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If we read Alabi from behind.. it is Ibala, similar to Ibaka. So I think Alabi is the choice.

Make that last 2 playoffs and in this one, they did have one relative disappointment- their starting lineup was just barely above neutral.

Orlando's starters are the clear best lineup in the playoffs. Otis Smith / Stan Van Grundy succeeded with that changeover.

But the Cavs lineup management has actually been better in the 3 recent playoffs. Sometimes I wonder when I see such a regular season - playoff pattern if the coach and management staff could be clever enough to work on lesser lineups in the regular season and somewhat surprise teams when they upshift to a better lineup set in the playoffs. Maybe they did so knowingly or maybe they just concentrated and had to do better and did.

There are a lot of levels of strategy available, especially when you are real good.

I am not in agreement with criticism of Danny Ferry's overall approach to win now.

I will say that from the time of the trade I thought Mo Williams was overrated and I've found the Adjusted of several of their top lineups this season and some of the recent past to be disappointingly low given their analytic staff.

That kid is pretty good.

@Keith
With lebrons passing ability he would be a 2nd facilitator.

@Keith
Neither Sanders nor Alabi are especially skilled so that's kind of a moot point, though it's true that Sanders will likely be ready to contribute sooner than Alabi. Thabeet was a reach at 2, but it's not like his career is over; he'll likely be a rotation player for a long time barring injury.

@Keith

I would absolutely not take Alabi with the #2 pick. I think that difference is significant.

Secondly, Thabeet looks about as interested in underwater basketweaving as he does basketball. Alabi comes across as much more competitive and intense.

Agreed with you on the NCAA vs NBA thing. And there is really no indication that Alabi would succeed where Thabeet hasn't, except to say that seemingly all of Calhoun's centers have fallen short of expectations. The "funnel the opponent to the rim" philosophy had inflated UCon center's numbers for years. I'm not saying that Alabi is immune, but that Thabeet's impact was overrated.

@blake
I don't follow twitter or live in OKC, do you think the account will be organizing chants for away games? Besides, I'm not sure what you want us to say about it. It's a cool idea, one I'm sure many people will get in on, but there's not much to do when the season is over at the moment.

@Jax Raging Bile Duct
One issue I have with Alabi is the Thabeet effect. Playing center in the NCAA (no 3 in the key, much smaller competition) is a very different animal than playing in the NBA. Thabeet jumped to the 2nd pick almost entirely on potential and team specific stats. Alabi projects as another guy who may just never get it. There is a big deal about how little he has played in his life, but it glosses over that not everyone just automatically gets better.

When I think about it, which group of players are more likely never to succeed: Raw men with athleticism, or skilled men without? I would rather pick someone highly skilled, even if his athleticism maxes out his production at some point over someone incredibly raw who may never contribute anything.

@f5alcon
Would Lebron (the quicker player and better facilitator) be willing to play SG for Durant? I mean, given how our team currently rebounds, playing SG wouldn't hurt any of his numbers. That would be incredibly sweet. I mean... crazy to even entertain, but awesome.

@blake

If you follow Royce on his twitter account, he's linked to it already. And I'm sure it will get mentioned again come next October.

Sammy :
Would you guys rather have Larry Sanders or Solomon Alabi? For months now, I would have gone Sanders in a heartbeat, but I’m starting to wonder if that’s still the correct choice. Sanders duplicates a lot of Ibaka’s skillset, but he’s also 30lbs lighter. Alabi would give us a look at center that we don’t have right now.

I prefer Alabi, but I don't know how you could go wrong with either of them at #21 honestly, so I'm not too concerned about it. He does have some injury history that Sanders doesn't have, so if you wanted Sanders because of that, then I can't blame you. You know, freakish length that Sanders has is just so rare. And he may only be 6'10'' in shoes, but he sure can move up and down the floor well. Both those guys seem to be character guys with good attitudes.

I do prefer the competition that Alabi had over Sanders. The ACC is a good conference with quality competition. Alabi did nothing to WOW anyone, but he's solid. I worry about his footwork and his rebounding numbers are really suspect. But otherwise he looks like he's got a good motor and an interest in competing.

Thorpe says: All of these skills were not evident even two years ago, which is why it's fair to assume he'll continue on the same development path. His best talent though, is his spirit. He is a selfless worker, and a tireless one, reminding me in those areas of Joakim Noah, who is now one of the premier help defenders in the NBA. Unfortunately, he does not have all of Noah's talents.

...

