College Basketball Early Season Barn Burners

College basketball is officially back! As with every CBB season, the first couple weeks feature some of the biggest match ups we will see until March. Right off the bat we get to see perennial powerhouses Kentucky and Duke go head to head. Immediately following that Michigan State and Kansas will play on the same court. There’s a full slate of games to put some action on. Here’s the lines we like the most:


#2 Kentucky vs #5 Duke
Pick: Duke +2.5

Georgetown @ #3 Maryland
Pick: Maryland -7.5

#4 Kansas vs #13 Michigan State
Pick: Michigan State +6

#8 Oklahoma @ Memphis
Pick: Oklahoma -4.5

Nebraska @ #11 Villanova
Pick: Villanova -17

Wisconsin-Milwaukee @ #18 Notre Dame
Pick: Notre Dame -13

Stephen F. Austin @ Northern Iowa
Pick: Stephen F. Austin +3

Valparaiso @ Rhode Island
Pick: Valparaiso +1

North Dakota @ Wisconsin
Pick: North Dakota +24.5

2015 NBA Draft Preview

2015 NBA Draft Preview

1) Jahlil Okafor - C - Duke

Best case: Al Jefferson. Worst case: Derrick Favors. Most likely: Greg Monroe.

Nutz: The knock on Oakdawg, as he will be known next year, is that he's just not that exciting. He's kind of slow. Doesn't throw down big dick swinging dunks like Deandre Jordan. Doesn't have unlimited three point range and won't block 5 shots a game off the backboard. I would have to agree with most critics on these points. Okafor is not a flashy Amare Stoudemire type player, but he's a damn good post player that has a high basketball IQ, a great (GREAT) back to the basket game and a great NBA body. I'd be willing to bet he averages a solid 19-9 through his career. People think he's going to be out of shape for some reason, but that didn't seem to be an issue while he was playing 30 mpg on the way to a national title. BUT NO LET'S TAKE THE GUY THAT PLAYED 20 FUCKING MINUTES PER GAME WHO ALREADY LOOKS FAT! HE'LL BE IN GREAT SHAPE.

Catz: First off this dude carried Duke to a national championship at an age where most kids are still learning how to lift the seat up when they take a piss (I've almost got the hang of it). Sure you can argue that Justise and Tyus contributed way more to them cutting down the nets, but the Oak tree (you heard it here first) was very solid. His low post game will already be top 5-10 the moment he puts on an NBA uniform and if he goes to the right team (one with a defensive center) he can make an instant impact with 12-15 ppg and 6 or 7 boards. My biggest concern besides the obvious defense and weight concerns are the comments of Coach K, basically telling whatever fan base that ends up with him to give him some time because he is not quite the polished product that the general public has made him out to be. A little concerning, because the last time Coach K said something like that it was about Austin Rivers and we all saw how that one turned out...In the end his low post game should be enough to secure him a roster spot for 10 years, but I won't be surprised if he doesn't amount to more than a rotation player.

2) Karl Anthony Towns - C - Kentucky

Best case: . Worst case: . Most likely: Greg Monroe.

Nutz: I do not see the hype around KAT. When scouts and analysts are saying "he can do it all" and "no weaknesses" or "can shoot it from three with ease" all I want is a little tape backing these things up. KAT is not a transcendent number one draft pick! He's a project that has some nice tools to be the third or fourth best player on your team. He's not this 20 point scorer that everyone has been talking about, he's not an elite rebounder, he's not an elite shooter, he's a basketball player with good size. When you can take a solid wing player like Justise Winslow who can guard the best players in the league, you do it! Don't grab some guy that made an OK impact on his college team. The hype train is running full steam at this point and eventually it's going to fall off a cliff when people realize Towns is Derrick Coleman. 

Catz: It's easy to see why NBA GM's are interested in the notorious KAT. He's a 7 footer who not only can walk and talk at the same time, but also play a little bit of basketball. He definitely has a higher ceiling than the Oak tree due to his size, defensive abilities and a very smooth shooting stroke. Unlike Jahlil though, he doesn't have much on the block besides a decent left hook that he uses probably a little too much. All that being said he could be a really nice player in a few years, possibly even on the verge of a "franchise player" but that is probably setting the bar a little too high. Now if he comes in and is able to knock down the jumper consistently and even extend his range beyond the three point line, you are getting a solid NBA player...but if he doesn't get stronger and never develops on the offensive end, you are basically looking at Andrew Bogut, and where was Bogut this last finals? On the bench.

3) Justise Winslow - F - Duke 

Best case: Jimmy Butler. Worst case: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Most likely: Luol Deng.

Catz: The unsung hero of March Madness. Seriously if Duke didn't have this dude to go off against Arizona and Gonzaga there was no way they cut down the nets at the end of the tournament. He's got great size, very athletic, and can score the basketball. Throw in the fact that he's a lefty and can get to the rim at will and you have the makings of a very solid "combo guard" at the NBA level. While he isn't exactly Ray Allen with his jump shot, he's not Michael Kidd-Gilchrist either, and a couple of minor tweaks and bam you got a respectable NBA 3 point shooter. Whoever gets him is going to be super pumped, he can come in and contribute right away and has a decently high ceiling, like NBA all-star ceiling. Also he's from Houston, Texas and he dominated at the high school level, so you know he's not scared of shit. This dude is a winner, again I would take him first if I had the pick. 

