The NBA Draft was a Bust / Time for the NBA to Expand to Europe

This past Thursday, The Professor and I watched the 2012 NBA Draft. I've seen plenty in the past, but until now I didn't realize how much better the NFL's Draft is. First off, did anyone notice their was absolutely no excitement? At times, you could hear a pin drop! David Stern better be concerned. Is this ESPN's fault too? Maybe. But the brunt of this lame production lies on the shoulders of Stern and the NBA.

Here are some suggestions that may make it at least more exciting than the NHL draft.

1. How about playing some music in the arena between picks. It blew my mind that whoever produced this piece of junk didn't think of that!
2. Hire the person who does the NFL draft. NOW!!!!!!!!
3. Bring the draft back to NYC. Preferably Madison Square Garden. Newark? Newark? I like the Mayor but other than that. Newark? The Nets are in Brooklyn now. Let's move on...
4. Make the draft at least 3 rounds. It would increase the intrigue and give more light to the D-League.
5. Don't interview a little girl. How did the NBA all of sudden become a bad Hallmark TV movie?
6. Where was Dickie V? Vitale probably knew it was gonna be lame and opted out!
7. David Stern should only announce the first 5 picks. It was funny when he said, “Thanks for the Warm Welcome”, but Stern is not Howard Stern. Stick to the off camera duties David.
8. Have celebrity fans and former players announce the picks.
9. Does the team call them on the phone before the announcement? If they don't do that like the NFL does, maybe this is a good time to start! It adds to the drama...
10. And finally....Maybe a remote camera somewhere on the planet, other than the 2 cameras they used in Newark, would be a good idea. Ya think?!?!

Time for the NBA to Expand to Europe

The NBA needs to expand to Europe. I'm tired of hearing that the talent isn't good enough yet. IT IS!

I suggest a (4) Four team expansion from four European Countries.

• Barcelona or Madrid, Spain
• London, England
• Berlin or Hamburg, Germany
• Paris, France

Hear me out:

1. New York to London is around the same distance as New York to Los Angeles. Make the European swing 2-3 weeks. Extra days off for west coast and Euro teams during road trips.
2. 60 more players added to the NBA which would expand the draft to 3 rounds.
3. D-League expansion to Europe.
4. Increased sales
5. The number of international players in the NBA is at an all time high. This years draft was thin because Euro Clubs are getting wise to the increase. They are signing the young players, (15 years old and up), to tighter and longer contracts. This puts the NBA franchises in a position where they have to buy the Euro club out after drafting the player. If the league expands, these types of restrictions will still be their, but it will make the young player think twicwe about signing with a Euro Club first. They may wait it out or insist on an opt out clause if interest by an NBA club.

Please share your comments about this story. Would love to hear your take!

BrainHeat

2012 NY Knicks Potential Draft Pick - 2nd Round - Pick 48

NY Knicks Draft Spotlight

Machado has 1st round talent. He would be a safe pick. Don't let the college he went to (Iona) fool you! This guy can ball!

Via Wikipedia

Scott Machado (born June 8, 1990) is an American college basketball player. He is a senior point guard for the Iona Gaels and the school's all-time leader in assists.

High school career

Machado played for three years at St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, New York, where he was a teammate of NBA player Danny Green. He transferred to Saint Benedict's Preparatory School for his senior year, where he played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley's son, Danny.^[1]

College career

The 6'1" point guard then moved to Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. As a freshman, Machado led the Gaels in points scored (288, a 9.2 per game average), set a school record for assists by a freshman (150) and was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rookie of the year. As a sophomore, he averaged 12.5 points and 3.9 assists, leading the Gaels to a 21-win season. He was selected second team All-Conference. As a junior, Machado broke out, averaging 13.2 points and 7.6 assists per game (second in the nation). He set a school record for assists in a season (281) and was named first team all-conference.^[1]

As a senior, Machado broke the school record for assists in the first game of the season and broke Siena's Ronald Moore's MAAC record in a February 18 game against Nevada.^[2] Machado emerged as one of the top point guards in the country. He was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award^[3] and the Wooden Award.^[4]

Scott Machado
College	Iona
Conference	MAAC
Sport	Basketball
Position	Point guard
Jersey #	3
Class	Senior
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Nationality	American
Born	June 8, 1990 Queens, New York
High school	Saint Benedict's Prep Newark, New Jersey
Awards
*MAAC Player of the Year (2012) *2x First Team All-MAAC (2011, 2012) *MAAC Rookie of the Year (2009)
Honors
*MAAC, Iona all-time assist leader

BrainHeat's 2012 NBA Mock Draft 3.0

2012 NBA MOCK DRAFT 3.0

Without International Players

4/2/2012

BrainHeat

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis - Kentucky
2. Detroit Pistons – Thomas Robinson - Kansas
3. Washington Wizards – Harrison Barnes - North Carolina
4. New Orleans Hornets – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Kentucky
5. Sacramento Kings – Andre Drummond - UConn
6. Toronto Raptors – Perry Jones - Baylor
7. New Jersey Nets – Austin Rivers - Duke
8. Utah Jazz – Brad Beal - Florida
9. Phoenix Suns – Marquis Teague - Kentucky
10. Houston Rockets (via trade) – Jared Sullinger – Ohio State
11. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jeremy Lamb - UConn
12. New Orleans Hornets (via trade) – Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
13. Memphis Grizzlies – James McAdoo - North Carolina
14. Houston Rockets – Tyler Zeller – North Carolina
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Cody Zeller - Indiana
16. Boston Celtics – John Jenkins - Vanderbilt
17. Orlando Magic – Kendall Marshall - North Carolina
18. Portland Trail Blazers – Quincy Miller - Baylor
19. Los Angeles Lakers – Cleveland Melvin - DePaul
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – C.J Leslie – North Carolina State
21. San Antonio Spurs – Terrence Ross - Washington
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Doron Lamb - Kentucky
23. Denver Nuggets – John Henson – North Carolina
24. Boston Celtics – Festus Ezeli - Vanderbilt
25. Indiana Pacers – Mason Plumlee - Duke
26. Atlanta Hawks – Draymond Green - Michigan State
27. Philadelphia 76ers – Tony Mitchell - North Texas
28. Miami Heat – Arnett Moultrie - Mississippi St
29. Chicago Bulls – Kris Joseph - Syracuse
30. Oklahoma City Thunder – Myck Kabongo - Texas

