When the Raptors tumbled down the NBA draft board in the lottery, things could have been worse.
The Toronto Raptors will pick fifth in the upcoming June draft thanks to the (bad) luck of the draw in the NBA lottery. It's not unusual in a sense as the Raptors have only moved up from their designated spot on two occasions when they have been part of the lottery.
If you listen to Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo, who agreed to a contract extension on the day the lottery was held, it may be easier to select a player in the five hole rather than have uncertainty, and I'm sure be second guessed to the end of all times if it doesn't work out, with the third-overall pick. He gave those thoughts when he chatted with the media moments after Toronto slipped.
With the draft being touted as a below-average one with respect to the crop of players, Colangelo felt that if there was a year to slip, this was the time. Kyrie Irving the lightning-quick guard from Duke is viewed as the top pick with forward Derrick Williams of Arizona expected to go second overall. After that, it's anybody's guess and this may be where the draft starts. After dropping to fifth, some of the decisions will be made for Toronto, which may not be a bad thing because sometimes, a guy just falls in your lap, right, Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City?
Colangelo mentioned a number of names that Toronto will consider to fill needs on the front line and in the backcourt. Forward Enes Kanter from Turkey, who never did get to play at Kentucky, was mentioned as was another international big man in Jonas Valanciunas. Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State is another possibility. Guards Kemba Walker from NCAA champion Connecticut, Brandon Knight from Kentucky and Alec Burks from Colorado are also in the conversation. There will be much chatter in the coming weeks as to who to select and who to trade before draft night rolls around on June 23rd.
Were you surprised that Colangelo was signed to an extension? Not in this corner. Mind you, he doesn't have a lot of time to turn things around as it is reported to be a two-year extension with a club option for a third year. A start was made this season and you have to think he's going to try and do it the right way. For a man known to make moves, he was relatively quiet this season and admitted that he could have made deals to inch Toronto closer to the playoffs but didn't so the younger players, who he hopes will be key moving forward, had a chance to develop.
Other than four teams right now, it's the off-season for everyone so let the chatter and fantasy talk begin.
As for the teams still playing how about the defensive display by the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 against the Miami Heat?
The Bulls pride themselves on multiple efforts, particularly on defense and they did a great job holding the Heat to 34 second-half points. It has to be a different Miami squad in Game 2 and they have to move the ball and rebound better. They had a paltry 11 assists in the opener, and in four losses to Chicago in the regular season, they were beaten on the boards consistently.
It has been noted many times in this corner that if you do not move the ball against teams that load up in the lane like Chicago and Boston, both defenses being built by Tom Thibodeau, you are going to have a tough time scoring. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned ball movement to his team as he keeps trying to convince them that isolation basketball will not work against Chicago.
It's all about adjustments for Miami right now because even when Spoelstra went to his "ace in the hole" small line-up with LeBron James playing power forward, Chicago had an answer. Thibodeau has game planned regularly for Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in the post-season and this is nothing new for him.
The Bulls high-motor players like Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson can guard on the perimeter and there is no defensive drop-off when bench players like Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson or Omer Asik enter the game.
So watch Miami's assist total, even though they are not a high-assist team because of Wade and James, they still need to heed the words of their coach and involve the others to move the defense. If not, they will fall victim to the old adage, "those who don't hear, will surely feel."
