1. NERLENS NOEL (C) Cleveland – Everyone’s saying this is a weak draft.  Noel won’t be the next Shaq, but if he can just be better than the next Andrea Bargnani, they’ll take it. He’s thin of frame, so I don’t see him having Rookie of the Year in the bag, but he’s another weapon for Kyrie Irving, and he’ll make Cleveland that much more intriguing to free agents.

2. BEN McLEMORE (SG) Orlando – The Magic need help pretty much everywhere, but McLemore will instantly make the Magic say “J.J. who?” and make the 2013-2014 season, aka the final season of payroll hell, more palatable.

3. OTTO PORTER (SF) Washington – I’ve seen rumblings that a few lottery picks are up for grabs, including this one.  Even if the Wiz see what they can get for this and Emeka Okafor’s contract, Porter’s a versatile player many teams would like to have, and he’d mainly be doing what Jan Vesely clearly can’t.  I can see this switching to Oladipo or Burke, should a trade be solidified.

4. VICTOR OLADIPO (SG) Charlotte – The Bobcats are another franchise in shambles, and this pick could also be traded to whoever will take Ben Gordon or Tyrus Thomas off their hands.  Oladipo could be a real gem, and he’d fit nicely between Walker and MKG. I could also see the Bobcats going big here.

5. TREY BURKE (PG) Phoenix – He can be the backup and eventually take over for Goran Dragic. I don’t see the Suns going for a frontcourt player when they have Gortat, Scola, Beasley, Frye and the Morris brothers all under contract, and Burke would be an instant upgrade over the disappointing Kendall Marshall.

6. ANTHONY BENNETT (PF) New Orleans – I can see the Twin Tonys tearing it up down in N’Awlins.

7. ALEX LEN (C) Sacramento – He’s probably the best 7-footer in the draft, and he’s insurance for a DMC trade, should they decide they need to pull the trigger.  I could also see them try trading up for Trey Burke or down a spot or two for another guard.

8. CJ McCOLLUM (PG/SG) Detroit – Their biggest talent hole is at the wing.  McCollum might be a better playmaker than people think. He at least makes Rodney Stuckey tradeable/expendable.

9. CODY ZELLER (C) Minnesota – If something terrible happens with contract negotiations between Pekovic and the T-Wolves, Zeller wouldn’t be bad insurance. More importantly, he’d be challenging Stiesma right away for rotation minutes.

10. RUDY GOBERT (C) Portland – His size might be too irresistible to pass up.  JJ Hickson may or may not be back, and Meyers Leonard still needs some work.  I could also see Portland trading this pick down in a package with Wes Matthews’ contract for cap-space breathing room.

11. KELLY OLYNYK (C) Philadelphia – The 76ers need size, and who knows if Andrew Bynum is going to sign with them or look elsewhere. Could also see them taking Shabazz Muhammad here.

12. SHABAZZ MUHAMMAD (SG/SF) Oklahoma City – His stock has fallen with character questions, but the Thunder seem to have the right culture to bring him in. OKC has shown that they need another scoring option outside of KD and Westbrook, and I don’t believe they’ll ask Kevin Martin to come back.

13. DENNIS SCHROEDER (PG) Dallas – The Mavs will then have two Germans. This is yet another pick that may be moved for salary cap purposes. Who’ll take Shawn Marion or Vince Carter off their hands for the 13th pick?

14. MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS (PG) Utah – He needs work on his shot, but his length and play-making abilities are something the Jazz desperately need.  It’ll be weird to have a point guard who can defend again. If the Mavs nab MCW, the Jazz will happily take Schroeder.

15. SHANE LARKIN (PG) Milwaukee – Really not sure what the Bucks plan to do, but grabbing a decent backup for Brandon Jennings seems like a good way to go. If they even keep Jennings.

16. STEVEN ADAMS (C) Boston – I look forward to reading Bill Simmons’ instant reaction to this pick.

17. MASON PLUMLEE (PF) Atlanta – They’re shedding most of their roster, so they’ll have needs everywhere. Plumlee might not have that high a ceiling, but he’s ready to contribute right away. Reminds me of Tyler Hansbrough.

18. ARCHIE GOODWIN (SG) Atlanta – If they go big with #17, they get a guard at #18. Barring Chris Paul landing here, the Hawks will keep Teague, so I can see them going for whoever the best shooting guard is that’s still on the board.

19. SERGEY KARASEV (SF) Cleveland – I know nothing about him, except that most mock drafts have him gone by now, and the Cavs could use some fortification at the small forward position.

20. GORGEI DIENG (C) Chicago – He could potentially fill the void left by Omer Asik.

21. TONY MITCHELL (PF) Utah – If they go guard at #14, I see them picking a bigger body here, although there are some tempting SGs and SFs still on the board. They could reach with Jeff Withey here, or just take a promising guard like KCP or Allen Crabbe.

22. DARIO SARIC (SF) Brooklyn – I foresee the Nets spending the next three years trying to trade away Gerald Wallace.

23. ALLEN CRABBE (SG) Indiana – Plenty of decent choices left, but I could also see the Pacers trading out of the first round so they’ll be able to re-sign David West.

24. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE (SG) New York – I think the Knicks secretly hope they get outbid for J.R. Smith and will pick up a guard to back up Shumpert.

25. GIANNIS ADETOKUNDO (SF) L.A. Clippers – This pick would be so Sterling. A Euro project who could blossom, or be the next Yaroslav Karolev.