Nutz: Justise is my favorite player in this draft and it's not even close. Not only does he have the name of a black superhero from the 80's, he's a great wing defender with an above average offensive game. Winslow comes in with an NBA ready body, a high motor and a championship pedigree. His defensive ability will cement him as a starter from day one and his ability on the fast break will surprise a lot of people. There is not a lot else to say about Winslow except that he is the most NBA ready prospect in this draft. You draft Justise, you know what you're getting. 

4) Emmanuel Mudiay - G - China???

Best case: Russell Westbrook. Worst case: Rodney Stuckey. Most likely: John Wall .

Catz: The great Chinese unknown! Okay, that's a little misleading, he's actually from the Congo, went to high-school in Texas and then played in China for the last year on the same team as NBA LEGEND Yi Jianlian!! So is he ready for the NBA? That's what GM's will have to ask themselves when they are on the clock next Thursday. Me personally, I have a thing for tall point guards, so I am definitely in his corner. He's 6'5 and can score/pass really well at the point guard position. To me personally, him and Winslow have the potential to be the best players coming out of this class, but you know NBA teams always have to take the tall guys because you can't teach height! Seriously if this guy went to SMU like he was supposed to, he would be in contention for the number one pick, but who says playing in China for a year isn't a good thing? He knows what it's like to be a pro and play against pros, so he should be ready to go right from the jump? Am I missing something here? Oh Yi dominates in the CBA, that should tell you about the level of competition over there. So it might take a little bit, but I think this guy is going to be a future all-star.

Nutz: I enjoy Mudiay. He pulled a Brandon Jennings and said "fuck education" to all the naysayers out there. Can't say that's smart, but I admire his swag. Mudiay's biggest strength is his body. The man is an athlete. He's fast, has great body control and is strong as fuck. He's tall for a point guard and has great vision which is more than can be said for an Eric Bledsoe or Marcus Smart. I really think there is some Russell Westbrook potential here, but I'm not sure that Mudiay is that driven. He definitely has the tools to be a 20-7-5 guy in the NBA, but there is still a fair share of unknown with the Tex-Cong point guard. I project him to have a fairly productive rookie year on paper, but one in which he's not very efficient, almost a Tyreke Evans type of rookie year. 

5) D' Angelo Russell - G - Ohio St.

Best Case: Penny Hardaway (not injured) Worst Case: Evan Turner Most likely: Some Sort of Lance Stephenson

Catz: Of all the big time prospects in this draft, this is the guy I have the least confidence in. Just too many red flags being thrown around here like not the best athlete, or not a traditional point guard. I understand that there is a lot of talent here for a 19 year old who was very impressive at times in a conference that had a solid year, but I think the rep he is getting as the best point guard prospect in the draft is a little too much. Could he be a solid point guard in the NBA? Sure. Is he the next Russell Westbrook as I've heard a couple scouts throw out there? Doubt it. Don't expect too much out of this guy early on especially if he goes to a team that expects him to run the point from day one.

Nutz: I'm not as down on D Russ as Mr. Catz is. He just seems like one of those guys that is a really, really good basketball player. There's nothing he does that sticks out more than anyone elses main skill. He's not a great shooter, great athlete, certainly not a bad ass defender; so what the hell is he? He can ball out. He cares about the game and he was a leader on the floor as a freshman! He could turn out to be Evan Turner, but he could also be a very good hybrid guard. Either way, Russell  has a nice 10 year career ahead, even if it's as the 8th man on the bench.

6) Kristaps Porzingis - F - Latvia

Best Case: Dirk Nowitzki Worst Case: Yi Jianlan Most likely: Andrea Bargnani

Catz: The talk of the 2015 NBA draft!! This dude has been blowing up lately, mostly because of a workout video of him that surfaced showing him killing it against air for his NBA draft workout. If anything that should be a huge red flag, because the last two examples we have of someone shooting up the charts because of a great workout were Yi Jianlian and Darko Milicic. Then there was a flood of articles about how it is actually unfair to compare him to these busts because this guy isn't your typical European prospect, I mean for god sakes he speaks English fluently!! His immediate impact is largely going to depend on what team ends up selecting him and how much of a leash he is given from the start. If he goes to the Lakers two or the Knicks at four he is more fucked than a hooker at a GOP convention! If he gets ten years to develop with the Sixers or someone like that, he could actually develop into a poor mans Mirotic in a couple of years. No he's not gonna be the second coming of Dirk, but he could definitely contribute in a couple of years if he goes in to the right situation.

Nutz: Nope. This won't work. Take this guy outside of the top 10 and you have a smart, helpful draft pick. Take him 5-9, you're reaching, but can make it work. Top 4? NOPE! You lose. You're taking a skinny, weak, slow, non rebounding 7ft shooter that has never played against the best of the best in the US. Dirk is one of a kind, let's stop trying to replicate him. I love Euro players. They play team ball, they're smart and they can all shoot somehow. When you throw an insane multi billion dollar franchise expectation on them, you're killing their career. Sorry Zinger, but you're Andrea Bargnani.

BEST OF THE REST

Now that we have taken a look at the top prospects in this draft you might as well shut off your TV after about the sixth pick right? Well hold on there Skippy...This draft doesn't have a lot of superstars up top, but there is some solid depth and some real diamonds in the rough if you look at the right places.

