Author: Carter Huff

So-this is the start of my summer grind .Let’s get it.

LeBron James getting his twelfth All-NBA first team honors and Klay Thompon getting snubbed of any All-NBA team is just one set of drama with the NBA awards so far.Let’s get into them-

2018 All-NBA Teams

1st Team
G: Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers
G: James Harden, SG/PG, Houston Rockets
F: Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors
F: LeBron James, SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
C: Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans

Commentary: The three MVP candidates (Davis, Harden, and James) are great picks. Damian Lillard has had his best season in his career averaging twenty-six points per game. Kevin Durant is a no brainer do to his seven foot height at the small forward (or shooting guard) position. All of these guys are very deserving and I don’t think any of these guys deserve and lower.

2nd Team
G: Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
G: DeMar DeRozan, SG, Toronto Raptors
F: Giannis Anteokoumpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks
F: LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs
C: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Commentary: Russell Westbrook might’ve averaged another triple double all season but last season was more special due to LeBron James’ amazing fifteenth season, James Harden and the Rockets best record in the NBA, and Anthony Davis’ dominance. Russell is very deserving,though. DeMar DeRozan’s jump shot was finally existent as he lead Toronto to the first seed in the eastern conference. Giannis is a freak of nature who has a great future in this league. While some people think LaMarcus Aldridge is not deserving for this award, he has been very consistent for a very inconsistent Spurs team. Joel Embiid has played more games than any other season of his career and has been a defensive monster.

3rd Team
G:Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
G:Victor Oladipo, PG, Indiana Pacers
F:Jimmy Butler, SF/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
F:Paul George, SF/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
C:Karl Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Commentary: The only reason I think Steph Curry is not on the first or second team is due to his injury. Victor Oladipo has had the best season of his career. Jimmy Butler despite being injured is deserving. While Paul George has only averaged twenty-one points per game this season he has still played very well for the Thunder. Karl-Anthony Towns is very deserving as well.

2018 All-NBA Defensive Teams

1st Team
G: Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans
G: Victor Oladipo, PG, Indiana Pacers
F: Robert Covington, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
F: Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans
C: Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

Commentary: Wile all of these players are deserving I don’t see how Joel Embiid is not on the team. Holiday, Oladipo, Davis ,and Gobert are all deserving but I feel like Embiid would switch out with 76ers teammate Robert Covington.

2nd Team
G: Dejounte Murray, PG, San Antonio Spurs
G:Jimmy Butler ,SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
F:Draymond Green, PF/SF, Golden State Warriors
C:Al Horford, C/PF, Boston Celtics
C:Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Commentary: Murray, Butler, Green,and Horford have all earned this honor consistently. Joel Embiid deserves defensive first team though.

2018 All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
G: Ben Simmons,PG/PF/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
G: Donavan Mitchell,SG/PG, Utah Jazz
G: Jayson Tatum, SG/SF, Boston Celtics
F: Kyle Kuzma,PF, LA Lakers
F:Lauri Markkanen, PF, Chicago Bulls

Commentary: Guards Ben Simmons and Donavan Mitchell are likely to be co-rookies of the year but other Rookie of the Year finalist Jayson Tatum is very deserving as well. Kuzma and Markkanen have both been great big men who can stretch the floor for the Lakers and Bulls respectively.

2nd Team
G: Lonzo Ball, PG, LA Lakers
G: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, Dallas Mavericks
G: Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, Sacramento Kings
F: Josh Jackson, SF, Phoenix Suns
F: John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks

Lonzo Ball played well in his first season but has little areas in his game to clean up. Dennis Smith Jr. and his athleticism have gotten him these honors and Bojan Bogdanovic has a great future as a Kings guard. Josh Jackson and John Collins are forwards who have improved not so great teams this season (Suns and Hawks).

Eastern Conference
2.Boston Celtics 2
4.Cleveland Cavaliers 4

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers may be too hot right now to lose to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics and the Cavaliers will meet for the second straight time in the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James will be too good. I have the Cavs winning in six.

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 4
2.Golden State Warriors 3

This may be the most even Western Conference Finals during the Warriors’ four year run in them against the Rockets. Will they make their fourth straight NBA Finals? I predict not.I have James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, and the Rockets spacing leading them to a seven game series win over the Golden State Warriors.

Sorry guys, I’m coming out with my conference semifinal picks now, as it is a little late but let’s get into it.

