Luka’s Corner

The 2009 NBA Draft has come and gone, but it has not gone quietly. As usual, there will be prospects who will reward their respective teams and those who will disappoint. Here is my take on the potential rewards, busts, and steals in this year’s draft crop:

Rewards

Tyler Hansbrough: While many have criticized the Indiana Pacers for selecting the undersized power forward with pick #13 for that same exact reason, Hansbrough’s advantages should  not be forgotten. Hard-working players off the bench who can grab offensive rebounds and get to the line are indispensable. Anyone with the ferocity, determination, and ability to win that Hansbrough possesses will find a place for himself in the NBA, no matter his physical limitations. Look for “Psycho T” to establish himself as a dependable forward in the mold of a Leon Powe or Udonis Haslem.

Eric Maynor: Point guards who are not only quick or explosive, but make the right decisions, are hard to come by. Maynor, who was sometimes forgotten while playing for VCU, is just that type of point guard. He should fit in nicely as a backup behind Deron Williams because he has the ability to find open teammates and attack the rim. Expect averages of 8.0 PPG and 3.0 APG from Maynor off the bench and do not be surprised if you see the VCU product in crucial points of the game this upcoming season.

Busts

Hasheem Thabeet: Looking at the 7-3 center, the word fragile repeatedly comes to mind. Even injuring his shoulder during pre-draft workouts, Thabeet’s thin frame (only 263 lbs.) is just asking for an injury. And, while the big man out of Tanzania has proven that he can alter and block shots at the rim, he must learn how to consistently score if he wants to live up to the #2 pick. As of now, I do not see the offensively-challenged center acquiring a turnaround jumper or hook shot. Do not expect that Thabeet will reach the 10-point plateau anytime soon.

Stephen Curry: This might be surprising, but I predict that the Davidson guard will not even come close to his success in the college ranks. As a point guard and shooting guard for the Wildcats, Curry had the freedom to shoot whenever he wanted (he attempted nearly 2,000 shots in three years), which will not be the case on any NBA team. Also, Curry stands at only 6-3,  which is ideal for a point guard in the NBA, not a shooter. Just look at J.J. Redick, arguably the greatest shooter in collegiate history. He stands at only 6-4 and has been a bust for the Orlando Magic. Curry, like Redick before him, will prove that a great college player does not translate into a great NBA player.

Steals

Wayne Ellington: The former UNC Tar Heel was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Final Four, surpassing his former teammates, Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. Both Hansbrough and Lawson were drafted ahead of Ellington, but Ellington’s game has a better chance of translating to the NBA because of his size (he is a 6-5 shooting guard) and ability to shoot from distance. Do not be surprised if Ellington does reach averages of 10.0 PPG and and 45% shooting from downtown for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Also, the fact that Ellington will be playing alongside a terrific passer like Ricky Rubio will boost his statistics. 

Patrick Mills: The point guard out of St. Mary’s proved himself on the biggest stage (against the United States’ national team in 2008), so nobody can doubt that he can play against the best. While he will not be given that opportunity in Portland because Steve Blake, Brandon Roy, and Jerryd Bayless occupy the guard spots for the Blazers, do not be surprised if Mills makes a name for himself in a few years for a different team.

Chase Budinger: The athletic forward will be given the opportunity to bring scoring to the Houston Rockets because the team is so depleted at the forward and center positions. Especially if Yao Ming misses time due to injury (which he usually does), Budinger, who averaged 18.0 PPG this past season, could prove to be a reliable scorer off the bench. He has the touch from outside and necessary athleticism in the paint to make a name for himself in the NBA. Considering that the 6-6 Chuck Hayes is Houston’s most consistent reserve, playing time should not be too elusive for Budinger.

In light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid CF and La Liga, it is a perfect time to compare Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two best players in the world. Now that they are both playing in Spain, I have decided to compare the two using seven categories:

Scoring (adv. Ronaldo)

The former Manchester United forward has proven that he can score from long distance and from short range, while the majority of Messi’s goals come from inside the box. And, while Messi has scored 54 goals already for Barcelona, Ronaldo has scored 84 goals for Manchester United.