Catz

The rest of Kentucky

I know big KAT gets all the pub, but the rest of this team could all be solid NBA veterans for the next ten years. Seriously every single one of them, some of them even have potential to be stars. It blows my mind that Willie Caulie-Stein isn't going higher in this draft. I get that he is probably maxed out offensively already, but he could be Tyson Chandler in a couple of years, and with the right point guard that is a very solid combination. **UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT** but I think at least one of the Harrison twins could develop into a solid NBA role player. It may not happen right away, but now that the pressure of playing at Kentucky is off, they could settle in and actually find their niche. Dakari Johnson is going to be a solid back up NBA center. But the real gems here are Trey Lyles and Devin Booker. This might just be the 24 oz of Red Bull speaking, but I honestly think that these two could end up being the best players in this draft 5-10 years from now. Booker is an assassin, and carried UK offensively at times, despite only getting limited minutes off the bench. Lyles is a Swiss Army knife that showed the potential to play SF out of necessity, but is projected as more of a stretch 4, and oh yeah he is legit 7 ft tall.

Tyus "M'FIN" Jones!!

I think I speak for both basketball writers of DP when I say that Tyus was our favorite college player last year, and legitimately could be a stud at the next level. Yeah he has the size concerns because he is tiny even for an NBA point guard, but this dude knows the game. Listen to the way Coach K raves about him and how he basically handed him the keys to the offense as an 18 year old because this dude was way ahead of his peers. He hit big shots time and time again and basically controlled the game like CP3 when he wasn't running the Duke offense as smoothly as '67 Chevy Impala. Am I saying he is gonna be a franchise player...damn it's tempting, but more than likely he will be a solid NBA rotation player, maybe even a starter on a bottom half team. And if he goes to the Rockets, which almost every mock has him doing, that is almost too perfect of a fit and he will absolutely thrive.

Mr. Nutz

Mario Hezonja

If I were a GM and wanted to roll the dice on a young marketable player, I'm pulling the Mario H card! Number 1 player in the draft! He brings confidence, insane brashness and an incredible shooting touch that can only be rivaled by the legendary JR Smiff! Hezonja is the reincarnation of Rudy Fernandez without the emotional problems. He's either going to dunk on you or he's going to shoot a 3. The man is going to be a star. Mark my words. 

SUPER SUPER SLEEPER!!

Cliff Alexander

So he had a terrible year for Kansas where he could barely crack the rotation and ultimately ended up leaving the team early. BUT, this dude was compared to Amare Stoudamire coming out of high school, and there was almost a riot in his home state after he pranked the fans of Indiana before ultimately committing to Kansas. Well the joke was ultimately on him, but I think his game could translate better to the NBA. He is definitely going to need a few years to develop, but he could be a solid NBA PF sooner rather than later.

2015 NBA DRAFT WATCH

Making the Case for the Harrison Twins

I’m sure you probably had the same reaction that I did when you first saw the news that the Harrison twins were declaring for the NBA draft in June. WHAT??? Why the hell would they do that?? Those dudes suck!! Initially I was on the exact same page, I didn’t get it either. They were both highly ranked recruits that never lived up to the hype. So after two average seasons (for them, not the team) they decided to strike while the iron was hot and throw their names in the proverbial NBA hat. But was this a good decision? Well your boy Bobby Catz is here to tell you that; yes, yes it is. First off their stock is never going to get any higher. Sure they could come back for another season and maybe move up to being selected late first round,  but far more likely is they hurt their stock even further or worst case scenario get hurt and don’t get drafted altogether. So they should absolutely capitalize on what little momentum they have after such an impressive season for Kentucky, and two consecutive final four appearances.

Now, here is the other question that people always find themselves asking, are they any good?? Well…that’s a little more complicated.

The Suck Meter: How do we judge the Harrisons?

The first strike against them is that they play for Kentucky and have such a spotlight on them at all times. If they were to play at some random big ten school or even a different school in the SEC, their stock would probably be a lot higher. But when you are part of a team that every media outlet covers on a daily basis, you better be fuckin fantastic night in and night out. Instead for the most part of the first season they played like they were freshmen, not freshmen at Kentucky who are notorious for one and dones.

The second strike against them is that they are twins and carried themselves like they were about to be selected number one and two whenever they decided to grace the NBA with their presence. I suppose that is what happens when you are the top two players coming out of the state of Texas and you choose to play college basketball at Kentucky.  But throw all of that nonsense aside for a second. What do they really have going for them?

Do the Harrisons suck as much as we've all been saying? Maybe not.

A Tale of Two Harrisons

First off, let’s start with Andrew Harrison, otherwise known as the Harrison twin who plays point guard. The reason it was so hard to tell these two apart when they first got to Lexington was mainly due to Andrew trying to jack up a bunch of shots and play much more like his brother Aaron.  Then Calipari had a revelation during a practice one time. He pulled Andrew aside and told him to stop shooting and start passing!! It only took him five months to realize that his point guard should be passing the ball primarily instead of shooting it (are we sure Calipari is a good coach??). From that moment on the team took off and the offense actually looked competent as they shocked their way to a title game run before reeling off 38 straight wins as an encore. Now why couldn’t that translate to the NBA level? I am here to tell you that I actually think it can. I think NBA GM’s see this too, because we have this one little thing in common when it comes to our point guards….we love tall ones!! Seriously when has a tall point guard ever failed?? Some GM is sitting in an office right now watching tape on Drew, just muttering to himself “but he’s 6’5….” again and again as he watches him turn the ball over three times in a row against a guard from South Carolina that wouldn’t crack Kentucky’s top 12. I think he goes late first round, and the real shocker, he actually becomes a competent NBA point guard. Now I’m not talking first team all-pro, or even third team, but he could be a solid backup getting 15-20 min a game on a contending team! That’s pretty good considering how far his stock has fallen since coming out of high-school.

