Showcase Showdown

Seasonal Sports Superiority

by Sports Eye View

Photo Cred www.sportslocal.org

For the love of every sport, we, the writers of Sports Eye View, would like to entertain you, our readers, with one of the broadest Showcase Showdowns we can come up with. After the NBA and NHL playoffs finished a couple weeks ago, the sports world has slowed down quite a bit with baseball chugging along in the middle of it's season and not much else going on. A few Tennis fans out there are closely watching to see if Andy Murray can snatch his second straight Wimbledon title and even fewer NASCAR fans are out there awaiting with great anticipation the Chase for the Sprint Cup Series. We would like to fill this gap by trying to determine which season of sports is the best. Spring boasts the completion of the NHL and NBA playoffs and March Madness while Summer brags about it's always exciting MLB season and all star game, NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup as well as the occasional Olympics. Fall brings us the start of the NFL season, College Football and MLB playoffs and Winter shows of the ever exciting ending to the NFL season along with playoffs and of course, the BCS Bowls and the occasional Olympics. So which season is better? Let's see what the writers of Sports Eye View think.

Photo Cred www.cbslocal.com

Eric - I will begin by saying that the Spring by far offers the greatest sporting events of the year. It is so obvious that I could just leave it at that, but just for your entertainment (and for the very few who don't already know this), I will explain further. Let's start from the beginning. College Basketball season is coming to a close around the end of March. You all know what this means! March Madness!! Possibly the greatest tournament of all time kicks off Spring and lasts almost an entire month. Does it get much better than that? Well yes, it does. Not only is March Madness going on, but the NBA and NHL playoff races are tightening up and the MLB season is starting. It's almost too much goodness in such a short period of time. And then, if you thought it definitely could not get better, the NBA and NHL playoffs start and finish right at the end of Spring. If you need any more explanation as to why Spring is the best season for sports, you are out of your mind.

Photo Cred www.betinternet.com

Ryan - Let me start off my promotion of the Winter Sports season by telling you a story.  When I was 10 years old, I had a crush.  On who, you might ask?  Tara Lipinski.  I, along with the entire world population, watched as the 15 year old Golden Girl took down the best in Michelle Kwan and brought USA home the gold medal.  It was a good day.  Other memorable Winter Sport memories? Anyone remember the Miracle on Ice? Yeah, the one where the scrub Americans beat the domineering Russians in the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Match.  They made a movie out of that one.  What about that Jamaican Bobsled team?  Yup, made a movie out of that one too.  Please, if you haven't watched Cool Runnings, do.  I can go on and on...The Immaculate Reception...The Catch...every Daytona 500 and Super Bowl ever played...The Ice Bowl....The Blackout Bowl.  I feel like I got the easy task with this Showdown.  I'll go into more details once I see what the other guys have to offer.

Photo Cred www.mlb.com

Ben- Close your eyes and just imagine for a minute. You’re sitting outside on the porch; warm coffee in hand, a fleece jacket wrapped around your shoulders.  A nice, crisp breeze blows over the lawn and rustles those leaves that are shedding their green hue to the grandiose orange, reds, and yellows the fall delivers. A bonfire in the distance is tingling your nose, reminding you of your youth.  At this point all of your senses are engaged- except the sense of excitement. You walk inside, turn on the TV and gear up for the greatest sports season of all- FALL. “So Ben, why is it the best?” The NFL season is throwing off its rust, the NBA is jumping into form, and the English Premier League is kicking into gear  (Yes, I'm not above punning my way though an article). Oh, and in case you forgot, a little thing called PLAYOFF BASEBALL is in full swing. Playoff baseball is straight up magic. Even casual fans start to get batty with the constant excitement of a 7 game series (I’m done, I swear). Still not enough for you? Just head into town to watch young, talented high school kids, with aspiring dreams of stardom, put it on the field every Friday night under the lights. Simply put, fall is awesome. 