Eastern Conference
1.Toronto Raptors
4.Cleveland Cavaliers 1
The Cavs took game one in overtime after the Raptors led by more than ten.LeBron James put up a triple double and is still doing it during his fiteenth season in the NBA. I like the Raptors to win the next couple of games but LeBron and the Cavs are on fire, so I will the give the series to them in seven games. Predicted Series Score: 4-3

2.Boston Celtics 1
3.Philadelphia 76ers
There’s been no excuse for the injury-riddle Celtics to even be in this series. The Bucks choked it away against Boston,and now the Celtics are up a game against Philadelphia. Even if Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and the 76ers’ shooters play well through this series, I don’t see the Celtics losing this series. Predicted Series Score: 4-3

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 1
5.Utah Jazz
While Rookie of the Year candidate and Jazz Guard Donavan Mitchell led the Jazz past the Thunder in round one, MVP lead candidate and Rockets Guard James Harden scored forty-one points in the Rockets’ game one victory over the Jazz. Expect the Jazz to come out better in game two,but with playmaking Guard Ricky Rubio out of the lineup, I think this is a five game series.Predicted Series Score: 4-1

2.Golden State Warriors 4
6.New Orleans Pelicans 1
Golden State blew New Orleans out in game one, and when Steph Curry came back from injury in game two, even when the Pelicans came to play,he scored twenty-eight points off the bench to lead them to a five point win in game two. The way this series is looking, the Warriors look unbeatable but I will give the Pelicans one game in this series. Predicted Series Score:

Who wins the NBA Rookie of the Year?

Ben Simmons – The 6’10 Point Guard led the Philadelphia 76ers the the third seed in Eastern Conference while averaging sixteen points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. No rookie has ever done that, but by definition, Ben Simmons is not a rookie by definition. He got hurt last year and was with the team last season. Rookie means a member of an athletic team in his or her first full season in that sport. That might ruin Ben Simmons case for the award but if he qualifies as a legit rookie, then I’ll think he will get the hardware.

Donavan Mitchell – The mid-first round pick out of Louisville has stunned everybody and led the Jazz in scoring to the NBA Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference. While he did not actually lead this team (DPOY Candidate Rudy Gobert, etc.), Mitchell has a rookie record of three point attempts. He averages twenty and a half points per game along with four rebounds and four assists. Mitchell is a scoring threat almost anywhere on the floor.

If he qualifies as a “real” rookie, I will pick Ben Simmons to win the Rookie of the Year but just by a hair. If the voters don’t think Simmons is a rookie I obviously have Donavan Mitchell winning. It is a tight race.

I did some predictions last week and will be keeping the predictions of the match ups are the same.I will change the predictions of the seeds that have changed.

Eastern Conference
1.Toronto Raptors 59-23 4
8.Washington Wizards 43-39 2

DeMar DeRozan will be too much for John Wall and the Wizards.I could definitley see a six game series between these two, but the Raptors have been too good this year. Predicted Series Score:4-2

4.Cleveland Cavaliers 50-32 4
5.Indiana Pacers 48-34 1

LeBron James. James and the Cavs did lose to Philadelphia last night but if Philadelphia loses out then the Cleveland will get the three seed. If this series will lock in,which is likely,LeBron James will overpower Victor Oladipo and the Pacers in five games. Predicted Series Score:4-1

3.Philadelphia 76ers 51-31 4
6.Miami Heat 44-38 2

Ben Simmons has been on a terror these last sixteen,leading them to those victories while putting up a triple-double in each one, breaking Oscar Robertson’s record. Simmons and if Joel Embiid comes back could dominate the Heat.I will give the Heat two wins,though. Predicted Series Score:4-2

2.Boston Celtics 55-27 3
7.Milwaukee Bucks 44-38 4

My first upset of the first round goes to the Milwaukee Bucks.Giannis Antetoukoumpo has been playing great, averaging twenty-seven points and ten boards for them, as well. While the Celtics have been playing well,its going to be tough for them to get out of the first round without star Kyrie Irving. Predicted Series Score:4-3

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 65-17 4
8.Minnesota Timberwolves 47-35 1

It sucks that Minnesota, led by a trio of great young players, have to play the most dominant team in the NBA during the NBA season during the first round of the playoffs. James Harden and the Rockets will only give one game up to the T-Wolves and will roll into the second round. Predicted Series Score:4-1

4.Oklahoma City Thunder 48-34 4
5.Utah Jazz 48-34 3

If Russell Westbrook keeps stat padding and Paul George playing well, Oklahoma City can win in five games. The Utah Jazz will push the Thunder to seven games, though. Thunder move on to the second round. Series Score:4-3