Now for Aaron Harrison aka the Harrison who plays shooting guard. He is legitimately the reason why they get so much hate outside of every city in the country besides Lexington and Jasper TX (hometown). Something about the way he carries himself before games, and then his reactions when he throws up a terrible floater and screams at the ref that the light contact was the reason the ball went fifteen feet over the basket.  So there’s absolutely no saving grace for him right?? He’s the Harrison destined to fail correct? Well, slow your roll on that one too. First off he’s got the same attractive trait of his twin brother (funny how that happens right?) of being 6’4 or 6’5. That’s the size of an average NBA 2 guard, and he definitely fits the image of what a shooting guard is supposed to look like. But there are hundreds of 2 guards who are 6’5 right? Correct, but how many of them have played crunch time minutes on a big stage, and have not only come away without shitting their pants, but have actually thrived in that situation?? Well Aaron fits that bill too. He took some of the most ill-advised shots that I have ever seen, especially in last year’s tournament, and you know what? He hit almost every one of them. Now we aren’t talking about off balance toss ups that hit the backboard and luckily bounced in, he was legitimately standing three feet behind the line squared up a three and drilled it. Not just once, but no less than five times! He won the final four game against Wisconsin with one of those shots, and the amount of ballz that it takes to not only take a shot like that, but to hit it?? HUGE!! That cannot be taken lightly. Shit, Robert Horry made an entire career off standing in the right spot and taking big ass shotz when they were most needed by his team. With all that being said I don’t think that will actually improve his draft stock much as he will still go second round, but it should improve his potential NBA role player stock.

 The Verdict

In the end, are the Harrison twins going to be all stars in the NBA? Probably not, no, but are they going to be NBA players who will get a decent second contract and contribute to an NBA team? Yeah they actually should be, especially Andrew aka the point guard Harrison. Hopefully once they get drafted and stashed away on an NBA bench, they will finally get a chance to develop away from the spotlight for the first time since I am assuming middle school. Now I don’t want people going out and saying “Catz said the Harrison twins are going to make it in the NBA”, but the Harrison twins are going to make it in the NBA and that’s a direct quote (thanks Mike Vick).

Wednesday NHL and College Basketball Picks!

NHL with a side of College Ball

Ottawa (+155) @ Winnipeg

The Sens have outscored opponents 14-6 over their last 5 games.  They’re making teams work to get scoring chances and are finding success putting the puck in the net on the other end.  After the Evander Kane trade Winnipeg has been playing much better.  This should be a good game but I like the Sens here.  The Jets don’t create a lot of offense compared to some of the teams the Senators have been able to shut down lately.

NY Rangers @ Detroit (-130)

This game features two teams that could very easily cross paths in the playoffs this year.  On top of that, both teams have made some significant additions over the past week via trades.  Lastly, both teams are coming off wins against Nashville.  Detroit is always tough to beat at home, especially when they’re playing as well as they have been.  This should be a great game for any hockey fan to watch.  Detroit rolls at home.

Pittsburgh -1.5 (+175) @ Colorado

If you ask me, the Penguins look more like a contender every game they play.  They have won 4 straight and haven’t shown any signs of slowing down.  With Patrick Roy behind the bench for the Avs it’s safe to say that he will pull the goalie with 7 minutes left in the game if they're down at all.  He’s been a bit too aggressive this year when it comes to yanking the goalie and it has cost them more than it’s benefited them.  An empty net just means Cros or Malkin will bury another one.

Montreal @ Anaheim (-115)

Montreal got blown out by San Jose last game.  Tonight they continue their West Coast road trip by taking on the Ducks in the Honda Center.  The Ducks have own 4 of 5 and have been putting the haters to rest by blowing teams out.  I expect more of the same from them tonight.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL PICKS

Ohio State -5.5 (-115) @ Penn State

Penn State has been getting absolutely crushed lately.  They’ve been losing to everyone and losing by a lot.  Ohio State slipped up and dropped 2 road games at Michigan State and Michigan but have won 2 straight since.  They are fighting to increase their NCAA Tournament seeding while Penn State is just..losing.

Notre Dame @ Louisville -4

Notre Dame is coming off a 5 point home loss to Syracuse.  Louisville is not a fun place to be a visiting team in.  The Cards are solid per usual and still have a great coach.  Notre Dame has been up and down all year.  I don’t think they’re up to the task of facing a top notch program on the road just before the tournament.  

Wake Forest @ Duke -17.5

Usually I stay away from a line like this but Wake Forest is BAD.  They’re terrible.  Duke could win it all this year.  This is going to be a blood bath.

Nebraska +8 @ Illinois

Both of these teams are extremely hot and cold.  They both have some horrible losses and some great wins this year.  I think it will be a close game and the Huskers will cover.

Wednesday College Ball Teaser

Wednesday's College Ball Teaser
It's been a while since I've tossed some quality locks at you guys.  Today, the suns out and it's above -10 degrees here for the first time in weeks, I'm feeling 100% again.  Let's get things rolling with a classic college basketball teaser.

Starting with:
VCU -2.5
Detroit +4.5
Oregon +1
Massachusetts  -6
Oakland -10.5

All teased +4.5 points..