Photo Cred www.uwishunu.com

Caleb - There is one event in the sporting world that captures the hearts and minds of the entire globe. One two week stretch in the heat of August that causes even the shallowest of sports fans to skip class, work and even their wedding to find the closest television set. Without further adieu....The Summer Olympics. While I believe that March Madness is the best sporting event in the United States, The Summer Olympics is without a doubt the most amazing event in the wide world of sports that spans far beyond the borders of MERICA. The London 2012 Olympics broke the record for the most watched event in television history. While Americans and small populations in the rest of the world are glued to the NBA and MLB finals, every eye and ear in the world unites within each country to cheer their team on in each individual event. The national pride that is sprouted from just one gold medal for a small country truly shows the beauty and brilliance that athletics can bring to our world. I have many more reasons why the Summer seasons reigns supreme, but starting with the top seems most appropriate. The Summer Olympics makes the season of Summer simply scintillating.

Photo Cred www.keepingscore.blogs.com

Eric - To snuff out the Summer sports season first, you brought up the event that takes place every 4 years. Sure it's fantastic when it is happening, but it is 2 weeks every 4 years. That is hardly as good as something that happens year in and year out. Fall is good because of the NFL getting started but everyone knows the end of the season and playoffs are the best part of the NFL season. Playoff Baseball is the only great thing the Fall has going for it. Premier League soccer is just a blip on the radar in America. NASCAR is probably more watched than the Premier League. If we all lived in England, the Fall would be kicking butt entirely due to Premier League soccer but we all live in America. The Winter does have some good sports as well but once again, the Winter Olympics only happen once every 4 years. The NFL playoffs are awesome and definitely the highlight of the Winter but that is about it. So in summary, the Summer has one great event every 4 years, the Fall has MLB playoffs and the Winter has NFL playoffs. Compare that to the Spring having March Madness which happens every year, NBA playoffs which happen every year, NHL playoffs which happen every year and the start of Baseball, which is always extremely exciting, and you have yourselves a clear winning. Prove me wrong!

Photo Cred www.reuters.com

Ryan - Eric, I beg to differ.  When it comes down to it, there are only two seasons in the running for this title, that being the Summer and Winter due to the presence of the Olympics.  These games are so amazing that they can only have them once every four years!  You are also not putting nearly enough stock in the start of the NFL season in the Fall.  If you're honest with yourself, you know, just like the rest of us, that the NFL is by far the greatest and most popular sport in America by leaps and bounds.  Nothing comes close.  Sorry man, the Spring is that lapse in the year when you're just waiting for the Summer months to come.  So, why does Winter beat the Summer? Each have the Olympics, which gives them an EVEN upper hand over the Fall and Spring.  Unfortunately for the Summer, there isn't much else than that besides Training Camps and Preseason.  Winter has the exciting end to the NFL regular season, the spine tingling playoffs and the one event that breaks all of the TV records every single year, the SUPER BOWL!!!!  Again, I got the easy task.  Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier; the BCS Championship Series!  Easily one of the Top 5 single sporting events of the year.  The Winter season captures those who love professional sports, college sports, and once every four years even throws something in there that the entire world can tune into.  Seriously, need Ben and Caleb even take a stab?

Photo Cred www.gambling911.com

Caleb - Ryan beat me to the punch about the Olympics. I would rather have the greatest sporting venture of all time once every 4 years than the normal American sports championships every single year. The simple fact that it happens once every 4 years makes it that much better and bolsters the summer season's resume. Also, are we really making the argument that the summer Olympics are the only event happening in the summer? Did we forget that 3 of 4 golf major championships occur in the summer? Now I know some of you will bash golf for being boring, but have you ever watched the U.S. Open? Have you ever been glued to the television for 5 straight hours on a Sunday? The U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship all occur in the summer and carry a unique change of pace from the normal big 4. Also, summer holds Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the tennis world which carry the same glorified weight as the golf majors. Summer holds the unique and brilliant sporting events that the rest of the seasons just don't have. Also, which of you can deny checking your phone or internet each and every night to get text updates from the Phillies, Pirates or Orioles? We may not be at the beginning or the end of the MLB season, but I would argue that the middle of the season is much better than the beginning. Divisional races are taking shape, new stars are being born and surprise stories are always popping up. For any true baseball fan, the summer months are the best time of year. I see your individual points and I believe we all have strong cases because sports are amazing all year round, but there is simply nothing better than listening to the baseball game on the radio on a summer night, waking up early to watch Tiger struggle in the British Open, or wearing your USA colors and screaming and shouting about synchronized swimming. Bummer for the rest for only one reason, summer is the best, the best of the seasons.

