Reminder of my picks for East and West. Note, this is purely based on record, not actual seeding.
East: 1. ORL 2. CLE 3. BOS 4. WAS 5. ATL 6. MIA 7. CHI 8. TOR 9. NJN 10. DET 11. PHI 12. IND 13. CHA 14. NYC 15. MIL
West: 1. LAL 2. SAS 3. DAL 4. DEN 5. POR 6. NOR 7. PHX 8. LAC 9. OKC 10. UTAH 11. HOU 12. GSW 13. MINN 14. MEM 15. SAC
EASTERN CONFERENCE
15. NJN (Jan Rank 15, TJ Rank 9): Woohoo!: I give up. Oh Crap!: Again, I give up. Uhhh...What?: The Russian (I will refer to him as that) should by this team.
14. DET (Jan Rank 11, TJ Rank 10): Woohoo!: They may have some cap space this summer... Oh Crap!: ...if they can find a taker for Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Uhhh...what?: Joe D's currency may be running out.
13: Indy (Jan Rank 13, TJ Rank 12): Woohoo!: They actually have players other people want. Oh Crap!: They still employ players nobody wants. Uhhh...what?: Troy Murphy, difference maker? Teams like Cleveland seem to think so.
12. PHI (Jan Rank 14, TJ Rank 11): Woohoo!: Allen Iverson can still do a little bit. Oh Crap!: Not too many others can. Uhhh...what?: Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand need to move on. Unfortunately, 50 cents on the dollar is the best expectation.
11. WAS (Jan Rank 12, TJ Rank 4): Woohoo!: The Gilbert Arenas thing in finally over (for the season). Oh Crap!: The real problem (management) still exists. Uhhh...what?: Arenas to NYC? Kinda makes sense to me.
10. NYC (Jan Rank 10, TJ Rank 14): Woohoo!: They are about 2 weeks out of being done for a playoff run. Oh Crap!: Just in time for the trading deadline. Uhhh...What?: Just trade for Arenas and Amar'e Stoudemire and call it a day.
9. Milwaukee (Jan Rank 9, TJ Rank 15): Woohoo!: They are the best of the worst. Oh Crap!: And may never get anything out of Michael Redd again. Uhhh...what?: They still need a few good guys to be back in the mix again.
8: Miami (Jan Rank 5, TJ Rank 6): Woohoo!: They are maximizing their assets. Oh Crap!: They don't have very good assets. Uhhh...what?: Dwyane Wade is about checked out. Better call about Amar'e or pry Carlos Boozer away soon.
7: Chicago (Jan Rank 7, TJ Rank 7): Woohoo!: Derrick Rose, NBA All-Star! Oh Crap!: Can they get something for the Brad Miller/John Salmons combo? Uhhh...what?: They are one bad trade away from being horrible...or one good trade away from being great!
6: Charlotte (Jan Rank 8, TJ Rank 13): Woohoo!: It would appear they are definitely in the playoffs. Oh Crap!: It would appear they are definitely hitting their ceiling. Uhhh...what?: Gerald Wallace All-Star? I can dig it.
5. Toronto (Jan Rank 6, TJ Rank 10): Woohoo!: Chris Bosh can't leave I guess. Oh Crap!: But Jose Calderon probably should. Uhhh...what?: Strange team with no real moves other than trading their franchise.
4. BOS (Jan Rank tied 2, TJ Rank 3): Woohoo!: They can still compete for a title. Oh Crap!: Just not long after this year. Uhhh...what?: They have to make a move. This team looks old.
3. ATL (Jan Rank 2, TJ rank 5): Woohoo!: Al Horford, All-Star! Oh Crap!: Josh Smith, All-Snub :(! Uhhh...what?: So...are they the #2 team in the East? Probably!
2: Orlando (Jan Rank 2, TJ rank 1): Woohoo!: Still Chugging along! Oh Crap!: They look like they are on Cruise Control. Uhhh...what?: No trades needed. They are fine.