3.Portland Trail Blazers 48-31 4
6.New Orleans Pelicans 3

Blazers Point Guard Damian Lillard has been great this season as usual, but has taken this Trail Blazers team to different heights. Anthony Davis has also been on a terror for the Pelicans but has lost all four of his NBA playoff games, so I’m giving Damian Lillard and his playoff experience a game seven win over the Pelicans. Predicted Series Score:4-3

2.Golden State Warriors 58-24 4
7.San Antonio 47-35 2

If the Spurs had Kawhi Leonard off the injury list and playing, I would pick San Antonio. Stephen Curry, who was ruled out for game one, they still have Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, a good team. I’m picking the Warriors in six. Predicted Series Score:4-2

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first 2018 NBA Mock Draft on the cbhsports blog.

1.Phoenix Suns -DeAndre Ayton Height: 7’1 Weight: 243 School/From:Arizona Position:C Age:19.6
DeAndre Ayton was the most dominat player in college basketball this past season. Jalen Brunson might’ve won the Wooden Award, but Ayton was the more dominant player. While putting up twenty points and eleven rebounds, he led Arizona to another trip to the NCAA Tournament. Ayton will go number one if everything works out the right way.

2.Memphis Grizzlies – Luka Doncic Height: 6’7 Weight: 228 School/From: Real Madrid Position: PG Age: 19
Memphis will get the best foreign player in the recent memory,as even though Luka Doncic is called a point guard, this guy can play aything from point guard to shooting guard to small forward.Doncic has played pro ball since he was thirteen,as he has dominated the second best professional basketball league in the world.Expect Doncic’s transition into the NBA to be very smooth.

3.Atlanta Hawks – Marvin Bagley III Height: 6’11 Weight: 234 School/From: Duke Position: PF/C Age: 19
Atlanta may want to a take a swingman or a wing with this pick but it’s hard to pass up a talent like Marvin Bagley. Bagley was a key contributer in Duke’s season. Bagley put up twenty points and eleven rebounds and can change a game just like that. Bagley is a consistent shooter from deep,and is a good shot blocker on the defensive side. Remember Bagley should be a senior in high school right now.

4.Orlando Magic -Jaren Jackson Jr. Height: 6’11 Weight: 240 School/From:Michigan State Position:PF/C Age:18.5
The youngest player in the draft has a very high ceiling. The way he impacts the games on both sides of the floor is remarkable. His stats may not show it (11 PPG and 6 RPG), but he is long and is a great defender (3 BPG).

5.Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bamba Height: 7’0 Weight: 207 School/From: Texas Position: C Age: 19.8
Mohamed Bamba has been a great rebounder (15 PPG and11 RPG) for the Texas Longhorns during his one year in Austin. Bamba could replace Dirk Nowitzki as the next great Dallas Mavericks big man. He has great length as he can get his hands up and block a lot of shots.

6.Sacramento Kings – Michael Porter Jr. Height: 6’10 Weight: 214 School/From: Missouri Position: SF/PF Age: 19.7
While Sacramento may take Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. instead, it will be hard for Scramento to pass up a talent like Michael Porter Jr. While Porter Jr. was out for ninety-five percent of his Freshman season, Porter Jr. is a talent,and that won’t be passed up.

7.Cleveland Cavaliers – Collin Sexton Height: 6’2 Weight: 183 School/From: Alabama Position: PG Age: 19.2
The Cavs would love to take Michael Porter Jr. here because of the uncertainty of LeBron James’s future but Collin Sexton fills the void of a bonafide leader. While Trae Young was the Wooodeen Award lead candidate for the first half or more of the season, but Sexton and Alabama beat Young and Oklahoma head to head. Sexton averaged almost twenty points and five assists during his lone season at Alabama.

8.Chicago Bulls- Trae Young Height: 6’2 Weight: 176
School/From: Oklahoma Position: PG Age: 19.4
While I said DeAndre Ayton was the most dominant player in college basketball this past season, Trae Young as the most electrifying. He led college basketball in points and assists, something someone has not done in a while. Young will help Kris Dunn in the backcourt in the Windy City.

9.New York Knicks – Wendell Carter Jr. Height: 6’10 Weight: 259 School/From: Duke Position: C Age: 18.9
While I could see Wendell going higher, or even lower, he brings intensity on both sides of the ball. He is very inconsistent at times but when he is on, he is on.Carter Jr. put up fourteen points and ten boards during his lone season at Duke.