Photo Cred www.rampagedreality.com

Ben - Sure, the Olympics are fantastic, that's impossible to argue against. But while you're talking about 2 weeks, everyone else is thinking big picture: consistently the best at round house kicking you in the face for 3 whole months season. It just so happens to be fall. I mean who doesn't love variety; that's what Fall is about. THREE types of football (HS/College/Pro), soccer leagues across the whole world (not giving up on soccer Eric!), Hockey, Basketball, and playoff baseball (And Baseball is the most "American" sport there is, shouldn't that just be the end of the argument? Could be, Wont be). The fall is set up for sporting events every night of the week. The amount of quality sporting action available is just wild- like riding an eagle through the mists of Valhalla during a full moon. Doesn't get much better than that!

Alright everyone, now it's your turn.  There is no way to settle this for good without having your input on the matter.  How do you help?

1. Post in the comment section of this story.
2. Vote on the poll along the right side of the blog.

Help us out, which sporting season is the best overall?!!

Rounding the Bases

American League Power Rankings

The Red Sox Ascension

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.bleacherreport.com

1. (+2) Boston Red Sox (53-34) - The Red Sox have proven that lapse a month ago was just a fluke and they truly are the team to beat this season in the American League.  In baseball's toughest division, they have risen to the top, the cream of the crop.  They don't do it by crushing numbers, rather steady consistency by  a lot of guys.  David Ortiz is as clutch as he's ever been, leading this team offensively.  Starting pitching has been stellar with Clay Buchholz leading the team with 9 wins and a 1.71 ERA.  Only one starting pitcher has a losing record.  I'm going to say it now, the Red Sox are a shoe in for the playoffs this year.

2. (+5) Oakland Athletics (50-36) - I knew the Athletics had it in them.  After a rough start, they have shown their true colors and are in their rightful position of leading the AL West.  This team is one of the few that have done it right, growing players through a fruitful farm system.  The team doesn't have standout stars, none of their players are leading the prestigious categories, but the team as a whole is winning games... a lot.  Bartolo Colon has had a rebirth in the city of Oakland, and his 11-3 record is the reason they stand alone on top out West.

Photo Cred www.washington.communities.com

3. (-2) Texas Rangers (49-36) - The Rangers may have dropped from the top spot in the rankings, but that isn't so much their downfall as it is the great play of the two teams above them.  Texas is still right in the battle for the West title and easily a Wild Card Contender.  Texas is having a great season so far from Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz at the bat. Yu Darvish has been their solid starter, leading the majors in Strikeouts.  The big piece for this team so far is their ability to come from behind late in the game.  The bullpen has kept them in it and the bats have come through.  Much like the next team in our rankings...

4. (0) Baltimore Orioles (48-39) - The Orioles are killing me this year.  They have the most potent offense in the league.  Chris Davis is on pace for 60+ homeruns.  Manny Machado is looking at possibly 75 doubles.  Four guys have 100+ hits and six have over 40 RBIs.  They score runs.  The problem?  They don't have good pitching.  No starter has an ERA under three.  The offense has done a great job of coming back for wins, and the bullpen has done a good job of blowing leads.  Jim Johnson leads the majors with 29 saves...he's also blown six of them.  They just signed a new starting pitcher, Scott Feldman this week.  He needs to be that piece that brings this team together or they will fall apart down the stretch.  Right now, they need to stop blowing leads, like they did again tonight.

