The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery

Order of NBA draft based on top three lottery picks and order of finish

1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45)

2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59)

3. Washington Wizards (20-46)

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45)

5. Sacramento Kings (22-44)

6. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38) via trade from Brooklyn Nets

7. Golden State Warriors (23-43)

8. Toronto Raptors (23-43)

9. Detroit Pistons (25-41)

10. New Orleans Hornets (21-45) via trade from Minnesota Timberwolves

11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38)

12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35)

13. Phoenix Suns (33-33)

14. Houston Rockets (34-32)

The bouncing ping pong balls were kind to the the Big Easy, as the New Orleans Hornets landed the rights to the top pick in the NbA Draft during tonight's NBA Draft Lottery. This was a sort of bitter blow to Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats, who finished with the worst record in the NBA this past season but finished second in the Lottery. The Hornets will most likely use their top pick to select University of Kentucky forward/center Anthony Davis, probably the most impactful big man to enter the NBA since Dwight Howard.

The 2012 NBA Draft takes place on June 28th.

Shaolin325 said:

Cerebus said:

Hey! At least high profile players WANT to play in Brooklyn. Over the next two to three seasons I guarantee you they'll build a SOLID team, even if they don't get good draft picks.

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What high profile players are you talking about? Deron Williams - the guy that wanted to become a free agent instead of sign an extention with the Nets although his arse was continuously kissed/caressed this year or Dwight Howard - the guy who signed something stating he'd stay with Orlando another year?

I'm hoping for the best but..........

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Deron Williams has always been a punk. And he pouts. You'd be better off without him.

Dwight Howard is immature and all that, but if you sign him to a multi-year deal, he's still the best all around big man in the league right now (for those who play at both ends). New Jersey is the only place he's said he would sign that deal so far.

Also, I can't remember who, but there was somebody else, and that list will continue to grow. It's in the Five Boroughs, Jay-Z is a minority owner who will bring other star power to the games, the majority owner has CASH, the arena is going to be shiny and new with some crazy ass fans. Give it two or three seasons, unless they're winning single digit games each season, they'll build a solid team by the end of that time.

Cerebus said:

Shaolin325 said:

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What high profile players are you talking about? Deron Williams - the guy that wanted to become a free agent instead of sign an extention with the Nets although his arse was continuously kissed/caressed this year or Dwight Howard - the guy who signed something stating he'd stay with Orlando another year?

I'm hoping for the best but..........

-

Deron Williams has always been a punk. And he pouts. You'd be better off without him.

Dwight Howard is immature and all that, but if you sign him to a multi-year deal, he's still the best all around big man in the league right now (for those who play at both ends). New Jersey is the only place he's said he would sign that deal so far.

Also, I can't remember who, but there was somebody else, and that list will continue to grow. It's in the Five Boroughs, Jay-Z is a minority owner who will bring other star power to the games, the majority owner has CASH, the arena is going to be shiny and new with some crazy ass fans. Give it two or three seasons, unless they're winning single digit games each season, they'll build a solid team by the end of that time.

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Very true about Deron. He's a point guard who's not a very good leader (a bad combination). But, Avery Johnson LOVES this man. So he'll do whateva necessary to keep him.

Howard wouldn't be a bad pickup if they can get him, although his not wanting to look like the bad guy bothers me a little. He's still insisting he had nothing to do with Van Gundy's firing. Who believes that? He probably didn't say "fire him", but I'm sure he let it be known he didn't like SVG and when the STAR player doesn't like something and mgmt wants to keep him in the fold changes have to be made.

He's gonna need to have thicker skin if he wants to survive in NY....imo. I hope for the Nets sake he gets to prove me wrong.

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Eastern Conference Finals

Game 2

Boston Celtics 111 Miami Heat 115 Final/OT

When this series is over, should the Miami Heat emerge victorious, the Boston Celtics may look upon this game as the one where the season got away from them. They shocked Miami in the first half, jumping out to a 15 point lead in the middle of the second quarter. But Miami crawled and scratched their way back late in the second quarter and took the lead in the third, and with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter they led Boston by seven. But then the Celtics came storming back and tied the game a couple of times, particularly in the closing minutes as Ray Allen hit a three pointer with 34 seconds left. But Miami had a chance to wrap up the game at the end of regulation, but Lebron James' jumpshot in the closing seconds went wide, sending the game into overtime.

It was in overtime that Miami was able to eventually pull away, led by Dwyane Wade, who scored 23 points for the game while Lebron James scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. But the crucial plays came from the role players, as Mario Chalmers scored 22 points and Udonis Haslem came off the bench to score 13 points and grab 11 rebounds. Shane Battier also hit some crucial jumpshots in the fourth quarter to keep the Heat in the game.

All of this was nearly overshadowed by Rajon Rondo, who had the biggest game of his career, scoring a career-high 44 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists while playing the entire game. Paul Pierce scored 21 points for the Celtics but fouled out of the game in the closing minutes of regulation, which hurt Boston in overtime. Kevin Garnett added 18 points while Ray Allen broke out of his recent slump, scoring 13 points. But after leaving everything out on the floor but still letting the game slip away from them, do these aging stars still have enough juice left in the tank to compete against the Heat?