26. TONY SNELL (SF) Minnesota – We’re getting into the giant question-mark section of the draft. The T-Wolves have room for another small forward, and I had them go big with their other pick.

27. JAMAAL FRANKLIN (SG) Denver – The kid’s got moxie!

28. JEFF WITHEY (C) San Antonio – A 7-footer still on the board?  Sure, let’s see what he can do.

29. ERICK GREEN (PG) Oklahoma City – Make Reggie Jackson fight for his minutes.

30. TIM HARDAWAY JR. (SG) Phoenix – Not bad for the last pick of the first round.

I see Glen Rice Jr., James Ennis, Ricky Ledo, and C.J. Leslie going high in the second.

If Myck Kabongo, Lorenzo Brown or Andre Roberson are still there at #46, the Jazz would take him. Actually they’ll probably pick someone I’ve never heard of and it’ll be the next Paul Millsap.

Kyle Whittingham will be under the microscope this season – Photo by Tom Smart, Deseret News

Ed: Special to USN, Andrew Fox is a recent graduate and future Law Student of the University of Utah. He grew up in a sports family, and has had a passion for all sports since birth, especially Basketball, College Football, and Hockey. You can follow Andrew on twitter at @AndreLeRenard.

For this first time in his head coaching tenure, Utah Utes’ Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is in a must-win situation. With expectations of Pac-12 quality football, there has never been so many questions going into a football season for the Utes. This is without a doubt the most important season of his career as a head coach.

No hyperbole, this is for real.

Kyle Whittingham’s seat has never even been lukewarm, but if the Utes fail to make a bowl game for the second year in a row, things might get warm in the Ute front office.

Last season, for the first time since Coach Whittingham took over for Urban Meyer, the Utes failed to make the postseason. The Utes and their fans have grown accustomed to playing football in late December, and failure to do so in the 2013 season could have coach Whitt on the hot seat. Kyle has already demonstrated a sense of urgency for the season when he brought in Dennis Erickson, a proven winner, to coach his offense. He knows he must perform this season. He knows the microscope is focused squarely on him.

When the Utes joined the then Pac-10 conference (now the Pac-12) in 2011, the fans knew there would be a small adjustment period. In the Utes first season in the new Pac-12 conference, they would limp their way in to the Sun Bowl on the back of John White IV and the arm of a JUCO transfer QB named Jon Hays. The Utes would finish the season 7-5, considered by some to be a “successful” season. Most fans thought it was a sign that we were ready to compete at a higher level.

Then came 2012.

Kyle Whittingham took a gamble and hired the youngest offensive coordinator in the country, former Utah QB Brian Johnson. This decision took a lot of criticism, but Kyle had earned the benefit of the doubt. Expectations were high. Some members of the media even considered the Utes to be a top contender for the Pac-12 South title along with USC. Fans were excited. The expectation spread like a virus, and fans were anticipating a breakthrough season.

That season would not come. The Utes struggled out of the gates with Jordan Wynn, a smart but under-powered QB with a bad shoulder, who would be forced in to retirement after sustaining a career-ending shoulder injury in a loss against Utah Sate. Brian Johnson’s questionable play-calling and game management would undergo intense scrutiny, and Kyle Whittingham’s decision to put an inexperienced Brian Johnson in such a critical role would be questioned heavily.

The Utes ended the 2012 season 5-7, and missed a Bowl game for the first time in Whittingham’s tenure.

Coach Whittingham has said it himself: The transition to the new conference would take time. He needed to recruit the athletes necessary to compete with a tough schedule week in and week out. Well, he’s had three years to recruit under the Pac-12 umbrella, and it is time to show some results. Failing to make a bowl game for the second year in a row would certainly warm up Kyle’s normally cozy coaching seat. The fans have given their patience. They’ve watched the Utes struggle to compete in their first two seasons of the Pac-12, but the time is now to show that the move was not a mistake. The time is now for Kyle Whittingham to show he is not in over his head.

It’s time for the Utah Utes to win.

___

Watch the State of the Utes video from Chris Hill at Deseret News

LeBron James won’t lay down for the Pacers so quietly as the Knicks did

Ed: We’re proud to present The NBA Mistress, Tammeh Treymayne, aka @Mrs__NBA on board for NBA postseason coverage for you, the reader. Feel free to add your thoughts, and we encourage you to keep up with her excellent coverage of all things NBA.

No. 1 Miami Heat (66-16) vs No. 3 Indiana Pacers (49-32)

• Game 1 in Miami: Wednesday, May 22
• Game 2 in Miami: Friday, May 24
• Game 3 in Indianapolis: Sunday, May 26
• Game 4 in Indianapolis: Tuesday, May 28
• Game 5 in Miami: Thursday, May 30
• Game 6 in Indianapolis: Saturday, June 1
• Game 7 in Miami: Monday, June 3

Season Series: 2-1, Indiana

Road To Conference Finals: Indiana edged out the Atlanta Hawks and finally eviscerated the New York Knicks in 6 games. Miami swept the maligned Milwaukee Bucks and then ousted the Chicago Bulls in 5 games.

Notable Matchups: Chris Bosh (13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 per game in 2013 Playoffs) vs. Roy Hibbert (14.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game). This down low matchup is going to matter; can Hibbert defend Bosh’s mid-range game? Sure, Hibbert physically outmatches Bosh, but isn’t an equal adversary for his offense. With that being said, Miami is questionable in their offensive rebounding, and Hibbert has an advantage here; and just like Hibbert cemented himself in Indiana’s second-round series with his big man game, he has the capabilities to be a dominate paint presence.