5. (0) Detroit Tigers (47-38) - The Tigers, as they should be, are winning the AL Central division. Miguel Cabrera is leading one of the top offenses in the MLB, on pace for possibly a second Triple Crown in as many seasons.  Max Scherzer is having a Cy Young like season, starting off 13-0 in 17 starts.  No one has started this long without losing since Roger Clemens in 1986.  Along with Justin Verlander, they are 22-5 combined.  The Tigers could be better given their circumstances, but the power in their lineup paired up with their great starting pitching should bode well for this team in the second half of the season.

Photo Cred www.sportingnews.com

6. (-4) New York Yankees (47-39) - The Yankees have a good record, but that is more a reflection of the poor teams they have played lately rather than any amount of skill they have.  This Yankees team is different from any I've ever seen. They don't have stars out there anymore.  There is no consistency in the lineup.  Only two players (Robinson Cano and Brent Gardner) have played 80 games.  No regular is batting .300, no one has 60 RBIs, only three guys have double digit homeruns...this is not the Yankees we are used to. Starting pitching has also been rough. They let up too many runs and no starter yet has 10 wins.  The only bright spot is Mariano Rivera, who has been shut down amazing.  This team needs things to change quickly to have a shot down the stretch.

Photo Cred www.sportpeaks.com

7. (-1) Cleveland Indians (45-42) - I still have trouble seeing this team as a viable contender, but I'll be honest, they are really giving the Tigers a run for their money!  They are getting some steady, not great, production from the bulk of their lineup, and pitching is consistent, not amazing, but good enough to keep them in the race halfway through the season.  It'll be interesting to see what happens in the second half of the year.  If the Indians sneak in as the 5th Wild Card spot, I wouldn't put it past them putting together a run to the Series!

8. (+1) Tampa Bay Rays (48-40) - I should probably have the Rays a bit higher on the list, but I feel their shots in the long run are less than the teams ahead of them.  They play in the best division and baseball, and have put together a good string lately to put themselves back in the race.  I'm just not sure if they have lasting power.  Evan Longoria has been hot, and their lineup is capable of going off at the drop of a hat.  Matt Moore is still pitching okay, but has cooled off after his dominant start.  The Rays are definitely capable of surprising everyone, but I don't see their year being 2013.

9. (+5) Los Angeles Angels (42-45) - This spot is a toss up between the Angels and the Blue Jays, and I'm giving it to the Angels due to the fact they've actually moved up in their division.  The Angels had a horrid start to the season, about 10 games under .500 early on.  They have since gone on a couple of streaks and come to within 3 games of .500.  They still have a long way to go, but they are moving in the right direction...'Hey, it could happen.  The Angels could win the pennant.'

Photo Cred www.hawaiiherald-tribune.com

10. (+3) Toronto Blue Jays (42-45) - Another team that started out poor and has picked up their game.  The dream team Toronto bought that was supposed to be so good has been average lately, which is better than what they were.  Unfortunately, they still find themselves last in the MLB's best division, the AL East.  The Blue Jays are getting some pretty good power numbers offensively, but not a single one of their starting pitchers has a winning record...teams will not win games if their starters cannot get the job done.

11. (-3) Kansas City Royals (41-43) -  Yes, this is the Royals team I'm used to seeing.  The run was nice while it lasted, but it appears that Kansas City is back to their losing ways, unfortunately.  There is no hint of power on the team, no player has even 10 homeruns and no one has 20 doubles.  Even though their pitchers ERA is better than most teams, they don't score enough runs to win them the games.  Things are better than usual in KC, but more time is needed to be a contender.

12. (-1) Seattle Mariners (38-49) - With these last few teams, the ranking doesn't really matter so much. Realistically, these teams are out of contention.  I put the Mariners here because I really like Raul Ibanez and love that he's tearing it up still at this age.  21 homeruns for the guy!  Other than that, not too much else exciting in the Seattle.  Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma each have decent ERAs, but that unfortunately is not enough to get them anywhere near contention.  Another year, another chance to rebuild for the Mariners.

Photo Cred www.zimbio.com

13. (-3) Minnesota Twins (37-47) - Joe Mauer is great.  Justin Mourneau is good.  The tandem has been struggling to make anything happen in the Twin Cities for years now. Starting pitching is inconsistent and bad.  If they can't get a team together soon, I'd want to jump ship if I were Mauer.

