Canadian Men's U18 Team

The Canadian junior national team recently travelled to Brazil to compete in the FIBA Americas under-18 championship. After posting a strong 3-0 record in their bracket, they faced the host Brazil in the semi-finals and fell just short of a shot at USA in the finals. The Canadians settled for a bronze medal with a close 68-66 win over Argentina, and the team qualified for next year’s FIBA U19 World Championship in the Czech Republic. Before the tournament began, I attended the team's last practice game in Canada with northpolehoops.com and compiled this TV report on the team,

NBA Mock Draft 2012

I'm writing this now so that everybody knows I wasn't cheating when all my predictions end up correct in tonight's draft, plus Raps recond-rounders...

1. Anthony Davis - Hornets (the concensus first overall)
2. Thomas Robinson - Bobcats (acquired Ben Gordon, need a big to pair with Biyombo)
3. Brad Beal - Wizards (may have the highest ceiling in the draft)
4. Harrison Barnes - Cavaliers (scoring wing Cavs need, friends with Kyrie Irving)
5. Michael-Kidd Gilchrist - Kings (defender with a high motor to go along with their scorers)
6. Damian Lillard - Trail Blazers (could go Drummond, but seem to be impressed with Lillard)
7. Andre Drummond - Warriors (can't let him slip too far, too much upside)
8. Dion Waiters - Raptors (penetrator with rapidly rising draft stock, tough character Raps need)
9. John Henson - Pistons (defensive big to pair with Greg Monroe)
10. Austin Rivers - Hornets (rounds out guard rotation, big-game attitude)
11. Myers Leonard - Trail Blazers (a legit seven-footer, they need a centre)
12. Perry Jones - Rockets (Houston traded up to secure this draft's biggest wildcard)
13. Terrence Ross - Suns (multi-dimensional player, Suns will take best available)
14. Tyler Zeller - Bucks (could use a dependable big man, traded down and can still get their guy)
15. Arnett Moultrie - Sixers
16. Jeremy Lamb - Rockets
17. Moe Harkless - Mavericks
18. Marquis Teague - Rockets
19. Terrence Jones - Magic
20. Kendall Marshall - Nuggets
21. Royce White - Celtics
22. Jared Sullinger - Celtics
23. Fab Melo - Atlanta Hawks
24. Quincy Miller - Cavaliers
25. Andrew Nicholson - Grizzlies
26. Draymond Green - Pacers
27. Festus Ezeli - Heat
28. Doron Lamb - Thunder
29. Tyshawn Taylor - Bulls
30. Tony Wroten - Warriors
37. Khris Middleton - Raptors
56. Kostas Papanikolaou - Raptors

Finals Preview: Heat vs Thunder

Heat vs Thunder. Thunder vs Heat. The people's Finals. It's a toss-up. Both teams look like championship teams. The Heat have already been here and lost in the Finals just one year ago, while the Thunder are fresh. The saying usually goes, "You need to lose one to win one," but the Heat largely seem to be the underdog in this series. This matchup also pits the top two vote-getters in the MVP race against each other in the Finals for the first time since 1998. The easiest way to analyze this epic matchup will be to break it down... let's go!

The MVP

Since Jordan and Malone met in the 1998 Finals, there hasn't been this level of MVP talent going head-to-head for the Larry O'Brien. This year, LeBron won his third career MVP award topping Kevin Durant, the NBA's scoring champ in each of the past three seasons. In these playoffs LeBron has averaged 30.8 points per game over 42.4 minutes per, while Durant is averaging 27.8 in 41.6. LeBron is one of the best defenders in the League and Durant's no slouch either; his long arms and quick hands allow him to excel on the defensive end of the floor as well as his deadly shooting touch. LeBron is simply a better all-around player right now with 9.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists to KD's 7.9 and 4.2, but the well-rounded pair should match up well with LeBron maintaining the slight edge.

Second Bananas

On any other team in the League, Russell Westbrook and Dwyane Wade would be the unquestioned team leader and go-to-player, yet both defer to the aforementioned MVP candidates. This season Westbrook outplayed Wade, a former Finals MVP, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team while Wade made the Third Team. Wade is averaging 22.9 points, 5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, while Westbrook is averaging 21.7, 5.1 and 5.6. Whichever of these two can better complement their team leader while allowing them the space to do what they do, should lead his team to victory. Wade has been here before and is less likely to make the questionable decisions on the court that Westbrook is often criticized for.

Big Two-and-a-Half

Chris Bosh has been the butt end of many jokes along the lines of "two and a half men," but the third wheel of the big three came up big in game seven against the Celtics hitting three of four shots from the land beyond in just his third game back from an abdominal strain suffered earlier in the playoffs that caused him to miss nine games. He has averaged 13.7, 6.9, and just 0.8 assists in his limited time. On the other side, James Harden has emerged as one of the best shooting guards in the League and a legitimate third scorer for the young Thunder. Coming off the bench, Harden has averaged 17.6, 5.2 and 3.3. Whoever shows up more and completes their team's big three should be able to push their team over the top. Bosh is the bigger factor if he can show up and has no limitations.

