1) Tiago Splitter: Doesn't it feel like you've seen Splitter's name on draft sites just about forever? It seems like he's been on there year after year since about 1984. I believe I can vaguely remember trying to figure out who to choose between Tiago Splitter and Sam Perkins should it ever come down to it.
2) Here's an excerpt from www.prehistoricdraftsite.com circa mid 80's:
"Sam Perkins. Power Forward, North Carolina. Strengths: long skilled power forward who can score both inside and outside. Weaknesses: Can lose concentration and disappear for periods of the game.
"Tiago Splitter. Center, Brazil. Strengths: Large defensive oriented big man with great court presence. Weaknesses: Not born yet. Despite not yet existing, Tiago is still expected to go in the late first round."
That was the first of like 23 drafts that Splitter pulled out of. Here it is decades later and Splitter finally HAS to be in the draft. No more eligibilty for you Tiago, Mr. All-Time Undisputed King of Name Withdrawers...
3) ...Which leads to a this: For the past 23 years Draftexpress and NBAdraft.net have strongly disagreed on Splitter's draft placement, with DX regularly placing him very high and NBAdraft.net pretty low. Now look though: In this, the year Splitter will finally really be drafted, the two sites aren't far off at all with DX dropping him DOWN to 18 (from solid top 10 in previous years) and NBAdraft.net moving him UP to 22 (from occasional second round status)...
4) ...This in turn leads to a discussion of the two preeminent draft websites. I say the following with all possible admiration, because in my opinion both sites do just a miraculous job: Aran Smith at NBAdraft.net; and Jonathan Givony, Eric Weiss and others over at DX seem like bright people, are dedicated, and extremely good at what they do. But let's face it, these guys have to be OUT OF THEIR MINDS! (To put it in context, they're EVEN MORE FAR GONE than you and me who spend way too much of our time on the internet reading about this sport.)
As far as I can tell, these draftniks travel the nation and even the world for no better reason than to give us the latest buzz on Stanko Barac's upper body concerns. Seemingly all they live for is finding out how well Herbert Hill boxes out and to gauge Taurean Green's ball handling skills. And unlike you and me they don't just think about it- they actually GET ON PLANES to verify such questions! If that's not dedication to the point of complete scary, no-sharp-objects-please insanity, I don't know what is.
5) I want to pause right here thank them for it. I do not want to go back to a world without such wonderful websites. Thank you draft guru sites. Thank you. Keep up the great work and please call a helpline if you're ever feeling down.
6) I often read comparisons between these two good-to-the-point-of-being-insane draft sites, complimenting one at the expense of the other. I just want to say I don't see the point of choosing between them and like them both. I would even go as far as saying I like them both very very much.
7) Since Tiago Splitter is from Brazil, I interrupt to list my three favorite Brazilian musicians:
--1 Antonio Carlos Jobim
--2 Laurindo Almeida (His soft ballad-filled album with Sammy Davis Jr. is just about the best thing Sammy ever recorded! It's called: Sammy Davis, Jr. sings, Laurindo Almeida plays.)
--3 Astrud Gilberto
8) How will Yi fit the Celtics after they draft him IF they draft him?: The Celtics desperately need help in the long/agile department on both ends of the floor. Reportedly Yi is not yet much of a defender, though with his size and athleticism I don't see why he can't theoretically become one.
It's on offense where he'll help right away. Here's how: The Celtics always get open mid-range shots. With Jefferson in the low post and Pierce driving, the outside guys get tons of good looks. The problem until now was they had no one to draw away the opposition's interior defender to cover the perimeter. Gomes draws out a smaller guy. But IF YI CAN PLAY he will automatically bring a big guy with him, and in doing so screw up the other team's whole defense. They can't just send a small forward out on him, because Yi will pop over the top all night.
Big man out of the post, everybody rotates. Lots of good looks inside and out. That's my fantasy anyway.
9) This Marion trade rumor does make one thing clear: Even though the lottery went really badly, all that losing still has a huge pay off potential. I mean Shawn Marion's pretty darned good and the Celtics turned the deal down. That ought to be an indicator that the team is adding someone formidable to the roster on June 28th, either by draft or trade.
That Suns team is one to watch since they dumped draft picks the last few years to avoid the dreaded lux tax, and are even in more danger this year. I wonder if Amare will become available.
(Isn't it comforting to know that gazillionaires have budget problems too?)
10) In honor of the Sopranos finale I can only say this: They made the flagrant foul a way of life.
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