership, competitiveness and tenacity that the team sorely needs. To instill a proper development of a rebuilding team, a point guard is essential to its growing process because of his responsibilities in being the general on the court. And even if the point guard doesn’t live up to expectations with putting up big numbers, he still brings a leadership persona that can benefit a leaderless squad. For the record, Kemba Walker reeks of leadership qualities.

Hailed from the Bronx, New York, Kemba Walker is probably the safest pick for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors can simply not afford to bust on a high-risk, high-reward pick during its crucial rebuilding stages. As an organization that’s lacking many assets, the Raptors must make every move count. And with the uncertainties that surround this 2011 NBA draft class, Kemba Walker will be regarded as the best pick for the Toronto Raptors.

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Agree? Disagree? Please leave any comments. You may also follow me on Twitter at @awsmc !

Jay Triano - Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America

Yesterday the Raptors announced that they would not be bringing back Jay Triano as their head coach. Personally, I think this is the right move even though I love that Triano is the first Canadian NBA head coach in history and that he’s an exceptionally nice person. After witnessing Triano for a full season, I don’t think he has what it takes to be an outstanding head coach.

It should be noted that he was working with a raw roster from the collateral damage of Chris Bosh’s departure. So when a team lacks continuity and superstars, how should you identify bad coaching? Without a sufficient method of answering that question I didn’t feel comfortable saying good riddance to Triano because I respect him too much. Therefore, I needed to crunch some numbers.

I wanted to find the statistics for:

-          Games won and lost by 3 or more points

-          Overtime wins and losses

-          And the results of games with leads or deficits entering the 4^th quarter

A good coach will draw up effective plays with time winding down to either win a tied or losing game or maintain a small lead. Also, a good coach will successfully motivate his team to win through overtime or 4^th quarters and adjust for momentum shifts by other teams.

I drew inspiration for my methodology from all the games I’ve watched of Gregg Popovich call plays for the Spurs when the game was on the line by the smallest of margins. You become a witness to good coaching when you see his team execute so precisely and have someone get off a good shot. At the same time you’re left scratching your head at how the Raptors’ handled similar situations this season. Do we really want Andrea Bargnani shooting a fade-away jump shot with 6 seconds left against Kris Humphries and the New Jersey Nets?

I used the Chicago Bulls, who finished with the best record this season and are coached by Tom Thibodeau (who I think is a really good coach) as a reference. Here’s what I got:

After two hours of copying, pasting, and Excel formula magic I’ve come to the conclusion that Triano is not a great head coach. In the situations that I was analyzing, the Raptors were able to hang around with those teams by 3 points or less, through overtime, or through three quarters of a game. If our players were good enough to last that long, then I think it’s fair to point the finger at the coach for the end result. High caliber coaches like Thibodeau squeeze more wins out of their players through discipline, motivation, in-game adjustment, and strategy. This is not the end of Triano’s coaching career and I hope he eventually gets to a team with better talent and stability.

Who would be my nomination for head coach? Mike Budenholzer — Popovich’s top assistant.

Who's going to be the one to will their team to victory? (Photo courtesy of zimbio.com)

DALLAS VS MIAMI

Much has been said that this is Dirk Nowitzki’s redemption song of the 2006 Finals. Dallas’ offense begins and ends with Nowitzki. Miami will need to figure out how to stop the onslaught that is known as Dirk if they want to finish out on top. With Dirk more focused than ever, this will be no easy task, just ask the Lakers and Thunder. The Heat have been cruising their way to the finals winning each contest in 5 games. Miami’s big 2.5 (sic) have defied all odds by crushing both of the Eastern Conference powerhouses in Chicago and Boston. Will Jason Kidd finally get his first ring, or will that opportunity be Lebron’s?
Let’s take a look at the match-ups.

POINT GUARD

Jason Kidd vs Mike Bibby
It seems the world had completely written Jason Kidd off due to his age, he did just fine guarding the likes of Russell Westbrook and Kobe Bryant. Word was out that Kidd would not be able to stay in front of Westbrook when in fact, Kidd played some of his best defense holding Westbrook (who averaged 44% FG on the season) down to shooting 36% from the field while averaging 3.4 steals per game. To put that into perspective, Jason Kidd’s career steals per game average is only 2.0. It looks like Jason Kidd hasn’t lost a step in the defense department having garnered 9 All-Defensive team honors throughout his career. Mike Bibby, on the other hand, has been known more for his offense rather than his defense. Although his assignment appears to be taking stand-still 3 pointers, Bibby did give problems to Rose and Rondo on the defensive end. He even provided a couple of blocks on Rondo when playing against the Celtics. One of these seasoned veterans will finally be able to add a ring to their resume. Advantage – Mavericks.