Post Powers

The Thunder post players are able to shut down the paint, so that Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha and others can play risky basketball and stab at passes that will lead to steals and fast breaks knowing they have Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins down low to protect the basket if any offensive players get through the perimeter. Ibaka is grabbing 5.9 rebounds and blocking 3.3 shots per game, while Perkins is averaging 6.0 and 1.5. The Thunder also have Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed backing up the starting bigs. The Heat meanwhile have Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, Ronny Turiaf and Dexter Pittman, all limited offensively and not as intimidating on the defensive end either. Technically, Bosh counts here too. The Thunder bigs will give OKC a huge advantage.

Coaching

From 2001 to 2008, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra served as assistant coach/director of scouting for the team. Since taking over as head coach, he's led the Heat to 194 wins in four seasons and two Finals appearances. He's been on the hot seat most of his time in charge in Miami, and if the team falls short again, drastic changes may be in order. Whether LeBron or Wade will listen to Spo over their own instincts is doubtful. While Spo never actually played in the NBA, Thunder coach Scott Brooks spent ten years with six teams in the League. The Thunder have improved each year during Brooks' tenure going from a 22-47 record after he took over the team in 2008-09, to 47-19 this season. Both coaches have done a fine job controlling the best players in the League, but Brooks gets the slight nod because of his in-game experience.

The Season Series
March 25 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 103, Heat 87; Durant: 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists
April 4 in Miami: Heat 98, Thunder 93; James: 34 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists

The Verdict
With better post players, and perhaps the better coach, the Thunder are the favorites right now. Westbrook will be hard-pressed to outplay Wade in the Finals where Wade has been a few times, and of course the MVP is looming on the other side. Bosh could make or break this series, but he may be even less dependable than the off-the-bench effort from James Harden. Don't forget about Shane Battier and Derek Fisher, who provide leadership and championship-mentality. This should be a thrilling NBA finals, that will likely (hopefully) go seven games. The Thunder have advanced in four, five, then six games, while the Heat have advanced in five, six, then seven. If the series goes to seven, count on the energy of Oklahoma City to push the Thunder over the top while the Heat fall just short for the second year in a row.

Best of Coach Pop

Had the Spurs made the Finals, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was set to get a full feature on this site. Though the Spurs reached their limit against the explosive Oklahoma City Thunder, Pop still deserves some love. The longest tenured coach in any of the North-American Big Four sports, Popovich has led the Spurs to four championships since taking the reigns in 1996. He has also coached in the All-Star game twice, was named coach of the year back in 2003, and won it again this past season. Along the way, Pop's techniques, leadership, and sense of humor have given as much character to the Spurs underrated dynasty as the big three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have. Enjoy this compilation video below produced by the NBA and TNT with the best Popovich moments,

The Fix Is In

When the lottery balls of the NBA draft bounced the way of the New Orleans Hornets, fans and experts alike were calling controversy immediately.

With the fourth-worst record in the NBA after finishing 21-45 the (still, for now) league-owned Hornets had only a 13.7 per cent chance to win the first overall pick in the lottery, presumably to be Kentucky Wildcats star Anthony Davis.

The Charlotte Bobcats, meanwhile, were out of luck after finishing with the worst winning percentage of all time (.109) and having a 25 per cent chance of getting Anthony Davis, the home run pick for turning a franchise around.

After the lottery was conducted, an online poll by USA Today took 4945 total votes on the question “Do you think the NBA Lottery was fixed?” At least 82 per cent of respondents are at least a little bit skeptical; a staggering percentage. These are the results below,

With the Hornets ownership recently transferred to Tom Benson, the owner of the NFL's New Orleans Saints the team seems to be stable in the Bayou, something Stern has been adamant about since the League took over ownership of the team in 2010.

Since Benson agreed to buy the team and take over starting next year, the NBA announced that they had awarded the 2014 NBA All-Star game to New Orleans (perhaps as a perk for the new owner) and have now been handed the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft.

It is an enormous conflict of interest for a League-owned team to take the number one pick in a draft that is so secretive, happening behind closed doors before the televised ceremony. "The drawing of the ping-pong balls is conducted in private, though observed by independent auditors and representatives from each team," but that doesn't make it any less fishy for fans and organizations around the league.

Maybe the NBA rewards teams that they think deserve it. When the Cleveland Cavaliers had their hearts ripped out courtesy of "Akron's Finest," they somehow had their pick with 2.8% chance at the number one pick turn into the first overall.

And when Chicago-born Derrick Rose was the consensus number one pick and the NBA hoped to reestablish a competitive franchise in the Windy City, the Bulls had their pick with just 1.7% chance of hopping up to number one overall miraculously climb the ladder.

So when the Hornets and Stern had to deal Chris Paul this past off-season and an initial trade to the Lakers was vetoed by Stern himself, the conflict of interest was never more apparent than it is perhaps today. How can Stern unbiasedly be choosing where certain players are playing? It makes no sense.

And really, the NBA opened themselves up to this controversy. I called it back when the Chris Paul flip-flop fiasco went down that they really needed to figure out the ownership situation before the draft lottery lest they win and provoke the shit-storm that we're currently in the eye of.

While it's too late to go back and settle the ownership issue far in advance, there is really no reason why the NBA can't just broadcast the actual lottery balls bouncing live for all to see. Would conspiracy theories die then? Probably not, but transparency is paramount to any future solution.

Tip your hand Stern, and show us what you're holding.