A great win last night for the Chicago Bulls.

An even greater win for the Boston Celtics last night. As I often write, I am sometimes very happy to be wrong. Last night was one of those situations. Sure, Ray Allen still looks like Mitch Richmond at the end of his career, and they are still coached by Doc Rivers, and Paul Pierce still has war flashbacks to last season, where he feels like he needs to play point guard, dribble for 14 seconds, and then pull up for a three. But they beat a fresher and equally as talented Pistons team last night. And beat them pretty convincingly. Sure they didn’t win by double digits, but at no point in the second half did I think, “Oh no, Detroit’s going to win.” I got nervous when the Pistons pulled it to 6, but I didn’t think that the Celtics were going to blow it. They played a mostly composed game, Doc sent out a solid rotation, Garnett played wonderfully, and they got contributions when they needed them from their role players. Last night could not have gone any better for the C’s.

I’m currently watching the UEFA Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester United. The reason why soccer isn’t popular in America is because we don’t have players like these teams. I mean really, this is more of an all-star game than a club championship. For what it’s worth, I had Chelsea winning it. They’re currently down 1-0 with 7 minutes to the break. We’ll see.

Over the course of the next 3, yes 3, days I am going to complete my NBA Mock Draft, V.1. The format will be the same as my NFL Mock Drafts. This is what I would do if I was these teams. Some things will make some people scratch their heads.

But first, if you are the mysterious commenter on Matthew’s recap of the UNH spring game, I am intrigued by your mystery. If you are a regular reader, please send along another sign. It will make my ego feel great.

Today’s post is going to be short, as I am cooking and watching futbol at the same time. We’ll jump right into the Mock Draft. Again, this is version 1. Things change. Needs change.

(1-1. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard with a goal to tie it just before the half. This is like a running diary.)

1. Chicago Bulls
What They Need: A Scoring Swingman or A Point Guard. Hmmm…that’s funny.
THE PICK: Derrick Rose (PG Memphis)
I’ve written before that I think Rose is the best player in this draft. I also don’t think that Michael Beasley is the scoring swingman they need. Beasley, to me, is like Rasheed Wallace without as good of an outside game. With Rose, the Bulls will get a Chicago native and a huge upgrade over Kirk Hinrich, who can move to the backup role and give them one of the league’s best back up PG’s, rather than one of the worst starting PG’s. This is what their starting five would look like:
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Ben Gordon
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Tyrus Thomas
C: Joakim Noah
(With Hinrich, Thabo Sefalosha, Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, and Aaron Gray off the bench. That’s a very good young nucleus, with a guy to run the show).

2. Miami Heat
What They Need: Everything other than a shooting guard and a small forward.
THE PICK: Michael Beasley (PF Kansas State)
They still need a lot of work, but this gives them a better starting five. I don’t think they’re a playoff team with Beasley, but they’re at least headed up, because you can’t get any worse.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves
What They Need: SG, SF, C (They at least have a power forward in Al Jefferson and a point guard in Randy Foye)
THE PICK: Nicholas Batum (SF France)
An athletic swingman with a 7’0” wingspan, who was one of the best players on the court at last year’s U.S. Nike Hoop Summit (top high school players). Batum would give the Timberwolves a young (20). Batum is a good defensive player, capable of blocking shots. His one weakness is his outside shot. Reading about him reminds me a lot of Kevin Durant.

4. Seattle Sonics
What They Need: PG, PG, PG, PG, C, PG, PG, and a PG
THE PICK: Brook Lopez (C Stanford)
As much as they need a point guard, and there are some good ones available here, I really think that they need a center. I have no faith in Robert Swift, Francisco Elson, Mohammed Sene, or Johan Petro. Lopez gives them a 7’0” scorer, who blocks shots. The previous 4 provide only blocks. Lopez can be a 20/10/3 center in the NBA. There are very few of those in this draft. He’s a step in the right direction for a franchise with very little at the moment.

5. Memphis Grizzlies
What They Need: A center and a 2 guard
THE PICK: OJ Mayo (PG/SG Southern California)
Mayo gives the Grizzlies a young, fairly polished scorer. This team needs a center badly, but beyond that fact that Chris Wallace is their GM, I cannot see them reaching for DeAndre Jordan here and they’re not a Kevin Love team. Mayo, with Mike Conley Jr. (Point Guard) and Rudy Gay (Small Forward) gives this team a very young and even more exciting nucleus. Now if they can build up their front line.

6. New York Knicks
What They Need: A Point Guard and A Big Man
THE PICK: Danilo Gallinari (SG/SF Italy)
He is, by all accounts, a better Andrea Bargnani. Whatever that means. Gallinari gives the Knicks a guy who can score beyond just the point guard position. They have no one at the 2 or 3 who can score consistently. Gallinari is the best foreign player in this draft. He doesn’t have the athletic upside of Nicholas Batum, but he’s a polished scorer. The Knicks are always so fun on draft night.

7. Los Angeles Clippers
What They Need: A Point Guard, An Insurance Policy at Power Forward (Elton Brand can become a UFA)
THE PICK: Kevin Love (PF/C UCLA)
Love can continue what he started across town. He reminds me a lot of Elton Brand, except Love has an outside shot. Most people will say I’m over ranking him. That’s because most people look beyond skill to “tremendous upside potential.” Love got it done at the highest level in college. He should continue to do so in the NBA.

8. Milwaukee Bucks
What They Need: A scoring swingman( small forward), Depth at Point Guard
THE PICK: Jerryd Bayless (PG Arizona)
Bayless is a bit of a steal here, though not as big as most experts would say. I love his ability to drive and slash and shoot and score. I don’t love his lack of ability to get his teammates involved. The Bucks have a somewhat capable point guard in Mo Williams, so Bayless can take time to develop into more of a passer.

9. Charlotte Bobcats
What They Need: Not a lot. They’re young everywhere, but they’re also skilled everywhere. With Larry Brown, they’re going to want an intelligent player with experience, because otherwise, the guy will just sit on the bench.
THE PICK: DJ Augustin (PG Texas)
They lack depth at the position and Raymond Felton hasn’t exactly developed into a franchise point guard. There is no experience left at the front of this draft. Larry Brown will be very upset and probably leave by December.

10. Brooklyn Nets
What They Need: Size up front.
THE PICK: De’Andre Jordan (C Texas A&M)
There is no player I like less in the lottery than De’Andre Jordan, which says a lot because of a certain 2 guard who is still on my board. Jordan would give the Nets the size they need up front. He’s 7’0”. This comes down to Jordan and Kosta Koufus. Jordan has more athleticism and upside than the slow, prodding Koufus. This team needs to be blown up, frankly.

Tomorrow, picks 11-20 (Indiana-Denver)

Game O’ The Day: Spurs @ Lakers (Game 1). LA wins by 16.

The UEFA Champions League Final is heading to a penalty kick shootout tied at 1-1. Drogba got a red card for slapping a Man U player in the second leg of extra time. Manchester has all the momentum heading into the shootout.

Happy Birthday Matt.