14. (-2) Chicago White Sox (34-50) - Well, last rankings I talked about how the White Sox's struggles were due largely in part to the shortcomings of Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn. Since them, Konerko has picked up his average some and Dunn has tore up with homeruns and RBIs.  Unfortunately, the rest of the team did not follow suit, as they slip further down the list and further away from the playoffs again.

15. (0) Houston Astros (32-56) - Well, the Astros have picked up their game a little bit, but not much.  They have no offensive production, and no studs on the pitching side of things.  They need help...a lot of it.  Hopefully this is just a case of getting used to a new league all together and not a 10 year epidemic for Houston...I'm sure the catch phrase 'Houston, we have a problem' has been used WAY too many times this year.

Agree? Disagree?  Let me hear it peeps!

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder and MLB Analyst with Sports Eye View.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com.

Domination Station

Chase for the Triple Crown

Miguel Cabrera vs. Chris Davis

By Ryan Frisco

Last year, Miguel Cabrera became the first MLB player since 1967 to win the Triple Crown.  Usually, we don't see anyone really in the running for this award, as it involves leading the league in three somewhat diverse categories, Homeruns, RBIs and Batting Average.  If you lead the league in Homeruns, you probably lead in RBIs as well, but it's tough to keep a high batting average when you're more of a power hitter.  On the other hand, when you lead the league in Batting Average, you usually aren't hitting for a lot of power, more spreading out singles and doubles.

This year, we've got two guys who are in a legitimate battle for the Crown.  The Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera again, and a newcomer, Baltimore Orioles First Basemen Chris Davis.  To give you a picture of how dominant these two are, I'm going to show you where these two rank in all of the MLB offensive statistics.

Photo Cred www.usatoday.com

Batting Average:

1. Cabrera, DET .364

4. Davis, BAL .326

Homeruns:

1. Davis, Bal 32

2. Cabrera, DET 26

RBIs:

1. Cabrera, DET 85

2. Davis, BAL 83

OPS:

1. Cabrera, DET 1.124

2. Davis, BAL 1.121

Photo Cred www.zimbio.com

OBP: 

1. Cabrera, DET .454

6. Davis, BAL .402

SLG:

1. Davis, BAL .719

2. Cabrera, DET .670

Runs: 

1. Cabrera, DET 65

4. Davis, BAL 62

So there you have it.  Between the two of them, neither one is further down the list than 6th.  Cabrera clearly has a bit of an edge overall, being in the Top 2 in every category.  But still, Davis isn't the superstar that people have known Miguel Cabrera to be.  This is his breakout season, the first time he's ever had numbers like this even in a full season!  If Chris Davis doesn't have these kinds of numbers, the Baltimore Orioles aren't in the running in the AL East.  Similarly, if Miguel Cabrera doesn't dominate the way he does, the Tigers most likely aren't winning their division.  It's rare for one guy to threaten for the Triple Crown.  It's unheard of for two guys to be in the running together.  This is going to be exciting down the stretch, as each of these guys leads their team most likely into the playoffs, and beyond!

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder and MLB Analyst for Sports Eye View. He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com.

Green - White - Checkers

Stop #18: Daytona #2

By Ryan Frisco

That's right fans, buckle your seat belts 'cause we're about to go racing at Daytona for the second time this season!  This is the third restrictor plate race of the year, and we've seen already the excitement and surprises these tracks have to offer.  I love these races!

Let's cut to the Chase already: What is the race going to look like tomorrow night?!  

Photo Cred www.blogs.orlandosentinel.com

Excitement.  From start to finish.  You've got the gleam of the lights shining off the cars as they race around the track.  You've got 40 cars within half a second of each other on the track, banging on each other's doors.  You've got the potential for 20 cars to be caught up in a crash at any second of the race.  It's suspense.  It's craziness.  It's that feeling that you never know what's about to happen till it happens. I love it.  The fans love it.  Try it out, you'll love it!