LeBron James (24.0 points, 51.8% FG, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals) vs. Paul George (19.1 points, 40.4% FG, 8.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.8 steals). As much of a rising star as Paul George is and as a tough of a matchup LeBron will see in the playoffs, LeBron James is LeBron James. He’s the best player in the sport of basketball on the planet, but with that being said, Paul who executed defensive work on Carmelo Anthony, will be able to defend LeBron adequately… adequately as anyone can.

As much as credit we give Indiana for their defensive work in round 2 against New York, this is Miami we are talking about. For all intents and purposes, Indiana went from defending Hamburger Helper (NYK) to now defending Filet Mignon (MIA); these things matter, obviously. Miami has won 45 of their last 48 games and they didn’t win those on accident….Miami is a beast Indiana will have a tough time combatting in a best of seven series.

In order for Indiana to have an semblance of success in the Eastern Conference Finals, they must limit their own turnovers – Sorry, Indiana, 19 turnovers against Miami isn’t going to cut it – and smash the offensive boards as aforementioned. Miami thrives in transition, and if they had 19 turnovers against New York’s piddily defense, imagine what it could look like against Miami if Indiana does not take care of the ball?

I’ll tell you what it will look like:

As mentioned as well, will be Indiana’s ability to defend Miami’s transition game and getting those offensive boards; these three things will be pivotal for Indiana’s success in this series.

While, Indiana is a well-tooled machine, Miami is just a group of robots led by head cyborg himself, LeBron.

Prediction: Miami in 6

However, for those Jazz fans looking forlornly towards October, when the 2013-14 NBA season will tip off, the next big attraction of the long, basketball-less summer is the NBA draft. While not as big an event as the NFL draft, the NBA draft is always a great night for fans across the country, as college stars and international players are drafted and traded to the best league in the world.

This year, Jazz fans have a vested interest in the draft. After an underwhelming season that saw an exit with no post-season, Utah once again finds themselves in the lottery. The basketball gods seem to be against the Jazz, though, as their lottery pick will likely be in the 14-12 range, depending on how favorably the ping-pong balls fall Utah’s way. (An interesting note – the Jazz have a %0.05 chance of landing the number one overall pick.)

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the guys I think would be the best picks at Utah’s most likely spots. Taking into account the fact that Utah finished as the lat team out of the playoffs, the 14th pick seems all but a lock for the Jazz. Unless VP of Basketball Operations Kevin O’Connor can bring some of his Irish luck to the lottery in Newark, the Jazz are going to be left with whatever the other 13 non-playoff teams don’t want.

As has been painfully obvious, Utah needs a point guard. Since the Deron Williams trade, point-guard play has been the second-biggest problem the Jazz have faced, behind pick and roll defense. Devin Harris, Mo Williams, Earl Watson, Jamaal Tinsley, Alec Burks, Randy Foye, and even Gordon Hayward have been point guard experiments that didn’t work out. While I really do relish the idea of 6’8″ Hayward running the point ala Magic Johnson, Hayward is just too valuable a defender at the small forward spot to ship him into the backcourt. While young and still not clearly defined as a role player for the Jazz, Burks hasn’t shown me reason to believe he could successfully run the point for a championship-caliber team either. If possible, Utah needs to dedicate this draft to finding a point guard.

However, Utah may not end up taking a point guard with their lottery pick. The Jazz have long drafted by the “best player available” rhetoric, rather than drafting by need. If Dennis Lindsey and O’Connor decide to take that same route on June 27th, Utah is likely to end up with a small forward or a center, rather than a point guard. Also note that every point guard with star potential will most likely be gone by 14. While many fans will be clamoring for Utah to somehow land a star, I want to just remind you – finding a star in the draft is a difficult task. Not everyone can be Oklahoma City, and thinking that the next lottery pick the Jazz draft will somehow transform them into a contender in unrealistic.

So, keeping all that in mind, here are the players I think would be the best fit at 14th in the draft.

1st option – Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

Height – 7’0″ Weight – 238 lbs Hometown – Kamloops, BC

Averaged 17.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 1.7 APG as a junior

I know what’s going through your head right now. You think taking a center is what we need right now? Utah already has a frontcourt logjam! 

Well, your concerns are valid, but allow me to explain why I think Olynyk should be the first option for the Jazz, provided he’s still around at 14. First and foremost, Utah will only have two big men next season with both Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson gone. While Jefferson or Millsap haven’t publicly stated they intend to leave the Jazz, the franchise has indicated that it intends to go in a direction in which Favors and Kanter are the starting big men. Also, both Jefferson and Millsap are free agents.

So Utah is most likely looking at their bench big men from this past season starting, which means the front office needs to bring in some big man help. For that reason, Olynyk is a great pick. He’s athletic, strong, and a Marc Gasol-esque center in his footwork and size. While Olynryk doesn’t have near the defensive potential that Gasol did coming into the league, Olynyk isn’t an incapable defender, and will certainly be an upgrade over Jefferson.

Taking a big man here also makes sense, due to the fact that every point guard that potentially can turn around a franchise will be gone by this point. Michael Carter-Williams, Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum, and Victor Oladipo will all be gone long before Utah picks at 14. Olynyk makes sense at 14. No game-changing point guards are really present, and drafting a backup center means one less player will need to be looked for in free agency.