1. Cleveland (Jan Rank 1, TJ rank 2): Woohoo!: King Lebron James, Akron Hammer, Global Icon...any other name is still MVP. Oh Crap!: 2 of their 3 PGs are on IR. Uhhh...what?: Please. Don't. Trade. Big Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
15. MINN (Jan Rank 15, TJ rank 13): Woohoo!: They may have 4 keepers. Oh Crap!: One might not be Al Jefferson. Uhhh...what?: Al Jefferson, trade chip.
14: Golden State (Jan Rank 14, TJ Rank 12): Woohoo!: Monta Ellis =25 and 5. Oh Crap!: Unfortunately, he doesn't make his team better. Uhhh...what?: Oracel CEO, come on down!
13. Sacto (Jan Rank 12, TJ rank 15): Woohoo!: They still have good young pieces. Oh Crap!: But it isn't enough to be good in the West. Uhhh...what?: Kevin Martin to Dallas? Kinda like it.
12. LAC (Jan Rank 13, TJ rank 8): Woohoo!: Blake Griffin's season-ending injury has managed expectations. Oh Crap!: They still have a questionable coach/GM. Uhhh...what?: Let Marcus Camby go. It's better for all of us.
11: Houston (Jan Rank 7, TJ Rank 11): Woohoo!: I wonder how long they can stay in this. Oh Crap!: That end may be coming. Uhhh...what?: Trade Tracy McGrady? Maybe they may need the cap space to pay current players.
10. MEM (Jan Rank 10, TJ rank 14): Woohoo!: Still chugging along with Zach Randolph as an All-Star. Oh Crap!: Still empty in the gym. Uhhh...what?: With every day that passes, Rudy Gay gets more $$.
9. OKC (Jan Rank 8, TJ Rank 9): Woohoo!: Kevin Durant...soon-to-be best 3 in the NBA. Oh Crap!: Expectations are up...too early! Uhhh...what?: No trades. Just enjoy the ride, baby!
8: NOHornets (Jan Rank 11, TJ rank 6): Woohoo!: The rooks look good. Oh Crap!: Chris Paul's knee may be the end of the playoff run. Uhhh...what?: 2011, the make or break year (Peja Stojakovic and Mo Peterson expiring deals).
7: PHX (Jan Rank 3, TJ rank 7): Woohoo!: Jared Dudley and Channing Frye, good rotation guys! Oh Crap!: Amar'e Stoudemire...quitting on his team. Uhhh...what?: Amar'e to Cleveland? I definitely don't like it.
6. Portland (Jan Rank 6, TJ rank 5): Woohoo!: Half their team is hurt and they can still play. Oh Crap!: Most of those guys aren't coming back this season. Uhhh...what?: May also be at their ceiling.
5. San Antonio (Jan Rank 5, TJ rank 2): Woohoo!: Tim Duncan's still got it, George Hill is good, and Manu Ginobili is getting healthy. Oh Crap!: They don't D well. Uhhh...what?: Well, it's now or never for this team.
4. Utah (Jan Rank 9, TJ rank 10): Woohoo!: First time, about time all star Deron Williams! Oh Crap!: Still a bad defensive team. Uhhh...what?: Is Boozer still expendable? Yes. Yes he is.
3. Dallas (Jan Rank 2, TJ rank 3): Woohoo!: Dirk Nowitzki...MVP? Oh Crap!: No low-post consistency. Uhhh...what?: Josh Howard and Erick Dampier...both expendable.
2. Denver (Jan Rank 4, TJ Rank 4): Woohoo!: Chauncey Billups could get Chris Paul's spot on the All-Star team. Oh Crap!: Still thin up front. Uhhh...what?: Can they get something? Should they get something? Probably not...
1. LA Lakers (Jan Rank 1, TJ Rank 1): Woohoo!: Still on top of everything. Oh Crap!: The wheels are also starting to fly off. Uhhh...what?: The rotation is still better than anyone's.
NBA DRAFT LOTTERY SIM
MADNESS!
