NBA 2020 Draft booking

 

My Crazy Dream Booking:  Top 4 go Edwards-Wiseman-Okongwu-Toppin.  Cavs trade #5 to the Knicks for #8 and a (top 10 protected) first rounder in 2021.  Knicks grab Ball at #5.  Hawks grab Avjadi at 6, Detroit grabs Hayes at 7, and the Cavs grab Isaac Okoro or Devin Vassell at #8.

What Should Happen: Top 4 go Edwards-Wiseman-Ball-Hayes.  Cavs grab Deni Avjadi at #5

What Will Happen: Top 4 are Edwards-Wiseman-Ball-Avjadi.  Cleveland takes Isaac Okoro at #5

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Top 4 are Edwards-Wiseman-Ball-Avjadi. Cleveland takes Toppin at #5 (Toppin has his advantages.  But he will be the third top draft pick in a row with defensive issues.  I don't see that helping the Cavs)

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Cavs take Toppin, overpay to re-sign Thompson, and have five front court players and no defensive wings.  

The bullet the US Dodged... and the remaining bullet

 The definition of fascism, courtesy of Merriam-Webster:

"a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition"

In some ways, Trump has been a fascist.  He demonizes his opponents to the point of calling for their suppression (He's twice led chants of "Lock Her Up ", for two different political opponents, four years apart).  He's constantly attacking the media.  He's questioning the electoral process before the votes have even been counted.

But in many key ways, Trump is not a fascist.  He hasn't made a power grab.  And a pandemic is a perfect storm to make such a power grab.  Trump could have closed the borders, killed all trade with China, and force the states to accept whatever safety measures the federal government deemed were necessary on the argument that it was to protect the nation... and the nation would have gone along with it. 

Why didn't he?  My own pet theory... Trump doesn't want power.  He wants adulation. He wants people to act subordinate to him, at all times, under all conditions.  And that's all he wants.

So, assuming he'll lose in November, he'll use the pulpit to clain he was robbed, that he was a great President, that outside forces were out to get him, that he was cheated... and then he'll leave.  He doesn't want the power of the Presidency.  He wants the aura of the Presidency.

So he'll leave, and we'll have escaped the Trump Presidency.  We could have gone fascist, and we didn't.  The country dodged a bullet.

But...

I don't think Biden's a fascist by any means (in fact, I think he is much more Conservative than Trump- certainly more respectful of traditions and the Constitution).  But I think the Trump Presidency revealed that there are a lot of people who, if they had been in Trump's place, would have pushed the US to a fascist state in their desire to improve it.  

(And yes, I think it's both sides.  If you think the Pandemic should explain why the President should grant Medicare for All by fiat, bypassing Congress- that's fascist and tyrannical)

The Trump Presidency has revealed how much contempt the two sides have for each other- and how little respect they have for the other side.

Politics is about reaching compromise between groups with different agendas.  It involves trading, making deals, and working within the system.  If your only plan is to destroy the opposition so you can implement your programs unimpeded... that's not politics.  That's war.

With Trump, we peered down the abyss of fascism.  My fear is that, instead of backing away, someone will encourage the country to jump.

NBA Finals 2020

Congrats to the Lakers for winning the NBA title.  And a great showing by the Miami Heat (though I can't stand the franchise, I concede their skill as a great team)

With his fourth NBA Title, The LeBron/Jordan GOAT battle is back... a few thoughts:

1) I still think it's a three way battle, with Bill Russell (11 championships) as a viable contender

2) Jordan's major advantage... 6-0. He never lost. And it never felt like he was in serious danger of losing.

3) LeBron's advantage... he's won as the best player on three completely differently rosters, with different coaches. Jordan always has the same core.

4) I still believe LeBron faced tougher competition in the finals than Jordan did. Jordan never faced anyone like the 2013-2014 Spurs or the 2015-2018 Warriors

Conceding my biases.... I think this title gives LeBron the edge.

My top 10 all time basketball rankings
1) LeBron James
2) Michael Jordan
3) Bill Russell
4) Tim Duncan
5) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
6) Magic Johnson
7) Larry Bird
8) Kobe Bryant
9) Hakeem Olajuwon
10) Jerry West

(and yes, Wilt isn't on the list)

NBA Draft lottery 2020

 Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not have good luck this draft lottery- falling from #2 to #5.  Last year, that was not good- I really wanted Zion Williamson (who went #1 to New Orleans) or Ja Morant (who went #2 to Minnesota).  Instead the Cavs drafted Darius Garland, who is a work in process.  I can't get a read on his ceiling as a player.

This year, the draft is a muddle- a combination of COVID cancelling the NCAA tournament and just an apparent lack of a franchise type player.  I've seen 5-7 players in the mock draft going #1 (now going to the Minnesota Timberwolves).  The last draft like this was 2013, which was a disaster for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  They drafted Anthony Bennett with the #1 pick, and he flamed out of the league quickly.