Kyle Busch won the pole for the race, with teammate Matt Kenseth starting second.  Joe Gibbs Racing had three of the dominant cars in the Daytona 500 earlier this year until engine failures doomed them.  So far, it looks like they're going to be the cars to beat going into the second round in Daytona Beach.  Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin; keep your eyes on them.

Photo Cred www.draftingthecircuits.com

For Denny, this is literally do or die.  He has less than 10 races to get himself back into the Top 20 in points and win at least two races.  After missing four races due to a compression fracture in his spine, the going's been tough getting back into the picture.  He has no room to play it safe.  The team is calling crazy strategies to have a shot at the win, he's taking chances on the track...sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

You can't call a winner at Daytona.  Anyone has a shot until the checkered flag flies.  David Ragan won at Talladega earlier this year...he's 29th in points.  Trevor Bayne won in his second ever start two years ago in the 500.  Derrike Cope won two Daytona 500s...yes, you don't know who he is.  Just for that reason, I'm not going to predict a winner tomorrow night, I'm just going to sit back, relax and enjoy the action!  

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder of Sports Eye View, as well as the Head NASCAR Analyst.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com

30 Degrees of Banking

NASCAR Nuggets: Kentucky

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.floridasportstalk.com

The Victor: Another 1.5 mile track, another win for Matt Kenseth and the Joe Gibbs Racing Team.  They've really got these intermediate tracks down, as that is Kenseth's fourth victory of the season.  What does that mean?  It means he'll start out with at least 12 bonus points once the Chase starts.  In an era where most championships come down to less than 20 points (and some times the number of wins) every bonus point Matt can collect now bodes well for his standing after Homestead in November.

The First Loser: Jamie McMurray came home second at Kentucky, a nice run for the Chip Ganassi driver.  McMurray may not have had the second fastest car Sunday, but it was decent nonetheless.  In a season burdened by the obscure happenings, it's nice to see Jamie's finishing position mirror the kind of car he actually had.  He still has a looooong way to go to have any chance at the Chase.

Pat on the Back: I'll tell you what, Joey Logano is having a good year.  It seems the switch to Penske was almost as good for him as it was for Kenseth to move to Gibbs!  The kid is really coming into his own, and after so many well run races like his fourth place at Kentucky, I'm going out on a limb that he is not far away from a breakout year!

Also, Kurt Busch.  I bring him up every week, and I'm really close to just making him one of the guys who should be finishing in the Top 10 each week instead of a scrub in shoddy equipment.

Photo Cred www.nascar.com

Can't Start, Won't Start: Jimmie Johnson, the points leader, has dominated the season.  There is no doubt about it.  He has won three times, and that number isn't six only because of himself.  Restarts have been the death of Johnson this year, and Sunday was no different. After being the man to beat all day and leading almost 200 laps, Jimmie fell victim to the restart once again.  Blaming it on Matt Kenseth not starting the race fast enough (the truth is that Johnson couldn't get going and got in the way) he was spun out and went from the front row back outside the Top 20.  He was able to work his way back to 9th, but should have won the race.  Big mistakes so far for the 48 team.

Excitement at Kentucky Motor Speedway last weekend.  The Chase picture is starting to take shape.  I'll leave you with a nasty crash that took out defending champion Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle!

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder of Sports Eye View, as well as the Head NASCAR Analyst.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com

And the Foul

The NBA Draft Recap

By Ben Makin

Well, It's been a while, funny how life doesn't let you catch up on things. Since my last article I graduated, got a job, moved to Pittsburgh, and no one really cares except my Mom (THANKS MA!). All in all, I’m doing better than Aaron Hernandez. I have been watching a good amount of NBA, and thought to myself, “HEY, other people should listen to me again,” so now I’m writing my draft recap. I plan on going through the first round, pick by pick and I’ll try not to get too sidetracked, no promises. Let’s get it on.

PART 1

David Sterns Last Draft- I think it should be noted that this was the Stern Dogs last draft. It was a cool thing to see that even after all the Boo's, Stern was Stern. I dont really agree with a lot of things he did, but He was still good at being the Comish, and he actually had the best quote of the night.

