Drafting Jimmer

Much speculation has been surrounding the draft status of College Basketball folk legend Jimmer Fredette, and in anticipation of Thursday Night's Radio City Music Hall event I will offer my opinion on the matter. Regardless of my undeniable, and unconditional allegiance to the former BYU point guard, the answer to the Fredette draft puzzle is very simple. The closest form of basketball to the National Basketball Association is the NCAA. Jimmer Fredette, in all his glory, did nothing short of dominate College Basketball for two full years. He sliced up defenses nightly, posted astounding numbers, and rightfully coined a shooting range that was unimaginable prior to his appearance on the Mormon hardwood. Am I guaranteeing that Fredette will dominate the NBA, or even check out as half of what he was in college? Absolutely not. I am simply saying that NBA GM's have no reason not to take a shot with Fredette. His game may resemble that of those who have proven busts in the past, but his pure dominance in the NBA's tune up league is means for taking a draft day risk.

JD

Smirk Nowitzki

When mauled by Miami defenders in this year's NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki has graciously accepted the routine whistle and proceeded to the charity stripe with a goofy grin across his face. The Smirk. The hardwoods of L.A., Portland, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and most recently South Beach have all collaborated to create Nowitzki's nation wide playground this post season, where he has dropped jaws on the monkey bars, and thrown opponents off the swings. In 2006, Dwayne Wade's Heat shocked Nowitzki and crew, when they erased a 2-0 series deficit to earn the Naismith Trophy with four straight stunning wins. Five years later, Dirk has Dallas a game away from capturing the Title that Wade single handedly stole from them; memories that Nowitzki revisits in the worst of late night dreams.

A Championship for Dallas would be the first for the franchise which debuted in the 1980-81 season. If the Mavs can achieve this elusive greatness Sunday Night, many critics will credit the victory to Lebron James' lack of late game luster. While James' on court woes and media antics have frequently made headlines this series, Nowitzki's lights out shooting and acrobatic heroics will in the end conquer all. If the Mavericks win, Dirk Nowitzki will hoist the trophy on basketball's biggest stage, and you better bet that he will be smirking; a nuance he continues to coin with every defender whom he makes silly.

JD

Must Have Monta

Rumors have been circulating that a straight-up trade will send Andre Iguodala to the Golden State Warriors and bring Monta Ellis to Philadelphia. Since Allen Iverson left the South Philly hardwood some years ago now, the struggling Sixers have lacked the major component that every successful NBA team holds; a pure scorer. If the team can land Monta Ellis (who has averaged 20 points throughout his young career and around 25 in the past two seasons) they will insert a piece to a puzzle that has seen all too many "rebuilding" seasons. I have been a faithful Sixers fan ever since Allen Iverson lifted the team to a Finals birth in my first season as a fan, the pinnacle of my fan hood in 2001. I have no intentions of breaking the allegiance to my favorite basketball team in the near future, but if I have to watch Andre Iguodala heave up last second prayers with a defender who he is incapable of shaking off breathing down his neck, for a whole another season, I may take my love for the game somewhere else. Give me Monta Ellis; please give the faithful a scorer.

JD