BrainHeat's 2012 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

Without International Players

2/28/2012

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis - Kentucky
2. Detroit Pistons – Harrison Barnes - North Carolina
3. Washington Wizards – Thomas Robinson - Kansas
4. New Orleans Hornets – Andre Drummond - UConn (Up from pick #11. Cleveland will trade up for him)
5. Sacramento Kings – Austin Rivers - Duke ( Doc's kid moves up due to spectacular play)
6. Toronto Raptors – Perry Jones - Baylor
7. New Jersey Nets – Jeremy Lamb - UConn
8. Utah Jazz – Marquis Teague - Kentucky
9. Phoenix Suns – Jared Sullinger – Ohio State
10. Houston Rockets (via trade) – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Kentucky (The Kidd may stay in school. Doubt it...)
11. Cleveland Cavaliers – Brad Beal - Florida (Drop: Has to improve in the tourney)
12. New Orleans Hornets (via trade) – Tyler Zeller – North Carolina
13. Memphis Grizzlies – John Jenkins - Vanderbilt
14. Houston Rockets – Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Cody Zeller - Indiana
16. Boston Celtics – Doron Lamb - Kentucky
17. Orlando Magic – James McAdoo - North Carolina
18. Portland Trail Blazers – Quincy Miller - Baylor
19. Los Angeles Lakers – Cleveland Melvin - DePaul
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Draymond Green - Michigan State
21. San Antonio Spurs – Terrence Ross - Washington
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Kendall Marshall - North Carolina
23. Denver Nuggets – John Henson – North Carolina
24. Boston Celtics – Festus Ezeli - Vanderbilt
25. Indiana Pacers – Mason Plumlee - Duke
26. Atlanta Hawks – C.J Leslie – North Carolina State
27. Philadelphia 76ers – Tony Mitchell - North Texas
28. Miami Heat – Arnett Moultrie - Mississippi St
29. Chicago Bulls – Kris Joseph - Syracuse
30. Oklahoma City Thunder – Myck Kabongo - Texas
    
    
    Pick Changes from 1.0 
    
    
    Austin Rivers: Up
    Andre Drummond: Up
    Jared Sullinger: Down
    Brad Beal: Down

Heat Burn Knicks

By BrainHeat

Questions:

• With novacaine hot, should D'Antoni have just left him in the game? 
• Melo? How many rejections until you realize you have to draw contact and throw it down?

It was a big moment for Lin. I'm giving him a pass for not surviving the league MVP's onslaught.

LeBron is on fire!

Knicks need rest and practice and they will get it soon. 

They are far from reaching the Eastern Conference finals as of right now, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. When J.R and Baron start meshing with the rest of the team, the Knicks WILL contend for the title. Right now I have the Knicks  in the #5 spot in the Eastern Rankings. They will be at #3 in Mid March. 

Let's not get crazy too soon. 

They deserve some time with the emergence of Lin and the additions of Smith & Davis.

BrainHeat's 2012 NBA MOCK DRAFT 1.0

Without International Players

2/21/2012

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis - Kentucky
2. Detroit Pistons – Harrison Barnes - North Carolina
3. Washington Wizards – Thomas Robinson - Kansas
4. New Orleans Hornets – Jared Sullinger – Ohio State
5. Sacramento Kings – Jeremy Lamb - UConn
6. Toronto Raptors – Perry Jones - Baylor
7. New Jersey Nets – Austin Rivers - Duke
8. Utah Jazz – Brad Beal - Florida
9. Phoenix Suns – Marquis Teague - Kentucky
10. Houston Rockets (via trade) – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Kentucky
11. Cleveland Cavaliers – Andre Drummond - UConn
12. New Orleans Hornets (via trade) – Tyler Zeller – North Carolina
13. Memphis Grizzlies – John Jenkins - Vanderbilt
14. Houston Rockets – Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Cody Zeller - Indiana
16. Boston Celtics – Doron Lamb - Kentucky
17. Orlando Magic – James McAdoo - North Carolina
18. Portland Trail Blazers – Quincy Miller - Baylor
19. Los Angeles Lakers – Cleveland Melvin - DePaul
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Draymond Green - Michigan State
21. San Antonio Spurs – Terrence Ross - Washington
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Kendall Marshall - North Carolina
23. Denver Nuggets – John Henson – North Carolina
24. Boston Celtics – Festus Ezeli - Vanderbilt
25. Indiana Pacers – Mason Plumlee - Duke
26. Atlanta Hawks – C.J Leslie – North Carolina State
27. Philadelphia 76ers – Tony Mitchell - North Texas
28. Miami Heat – Arnett Moultrie - Mississippi St
29. Chicago Bulls – Kris Joseph - Syracuse
30. Oklahoma City Thunder – Myck Kabongo - Texas