Rd. 1 Pick 1: Cleveland Cavaliers- Anthony Bennett, SF, UNLV: Easily the biggest surprise of the draft. Projected to go 8^th to the Pistons, the Cavs once again tried to “outsmart the draft." Don't get me wrong, Bennett is good, but at number one overall it was a reach. Because of the layout of the draft and it being deep, not strong, it was hard for anyone to take a chance and reach out to Cleveland and take their pick. I think Bennett will be a solid role player for the Cavaliers, a little less than what you really want from a #1 pick. He is very athletic, and when you watch his highlight tape you see the power he can bring down low. Also, his touch from range will fit in nice with the trending “stretch 4” mentality of the league (because teams are playing small ball, they want an athletic 4 who can get out of the paint and stretch teams defensively). If he can find a good work ethic and lose the baby weight, we could see a great starting five for the Cavs in a year or two.  Grade: C+

Photo Cred Bleacher Report

Rd. 1 Pick 2: Orlando Magic- Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana: Solid pick for the Magic. It fills a need (athletic, can play great D, shoots the ball well). There are rumors that he may actually be the starting point guard come the start of the season, which would be great for his “fantasy stock”. He’s a guy who is going to put it all on the floor every night, great for a Magic team that can go through the motions at times. I don't think he’ll make any all-star teams in the near future, but don't be surprised to see Oladipo show up on the All-Defensive teams, he has a real future being a shut down player. Since I wrote this part of the article (about an hour ago) I've gotten three times as pumped to watch him. Grade: A- 



Photo Cred: Huffington Post



Rd. 1 Pick 3: Washington Wizards- Otto Porter Jr., SF, Georgetown: High first round picks coming out of Georgetown usually workout (Greg Monroe, Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing just to name a few). I though Porter Jr. would go to the Cavs; I know they don't need a scorer, but the small forward for them is a weak spot. I think he will be one of the bright spots of the draft. He is going to a Wizards franchise that has had some turmoil, but I think they are slowly finding a place in the league. John Wall will be happy to have this great defender and mid range shooter to rely on. Look out for the Wizards to make a run towards the playoffs this year; their starting five is sneaky good. Grade: A

Photo Cred: Sportswithballsshow.com

Rd. 1 Pick 4: Charlotte Bobcats- Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana: They suck, any addition will help them, but I thought they would go more athletic and take Noel. I can see why they didn't because they need immediate help, and Noel is a year out with his ACL injury. Zeller was thought to be the #1 overall consensus just a year ago, so he definitely is not a bum. I see him starting early on in the season on a weak Bobcats roster; don't sleep on Zeller, He’ll be the next Varejao. Grade: C 

*Side note! I didn't know if I should put it in the Georgetown section or not, but Patrick (Ch)Ewing will be the new head coach of the Bobcats. What do they have to lose here? They already suck so why not bring on a new coach and see if he can somehow right the ship. 

Rd. 1 Pick 5: Phoenix Suns- Alex Len, C, Maryland: I Think Alex Len will be a solid NBA player. Similar to a Brooke Lopez. Great personality, good work ethic, travels with his mom. #suns. I tweeted this earlier in the week and am sticking by it. He is a little young, but if he can develop I think he will be a solid starter in the NBA. Grade: B

Photo Cred: ESPN

Rd. 1 Pick 6: New Orleans Pelicans (TRADED TO: Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holliday)- Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky: Great pick for the Pelicans (I love saying Pelicans, I think I’m buying a hat). They knew they weren’t going to keep him, but he has #1 overall talent. Personally I really don't think Noel will pan out in the NBA, he is so high on everyone’s list because of his shot blocking, but he miserable on the offensive end. I can see why Philly traded for him- Jrue has hit his ceiling (he’ll never take it to the next level like a CP3) and Bynum most likely will opt out of Philly. They can now rebuild around a guy with “potential” superstar ability (still don't see it, and am not talking myself into it). Grade: A 

BONUS: If they tank this year (and they will with Noel out and a rookie PG in Carter-Williams), they could be in position to claim the prize of next year’s draft- Andrew Wiggans: a straight up stud freshman at Kansas.