Passing (adv. Messi)

While CR7 is undeniably a gifted passer, especially from the wing, Leo’s, and Barcelona’s, game revolves around short passing around the box to set himself and his teammates up for goals. The majority of Messi’s 54 total goals came from quick give-and-go actions with Xavi, Iniesta, and Samuel Eto’o.

Dribbling (adv. Messi)

This was one of the closer categories because both players have proven themselves as tricksters with the ball, but the edge goes to Messi because of his ability to keep the ball so close to his feet. In terms of pure tricks, the Portuguese star has the edge over the Argentinean, but the Argentinean has the edge in terms of dribbling with a purpose.

Movement (adv. Ronaldo)

Even though Messi is a speedster himself, he cannot compare to Ronaldo in terms of making runs, receiving through balls on the run, and then finishing the break. Because of Ronaldo’s movement on the wing and up front, the Red Devils possessed the deadliest counter-attack in the EPL over the past two seasons.

Free Kicks (adv. Ronaldo)

CR7 runs away with this category because he actually took the free kicks for the Red Devils, while it is Xavi or Iniesta who handles that responsibility for the Catalan giants. If you need further proof of Ronaldo’s remarkable ability in set pieces, here it is.

Versatility (adv. Ronaldo)

Messi’s Achilles heel of sorts is playing against a physical team, like Chelsea FC in this year’s Champions League, so he excels in one type of game: a fast-paced, finesse game. Ronaldo has no such problem because he can rely on his physical strength to play in a physical game. The fact that he was successful in the especially physical EPL is proof of this. And, Ronaldo can also rely on his speed and quickness in a fast-paced, finesse game.

Accomplishments (even)

Both players have already won a Champions League title (and both have scored in the championship game), so there is no winner there. Also, both Ronaldo and Messi have won their respective leagues multiple times and brought home several cup trophies as well. The advantage goes to neither player.

Overall, Cristiano Ronaldo is a better soccer player than Lionel Messi. However, the debate is sure to come up more often now that CR7 will be going head-to-head with “Leo” in Spain. So, if you are still unconvinced by either side who the best player in the world is, stay tuned for the upcoming season.

Real Madrid CF kicked off the transfer season by snatching Brazilian superstar, Kaka, from AC Milan on June 8. The attacking midfielder was bought for a reported €67.2 million, the first signing for newly-elected team president, Florentino Perez. Then, Perez followed up his daring transfer by buying arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s transfer fee from Manchester United FC was a reported €94 million, which would make the Portuguese winger the most expensive player in soccer history. 

It is quite clear from these two ambitious transfers on the part of Perez that his club is committed to an upcoming season of excellence. In the club’s mind, the way to get back to the top of the Spanish Primera and to Champions League glory is to spend and then spend some more. The acquisition of both Kaka and Ronaldo brings back memories of Real Madrid’s glory days earlier in this decade, with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, and Ronaldo wearing the team colors.

However, despite these two acquisitions, the club is still a long way from a championship season in Spain and in Europe. The reason for this is the vulnerability of its back line.

Especially after the departure of Fabio Cannavaro, who went back to Juventus FC, Real is lacking a big-name stopper in the back. Sergio Ramos, the speedy right-back, is not as talented at stopping others as he is moving forward. And, as of now, the club’s best central defender is Pepe, who recently contemplated retirement altogether. In order to address this glaring weakness, Perez will have to invest money in defenders (preferably a younger defender, like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus), just like he did in midfielders this past month.

Fortunately for Real Madrid supporters, it has become quite clear that their president is a fan of spending money, so it is not a long shot to think that he could sign a star defender to compliment the club’s bolstered midfield. If he does so, look for Real Madrid to return to its glory days of the early 21st century.

The entire sport of soccer should certainly look forward to that day as well. The sport is on a completely different level if Real Madrid is strong, just like baseball is on a different level if the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are strong and basketball is on a different level if the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are strong. So, my message to Perez is to keep on shopping.