2nd option – Shane Larkin, G, Miami

Height – 5’11″ Weight – 176 lbs. Hometown – Orlando, FL

Averaged 14.5 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 3.8 RPG as a sophomore

Larkin is without a doubt a reach at 14, and a high risk as well. However, he’s a very capable point guard, was a large part of Miami’s success this past season, and has a knack for getting into the paint, as evidenced by his nearly four rebounds per game. The knock on Larkin is his size. At not quite six feet tall, Larkin was undersized in college, and will be even more so in the NBA. And in all honesty, Larkin probably won’t be a point guard on a contender at any point in his professional career. He’s sure to be a trusty backup, but the Jazz don’t need to use a lottery pick on a backup point guard. Point guard is the Jazz’s most crucial need. Taking on a project like Larkin, only to demote him to a bench role later down the road when Utah finally finds its point guard, doesn’t seem like a solid course of action.

That being said, Larkin could prove to be a good stopgap between this year’s draft, and whenever the Jazz can find a point guard to carry them to the next level, be that in free agency or through a trade.

3rd option – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Georgia

Height – 6’5″ Weight – 205 lbs. Hometown – Greenville, GA

Averaged 18.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 1.8 APG as a sophomore

Caldwell-Pope is a kid that’s flown under the radar up to this point, but one that I really like. The interesting thing about Caldwell-Pope (and every other player I’ll list from here on out) is that the Jazz could take him here at 14, or at 21, or at 46 in the second round. After clear-cut favorites like Olynyk are gone, this draft really could go either way. So many mock drafts I’ve looked at have Utah taking Tim Hardaway Jr. at 21 in the first round, or at 46 in the second. Players will certainly bounce around a lot this year, and Caldwell-Pope is no exception. However, if Olynyk is gone by 14 and the Jazz don’t decide to go with Larkin, Caldwell-Pope is about as solid an option as there is in this draft.

The most impressive thing to me about Caldwell-Pope is his ability to shoot well coming off screens. Utah runs a screen-heavy offense, and one area that was lacking this past season was the shooting percentage of guards coming off the Hornaceck curl. Caldwell-Pope is an extremely able shooter off screens, and he also has an ability to slash to the rim.

Also, Caldwell-Pope deserves props for his defense. He’s got an entire highlight reel of just chase down blocks (sounds like another Jazz player) and Caldwell-Pope showed himself a very able and capable defender this past season.

The knock I have on Caldwell-Pope is the same one I had when the Jazz drafted Alec Burks. Georgia didn’t exactly have a spectacular season, going 15-17 and 9-9 in SEC play. Caldwell-Pope was their leading scorer. Sounding familiar yet? Caldwell-Pope is the best player on a bad team, and I don’t necessarily believe that he’ll be able to translate his game to the NBA. Burks has struggled after coming out of Colorado in nearly the exact situation Caldwell-Pope is in. However, Caldwell-Pope did see better competition in the SEC than Burks saw in the PAC-12, so an argument can be made for Caldwell-Pope here. Either way, I’m a little wary of drafting him with expectations higher than a second-string shooting guard.

4th option – Dennis Schroeder, G, Braunschweig Clubhouse

Height – 6’1″ Weight – 180 lbs. Hometown – Braunschweig, Germany

Averaged 12.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, and 2.4 RPG in 2012/13 season for New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig

A lot can be said about Schroeder, a 19 year old point guard that’s taken German basketball by storm. He’s quick, he’s agile, can get to the rim and finish, and he’s devastating in the open court. Also, he’s taller than Larkin, a little heavier, and seems to have a more NBA-ready game. Let’s not overlook the success of fellow German Dirk Nowitzki, either.

However, Schroeder is more turnover prone than any other point guard prospect at the 14th spot in the draft. He turned the ball over on 19% of his possessions this past season, an improvement from 27% two years ago. Part of his ball-handling problems may be related to playing in the German BBL, but still – nearly 1 in 5 possessions ends in him turning the ball over. For a team like the Jazz that struggled with offensive flow and efficiency last season, bringing in a turnover-prone guard doesn’t seem like a wise idea.

5th option – Jamaal Franklin, G, San Diego State

Height – 6’5″ Weight – 205 lbs. Hometown – Hawthorne, CA

Averaged 17.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 3.3 APG as a junior

Franklin has such an NBA-ready body, it’s almost scary. From a physical standpoint, Franklin should have minimal problems adjusting to the more physical and intense NBA game. While he played forward in college for the Aztecs, Franklin is projected to be a shooting guard in the NBA. At 6’5″, he’d certainly add some great length and much-needed rebounding to Utah’s backcourt.

While Franklin has many great qualities to his game, the one that’s most often mentioned is his competitive attitude. He’s comparable to Kenneth Faried in the fact that Franklin never seems to take a play off. He’s always playing,and playing hard.

The knock on Franklin, however, is his shooting percentages. He had the ball in his hands quite a bit at San Diego State, and was able to create for himself more often than spotting up and shooting off a pass or a screen. In the NBA, Franklin will need to improve his percentages from spot-up jumpers if he wants to start.

Now, after the Jazz pick at 14, they have two picks left – 21 and 46. I’ve read through so many mock drafts this week, and I’ve been really surprised at the differences in where some players go. As I mentioned earlier, Hardaway Jr. is going to the Jazz at 21 in some mocks, and at 46 in others. So predicting who Utah will draft later in the first round and in the middle of the second is just about as effective as Derrick Rose was for the Chicago Bulls this season. In other words, these next projections really have no merit whatsoever.