Miami leads series 2-0.

[Edited 6/1/12 20:35pm]

Really great game. Too bad that call was missed, but I'd rather it be one they don't call than one they shouldn't have called. Really happy the Heat won, too. I didn't think that was going to be the case there for a minute.

Cerebus said:

New Orleans Hornets? Really? I'm not a conspiracy theorist AT ALL! In fact, I'm really against that shit. But the team the league owns gets the number one pick? Really!?

Benson has purchased the team (Saints NFL owner) but it seems this was payback 4 the Chris Paul voided trade.

Graycap23 said:

Cerebus said:

New Orleans Hornets? Really? I'm not a conspiracy theorist AT ALL! In fact, I'm really against that shit. But the team the league owns gets the number one pick? Really!?

Benson has purchased the team (Saints NFL owner) but it seems this was payback 4 the Chris Paul voided trade.

Dude. Payback to who? It was the Lakers who got screwed.

Bad move by Nets GM Billy King. He could have used that draft pick as a bargaining chip to get Dwight Howard. Now Wallace has opted out of his contract.

Nets will be a lottery team next year.

If Dwight Howard REALLY wants to end up with the Nets, he will. He'll just play next season wherever he ends up and then go to the Nets as an unrestricted free agent. So in theory, if they Nets won the lottery next year they'd get Dwight Howard AND the number one pick. Do I need to mention the fact that I've already said they'll be a solid team in the next two to three seasons?

Cerebus said:

Graycap23 said:

Benson has purchased the team (Saints NFL owner) but it seems this was payback 4 the Chris Paul voided trade.

Dude. Payback to who? It was the Lakers who got screwed.

It is my opinion that the Benson purchase was promised this #1 pick as a payback 2 the Hornets because they would have gotten much better had that original deal went thru.

Graycap23 said:

Cerebus said:

Dude. Payback to who? It was the Lakers who got screwed.

It is my opinion that the Benson purchase was promised this #1 pick as a payback 2 the Hornets because they would have gotten much better had that original deal went thru.

First of all, let me be clear that I don't really believe this lottery was dirty. It's a lottery - you only have a chance to win. And the worst team in the league, statistically, rarely wins.

Second, the Lakers had a chance to go much farther this season, if not win it all, if the trade had gone through. Chris Paul is a beast and Lamar Odom didn't even play the whole season. Screw New Orleans. The Lakers got shafted.

I didn't know Benson had purchased the team until late last night, though. They were talking about the draft on TV and I was like, "ooooh, that's why that old white couple was up there with their coach."

Cerebus said:

Graycap23 said:

It is my opinion that the Benson purchase was promised this #1 pick as a payback 2 the Hornets because they would have gotten much better had that original deal went thru.

First of all, let me be clear that I don't really believe this lottery was dirty. It's a lottery - you only have a chance to win. And the worst team in the league, statistically, rarely wins.

Second, the Lakers had a chance to go much farther this season, if not win it all, if the trade had gone through. Chris Paul is a beast and Lamar Odom didn't even play the whole season. Screw New Orleans. The Lakers got shafted.

I didn't know Benson had purchased the team until late last night, though. They were talking about the draft on TV and I was like, "ooooh, that's why that old white couple was up there with their coach."

I'd bet money Benson was promised this pick when he purchased the team.

Western Conference Finals

Game 3

San Antonio Spurs 82 Oklahoma City Thunder 102

The Thunder found themselves on the ropes after dropping the first two games of these conference finals on the road. But sometimes a little home cooking can turn your fortunes around in a hurry. In this case OKC turned the tables on the Spurs, playing some huge crushing defense while getting huge contributions from their role players. Kevin Durant led all players with 22 points, but it was the play of Thabo Sefolosha and Serge Ibaka that propelled the Thunder into a huge lead beginning in the second quarter which they never relinquished. Sefolosha scored 19 points while getting six steals against the Spurs, while Serge Ibaka added 14 points, two steals and three blocked shots. Kendrick Perkins played a great defensive game, limiting Tim Duncan to just 11 points. Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson led the Spurs in scoring with 16 points apiece, but the rest of the team struggled to find shots as San Antonio lost its first game in nearly two months.

San Antonio leads series 2-1.

Well wtf?! That right there is why Cerebus should never gamble.

I'll admit it - I was wrong. I did not, in ANY WAY, see that happening.

Cerebus said:

Well wtf?! That right there is why Cerebus should never gamble.

I'll admit it - I was wrong. I did not, in ANY WAY, see that happening.

One down............one 2 go 2 tie it up. I had OKC by 20.

Interestingly enough, that is excactly what it was.

sad news....Orlando Woolridge passed away.....only 52

OKC by 5 in the next game.