SHOOTING GUARD

DeShawn Stevenson vs Dwyane Wade
While DeShawn’s role on the Mavericks is to provide perimeter defense and hit the occasional 3-pointer, he will have his toughest task against the Heat. Having guarded Lebron in the past while playing for Washington, Stevenson will now have to figure out how to stop Dwyane Wade. However, DeShawn is only averaging 15 minutes per game throughout the playoffs. The job of guarding Wade will probably be shifted to one of the Jasons (Kidd and Terry). Coach Carlisle does not like making alterations to his rotations, perimeter defender or not, Wade will be trigger-happy whenever he sees Stevenson on the court. Advantage – Heat.

SMALL FORWARD

Shawn Marion vs Lebron James
Shawn Marion has made a career out of being a hustle player for all the teams he’s played with. He used to boast about not having a single play drawn out for him despite averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds with a handful of steals and blocks back in Phoenix. Although he is no longer the athletic freak he once was, his energy on both ends of the court still rings true today. He should give Lebron a run for his money on the defensive end. Lebron, who Scottie Pippen recently annointed “the greatest player to ever play,” will need some Championships if he is to ever live up to that name. Often criticized for being absent in the clutch along with poor free throw shooting, Lebron silenced the doubters by dominating the final quarters while missing only 2 of 33 free throws in the last 3 games against the Bulls. The Mavericks will throw a bevy of defenders at James with combinations of Marion, Stevenson, Kidd and even Nowitzki to try and stop him. Advantage – Heat.

POWER FORWARD

Dirk Nowitzki vs Chris Bosh
Nowitzki is currently in Beast mode. Having averaged only 23 points per game on the season, Dirk obliterated the Thunder with 32 points per game while shooting at a blistering clip of 56%. If Dirk is able to continue his current streak of domination, the Heat can kiss their championship hopes good bye. On the other side there is Chris Bosh. Although he started the season off slow and out of tune, Bosh appears to have finally found his role on the team and is making some big plays along the way. In a recent article by ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh, the Heat did not recruit Bosh for his offensive abilities, it was because of his defensive acumen. Coach Krzyzewski has stated himself that Bosh was one of the defensive anchors on Team USA during the 2008 Olympics. This tidbit of information may surprise many as the Raptors were consistently one of the weakest defensive teams during Chris’ tenure in Toronto. But it serves as a feasible reason why the Heat did not pursue Carlos Boozer or even Amare Stoudemire. Although Udonis Haslem did a pretty good job guarding Dirk in 2006, it may not be enough this time around. A combination of both Bosh and Haslem at the same time should yield the most success against Nowitzki. Advantage – Mavericks.

CENTER

Tyson Chandler vs Joel Anthony
Let’s not kid ourselves here, Joel Anthony is no match for Tyson Chandler. Chandler’s defensive presence was exactly what the Mavericks have been looking for in a Center. Although he is mainly there for blocks and rebounds, he is still much more refined offensively than Anthony. Joel, incidently, is also on the team only for rebounds and blocks. However, we may see Bosh slide over to Center with Haslem at Power forward as Dampier and Ilgauskas are still nursing injuries. Advantage – Mavericks.

VERDICT

The game of basketball is all about match-ups and this series will be no different. On the Mavericks, you will likely see Jason Kidd shift over to guard Dwyane Wade. On the Heat, Lebron James has already stated that if need be, he will personally guard Dirk Nowitzki to try and stop his infallible one-legged fadeaways. While I believe the Dallas Mavericks have a more complete team and a better chance of winning, I also thought the same about the Chicago Bulls. I figured the solid depth of the Bulls would be more than enough to tackle the Heat, but there is something you simply can’t gauge when you have 2 superstars on the same team. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks will be no pushover, but I feel the momentum the Heat are carrying from the previous series will translate well in the Finals.

HEAT IN 6.

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by Nicolas Chow, Contributing Writer

A rematch from 2005.