21st pick – Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Michigan

Height – 6’6″ Weight – 205 lbs. Hometown – Miami, FL

Averaged 14.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.4 APG as a junior

Hardaway Jr. was overshadowed at Michigan by his running mate Trey Burke, but that doesn’t mean Hardaway Jr. isn’t a good solid pick, especially at 21st in the draft. Playing with Burke has helped Hardaway Jr. learn to play unselfishly, and his professional approach will certainly endear him to fans in Salt Lake City if he ends up with the Jazz.

I really like Hardaway Jr.’s size, especially at the two guard. Utah had one of the worst rebounding backcourts in NBA history this past season, and Hardaway Jr.’s 4.7 boards per game would be a welcome addition to this team. If he’s still around at 21, I fully expect the Jazz to draft Hardaway Jr.

46th pick – Reggie Bullock, G, North Carolina

Height – 6’7″ Weight – 207 lbs. Hometown – Kinston, NC

Averaged 13.9 PPG and 6.5 RPG as a junior

This deep in the draft, general managers aren’t looking for starter-caliber players – usually. The second round of the draft is where a lot of good, solid, role players are found, and I believe Bullock can be a solid role player at some point in his NBA career. He’s a great shooter, hitting nearly 44% of his attempts from three-point land as a junior. Also, he played at North Carolina, and saw some great competition in the ACC. He looks to be a great, NBA-ready guard. At 6’7″, Bullock also has great potential on the defensive end.

From the book Dinosaurs

Much has been made by some fans of the Utah Jazz about how the franchise should attempt to follow the vaunted “OKC model,” which is highly constituted of heavy doses of luck, good and bad. Oklahoma City Thunder GM, Sam Presti, appeared genius for successful draft after draft, then when forced to make the difficult decision of choosing, with a new punitive luxury tax looming, is now getting roasted for a fool for trading away James Harden before he demanded a max contract, which he received immediately after being moved to the Houston Rockets.

Such is the reality of the NBA and it’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, an agreement that when entered into by both parties to end a lockout had many fans of the game foaming at the mouth and feeling like the owners had been scammed, that parity or competitive balance was as unreachable as ever. Yet, a mere 18 months later we very nearly had a Golden State Warriors – Memphis Grizzlies Western Conference Finals, before even the real changes in the new CBA have taken effect.

The very nature of the game of basketball dictates that over time talent tends to win out and bring you a title, the gap in top-tier talent on down to the ends of benches being a vast one. How vast? This gap in the game is so big that even a bench warmer like Brian Scalabrine can beat down ballers that fancy themselves NBA-ready in the rec rooms. And badly.

Tired of verbal beatings from fans, the “White Mamba” invited Boston’s best amateurs to try and take him down a notch.

Scalabrine — who spent the last few seasons of his career seen as the “human victory cigar” — easily defeated all four of his opponents, throwing down monstrous jams and sinking smooth jumpers as he beat them all by a combined score of 44-6.

-CBS Boston

This gap from rec-league-best to end-of-bench in the NBA is just as large as the one from 12th man to the top-end-talent in the NBA. Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder managed to assemble some of the top talent in the league in consecutive drafts, but not solely by design — there is always a modicum of luck involved in taking a team to title contention.

Had Portland taken Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA draft, then Presti would have taken Greg Oden and we’d be talking about the “Blazers model” instead of the OKC model. Luck, good and bad, is always in play. The OKC model isn’t necessarily a predestined path to prosperity as many would have you believe — at this point how do we even know that Durant and Westbrook aren’t simply the next Stockton and Malone, who make finals trips only to be sent fishing time and again by even more transcendent talent?

A key factor that will leave supporters of the OKC model stammering and grasping for excuses also comes into play and is often conveniently ignored for the narrative’s sake. Discount a key injury, like that to Russell Westbrook, and boom, the model crumbles. Injuries, like luck, are also always in play.

All you can really count on is to maximize your chances with good scouting and hard work as a team, much like the Memphis Grizzlies have, much like the Utah Jazz do year after year.

Some, like the Salt Lake Tribune’s Kurt Kragthorpe, are only now noticing that success can come from more than one master plan, while we here at USN discussed in length with each other how the Grizzlies and Jazz were similarly constructed some months ago.

It’s ironic how some of the Jazz fans that complained incessantly about how Utah and Al Jefferson have played the game over the last couple of seasons are now praising and enjoying Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies. Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph are throwbacks to a time when the game played primarily in the post and favored big men more than today, a time before “no-hands” rules on the perimeter when pace and scoring were down, and attendance plummeted along with it. And hey, at least Big Al can leap over a metro area phone book, unlike Randolph.

Z Bo is an All-Star, but an argument could be made that Jefferson is the better player

Zach Randolph’s game hasn’t changed much. Like Jefferson, neither are very good defenders, and both excellent scorers. What has changed for the Grizzlies is Marc Gasol’s continued emergence as a force and slow, but steady metamorphosis into the game’s best all-around center, and something even more key, even more vital, a key factor missing on the Jazz’s roster: perimeter defense.

Mike Conley is arguably the best defensive point guard in the NBA, and alongside Tony Allen they make up what is surely the overall best defensive backcourt in the association. Throw in a revitalized and lengthy Tayshaun Prince on the wing — acquired in what appears to many in hindsight to be a genius trade for an inefficient and high usage Rudy Gay — and the Griz boast a throwback defensive mindset, the likes of which historically make deep playoff runs, provided proper direction from the coaching staff and enough talent are in place.