10.Philadelphia 76ers -Mikal Bridges Height: 6’7 Weight: 200 School/From: Villanova Position: SF Age: 21.5
The two time NCAA Champion would fit great in the 76ers system as another shooter for Ben Simmons to pass to. Bridges can light it up from deep,attack the basket,and defend as a three and d guy.

11.Charlotte Hornets – Robert Williams Height: 6’10 Weight:237 School/From: Texas A&M Position: PF Age: 20.4
12.LA Clippers – Miles Bridges Height: 6’6 Weight: 226 School/From:Michigan State Position:SF Age:19.9
13.Denver Nuggets – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Height: 6’6 Weight: 171 School/From: Kentucky Position: PG Age: 19.6
14.LA Clippers – Kevin Knox Height: 6’9 Weight: 205
School/From: Kentucky Position: SF Age: 18.6
15.Phoenix Suns – Lonnie Walker Height :6’4 Weight: 206 School/From: Miami Position: PG/SG Age: 19.2
16.Phoenix Suns – Zhaire Smith Height: 6’5 Weight: 195 School/From:Texas Tech Position: SF Age: 18.7
17.Washington Wizards-Keita Bates Diop Height:6’7 Weight:235 School/From: Ohio State Position: SF Age: 22.1
18.Atlanta Hawks- Anfernee Simmons Height: 6’4 Weight: 183 School/From: IMG Academy Position: SG Age: 18.7
19.Utah Jazz- Mitchell Robinson Height: 6’11 Weight: 215 School/From: Pensacola,FL Position: C Age: 19.9
20.Chicago Bulls- Troy Brown Height: 6’7 Weight: 210
School/From: Oregon Position:S G Age: 18.6

The NBA Playoffs are almost here, so there will definitely be some NBA posts coming up soon.T oday we are going to start with making predictions for the NBA Playoffs with the projected seeds right now.

Eastern Conference
1.Toronto Raptors 57-22 4
8.Washington Wizards 42-38 2

DeMar DeRozan will be too much for John Wall and the Wizards.I could definitely see a six game series between these two, but the Raptors have been too good this year. Predicted Series Score:4-2

4.Cleveland Cavaliers 49-31 4
5.Indiana Pacers 47-33 1

LeBron James. James and the Cavs did lose to Philadelphia last night but if Philadelphia loses out then the Cleveland will get the three seed. If this series will lock in, which is likely,LeBron James will overpower Victor Oladipo and the Pacers in five games. Predicted Series Score:4-1

3.Philadelphia 76ers 49-30 4
6.Miami Heat 43-37 2

Ben Simmons has been on a terror these last thirteen games, leading them to those victories while putting up a triple-double in each one, breaking Oscar Robertson’s record. Simmons and if Joel Embiid comes back could dominate the Heat. I will give the Heat two wins, though. Predicted Series Score:4-2

2.Boston Celtics 54-25 3
7.Milwaukee Bucks 42-37 4

My first upset of the first round goes to the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetoukoumpo has been playing great, averaging twenty-seven points and ten boards for them, as well. While the Celtics have been playing well,it’s going to be tough for them to get out of the first round without star Kyrie Irving. Predicted Series Score:4-3

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 64-15
8.Minnesota Timberwolves 45-35

It sucks that Minnesota, led by a trio of great young players, have to play the most dominant team in the NBA during the NBA season during the first round of the playoffs. James Harden and the Rockets will only give one game up to the T-Wolves and will roll into the second round. Predicted Series Score:4-1

4.Utah Jazz 46-33 3
5.New Orleans Pelicans 45-34 4

Anthony Davis has been too good not to win his first playoff series. The Jazz have played well after losing Gordon Hayward. Donavan Mitchell has been great for them this year as a Rookie of the Year candidate. It’s not going to be enough, though. Predicted Series Score:4-3

3.Portland Trail Blazers 48-31 4
6.San Antonio Spurs 45-34 2

Blazers Point Guard Damian Lillard has been great this season as usual, but has taken this Trail Blazers team to different heights. Portland will lose the first two games of the series to experienced San Antonio, they will win four straight games and move to the second round. Predicted Series Score:4-2

2.Golden State Warriors 57-22 4
7.Oklahoma City Thunder 45-34 3

Another KD-Russell Westbrook rematch will result in a great series. Without Stephen Curry, the Thunder will give Golden State everything that they have and will fall in a close game seven loss. Predicted Series Score:4-3