The NBA finals are already here. An entire year of basketball has gone by and not many people would have predicted that the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat would have their rematch from 2006. Like Rick Carlisle’s doppelganger in Jim Carrey, it was a series that Dallas wants to erase from their minds (cue in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind reference). Dwyane Wade took over the series and got all the calls going his way, which gave him credibility as an established superstar in the league. It took six years for a rematch. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are the only key players that remain from the Mavericks team in 2005, while Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were the most notable components from the Heat that year. Needless to say, these two powerhouse teams have been riding a hot streak, with each respective team finishing their opponents from the previous round in 5 games each. What’s in store for the finals?

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POINT GUARD

Dallas has a great duo of point guards in Kidd and Barea which could be largely dismissed due to the attention brought from  the other SG, SF and PF match-ups. Kidd has been to the finals twice during his tenure in New Jersey. He will be the only point guard amongst both teams that have been in the finals. Kidd is a solid defender and will take some responsibility in guarding Dwyane Wade when Stevenson and Terry get into foul trouble. JJ Barea is quick and tough, so expect him to continue his impressive performance in the post season by finding cutting lanes and giving some spurts of scoring. Both Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby are spot up shooters that get their shots from interior penetration much thanks to the luxurious skills of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. James and Wade’s ability to attract double teams and being able to drive and kick the ball out will bode as troublesome for Kidd and Barea, despite both Dallas point guards being better players. Chalmers is a great defender while Bibby has veteran experience which could be valuable in high pressure situations. The Heat point guards will not have to do as much as the Mavericks’ point guards, which could give them the advantage. However, with regards to skills and general value, Dallas has the edge.

Advantage: Mavericks

SHOOTING GUARD

It doesn’t need to be said, but it has to be said: No one in the league can guard Dwyane Wade. “Soulja Boy” DeShawn Stevenson will get his crack at guarding Flash. If you’re not familiar with the reference, you can read about it here. Throughout his career, Stevenson has been offensively limited but his lack of sanity positively correlates with his intensity, which will be beneficial for the Mavericks in trying to slow down Wade before he gets into serious foul trouble. As the primary scorer off the bench, Jason Terry will be heavily relied upon to score to put pressure on Miami’s strong defense. Terry can go on scoring binges, but will always remain an offensive threat that will attract attention even if he isn’t putting up numbers. On the flip side, the Heat have Mike Miller, who has caught fire in the previous series against the Bulls. Pat Riley envisioned Mike Miller being a spot up shooter for the Heat with LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Haslem on the court. Perhaps Miller could be Jason Kapono of 2006 for the Heat minus the traveling and plus the rebounding. If Miller continues his play from the Bulls series, it’s almost a clear cut advantage for the Heat.

Advantage: Heat

SMALL FORWARD

Recently receiving high praise from Scottie Pippen as the most talented player to ever play in the NBA, LeBron James can do everything. His extremely high basketball IQ gives him the advantage to see the floor extremely well and to have the most incredible passing abilities at his size since Magic Johnson. Shawn Marion will have the primary responsibility in guarding LeBron. In the previous series against OKC, Marion played great defense against Kevin Durant. LeBron James is a completely different player compared to Durant in a very bad way. LeBron is stronger, faster, and tougher in all aspects aside from Durant’s shooting abilities. James Jones will not play due to a foot injury, so expect LeBron to log 40+ minutes every night. Peja still remains a good shooter, but is an absolute defensive liability. His size at 6’10 gives him the advantage to rebound and shoot over smaller players, but his ability to set screens and play on the ball defense is weak. LeBron James though, will be too much for Marion and Stojakovic to deal with.

Advantage: Heat

POWER FORWARD

This is where it gets interesting. Dallas has the most unique player that the NBA has ever seen – a 7-foot knockdown shooter who possesses an unlimited offensive repertoire, consisting of high and low post-up moves, a three point shot and even one legged fade away’s. His emergence as “the guy” who can stop the Heat remains plausible due to his unique skill set and acquired toughness that he has developed in recent years. For the Heat, Chris Bosh is no pushover himself – it seems as if he managed to get his act together and found his composure by putting forth some great games for the Heat in the post-season. Both players have great mid-range games and have similar strengths with facing the basket on offense. Udonis Haslem has also surprisingly emerged and has flashed glimpses of his older self. He took half the money of what other teams were offering him in the off-season to get back to the finals with the Heat. And now, here he is. Both Bosh and Haslem will get their shots at guarding Dirk, but the Mavs forward is too offensively talented to be stopped. All the knocks on Dirk about his toughness and choking tendencies have been relinquished by his performance this post-season, which gives Dallas the advantage at this position.