Haha

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Haha

Lord...

uPtoWnNY said:

sad news....Orlando Woolridge passed away.....only 52

Wow! RIP Orlando

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Haha

I watched almost the entire video without my headphones on. It wasn't really funny. Then I put them on and watched it again.

phunkdaddy said:

uPtoWnNY said:

sad news....Orlando Woolridge passed away.....only 52

Wow! RIP Orlando

Jack Twyman died too, yesterday.

Eastern Conference Finals

Game 3

Miami Heat 91 Boston Celtics 101

After the Celtics left everything on the floor in Miami two nights ago, people were wondering whether the aging lineup of the big three had anything left in the tank to compete in game three. The answer was a resounding yes. The Celtics came storming back in game three, jumping off to a huge lead with some huge shots by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, as well as some good contributions off the bench. But the Heat would make this game much more interesting down the stretch, cutting Boston's 24 point lead at the start of the fourth quarter all the way down to eight points in the last two minutes before the Celtics hit some key shots toward the end of the game to put the game awy for good. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Paul Pierce had 23 points and Rajon Rondo had 21 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. Marquis Daniels gave the Celtics a lift off the bench, scoring nine points and grabbing five rebounds. Lebron James singlehandedly kept the Heat in the game, scoring 34 points. Dwyane Wade had 18 points, but it was the contributions from Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller that nearly brought the Heat all the way back, as they scored 14 and 11 points respectively. But in the end, the lead was just too deep for Miami to dig out from.

Miami leads series 2-1.

Graycap23 said:

OKC by 5 in the next game.

......off by 1.

Western Conference Finals

Game 4

San Antonio Spurs 103 Oklahoma City Thunder 109

We now have a bonafide series. The Thunder relied on their inside game to carry them tonight over the Spurs. Kevin Duran scored 36 points, 18 of them in the fourth quarter, but it was the inside game of Serge Ibaka nd Kendrick Perkins that would prove pivotal, as well as some key defensive plays down the stretch. OKC led by as many as 15, but an 18-5 Spurs run in the third quarter would cut the lead down to two points. But San Antonio had no answer for Kevin Durant or Serge Ibaka. The Spurs were unable to stop Ibaka in the post, and Kevin Durant singlehandedly kept the Spurs at bay in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points for OKC in a five minute stretch. But in the closing minutes it would be a steal by Thabo Sefolosha from a Tim Duncan pass that would seal the game for the Thunder. Ibaka scored 26 points for the Thunder with five rebounds and three blocked shots while Kendrick Perkins scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 21 points and 8 rebounds while Kawhi Leonard chipped in 17 points, including two three-pointers in the last two minutes. Manu Ginnobili had 13 points while Boris Diaw and Tony Parker each added 12 poiints.

Series tied at 2-2.

Cerebus said:

Well wtf?! That right there is why Cerebus should never gamble.

I'll admit it - I was wrong. I did not, in ANY WAY, see that happening.

Did u see a 2-2 tie?

Graycap23 said:

Cerebus said:

Well wtf?! That right there is why Cerebus should never gamble.

I'll admit it - I was wrong. I did not, in ANY WAY, see that happening.

Did u see a 2-2 tie?

Yeah man. I rarely miss a good game, even in the regular season. And I'm really excited! I hate the Spurs. HATE HATE HATE. Always have. But I just did NOT see this happening after they took the first two so easily. And it has nothing to do with home court, either. The Spurs played harder the first two games. OKC played harder the last two. At least it's become an interesting series. Looking forward to seeing if Boston can stretch their series a bit more now.... even though I hate them WAY more than the Spurs.

Cerebus said:

Graycap23 said:

Did u see a 2-2 tie?

Yeah man. I rarely miss a good game, even in the regular season. And I'm really excited! I hate the Spurs. HATE HATE HATE. Always have. But I just did NOT see this happening after they took the first two so easily. And it has nothing to do with home court, either. The Spurs played harder the first two games. OKC played harder the last two. At least it's become an interesting series. Looking forward to seeing if Boston can stretch their series a bit more now.... even though I hate them WAY more than the Spurs.

OKC is winning this series.

Graycap23 said:

Cerebus said:

Yeah man. I rarely miss a good game, even in the regular season. And I'm really excited! I hate the Spurs. HATE HATE HATE. Always have. But I just did NOT see this happening after they took the first two so easily. And it has nothing to do with home court, either. The Spurs played harder the first two games. OKC played harder the last two. At least it's become an interesting series. Looking forward to seeing if Boston can stretch their series a bit more now.... even though I hate them WAY more than the Spurs.

OKC is winning this series.

We'll see. You can't count out San Antonio's experience if this thing goes seven. Kind of hard to forget that they won 20 in a row, too. This could just be them taking a breath. If OKC can get the next one I'd be more willing to agree with you.

Cerebus said:

Graycap23 said:

OKC is winning this series.

We'll see. You can't count out San Antonio's experience if this thing goes seven. Kind of hard to forget that they won 20 in a row, too. This could just be them taking a breath. If OKC can get the next one I'd be more willing to agree with you.

Lol........that is pretty easy 2 do if they go up 3-2.