Rockets Draft Patterson From 14th To Choose

Rockets said they were "delighted, absolutely delighted." They welcomed the draft room when Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson was still available when they are selected from the 14 th selection. They declared him as the sixth player in the draft board.

It was not clear why, but they were so excited. Director of Intelligence Gerald Madkins said that they "loved" "Patterson, a professional approach, and how he will" fit in our locker room. " General manager Daryl Morey said Patterson has a chance to be a very solid start, potentially more. " All this may seem, can be placed on the advertising board.

A few moments later, and the first time in his career with rockets, Patterson picked up the slack.

'I want to become an elite player in game ", says Patterson. "I want to prove I can shoot that all-star team, to make it to the playoffs and represent the franchise, as Houston is well.

Mori says that he worked to move up to the top five, but the last of these deals fell through about 2 hours before the start of the project. He said that the talks move to ninth, tenth and 12 picks to get Patterson, could not make those deals, but it still received.

Patterson was the only player in Rockets took a potential bidding on and then takes fizzling, Mori said, because he wanted to preserve the assets of a potential trade and free agent deals in the next month.

"He is incredibly versatile guy," said Mori. "He can score a lot of ways. You can face up. Back to the basket. You can go to college 3. In defense of the young players need to improve defense, but we see it in the end, as well as a defender."

Asked Patterson brings the best quality, Mori said, "his versatility and his work ethic."

Patterson, 6-9, 235-pound, was an honorable mention All American junior, averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds, making 57.5 percent of his shots. He averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds while 60.3 per cent of stroke, as sophomore, were in favor of the project, and then left to return to Kentucky and received his degree in three years.

"We are thrilled", Madkins said. "He was going to the guy, guy, № 1, then the guy who can fill the role. This year all freshmen coming in, it kind of took the ads away, but it does not disappear.

From these guys we love in our locker room. Rectilinear approach, they did not worry about what role they assume.

Patterson, however, had a clear idea of what he can bring, referring to the more tangible attributes on the court than his approach.

"I can give you strength," he said. "I can be a tough guy, the guy who will not concede, which will continue to push through the tough times and running down the court, post-up, as well as to help Yao (Ming.) I can not get out on the perimeter, hit the jump training, help all the way out at 3 and rebound. I can do all that asked me.

Patterson, 21, is a more experienced player than many of the perspectives taken in the upper half of the first round, but Madkins said he expects its growth, the low scorer in the post and man-man defender. He said that Patterson has improved his outside shot, but mostly raved ratio Patterson.

"He brings a lot of intangibles that teams love to have", Madkins said. " "I think it's important to add quality people to the locker room. Not to take on his ability on the court, but he is hard working, professional attitude, and you really can not measure it. I think we appreciate that, probably more than most teams .

Patterson was happy to just be accepted. He was regarded as a solid perspective in the first round and was invited to Madison Square Garden, indicating the NBA expect him to go to the first 15 picks. He did not anticipate anything until he trembling hand, David Stern before the cameras.

"I'm just very nervous and excited - shaking on the inside," he said, the draft in New York. "My goal was to come here and get a hat. I did not mind when my name is called. I just wanted a hat, and I got one I'm very pleased.

"I can not stop smiling. And finally, my dream has come true. I'm just trying to survive it all, just enjoy every second of it."

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Raptors Select Ed Davis 13th Overall

At first glance it may look Toronto Raptors replaced by one 6-foot-10 left-wing restored specialist to another.

Predators have chosen University of North Carolina forward Ed Davis from 13 selected in the NBA draft Thursday raised questions about his possible replacement for the all-star forward Chris Bosh.

But the Raptors coach Jay Triano said that regardless of the future for his team in this uncertain off-season, Davis was a stunning catch at number 13. He was not the only player expected to significantly earlier in the project, he fills a hole in front of the register, that will certainly lose at least one big man.

"We did not think it will be available in 13, we thought it would be long gone, to preserve it slip, we all through our fingers that it will continue to slip another one another, and he falls right into our hands and it was great, "said Triano.

"When you look at free agents that we have with Chris Bosh, Amir Johnson, Patrick O'Bryant, Rasho Nesterovic - a 4 Biggs," he added. "What we got was a big high. Regardless of who signs and who returns and who is he great body, and he sports, and it corresponds to the trend that the NBA begins to move in the direction."

6-foot-10, 225-pound Davis led Tar Heels to be restored, with 9.6 per game, blocked shots (2,8), and was second in scoring (13.4) in its second year of the season, but suffered season-ending injury Feb. 10 in a game against Duke, when he broke a bone in the left - shooting - wrist.

21-year-old man who walked on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York, dressed in a charcoal gray suit, was asked what he knew about his new Canadian home.

"My favorite player is Chris Bosh played there," he said.

He later told reporters Toronto, he modeled his game around Bosh for the last three or four years.

"Because he is left-handed, 6-11, he can shoot, he just good all-round power forward, the third best power forwards in the game now, just a great player, model my game after," said Davis.

Whether the two had never lined up on the court together before the Raptors have yet to see how Bosh is set to become a free agent July 1, and not so much as hinted that his future plans.

Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said earlier this week that with so many issues related to his list, he plans to take the best player on the board, and do not necessarily choose to replace the Bosh. Nevertheless, the similarity with Bosh obvious.
Second generation

Davis, the son of former NBA player Terry Davis, known for his jump at both ends of the floor, and uses his length and explosiveness to block shots. One weakness is his face up game.

"He must work on his jump shot," said Triano.

Twitter feed Bosh was silence after NBA Commissioner announced Raptors to choose, against the background chants of "USA! USA! "From the noisy crowd of New York. But the Raptors captain made a chirp when the guard Damion James, Texas went 24 wrote:" Congratulations aka Damion James "Big freshman, I remember when he first got to high school ...."

Davis led the ACC in field goal percentage (.578), blocked shots, was second in rebounds and 15 in the account before his wrist injury ended his time. Richmond, Va., native who trained at home with his father in the off-season, missed the final 13 games of his sophomore year, causing some to wonder if he will be fully recovered come draft time.

Raptors never brought Davis Air Canada Centre training preliminary draft, but he was considered a potential Top 10 choose for last year's draft, before going to UNC next season. Triano said Raptors officials have made numerous calls to check on the health of Davis until moments before they made a choice, and he received a clean bill of health all around.

Davis said that his father, who played 10 years in the NBA, was a huge influence on him growing.

"He prepared me a lot," he said. "He taught me a lot about this case, just really helped me understand how it should be professional and be a man, and he guided me through this process."

Elder Davis was known as a solid player, part of his son's games always respected.

"How much he worked, and how it always worked for everything he got, and all of his playing time in his career, and this is the reason why he stayed in the league," he said.

Among his Tar Heels highlights Davis was the third fastest player in school history to block 100 shots (51 games), Rasheed Wallace for (47) and Sam Perkins (50). He scored a season-high 22 points against Michigan, but also tied his career high 16 rebounds against Maryland.

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Ekpe Udoh Not Much Of A Silver Lining

When it became clear early last season that the Warriors will not be in the playoff hunt, fans were forced to find new targets and reasons for hope. The appearance of Stephen Curry provided a powerful impetus to the success of D-League was a feel good story and win a record Don Nelson closed the season in historic fashion. But the real silver lining loss of the season is a chance to turn it on landing impact player in this draft. Since the beginning of 2010 (or earlier), fans began to fantasize about the players who could help revive the Warriors in the 2010-11 season. This long anticipated future profits on Thursday night as ... Ekpe Udoh?

We have never seen Udoh against NBA competition, or almost the NBA yet, so I'll give him the presumption of innocence. Nevertheless, my first instinct gut says that this is a classic warriors get all the wrong way. Low up (shades of POB)? Check. Undersized on-site PF (shades Diogu)? Check. Fills the position - PF - relative depth (Randolph, Wright, Tolliver potential)? Check. At first glance, it looks like we spent a high draft to select Mike Dunleavy on the player's bench rotation. Many blame that goes to the weakest of the project, and the end of the season wins, which has reduced our chances in the lottery, but I can not help but feel that we just went through a brutally ugly season, and came to the end to find our silver lining is far from brilliant.

Despite the initial let down, there are several reasons for optimism. Udoh showed solid defensive instincts and skills restored Baylor. We might use more than two skills in this command - though I worry about these skills will be minimized or less of full size (and weight) competition, particularly if Nelson gives him time in the center. He seemed to be quick learner and a high IQ basketball player - obviously, good things, but the descriptions are often hung on the players who do not have the physical gifts to dominate opponents. Finally, Udoh seems professional, really happy to be here and comfortable, with its possible role. That comfort, however, may be a byproduct occurs earlier than expected - not necessarily a bad thing, but a sign that the company is Riley and to see something in him that the rest of the NBA did not. Although Curry was very easy last year, when he had slipped, Udoh seems a bit hand.

The question that will linger for the next few days (weeks? Months?) This is what will happen next. Register in its present form even more imbalanced than it was last year. The team does not have a backup guard. All that potential small forward lack key attributes for the position (size, speed, jump shot - and this is just some of them). We have a stable raw material transmits power and not-ready-for prime-time centers. Randolph, Biedrins and Ellis may not. Nothing happened so far this season to justify the expectation that we will value in response. This is a list that needs to be rebuilt around a vision, not only deprived of his talent for cash and expiring deals. Perhaps this vision will become clear shortly, but I'm not holding out much hope, until Cohen, Rowell, Riley and Nelson can be no picture. Unfortunately, there are opportunity costs for each day, the soldiers stuck in a holding pattern. While the thunder, wolves, blazers and others make steps to improve its talent level warriors circle through the same mistakes, burning fuel on the road. I can raise 2010-11 as a further recovery of the season, but now it is not clear that they planned to build something.

Thus, Ekpe Udoh, welcome to the soldiers. We do not know where you are going to play, who your teammates or coach will be, or that the billionaire will be signing your paychecks, but hey - you made it to the NBA - all can be even worse. If you can help turn this team around from perennial mat in respectable team, you'll earn our undying love. And if not, you can join us in hanging your hopes for 2011 lottery.

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