VCU +2
Detroit +9
Oregon +5.5
Massachusetts -1.5
Oakland -6

That's it.  There's the free money teaser of the day for you jabroni's.  Use it wisely.

Wednesday Night College Basketball Picks

College Bucketz Winners

Villanova -4 @ Providence

6th ranked ‘Nova is primed to roll tonight on the road.  They’ve only lost 2 games this season and have won most of their games by at least 4 points.  I don’t see this game being that close.

Syracuse @ Boston College +2.5

The ole BC vs ‘Cuse match up once again.  This Boston College team has been horrible this year but they always give Syracuse a run for their money.  Remember last year?  Boston beat an undefeated Syracuse team midway through the season.  Cuse will probably win by 1 or 2 tonight.

South Florida @ Central Florida -2.5

The marquee match up of the NIGHT!!! SOUTHIE VS CENTRAL, THE SHOWDOWN IN FLOTOWN!  Tune in and watch as the Central Florida Knightzzz go to WORK on those foreigners from down south!  

Bradley @ Drake -2
I’m not sure if this is a college basketball match up or just a line for 2 neighborhood bro’s playing 1 on 1.  Either way, Drizzake is the home team and I’m sure they (or he) will have a massive turn out for this pivotal match.  DRAKE FTW! ROLL IT!

Catz's super non-biased picks

Everyone gets a little bored once in a while of doing the same old thing time and time again. That's why we have commercials showing men in their sixties in a "happy" marriage who can't even get a semi when their wife of thirty years plus is in the mood. So in honor of that, I'm gonna switch it up and do a little college bball pick!

Gonzaga (+5) vs. Arizona
The Zags are returning to the scene where they were absolutely demolished in last years tourney, good ole Tucson, Arizona! This time around though, the boys from GU are going to notice some changes. While Arizona is still a really good team this year, they aren't the title contenders everyone had pencilled in this summer. They have had way too many games that were close wins when they should have been blowouts. Meanwhile the Dawgz are experienced, deep, and ultra-talented, with some analysts even going so far as to mark them as dark horse contenders. Even though I'm not ready to label anyone outside of Kentucky and Duke as future champs, it's still nice to have a team this talented getting points. Go Bulldogs!!

Quick hit NBA picks
Phi +9.5 vs. DET

Getting 9 points against the second worst team in the league? Easy money even if it's the worst team is the one getting em.

OrL (+6) vs SAC
I love the Magic in this spot. All season I've been taking Lando and the points and don't see that changing against a DeMarcus-less Kings team.

NOP (+9) vs. LAC
This makes me nervous after getting burnt on similar lines several times thus far. The Pelicans are a super attractive bet getting points because of the transcendent superstar A-Davis, but the rest of the team really isn't that good. Oh well, you got me again Vegas, roll it!!!!

Birdemic

Sugar’s College Pick 

 It’s hump day; lets live a little

Louisville @ Southern Methodist (+3) (L)

SMU has not lost at home this season (knock on wood).  Their 15-0 home record is tough to argue with.  For the betting man, SMU has gone 17-8 against the spread this season while Louisville is 13-13.  The Cardinals are coming off a loss in Memphis while the Mustangs are coming off a decisive win at home against Central Florida.  SMU has won some big games recently against Cincinnati, UCONN, and Memphis.  Ironically enough, Louisville’s last 3 losses came to Memphis (twice) and Cinci.  I predict the Mustangs roll tomorrow night at home and keep the perfect home record (knock on wood).  They haven’t had a good basketball team, or sports team for that matter, in ages.  The home crowd at SMU will be ready to go tomorrow night to support their team in a big game.  Also, we received an entirely unconfirmed report that Rick Pitino’s favorite hooker lives near the SMU campus.  Do what you will with this unconfirmed piece of information. 

Sugar’s Pick: SMU +3

Puck Picks Daily  

Because it's hockey

Not a lot going on in the Show tonight but, I’ll do my best to give you degenerate gamblers some solid picks.

Montreal @ Anaheim -180 (L)

This one’s pretty plain and simple.  The Birdemic (that one’s for you Bobcat) that is the Ducks, has evolved into an elite NHL club.  They score a shit load of goals and have one of the league’s best tenders between the pipes, Hiller.  Their dynamic offense, led by Getzlaf and Perry, rains pucks on net like the birds in the cult classic Birdemic.  Anaheim sits atop the NHL with 91 points.  The Habs are out matched and in unfriendly territory.  Look for Anaheim to roll once again and move one step closer to locking up the President’s Trophy.

Sugar’s Pick: Anaheim -180

NBA Draft 2014

NBA DRAFT RULES

By +Bobby Sugar 

As March Madness gets closer, it is time for all GMs of tanking NBA teams to take a good hard look at this year's crop of prospects. No doubt names like Wiggins, Parker, Embiid and Smart will be featured in discussions leading up to draft day, but it is the relative unknowns and future tourney stars that most are waiting for.

For fans and NBA execs alike, this time of year becomes a statistical feeding frenzy as we try to find the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect. Words like "wingspan," "vertical," and "genital circumference" will be thrown around like monkey feces, and,  on draft day, we will see the result of all that hard scouting work.

But what really goes on in those draft rooms? If teams are scouting for months on end and breaking down film, why the hell do we have so many first round misses? As a fan, it has to be extremely frustrating watching your GM take disappointing player after disappointing player as your team sets up permanent base in the lottery. 