Advantage: Mavericks

CENTER

Miami’s center rotation is one of the most questionable in the NBA because of the presence of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Erick Dampier riding the bench. Nevertheless, it works for the Heat to play Joel Anthony as their starting center because he doesn’t demand touches on a starting lineup that is full of ball dominant players in LeBron, Bosh and Wade. It’s generally understood that Anthony is undersized at the 5, but he makes up for his size deficiencies by hustling, setting hard screens and altering shots that come towards the rim. He takes the primary responsibilities in guarding their opponents best big man, which gives the Heat some opulence knowing that they are able to throw Bosh, Haslem and Anthony all at Dirk Nowitzki. Anthony is able to guard many big men, so containing Tyson Chandler will be no different. Unlike Kendrick Perkins from the OKC series, Chandler will need to work harder to get his offense going against Anthony. Brendan Haywood can spell Chandler off the bench as a solid back-up big man, who can bestow a hard foul or two against the Heat’s penetrating wings. Both the Mavericks’ centers provide interior intimidation, a trait that the Heat severely lacks. Despite the Heat being one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Mavericks trump the Heat with the center position.

Advantage: Mavericks

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FINAL VERDICT

Both the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks are offensive juggernauts when they want to be. The Mavericks have a great opportunity to win a title here with a motivated and hungry Dallas team that has tasted bitter defeat and a first round embarrassment to the Golden State Warriors in 2006. For the Mavericks to have a chance, they must not turn the ball over and give up transition points to the Heat. Miami is the best in the league in transition points because of their wing players in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. They key for the Miami Heat to be victorious is to turn up their defensive intensity another notch. Find a way to slow down Dirk Nowitzki and force him to give up the ball. The Heat need to get up close enough on defense to smell Dirk’s breath. Unfortunately, no one in the entire league – including the Dallas Mavericks’ wing players – can stop Wade and LeBron, which will be the deciding factor in this series. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are simply too good and too talented. Both players are franchise type players and that emerge only a few times in a generation.

Miami in 6

Since 2006, the Mavericks are back in the NBA Finals.

Following their hard-fought series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavericks are going to the NBA Finals. Finally.

Sure they were there 5 years ago in 2006 and notoriously flamed out to the Miami Heat (rematch coming?), but the only holdovers of that team are Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. I guess the entity known as Mark Cuban counts too. After receiving so many playoff massacres since then you can bet those three are itching to redeem themselves finally.

Jason Kidd is back to basketball sacred grounds and not by himself finally. He single-handedly carried the New Jersey Nets to the Finals in 2002 and 2003, but without any decent sidekicks to help carry the load, his teams got squashed by the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. At the tender age of 38, he’s waited almost 10 years for another chance.

What about Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic? They left their best basketball years with the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, respectively. Each had ‘what if that didn’t happen’ moments that resulted in their teams never making the Finals. Ironically, each of those moments was committed by Robert Horry— his hip-check on Steve Nash and the Suns in 2007, and his last second 3-pointer on the Kings in 2002. Marion and Stojakovic are saying finally.

Throw in the rest of the Mavericks roster for never making it to the Finals before.

Even for Rick Carlisle, this is a finally moment as a coach. He coached the Detroit Pistons in 2003 and brought the success that eventually led to Larry Brown swooping in with Rasheed Wallace and winning NBA Gold in 2004. To add insult to injury, it was Carlisle’s team that lost to the Pistons in those 2004 conference finals. Now he finally has his chance in the Finals.

The reason this Dallas story is so compelling is because it’s a story so devoid of ego. The humility flowing from this team could fill and purify Lake Minnetonka. This isn’t a Lakers or San Antonio quest to collect rings and create a dynasty. This is a collective group of players and coaches who have dedicated their lives to get a championship, but only tasted disappointment. They’ve endured all these years of losing, the labels of ‘choke’, yet have never given up. When they were losing to the Thunder in Game 4 by 15 with 5 minutes to go, they never quit and stole the game. They earned this Finals birth with years of sweat, blood, and tears.

For anyone who has invested their soul into a dream and failed, you know that bitter poison that courses through your body. Imagine if you had one last shot. That’s why this is such a feel-good story.

You know these Mavericks are leaving everything on court. Go Mavs!

(Raptors relation: We’re paying almost 15 million for Peja to play in the Finals…)

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- Justin Kwee