So I was a little off on my Lakers’ blowout victory last night, which is due in large part to Kobe Bryant’s absence from the game. I didn’t watch the game. I frankly don’t care very much about this series. I really don’t think the Spurs can win this series, especially after the Lakers gift-wrapped Game 1 and the Spurs couldn’t win.

Still nothing from my mysterious UNH reader.

Lots of issues with Part 1 of the Mock Draft yesterday. I’ll respond to all points after the Mock Draft is completed tomorrow. For now, I’m going short post today, and jumping right back in to the Mock:

11. Indiana Pacers
What They Need: A new team. They have needs at every position that Danny Granger doesn’t play. This is a “Take the best available guy” situation.”
THE PICK: Eric Gordon (SG Indiana)
Gordon was the player I spoke about yesterday who I did not like and did not think was going to be a huge success. I still don’t think so, but the thought that he’d fall out of the Top-10 is laughable to most people. But really, did you ever see him take over a game in college? Gordon will give the Pacers a potential slasher who can shoot from outside. I think he needs a lot of work, but so does this horrid team.

12. Sacramento Kings
What They Need: Well, their two point guards at the moment are Anthony Johnson and Beno Udrih. I’m going to go point guard.
THE PICK: Russell Westbrook (PG UCLA)
Westbrook skyrocketed up draft boards this season for a pretty good reason. He’s pretty good. He’s better than Darren Collison who disappears more than D.B. Cooper in big games. Westbrook is also a shoot first point guard, but he’s more raw than sushi. Some seasoning will make him a legit point guard. This is a team on the rise. They performed much better this year than people expected. I imagine they’ll continue to improve.

13. Portland Trail Blazers
What They Need: Has there ever been a lottery team that needed nothing? The Blazers could use a point guard. If there’s not a great one available, they should just take the best available guy. They’re loaded for a long, long time.
THE PICK: Joe Alexander (SF West Virginia)
There is no need for the Blazers to take a point guard here, because neither Darren Collison nor Tywon Lawson is worth it at this point. Alexander is a great pick here for the Blazers because it’s just another athletic swing-piece that they can develop. I don’t see this team with that many needs. Maybe I’m wrong.

14. Golden State Warriors
What They Need: Not a lot really. They’re not improving or regressing, unlike the Blazers who are on the rise. Baron Davis is a concern to me. Not because he’s not talented. But because he’s Baron Davis.
THE PICK: Anthony Randolph (PF Louisiana State)
I don’t understand the hype. He barely played in college. At LSU. Who fired their coach during the regular season. Apparently, he’s very athletic. He’s a project the Warriors can work on. Because if you think Al Harrington is their PF of the future, you’re a little drunk and don’t watch very much basketball.

(At this point, if they haven’t already, NBA teams just start taking developmental players. The NBA Draft…It’s Fantastic. Seriously, it’s my favorite non-sporting event sporting event).

15. Phoenix Suns
What They Need: A Coach, A Big Man, A Small Forward, A Scoring 2-guard.
THE PICK: Brandon Rush (SG Kansas)
One of my favorite players in this draft. I love Rush’s ability to score and think he could fit in well with the Suns, depending on what system they go with (i.e. what coach they hire). I know they have Raja Bell, but Bell is more of a defensive stopper. Rush is a long scorer. They don’t have many of those.

16. Philadelphia 76ers
What They Need: A scorer to compliment little-AI. Preferably at the 4.
THE PICK: Darrell Arthur (PF Kansas)
Arthur was not instant offense at Kansas, but that had a lot to do with the fact that he didn’t play a ton, because the Jayhawks were better than most NBA teams. He’s already an upgrade over Shavlik Randolph and Reggie Evans, and allow them to play Thaddeus Young at his true position of SF and move Igoudala to the 2-guard where he can be very dangerous against smaller guards. Another team on the rise.

17. Toronto Raptors
What They Need: More foreign players. The best available one.
THE PICK: Kosta Koufos (C Ohio State)
I don’t really think that he’ll drop this far even though he has a limited skill set. He has that one skill that NBA scouts and GMs love: height. And even though he played college ball in the U.S., his name sounds foreign. That should be good enough for Bryan Colangelo.

18. Washington Wizards
What They Need: To figure things out. A 2-guard. A center.
THE PICK: Robin Lopez (C Stanford)
I like Lopez here because he is a defensive stopper on a team with zero defensive stoppers. Brendan Haywood has no defensive game down low and while Etan Thomas does off the bench, Thomas has no offensive game. Lopez is a better balance and a better choice for a team that runs than Roy Hibbert, who is still available despite having the requisite skill of being very tall.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers
What They Need: Help scoring for LeBron.
THE PICK: Donte Green (SF/PF Syracuse)
Green is 6’10” and can play the 3. This similarity to LeBron does not concern me particularly because LeBron so often runs the ball up the court. If Green develops well, that would allow the Cavs to go big with James at the 2 and Green at the 3. Or they could go small and move Green to the 4 and have him step out, pulling good rebounders at the PF position away from the basket to defend him. He’d give the Cavs some options.

20. Denver Nuggets
What They Need: Point Guard
THE PICK: Tywon Lawson (PG North Carolina)
They have already told Lawson that they are going to draft him if he’s available. He’s available. That was easy.

Back tomorrow with finale of my first Mock Draft.

Game O’ The Day: Detroit @ Boston (Game 2). The Celtics have all the momentum if they continue to play like they did on Tuesday and the Pistons do the same.