This is why we have created the "Five Rules of NBA Drafting"; an easy and quick reference for all GM's and execs itching to improve their teams. With these rules, you will no longer be subject to seeing your team draft a 6 ft 9 in African center that hasn't played more than 4 months of organized basketball with the 2nd pick in the draft. Go ahead and print this out, put it right next to your mock draft and any time you are skeptical about a pick, consult the list. And as a multi-racial collaboration of writers here at Dirty Picks, we don't want to hear any cries of racism or bigotry. If you are a GM and your job is on the line, looking at Robert Swift or Meyers Leonard and saying "no" is not racist; IT'S JUST THE DAMN TRUTH!

NOTE: These rules are meant for the NBA lottery! Not second round picks! As a matter of fact most of the players subject to these rules are great mid-first or second round picks. So when you're reading this, remember LOTTERY. 

THIS LIST WILL WEED OUT 98% OF DRAFT BUSTS! 

THE 5 RULES OF THE NBA DRAFT

Rule I: 
Never take giant white centers who are "projects" because they are over seven feet tall.

Examples

Chris Mihm, Joel Pryzbilla, Robert Swift, Shawn Bradley, Meyers Leonard, Alex Len (kind of, he's slightly Euro), Cole Aldrich etc.
Comments
Is this racist? Probably, but you know what? These dudes do NOT work out as lottery picks! Now if you want to draft a guy to be a contributor for 12-18 minutes off the bench and get some rebounds (Nick Collison, Josh McRoberts, Tyler Hansborough) do it....later in the draft!

This is what happens

Analysts Say:
"He's a better athlete than you'd expect! He has a high basketball IQ and should be a solid contributor right away"


TRANSLATION
"He's more athletic than most white guys! Also, since he's white, we have to mention that he's a smart player for some reason. He's not going to be very good, but he should be a good role player for the next 10 years."

Rule II: 
Do not take big men described as "raw," "athletic," or "has potential on offense."

Examples
Hasheem Thabeet, Kwame Brown, Bismack Biyombo, Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright, Tyrus Thomas, Patrick O'Bryant, Hilton Armstrong, Sheldon Williams, Desagana Diop.

Comments
When does this work out?! You draft a guy that blocks 4 shots per game and pulls down 10 rebounds, but can't score! Oh yeah, and those guys that he's blocking and boarding over? Unathletic, college dudes that won't sniff the NBA. Oh by the way, there's no defensive 3 second rule in college, feel free to camp around the rim and block 6 ft point guard's layins and collect rebounds. If you can't score against these same guys, how the hell are you scoring on NBA bigs?

Raw on Offense  = That's not going in

Analysts say:
"This guy is raw, but he has a lot of potential. Great wingspan, athletic, he's going to be a force on defense and on the boards. If he ever gets his offensive game going, watch out!"

TRANSLATION
"This guy really doesn't know what he's doing. He is pretty athletic, but hey we're in the NBA! Everybody is fuckin athletic! He will never average over 10 points per game, and you wasted a lottery pick on him instead of picking up Reggie Evans for a second round pick!"

RULE III: 
Do not take a player that doesn't have at least one elite skill. 

Examples

Joe Alexander, Otto Porter, Sean May, Austin Rivers, Darko Milicic, and Mateen Cleaves (sorry Sugar), Wes Johnson, Evan Turner to an extent, MARVIN WILLIAMS.

Comment
I don't care if it's being able shoot 3's (JJ Reddick), lockdown-D (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist), or he can pull down twenty rebounds against the Monstars from Space Jam (Kenneth Faried). If a player does not

Next Stop! D-League!

possess one elite skill, he better be fuckin amazing at every other skill in the book. Like LeBron good; in other words it doesn't work out. Also, athleticism does not qualify as an elite skill. This ain't baseball, these players are all superior athletes. The only exception to that is if the player is so athletic that he even impresses other NBA players, example: Gerald Green.

What analysts say:

"Jim, this player contributes in a variety of ways, he's very versatile and that flexibility will allow him to thrive at the NBA level."

TRANSLATION

"Jim this guy isn't very good at anything, but he had to do a lot for his team in college! He definitely can't shoot threes, he can dribble a little bit, but not past anyone. He can pass the ball, but not very well and you can expect pedestrian rebound numbers. This guy should be able to give you 15 minutes off the bench for the rest of his career."

Rule IV: 

Do not take international players that fail to dominate their own league.

Examples

Darko Milicic, Jan Vesely, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Andrea Bargnani

Comments

This rule has not become as important lately as teams have moved away from drafting international players early, but you'd be surprised how many teams still struggle with this concept. If there is a guy playing 15 minutes per game and averaging single digits in everything, how the hell is he going to succeed in the NBA? Unless the guy kills it against the US, Spain or Argentina, don't bother taking him in the lottery. 

"and Jan never scored again..."

What analysts say:

"I tell ya, this guy is not like most international players, he's physical, athletic and he likes to get in there and bang! He only averaged 3 points per game in the Dakminstanistan league, but his physical gifts and style of play are more suited the NBA game."

TRANSLATION

"I tell yeah, this guy is more of a physical specimen than the other guys in his league who don't work out and chain smoke constantly. He can NOT score, so don't expect that. Oh and he's used to a different rule set, so expect him to never know what the fuck is going on. He also doesn't speak English and has never played more than 12 minutes per game. Expect him to be back in Europe in 2 years."

Rule V 
Do not draft a player in the lottery if you do not know his main position.