The Utah Jazz have had some of the pieces already in place — if Al Jefferson is invited back and accepts a reasonable contract offer — to duplicate this “Memphis Model,” with Marvin Williams, who might be the most underrated wing defender in the NBA, surely picking up his player option for another season, in the role of Prince, now that Ty Corbin has discovered that Marvin is best used as the first small forward off the bench where he can excel offensively to match his tenacious defensive tendencies.

And obviously, Derrick Favors is the player in the role of defensive big man that covers up for the offensive scorer, so the main ingredients lacking now are competent backcourt defenders and playoff experience, something the Grizzlies have in abundance at this point, but only recently.

When it comes to model-building in the NBA, a blueprint such as the Jazz and Grizzlies favor is far more stable and sustainable for a small market franchise. And Memphis has proven to doubters that it is indeed a model built for success.

Revenge series? Two years ago the Grizzlies ousted the top seeded Spurs in Round 1

Ed: We’re proud to present The NBA Mistress, Tammeh Treymayne, aka @Mrs__NBA on board for NBA postseason coverage for you, the reader. Feel free to add your thoughts, and we encourage you to keep up with her excellent coverage of all things NBA.

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs (58-24) vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)

• Game 1 in San Antonio: Sunday, May 19
• Game 2 in San Antonio: Tuesday, May 21
• Game 3 in Memphis: Saturday, May 25
• Game 4 in Memphis: Monday, May 27
• Game 5 in San Antonio: Wednesday, May 29
• Game 6 in Memphis: Friday, May 31
• Game 7 in San Antonio: Sunday, June 2

Season Series: 2-2 Road To Conference Finals: San Antonio swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals and defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in 6 games and defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.

Notable Matchups: Tony Parker (22.4 points, 45.2% FG, 37.5% 3P, 6.3 assists, .9 steals in 2013 Playoffs) vs. Mike Conley (17.6 points, 38.5% FG, 7.6 assists, 1.6 steals). Parker’s offense will be put to the test against Memphis’ insatiable perimeter defense and Conley will have the perfect opportunity to firmly situate himself as a steadfast point guard against one of the best in the game.

Tim Duncan (18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) vs. Marc Gasol (18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks). Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players to play the game and what he lacks in flash and pizzaz, he more than makes up in the fundamental department. No question, Duncan can handle his own, but he will be challenged by the agile – and Defensive Player of the Year – Marc Gasol.

 San Antonio has averaged 102.8 points 46.0 percent FG, 35.6 percent from three-point range, 43.8 rebounds, 10.2 offensive rebounds, 9.0 steals, 23.0 assists,  4.5 blocks per game in the playoffs.  Parker is leading San Antonio in the playoffs with 22.4 points per game, followed by Tim Duncan with 18.7 points, and Kawhi Leonard with 13.7 points.

 It’s not a surprise San Antonio holds the shooting advantage over Memphis; SAS has the 4th ranked offense in the league. With stellar coaching from Gregg Popovich, San Antonio has one of – if not THE – best team in the league; they utilize their impeccable basketball intelligence coupled with ball movement, premier shooting capabilities, and contain an enviable defense.

 However, that enviable defense doesn’t quite stack up to the Memphis Grizzlies’ grit-and-grind defense. Memphis has averaged 97.2 points on 43.3 percent FG, 31.4 percent from the perimeter, 40.1 rebounds, 1o.2 offensive rebounds, 19.5 assists, 7.2 steals, 4.1 blocks per game in the playoffs. Zach Randolph is leading the Grizz in scoring with 19.7 points followed by Marc Gasol’s 18.3 points and Mike Conley’s 17.6.

While Memphis isn’t known for their connective offense, what they will do this series is disrupt San Antonio’s perimeter game as aforementioned as well as limiting Tim Duncan’s astute offensive force in the paint and from the mid-range. While, the acknowledgement of the arsenal of outside shooting that San Antonio has (Danny Green,Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Matt Bonner) is important, equally – if not more – important is Memphis’ ravenous defensive scheme.

It’s also fair to mention, three of the four regular season meetings between this squad were decided by four points or less.

The biggest question when predicting this series is understanding Memphis has done an outstanding job in defending the NBA’s best scorer, Kevin Durant, and freezing the Clippers’ offensively. However, San Antonio has a myriad of scoring options; they are textbook definition of a team, so can Memphis game-plan appropriately and evenly defend San Antonio?

San Antonio has more than enough experience and fortitude to win this series, but Memphis has all the momentum and swag at the moment.

Prediction: Memphis in 7

Photo courtesy Alan “Jedi” Zaugg

As most of you know, I’m not a soccer fan. In fact, soccer wasn’t even anywhere to be found on my “sports priority” list. It’s just not a sport I’ve latched onto all that well. Soccer, like baseball, is a sport that… bores me. Yes, I said I get bored when I watch it. I’ve attempted to watch soccer before and fell asleep 20 minutes into it. That may equate to the fact that I was exhausted that day… but it happened, nonetheless.

Before any of you start lining up with pitchforks, torches, and light sabers, or before you start raiding my home with soccer balls, allow me to share an experience with you. An experience that has changed this guy’s opinion of soccer.

