A Little NBA Draft/World Cup Fun

Well, I think I’m the only one here at the Pinkie who is getting excited about the World Cup. I have always enjoyed soccer, but I can understand why so many Americans just don’t care. We like being good at things, and with soccer, America has just not competed on the world stage historically.

I have been involved in my fair share of arguments over the relevance of soccer. I’ve said many times that soccer is the most popular sport in the world, only to be answered by “rice is the most popular food in the world, does that mean it’s the best food?”

However, I think lack of American interest in soccer comes down to the fact that our best athletes do not play the game. I believe that if guys like LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Michael Vick played soccer as a primary sport from a young age, I think the United States would be among the elite soccer nations. Unfortunately, soccer will never have the feeder system in the US that it does in other nations. The US will compete every once in a while, but will never reach its full potential.

Another thing I believe is that basketball is sport that best measures athleticism and I think that, per capita, the NBA has the best athletes in the world. Throw the best athletes in the NBA into soccer, and I think the United States changes the way the game is paid.

The other upcoming event that occupies the top of my sports consciousness is the NBA Draft. So, I’m going to mash together the World Cup and the NBA Draft to put together a hypothetical starting 11 from prospects eligibile for the 2010 Draft. Not surprising, former UK players are prominently featured.

My hypothetical team will play a standard formation with two forwards, four midfielders, four defenders, and one goalie. Let’s get down to it.

Forwards

Xavier Henry

Zah-vee-ay surprised people with his measureables at the NBA Combine, coming in with a 36.5″ vertical and testing among the best athletes in both the speed and agility drills. The sweet shooting lefty would be a handful in the air, scoring lots of goals on headers. With his sturdy frame, he would also be very difficult to knock off the ball. Plus, he grew up in Europe, so you know he’s played the game.

Evan Turner

With Turner’s scoring creativity on the basketball court, I imagine he would be a dynamic finisher on the pitch, as they say. His size would also make him a presence in the air, and with the way he rebounded last season, he’s got a nose for the ball. He was also one of the top assist men in the NCAA last year, so he would set up Xavier Henry very effectively.

Midfielders

Avery Bradley

Bradley is one of the fastest players in this year’s Draft, which would make him an absolute terror as an outside midfielder. I can just see him streaking down the wing and delivering cross after cross into Henry and Turner.

Sherron Collins

Collins knows how to run a team, and that’s what you need out of a center midfielder. His low center of gravity would also make him tough to deal with dropping back in defense.

John Wall

I really could have put John Wall at any position on this list and justified it, because he’s by far the best athlete in this class. I put him at midfield because of his ability to distribute, create, and space his team. He would control the game in the air with his leaping ability. I also see him as the more offensive of this team’s two midfielders.

Lazar Hayward

Hayward may not hear his name called on draft day, but I see his career unfolding much like his teammate Wesley Matthews’ did. He was among the best leapers at the combine, and was second to only John Wall in the agility drill. He’s got quick feet and would be very strong on the ball.

Defenders

Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe is fast, built like a running back, and can run for days. I see him as a dynamic defender who would be more than willing to step up and help on the attack.

Trevor Booker

Booker wasn’t a big name during his college career at Clemson, but the guy is a beast. At 6-6 236, he would be a SCARY central defender, knocking people off the ball and dominating in the air.

Patrick Patterson

A great defense is typically built on a solid partnership between two great central defenders. I see Patrick Patterson teaming up with Trevor Booker to intimidate quite a few people. Patterson and Booker would all but eliminate opponent’s air game.

Armon Johnson

Fomer Hoosier Armon Johnson is only 6-2 195, but he completed the sixth most reps on the benchpress at the combine. He was also among the fastest players and best leapers. Like Bledsoe, he would help in the attack as an outside defender.

Goalie

Derrick Favors

The man is 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan and a 35.5″ vertical leap. There wouldn’t be an inch in front of goal that he wouldn’t be able to cover. He also has giant hands to boot. The world has never seen a goalie quite like Derrick Favors.