Behind closed doors
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- May
- 20
Hoping to stop the usual rumors, the NBA has allowed select individuals to chronicle the real draft lottery over the years. It’s not a terribly complicated process, but the league wants to make sure the loyal fans are certain there’s no way to steal a moment in history.
And that explains the presence of attorneys and accountants.
Essentially, a representative from each lottery team will gather in a conference room tonight at NBA Entertainment headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. in advance of the 8 p.m. telecast. Each is assigned a number of four-digit combinations based on the standings.
Donnie Walsh is going to be looking at 76 lucky numbers.
They let the Ping-Pong balls mix for a prescribed amount of time while everybody takes a deep breath and dreams of a better future with Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose. And then, up come the numbers. The process is repeated twice more for the second and third picks.
Most of us don’t get to see the real celebrations.
The insiders are sworn to secrecy and cannot leave to join the festivities downstairs until after the broadcast is complete, so the reactions you see on the dais tonight are genuine. If a cell phone sees the light of day in the conference room, league officials have Robert Horry come over and lay a hard foul on the offending party.
Most of the media watch from inside the studio. I’m heading down later this afternoon. We’ll be in touch.
And if you haven’t chimed in on the Rose vs. Beasley debate started in the previous post, by all means, do so now.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am by Mike Dougherty.
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Dear Ping Pong Balls,
Please, please, please let us ‘steal’ Derrick Rose. He is a beast of a manchild at 6’4’’ and 200 pounds. He will be so difficult to guard as he is blowing past perimeter defenders and posting up the little guys on the inside. He appeared to be the fastest guy in the NCAA tournament when no one could keep him out of the paint. He can take contact and finish inside. He looks to make the extra pass. Clyde will love his dishing and swishing.
Just imagine him running the break. Size, speed, strength. He’s perfect. NY will love him. And he’s only 20.
On top of it all, I believe Rose will enormously increase the chances of landing Lebron. Look what he hasn’t had in Cleveland: a legitimate PG. And Rose will be instantly better than Devin Harris [if he is even still on the Nets come 2010-2011]. This is no knock on Beasley, but drafting a star forward to join a bunch of role players will not help as much in luring King James.
If the trailblazers jumped from #5 to #1 last year so can the knicks!!!
LET’S DO EEEEEEEEEETTT
Derrick Rose for the win!
Would be happy with Beasley too if Rose is not there wherever we pick.
Need new blood.
Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni, we’re counting on you.
In the previous post, one of the comments talked about Rose was being babied by his family and he still eats candy… If anything Beasley is the baby. There was an SI article a few months back that talked about how Beasley was kicked out of his HS junior name for being immature and signing his name in sharpie all over school, even after he was warned that it could have him thrown out of school. Then in his next school, he refused to practice outside because he was afraid of catching a cold and he would run around with his shirt off at practice saying he was naked.
Personally, I don’t think he has the personality to survive in New York. Rose is the better fit and he is the answer to our problems.
Another comment talked about how OJ Mayo shut down Rose, but if you watched Memphis basketball at all, Derrick Rose started looking to create for himself at the end of the season and in the tournament. He took over when it mattered.
I just think you take the size if you can. So, Beasley is my man. I think drafting second takes the guess work out of it. We deserve a high pick, boys. It’s our karma.
I think if we get below #5 we should deal it to Phoenix with Zbo and DLee for Mr. Nash.
Hi, I just wanted to chime in and show my support for your blog. It seems as though LoHud is the only place to find up-to-date blogs on my favorite teams (I’m coming over from Peter Abraham’s Yankees blog).
My interest in the Knicks and the NBA in general is returning, so I hope to use your blog a lot in the future!
Keep up the good work, more people will come as the Knicks get better!
If we can’t get Rose or Beasley, can we please go for B Lopez? How many Nate and Jamals do we need.