I had been promising my wife and children that I would take them to a soccer game. It was somewhat of an empty promise (dog house here I come). Something I had hoped I would never really have to be held to, putting it off countless times …until now.

Let it be known, that the suggestion to go to this particular game, was purely mine. Yes, I finally jumped on the opportunity.

A couple weeks ago a co-worker brought to my attention that Real Salt Lake was planning a special evening in celebration of Star Wars Day (Yes, it’s really a day! May 4th!). The were encouraging fans to show up dressed in Star Wars cosplay (costume play) as their favorite characters and join in the celebration and festivities. There would be family fun activities and even some of the ushers, and other employees, would be dressed in Star Wars cosplay. All you had to do was say Star Wars, and you had my attention. This was perfect, I could agree to take my family, and enjoy a Star Wars celebration all in one evening.

Photo courtesy Alan “Jedi” Zaugg

Or so I thought…

Thanks to a friend on Twitter (@wheatie_87), I was able to get tickets for the game at a reasonable price. Signed, sealed and delivered, there was no way out now.

We arrived a bit late (The usual ZST: Zaugg Standard Time). As a result, we missed out on any pregame festivities that may have taken place. And here I stood, outside the stadium, waiting for my family to arrive, listening to the “Imperial March” play over the PA system. I was apprehensive, and still very skeptical about this evening. But, hey, they were playing my song. It couldn’t get much better than that… right?

My family arrived and we entered the stadium. My kids were chattering like squirrels. They were bundles of electricity, waiting for their opportunity to explode. They couldn’t wait to get to their seats. My wife was excited as well. I could feel excitement flowing from all of them. I attempted to hide my apprehension and join in on the chatter as we made our way around to the southwest corner of the stadium.

Apprehension and skepticism aside, I couldn’t help but notice the electricity in the air. The buzz and energy that flowed from the crowd.

I’ve seen EnergySolutions Arena (Delta Center) in the height of it’s existence, when the Utah Jazz were kings of the West, and the arena was bursting at the seams with energy. When the decibel levels were near or exceeded that of a rock concert. I’ve been to BYU games, both at Lavell Edwards Stadium as well as Rice Eccles Stadium. I’ve seen rivalries rage in the heat of the moment and heard fans so loud that players on the field would have to take timeouts because they couldn’t hear each other.

Attending an RSL game at Rio Tinto Stadium was truly a unique experience. The crowd is constantly involved, constantly buzzing. There is no lull. They seem completely engaged in the game. It’s not a hustle and bustle type of noise either. It’s a feeling of brotherhood and unity.

As the game got underway, I still found myself a bit skeptical. I was there to be entertained, and so far, I found it difficult to really enjoy myself. My family seemed engaged. They were locked, on what was happening, on the field. I found myself wishing I had brought a book or something. Early on, I spent my time playing photographer (no surprise). For all that the game lacked for me, it seemed there were more enjoyable photogenic opportunities that existed.

It’s true… I was b-o-r-e-d.

Honestly, for me, part of the experience has to do with understanding the intricate details of the game. Even if I was to become a casual fan, I would need to understand more than just kicking the ball into the net to win. I understand some details of the game, but not enough to really convert me. It’s one thing to watch a kids soccer game and just tell them to kick the ball, keep it out of their goal, or pass it to the middle and find the open man. It’s entirely different when it’s professionals and there is more strategy involved. I just don’t have the knowledge to understand.

It was during halftime that my good friend Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) found his way up to our seats. We talked. He shared with me his insight regarding the game. He spoke of the nuances of the game. Shared with me what it was that he enjoyed most, from the passes to the overall strategy involved. It wasn’t an in-depth conversation, but it was enough to spark my interest further.

The excitement of the evening finally set in just after half when the game seemed to pick up in intensity. The tension was building. I could feel it in the air.

Photo courtesy Alan “Jedi” Zaugg

The stadium erupted in the 47th minute, when Luis Gil gave RSL the lead with the first score of the night. It was magical. I didn’t know how to react. I stood there in awe, attempting to soak in what I had just witnessed. The crowd was even more engaged now. This was addicting. I wanted more. Maybe I could be a soccer fan.

RSL scored another goal late in the game. However, by then, a fan was born.

After the game, the culmination of my lack of knowledge of soccer surfaced when my 13 year old daughter explained that it was the mid-fielders who had scored the goals in the game. I looked at her with a blank stare and nodded in ignorant agreement. She explained that it isn’t normal for mid-fielders to score. I again nodded and gave my candid “good to know” response.

It didn’t matter to me who scored what. I was still taking it all in. This had been a unique experience. And I found that the skeptic in me had given way to a sound respect for a game. A game that I had avoided for so long. A game that had not appealed to my inner sports fanatic self.

A soccer fan was born that night. Although I’m far from the passionate fan that I am of the games of football and basketball, I could get used to this.

My advice to you, the skeptic – give it an honest chance. If you end up not liking it, that’s alright. There’s a good chance you may come away liking it. I’m not saying you will, that’s for you to decide. But it’s worth giving it that chance.

As for this skeptic, I’m not hooked, but I do have a new found respect and an understanding of what is so special about the game of soccer. I am a fan.

Remember, you can watch us live every Thursday at 9:30 MT on the Utah Sports Net YouTube channel. Also catch us on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.