Speed Round- go.

Rd. 1 Pick 7: Sacramento Kings- Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas: Great athleticism, decent shot, needs a year or two and could emerge as a Paul George like character. Perfect fit in Sac. Grade: B+

Rd. 1 Pick 8: Detroit Pistons- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia: Could be the best shooter in the draft, the word deadly comes to mind. Needs to work on midrange, but reminds me of a Ray Allen type. Good value at 8. Grade: C

Rd. 1 Pick 9: Minnesota Timberwolves (TRADED TO THE UTAH JAZZ for SHABAZZ MOHAMED)- Trey Burke, PG, Michigan: I love Trey Burke. He was the best player in the NCAA tournament, even in the games he disappeared. This is a great pickup for the Jazz who could have the next Chris Paul in their locker room.

Photo Cred: maizenbrew.com

He can dime with the best of them, and isn’t afraid of taking the big shot. Big things coming for this  Jazzy Wolverine (you know something had to be super corny in my article!). Grade: A- 

Rd. 1 Pick 10: Portland Trailblazers- CJ McCollum, PG, LeHigh: I was confused with this pick at first, but the more I see it, the more I like it. Great shooter/scorer, and if they get a second Lillard like player, they’ll have the best young backcourt in the league. Either can play point or the 2. Should really workout in Portland who need some depth. Grade: C+

Rd. 1 Pick 11: Philadelphia 76ers- Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse: I saw him play live against Pitt this year and wasn't that impressed. He is huge, but is lacking something and I can’t figure it out yet. He’ll be solid, has size, but never better than a role player (which might be what the 6ers need).  Grade: D+

Photo Cred: Celticslife.com

Rd. 1 Pick 12: Oklahoma City Thunder- Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh: He has a great upsize, but I think he should’ve stayed in college another year. Has no offensive game what so ever, but can learn how to score under the awesome tutelage of Kendrik Perkins (insert sarcastic laugh). I think Adams is a project, but in the long run will be worth it because of his size. Oklahoma was the ideal spot for him to land; there is time to learn.  Grade: C- 

Rd. 1 Pick 13: Dallas Mavericks (TRADED TO THE BOSTON CELTICS)- Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga- I think this would’ve been a better pick if he was able to learn from KG, but not that the Big Ticket has gone to Brooklyn. Olynyk will be thrown out on the floor too early and get eaten alive. Grade: C

Rd. 1 Pick 14: Utah Jazz (TRADED TO THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES)- Shabazz Mohamed, SF, UCLA- He goes from UCLA to the tundra of Minnesota. The kid has serious talent, and I know that Rick Adleman can bring it out of him, it is just weather he’ll comply. Coming into college, Shabazz was supposed to be the next big thing, but I see him being more of a problem than a solution. Hopefully he’ll prove me wrong and not turn out like Michael Beasley. Grade: B

Photo Cred: Businessinsider.com

Rd. 1 Pick 15 Milwaukie Bucks- Giannis Antetkounmpo, SF, Greece, #16 Boston Celtics (TRADED TO ATLANTA HAWKS) Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil, and #17 Atlanta Hawks, Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany : To be honest I don't know much about any of these guys. They're most likely going to be stashed overseas for a couple years, so it is a long-term investment. We’ll see in 2016! Grade: ??? 

Well, that concludes the first half of the draft. So far, I think the 6ers have the best chance of looking back to 2013 and saying- “wow that was a great draft for them.” Short term I think the Wizards took the biggest step in filling a hole that could possibly right the ship. The east is still weak towards the middle and bottom- could we see Washington float up to the 7,8, or 9 seed? I think the 76ers 2nd pick was too much of a reach. Don't see him playing out as well as a top 10 pick should, but he was the best available at the position. As is the case for all drafts, only time will tell. Is it October yet?!

Ben Makin is the Head NBA Analyst for Sports Eye View.  He can be reached at ben.makin11@gmail.com.