Examples

Marvin Williams, Derrick Williams, Renaldo Balkman, Jared Jeffries, Melvin Ely, Marcus Haislip, Cedric Simmons, Anthony Randolph, Ekpe Udoh, Al-Farouq Aminu, Tyrus Thomas, Ike Diogu, Yi Jianlan

"BUT HE PLAYS EVERY POSITION!"

Comments

This is one of the most egregious draft offenses! You see a guy that looks like a small forward, that wants and basically needs to play power forward or center! Or, he is 6'9" and you justify the pick because, "he's so versatile, he can play both positions!" No, that's not how it works. Your 6'9" power forward is not guarding LeBron, Melo, KD, Paul George or Kawhi. Oh you want to stick that guy at the three? Well, he can't shoot or dribble so good luck with that! Magic Johnson was versatile; LeBron James is versatile; Andre Iguodala is versatile; Marvin Williams is NOT versatile.

What analysts say:

"This guy is more of 4 that can kind of play the three and that versatility is going to help this team. He's got good length and quick feet, he'll be able to help this team in a lot of ways. He should be able to slide into the lineup easily and become a contributor."

TRANSLATION

"I have no fucking clue what position this guy can play. He definitely can't play the 4, so they're going to try him at the 3, but that shit won't work at all! He can't dribble well or shoot to space the floor so he'll have to post up. Unfortunately he has 0 post moves because he thinks he is a small forward and he's way undersized. Oh and they already have a solid guy that plays his primary position so they will force the rookie to play with him and fail miserably. He'll be shooting a lot of long, jumpers at a 30% clip."

Time to Get Upset!

Arizona @ Colorado (+4.5) (L)

The last time we bet Arizona, the "basketball players" from Utah went completely flaccid against the Wildcats and ruined our night. Not to worry. I am here to once again bet against Arizona's mediocrity. College Game Day is in town, the Buffs just beat Arizona St. (who beat the Cats) and have won 5 of their last 6 conference games, and have just 1 home loss. Arizona has not been consistent since they lost Brandon Ashley earlier in the season. Colorado will jump all over them to start the game, lose the lead and come back in the end to cover the spread (which will result in a court storming somehow...). Take the BUFFS!!!

BJ's Pick: Colorado +4.5 

Sugar’s “My Maple Syrup Tastes Like Jack Daniels” College Picks

#11 Louisville @  #7 Cincinnati (+3.5) (WINNER!)

Cincinnati has yet to lose at home this season.  Furthermore, on January 30^th they went into Louisville and beat the Cardinals 69-66.  If you haven’t heard, the new motto around here for college ball is “take the home team."  The Bearcats are 17-1 in their last 18 games; winning those 17 games by an average of 12.6 points.  Louisville is a good team, as always, that has been successful on the road this year with only 1 road loss.  However, after nailing yesterday's picks, I’m feeling Cinci on this one. If they don’t win, expect a close loss that will cover. 

Sugar’s Pick: Cincinnati +3.5

NCAA Basketball

Sugar’s “My Maple Syrup Tastes Like Jack Daniels” College Picks

Mercer @ Florida Gulf Coast (+1.5) (WINNER!)

We here at Dirty Picks have been “hot doggin” lately on our college picks; Trying to get all fancy picking road teams to pull of upsets.  Well word came down from the top this week that the days of freeballin in our sweat pants at work are over.  As the great Don Ready once said, “It’s time to put your boner pants on.” We like Mr. Ready’s style and plan to start nailing some college picks and get our record back on track before March Madness.  To start this new way of doing things off I’m taking Florida Gulf Coast (+1.5) at home against Mercer.  FGCU’s overall record (17-10) is nothing spectacular, but upon closer examination you’ll see that 7 of their 10 losses occurred during non-conference games.  Their 11-3 conference record places them 2^nd in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Furthermore, the Eagles have yet to lose a conference game at home.  That’s our new bread and butter here at Dirty Picks when it comes to college games that we know little to nothing about. Mercer is 1^st in the Atlantic Sun Conference meaning this is a big home game for FGCU. 

Sugar’s Pick: Florida Gulf Coast +1.5 

Virginia Commonwealth @ Massachusetts (-2) (WINNER!)

Here’s another game that falls under our “take the home team” rule.  VCU (20-6, 8-3) travels to Amherst, MA tonight to face the Minutemen (20-5, 7-4).  UMASS has only lost twice at home this season; only once during conference play.  All 3 of VCU’s conference losses have come on the road this year; losing by an average of 6.3 points.  They ride into Amherst looking to bounce back after a road loss to Saint Louis last Saturday.  Look for UMASS to be ready to go tonight with their energetic fans behind them.  Like Don Ready says, “You give away free hot dogs and put up an inflatable gorilla, shit’s gunna go down.”  Find the patriot within yourself and throw a few bucks down on the Minutemen tonight.  Slam some PBR’s while you’re at it. 

Sugar’s Pick: Massachusetts (-2)

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NCAA Pick's

Sugar's "Utah can suck it" College Ball Pick of the Night 

Michigan State (-6) at Purdue (WINNER!)