I think the Cavaliers need to play it safe- they have young talent but some obvious holes.  Specifically, I see them needing a good wing player who can play defense.  The last two years they've drafted small guards who need the ball to be successful.  This year, I think they need athletic wings who can and will play defense.

So for the #5 pick, my preference is for them to draft one of these three players:

1A- Devin Vassell (SF, Florida State)

1B- Deni Avdija (F, Maccabi Tel Aviv)

2- Isaac Okoro (SF, Auburn)

I think these players are good, fill a big hole, and can work well with the team they have already drafted.  

Thoughts with Bourbon: Rank Punditry (VP Pick) edition

 Making a prediction and locking it in on August 7th, 2020:

Susan Rice will be Joe Biden's Vice President.

(Note:  This will likely be proven right or wrong within the week.  If it's wrong... it won't be the first time I've made a bad judgement).

Here's my reasoning:

1)  Biden guaranteed back in March that he would pick a female VP.  This could be seen as grovelling- or it could be that he already knew who his VP was going to be, and since he already had it locked in, why not make the guarantee?

2)  Biden, I think, wants a VP who will act like him when Biden was President Obama's VP- a trusted advosr, the last person in the room before the President makes his decision.  From what I understand, Rice and Biden got along very well during the Obama adminsitration.  If Biden trusts her, he could see her fulfilling the role he played for President Obama.

3)  Biden wants to make 'his' pick.  If he picks Harris or Duckworth, he will be seen as caving to pressue.  There is no good political reason to pick Rice- therefore, if she is chosen, it must be because he believes she is the best person qualified for the job.

Now, the big question- is she?

She's a former National Security Advisor and former Ambassdor to the UN.  Her credentials in foreign affairs are serious and legitimate.  

The bad news is that she's never run for elected office, and she lost the opportunity be Secretary of State because of the Benghazi debacle.  No one really knows how she'll react under the spotlight of a national election.

Politically, I think she's a poor choice because she doesn't have elected experience, and because the GOP will bring up Benghazi for several months.  The paradox is that, while I think she's a poor political choice, my respect for Biden will increase.  There's no reason to pick Rice for VP (as opposed to Secretary of State) unless he truly believes she's the best person for the job.

Biden's 78.  At his age, who his Vice President is carries significant weight.  Susan Rice wouldn't be my choice- but I think she will be Biden's.

Thoughts with Scotch: Quarantine Edition

Been a couple of months since I posted.   A few random thoughts:

* I'm watching "The Wire" and halfway through Season 3.  I've heard many people praise it as the greatest show of all time- and I might end up agreeing with them.  The stories and the characters are fantastic.  I loved "Homicide:  Life on the Streets", and that show seems like the warm-up for this show.

* My weight was going up, but I'm working on my diet again.  Over a year on a Pescetarian diet, and no craving for meat.  

* No sports to discuss, and the sports podcasts I listen to are focussed on the Michael Jordan documentary.  I don't disagree that he's not the great basketball player of all time.  I just don't want to watch a 10 episode documentary on him.  

* Collecting the 2020 Topps Heritage set, which is styled after my favorite baseball card set of all time (the Topps 1971 set).  I suspect this will be the last individual set I put together;  after this, I will look for collecting certain players or mini sets.

* I've given up trying to post or even comment on world events.  I'm too tire and frustrated, and for my own sanity I'm working on the things I can.  I'm ignoring the forest for the trees, because I can do something about the trees.

Be well and stay safe, everyone

Thoughts with Whiskey: Politics

I've been drinking some Aberlour Scotch and cursing trade wars and thinking...

1)  This week, I'm getting a vasectomy.  I'm making jokes about it (the wife keeps referring to the "Cone of Shame", and I've made comments form 'Gonads to 'Gone-ads').  I'm not worried about it (I've had a kidney taken it- this should, in theory, be a piece of cake), but I admit a little bit forlorn.  I'm almost 48; I know I'm too old to be a father.  And I knew years ago that I wasn't going to be one, and that I'd probably be too lenient to be a good father.  But there are still regrets, and the thoughts of "What if...".  

2)  Changing to something less personal... I'm watching High Fidelity on Hulu, and highly recommend it.  The movie was great, and I think the series is even better.  Zoe Kravitz is awesome in the Rob role

3)  The next debate is tonight.  Honestly unless something happens in the next week, I suspect Bernie Sanders will be the Democratic Nominee.  Which sucks from my point of view, because I think both candidates are so awful that neither deserve my vote.  I'll abstain, hope from gridlock, and get a pre-boarding ticket for the Nikki Haley 2024 bandwagon.

4)  I might as well post it here to put extra pressure of myself- my goal in 2020 is to finish the book I've started.  When it's complete, I'll be asking for beta readers.

And on that note, time for me to finish my drink and head.  Peace, my friends.