Alabi is such a gifted defensive center that he projects as a rotation player immediately (limited minutes early, but steadily increasing), although he still has lots of room to grow and develop. He reminds me in many ways of Serge Ibaka. He's not as athletic as Ibaka but is taller and longer. Both guys are the rare energy guys who also bring a palpable positive spirit to any room they walk into. FSU finished in the top 10 in defensive field goal percentage the past two seasons, including first in the nation this past season, and Alabi anchored that unit. It's hard not to bring your best when playing alongside someone like Ibaka or Alabi.

still no mention of @thunderchants? someone out there is trying to change the game! where is your support?

Thunder faithful: follow @thunderchants for coordinated crowd chants at next season's games!

@AC
either one of them could start at SG or PF, yeah it would be a jeff green situation except with better players. regardless it will never happen, we have a better chance of signing the ghost of wilt chamberlain.

@Sammy
we need a center and I still have a dream that we can get Whiteside

Would you guys rather have Larry Sanders or Solomon Alabi? For months now, I would have gone Sanders in a heartbeat, but I'm starting to wonder if that's still the correct choice. Sanders duplicates a lot of Ibaka's skillset, but he's also 30lbs lighter. Alabi would give us a look at center that we don't have right now.

@f5alcon
They play the same position. KD would be lebron's jeff green.

@shiki=4 seasons
lebron and KD would be unstoppable, but it wont happen in a million years

I am a fan of Rondo,so it is vety good news that Boston win this series.
But LBJ is right,everyone has the same thought that he should have perfect game every night.I must say it is mission impossible.
LBJ had a bad game,but his teammaters did not do anything to help him.

LBJ,you should join OKC.I think KD dont mind to be Pippen of you

whoops....posted on wrong page....

James Harden, Oh crap here goes the ethics tailspin and now were only a few steps away from becoming the Washington Bullets..Wizards. Durant will prolly get some drug trafficing charges but blame it all on Green. Green will in return hold Westbrooks favorite UCLA shirt hostage threatening ultimate damage if he ever passes to KD. Ibaka will of course misunderstand Long calling him DR. Nasty and go postal on him.
lol You heard it here first

Knicks have enough cap room for LeBron and someone else. They have Danillo Gallinari who's alright. They'll have an Eddy Curry expiring to maybe get another big name in, and you know they're not shy about paying the tax. Cleveland's got an expensive roster but look who the top paid players are on that team: Shaq, Jamison, Mo Williams. I'd even take David Lee over all those guys...

@Tapdog72
LeBron + Bosh plus the Knicks roster would already arguably be a top 4 team in the East. After Curry's contract expires next year, they could add another piece and be well on their way to contending.

And that's assuming they don't sign-and-trade David Lee for more assets.

Lots of unknowns, but LeBron clearly has yet to find the Robin to his Batman in Cleveland, and that doesn't look to change anytime soon.

HAHAHAHA on the third bolt. I literally laughed out loud. Which of course made all my students completely lose focus on their assignment. Darn you Royce.

What I don't understand is people talk about Cleveland being LeBron and a bunch of scrubs, but if he goes to the Knicks, and they don't get another big star, won't it be the same thing? And if the Knicks get a second star, then the rest of the roster is going to be players they currently have or D-League All-Stars because that's all they will have money for. If championships is what he's after, it will take years for New York to get there, IMO.

@Mark!
The correct way to attack LeBron for Game 5 is not for his shooting or lack of production: it's for his lack of effort, and his attitude after the game.

For whatever reason (maybe his "handlers" told him to), he's been playing mindgames with Cleveland fans for years, and has built up the pressure to an unbelievable level. While it might have been the right business decision, barring a huge game 6 or the Cavs beating both Boston and Orlando, he'll become the most reviled sports figure in Cleveland history.

The problem with LBJ is that he's so amazing on the court, but displays such tangible pomposity off it. "I could win the scoring title if I wanted," "I spoil the fans with my play," "I disappoint myself when I don't play well," "three bad games in seven years," etc. Jordan was cocky, but at least he had the rings to back it up.

any Intellectual Property rights infringed with that shirt idea? That seems kinda suspect...

I agree that the reaction to Lebron's Game 5 has been overblown. However, I agree with a LOT of what Adrian Wojnarowski had to say about it:

"He invited all this drama about walking out on his hometown team this summer, and now free agency hung over the Q like an anvil. Here’s a city that’s waited 46 years for a championship, a town that reacts viciously to the sheer suggestion that James could leave for New York this summer. These fans have been much better to James than he’s been to them. It hasn’t been the media that’s built his role in the summer of 2010 to a crescendo, but James himself. He constantly manipulated it with suggestions and hints and wink-winks to New York.

James proclaimed July 1, 2010, as the biggest day in the history of basketball, ramping up suspense of his ultimate decision: Do I stay or do I go? What it has done is throw more palpable pressure in the air, more desperation, and it’s come back to haunt him now."