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Ah NBA Draft night, when league commissioner David Stern introduces men tall enough to set drinks on his head to a nation of college basketball and Association fans.
It’s also the night that the formal dress code gets thrown out the window. Fashion week, it is not. Get ready for more futuristic, throw backs to the past, and just plain old UGLY threads to grace the stage on Thursday night.
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Happy NBA Draft day! Time to flashback and republish one of our favorite NBA Draft articles of all time. It’s one that ESPN personality Jay Bilas himself acknowledges on NBA Draft night.
One of my favorite articles to write every year is the annual NCAA Tournament Championship Drinking Game. Here are the three we have done in case you missed them; 2009 Michigan State vs. North Carolina version, last year’s Butler vs. Duke one, and this past season’s Butler vs. UConn Drinking Game.
So why not do one for my favorite night of the year, the NBA Draft. Even if you do not have a rooting interest in tonight’s draft and have never heard of half the players likely to be picked, invite some friends over, buy a heck of a lot of booze, follow our drinking rules, and you have a memorable night.
(UPDATE: Jay Bilas subtly mentions the NBA Draft drinking game last night on air with the word “wingspan.” Video, via Larry Brown Sports)
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It is an annual tradition here during the NBA All-Star break to re-do the NBA Draft lottery from the previous year. The Sports Bank’s NBA Draft Nerd, David Kay and Peter Christian will alternate re-drafting the top fourteen picks in the 2011 NBA Draft taking into account what they know about the rookies based off their performances so far this season. They will factor in how each team’s roster looked at the time of the draft and give their reasons as to why the selection would be made.
Check out The Sports Bank’s 2012 NBA Mock Draft.
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The days after the NBA Draft for me are like the days following the NCAA Tournament Championship Game; filled with a little bit of sadness, emptiness, and a whole lot of “what the heck am I going to do with my free time now?” So before we put the 2011 NBA Draft to rest and melancholy and infinite sadness sets in, here is a wrap up.
By: David Kay
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Entering the 2011 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves had arguably more speculation and rumors than any other team in the league.
Would they trade the second pick? Would they keep the second pick? And if so would they take Arizona’s Derrick Williams, or reach on Kentucky (via Turkey) center Enes Kanter?
With the number two pick, it appears that the Wolves took the simplistic route. But as for their number 20 pick, simple was not in the vocabulary.
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Marquette small forward Jimmy Butler was one of 54 players invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last month. He’ll soon be heading back down I-94 again, this time as a member of the Chicago Bulls . GM Gar Forman selected him with the 30th (last) pick in the first round of the draft last night. Forman talked with the media after the draft about Butler, and said he envisions him playing some two in addition to the three.
Chicago’s GM said that Butler was exactly who they wanted, and was shocked that he was available at that position. It’s pretty obvious that Chicago is in dire need of a shooting guard, and outside shooting in general, which is not Butler’s strengths. But then again, after Klay Thompson, there were real legit SG prospects in this draft. Butler said hes working on his shot though.
And he has something else that fits in well with the Bulls- defense.
By Paul M. Banks
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With the 4th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Tristan Thompson, a forward from Texas.
Surprised by this pick? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
After Enes Kanter went 3rd overall to the Jazz, the popular belief was that the Cavs would select Jonas Valanciunas as the 4th pick. Few, if any, predicted Thompson would be selected, but Dan Gilbert is no stranger to stirring up controversy.
For a full feature/interview of Thompson from the NBA draft Combine go here.
For a full scouting report on Thompson go here
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HAPPY NBA DRAFT DAY! The Sports Bank has all the in-depth information to get you ready for Thursday’s 2011 NBA Draft. Consider this page our headquarters for all you need to know; from our 2011 NBA Mock Draft, prospect scouting reports, team needs pages, interviews from the NBA Draft Combine, and so much more.
By: David Kay
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With the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers have selected Kyrie Irving, the point guard from Duke.
Though the Cavs kept completely silent about the pick leading up to the announcement, this choice does not come as a surprise. For weeks, experts and insiders have been predicting the Cavs to take Irving first.
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HAPPY NBA DRAFT DAY! Here is our updated 2011 NBA Mock Draft with major changes after the 3-team trade that shakes up the late lottery. Be sure to check back throughout the day for more updates. Click on the players’ name for a complete scouting report and a NBA comparison, and make sure to check out our feature articles from the NBA Draft Combine. Click on the team name for a look at their off-season needs. Here is a list of outstanding trades for the 2011 NBA Draft. Check out a 2012 NBA Mock Draft and our 2010 NBA Draft Lottery Re-Do.
UPDATED: 6/23/11 (UPDATED 5:15 PM)
Since the NBA Draft lottery was held last month, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been on the clock. The Cavs have also supposedly been deciding which of the consensus top two picks to take with the first overall pick.
“Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams?” has been the question within the Cavaliers organization, the city of Cleveland, the NBA Nerds heads, etc. for the past 4 weeks or so. If the Cavs were smart, they wouldn’t have to choose.
Instead, they could have them both.
By Peter Christian
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HAPPY NBA DRAFT DAY!!! Here is the latest second round of our 2011 NBA Mock Draft. Be sure to check back throughout the day for updates. Click on the players’ name for a complete scouting report and an NBA comparison. Click on the team name for a look at their off-season needs. Here is a list of outstanding trades for the 2011 NBA Draft. Check out a 2012 NBA Mock Draft and our 2010 NBA Draft Lottery Re-Do.
UPDATED: 6/23/11 (5:20 P.M.)