USN Podcast #12 – Aggie Football Preview (right click/save to download)

Utah State Junior Quarterback Chuckie Keeton
Photo courtesy of Deseret News
Photo taken by Ryan Talbot

For many years, going to school at Utah State, most students would brag about the excellent Business Programs, Accounting, and Engineering degrees and other programs that are some of the best in the country. One thing Aggie Fans didn’t usually brag about was their football program which for many years was the ugly step child for Utah Collegiate football. While Utah and BYU were dominating the Mountain West and even going to BCS Bowls, the cold city of Logan was watching icy cold football.

Fast forward five years and it is the opening game of the 2011 season. Utah State is scheduled to play the 2010 NCAA Football Champion Auburn in what is expected to be a route for the defending champs. Utah State, being coached by second year coach Gary Anderson, opts to start then freshman Chuckie Keeton. This was a surprising move and started what would propel a complete 360 for a team that at one point was ranked dead last in the college rankings.

Chuckie Keeton is a 6-foot-2, 200 pound junior quarterback from Houston, Texas. He is coming into his junior year with high expectations and a city that is looking for him to make this year’s Utah State the best in the history of the school. Ask many around and they will probably tell you that Keeton is arguably the best player in the state and absolutely the most important piece for Utah State.

Chuckie Keeton is coming off a record year for Utah State where he set single season records for touchdown passes (27), completions (275), passing yards (3,373), completion percentage (.676), and only throwing nine interceptions. Not only was Keeton an amazing passer but he could also run the ball where he ran the ball 129 times for 619 yards (47.6 ypg) with eight rushing touchdowns. Utah State finished a school best 11-2, claimed the WAC Division Title for the first time ever, and went on to whoop Toledo Rockets in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. They finished the season ranked 16^th in the AP Top 25 which was the highest ranking for Utah State since Merlin Olsen was running the team. After the abrupt exit of Coach Gary Anderson, Utah State made the smart decision of promoting Keeton’s QB Coach, Matt Wells, in order to keep continuity with this team. With numerous seniors coming back, followed by the exciting first year in the stacked Mountain West, and Chuckie Keeton making his way on the Preseason Heisman watch, everything is lining up nicely for Keeton to place himself in USU history as the best quarterback in the history of the school.

Go back to the first game that we got to see young Chuckie Keeton against powerhouse and former Champion Auburn in a nationally televised game. Keeton threw 21-30 for 213 yards and also rushed for 2 touchdowns in a game that Utah State had no business playing. Auburn player Philip Lutzenkirchen said after the near loss, “We were wrong for thinking coming in that they might be a cupcake team and they really ran it down our throat the first half,” he said. “We got lucky with this one.” Utah State put a lead on Auburn that they would eventually relinquish in a heartbreaker after Auburn came from behind in the last minutes

Utah State lost that game but Aggie fans were able to see the future of the program. I could argue that the addition of Keeton with some amazing recruiting from Coach Gary Anderson and Coach Matt Wells have brought much more to Utah State than just wins and losses. They have helped with recruiting as Utah State has seen Aggie players turn into amazing NFL Players. They got the opportunity to play national bowl games and it is my opinion that they might have had something to do with them being accepted into the Mountain West and the reputation of a winning program is intangible.

Chuckie Keeton is not only my pick for best college player in the state, but he is more valuable and important because the entire success of the Utah State Aggies rests on his shoulders. Do I think that he can handle it? Absolutely, just ask the Utah Utes that were able to watch his magic last season. He is a special player and I can’t wait to watch him go down as the greatest quarterback in Utah State history.

Now it is your turn. Who do you think will be the best player in the state next season and why? I strongly encourage your comments and opinions.

Some lucky RSL fans won an autographed Javier Morales poster – Via Real Salt Lake Facebook

Real started out with what we’ve come to expect from RSL and their style of play. Good possession and good movement leading to good chances. In the seventh minute Lovel Palmer, getting the start in place of Tony Beltran, took what must have been a 35 yard crack at goal. Montreal’s keeper looked to be on track to cover it up, but Matteo Ferrari tried to clear it as it was going by him and instead deflected it into the back of his own net.

The lead would not hold however, as Montreal would pull even 30 minutes later. Justin Mapp was able to break free and made a great run down the right side crossing it in and finding the feet of the trailing Felipe Martins who slotted it home.

Salt Lake would once again pull ahead in the 77^th minute on a Javier Morales corner kick. Olmes Garcia met the short corner and headed the ball across the box where, after bouncing around, it found Kyle Beckerman who turned and put it in.  This seemed to secure the three points for the visitors.

However, Montreal had different ideas, scoring 2 goals in the final 10 minutes to pull out the come-from-behind victory. Di Vaio put one past Rimando in the 80^th minute on what should have been an offside call, but the goal stood and pulled the Impact level once again.

And finally the dagger; Matteo Ferrari, in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time, went unmarked on a corner kick and found the back of the net for his first ever MLS goal.

Real had their chances but just couldn’t convert. Joao Plata and Devon Sandoval both had 1-on-1 opportunities that they just couldn’t finish.

Overall a tough one to swallow. Real just needed to hold on and couldn’t get it done. A lot of fans will want to put much of the blame on the official today. Yes, he was absolutely terrible but Real still had plenty of chances to win. Allen Chapman (the main official) does seem to repeatedly have it out for RSL and there is controversy almost every time he officiates a Real game. How he is still allowed to work Salt Lake games is beyond me, but we need to move past the officiating and not leave it up to the man in yellow.

You can catch all of all of the goals and highlights through Real Salt Lake’s web site by clicking here, and Like Real Salt Lake on Facebook.