Michigan State is coming off a disappointing loss to Nebraska at home.  Tom Izzo shouldered all of the blame for the Spartan's performance saying, "it's my job to get them ready to play." His team is sitting at 13th in the polls, but has lost 3 of their last 5, two of those coming at home.  Purdue is coming off a big win at home against their in-state rival,  Indiana. The Boilermakers will look to continue to roll at home tonight against Izzo's Spartans.  The big question for State has been: What's the real status of starting point guard, Keith Appling? This week Tom Izzo told the media he was considering sitting Appling for the remainder of the season to preserve him for the tournament.  Remarkably the next day Appling claimed to be 100% healthy, saying "we've done tried everything, and now I feel like it’s finally starting to kick in and I’m starting to feel a lot better.” The timing of his miraculous recovery is suspicious. Is Appling good to go or is he trying to be "Captain Tough Guy" and not miss the last 5 games of his Big Ten career? Regardless the pick here is MSU. Look for them to be ready to go tonight.

Sugar's Pick: Michigan State (-6)

Memphis (-8) at Rutgers (L)

This is pretty straight forward folks. Last time these two teams met it wasn't pretty if you were a Rutgers fan.  101-69 was what the scoreboard said after the abuse was over.  Memphis is coming off an OT loss at UCONN and Rutgers is coming off a nice 102-54 loss in Louisville. Don't be that guy that bets on Rutgers to do something special, because it won't happen tonight, or anytime in the next 50 years probably.  The pick here is Memphis, unless you're a member of the Utah Utes basketball team. If that's the case, well fuck you. When you're down by 3 with 1 second left why are you fouling? Give it the fuck up and go bang one of your wives. Then wake up and practice shooting free throws until your god damn arms fall off.

Sugar's Pick: Memphis (-8)

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Thursday's Barely Legal Mormon Pickz

General disclaimer: Coming off our first sub .500 night since we started keeping track of our picks, many people would give it up and go back to their real jobs. Well, I'm not most people, and I don't have a job. So just like riding a horse or shooting heroin you have to get right back on.

Duke (-1.5) at North Carolina (L)
The game we originally picked last week, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Not much has changed from a week ago; Carolina still has flashes of being an elite team, Duke struggles to remain consistent, and Jabari Parker is still Mormon. This game will be decided by the shooting prowess of Parker and Rodney Hood. Carolina has talent in Marcus Paige and James Mcadoo, but they lack depth behind those two. Expect a close game throughout with Duke pulling away late in the second half.

Gonzaga (+3) at BYU (L)
This pick is purely for revenge against the state of Utah. Last night we picked them to cover against Arizona, and it should have happened until some guard (I'm not even gonna bother to look up his name) missed 4 free throws in the last two minutes of OT. Destroying our hopes and shitting on our gambling dreams. Well tonight my alma mater Gonzaga will get us our well deserved vengeance. Like the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served Mormon. GU can lock up the conference title with a win tonight against the second place cougars, and senior forward Sam Dower should help the bulldogs do just that. Look for a sloppy game that Gonzaga never loses control of, and no fewer that 8 white players on the court at all times.

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Late Night Treat

Sugar’s College Pick of the Night

Arizona vs Utah (+3.5) (L)

The bottom line here is, Arizona has struggled to score on the road this season.  They haven’t broken 70 points in their last 3 road games and come into tonight riding a 2 game road losing streak.  People are beginning to talk amongst themselves and what they’re sayin’ ain’t pretty.  The question on a lot of people’s minds is: “Who’s more overrated: Arizona or Andrew Wiggins?"

Now I’m not saying the Utes are going to win this game but I am saying Arizona won’t cover.  Look for Arizona to scratch out a tough win and walk away with a 62-60 victory. 

Sugar’s Pick: Utah +3.5 

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Holiday Tease

NCAA BASKETBALL

Yesterday, we absolutely nailed our 3 team teaser. In fact, it probably didn't need to be teased at all. As today is a holiday and there isn't anything going on in the sports world. We're bringing you 3 more teams to throw in a teaser, just for the hell of it. 3 teams, +150.  (2-1, L)

BJ's Pick: North Carolina (-1.5, teased to +3.5 @ Florida St.) (WINNER!)
Both these teams have been decent ATS this year. In fact, NC has covered the spread in their last 6 games. Let's assume that Vegas is going to adjust for that and try to come up on the public today. That makes this Monday pick an easy choice for a teaser. Look for James Michael McAdoo to out-battle Aaron Thomas in a close NC victory. 

Bob's Pick: OK St. at Baylor (-5.5 teased to -.5) (WINNER)
Okay, so this is the first installment that features players that are a little more legal than what I usually go for, but still barely legal nonetheless. We start with prospect Isaiah Austin, the 7ft Baylor sophomore center. He's long, athletic, and can walk while chewing gum meaning he will play in the NBA. He needs to put on some muscle in order to bang at the NBA level, but he definitely has a place as a rotation player in the league which is more than anyone not named Marcus Smart can say at OK State. The second player to focus on is PF Cory Jefferson, the senior forward is also an NBA rotation player waiting to happen. He's got good size and solid production over his four years at Baylor. NBADRAFT.net has his player comparison as Carlos Rogers who I am pretty sure plays for the 49ers so I don't see how that works. Baylor easily covers this game at (-.5) home with OK State guard Marcus Smart serving the last game of his suspension.

Ben's Pick: Delaware (+3 teased to +8) at Towson (L)
Basketball factory Delaware rolls into whatever town Towson is located in looking to continue their recent trend of success (it's a rough night for games okay!). In the last three games for Delaware, senior guard Davon Usher has dropped 42, 25, and 32 and he doesn't even lead the team in scoring on the season! Couple that with the fact that the Blue Hens (that's really their name) are 11-0 in conference play and (+8) looks pretty good even on the road.

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