The Rotation:Orlando Magic
PG: Terry Porter (90-91) / Steve Francis (00-01)
SG: Joe Dumars (92-93) / Jeff Hornacek (91-92) / Jerry Stackhouse (00-01)
SF: Brandon Roy (08-09) / Walter Davis (78-79)
PF: Terry Cummings (84-85) / Paul Millsap (15-16)
C: Chris Webber (00-01) / Ralph Sampson (83-84) / Andrew Bogut (09-10)
The Philosophy: Skilled sizeWhen Webber fell to me, and I believe he did fall (had him top 4 on my board), it started to dictate the way I wanted my team to go. Webber is a fairly unique player to build around, and I've always liked skilled big men - so this is the way I went. All of the bigs I drafted are incredibly skilled - the least is Bogut, who is still one of the better high post playmaking bigs of recent memory. All 4 of the core bigs can initiate offence off the dribble, start transitions off the rebound, and shoot from outside the paint. I think the skill of my big man rotation is what sets me apart the most.
Shooting from the perimeter When I nabbed Webber, I immediately started to think of both Nikola Jokic and Giannis. Not that Webber is like either of these guys, but more about what kind of players thrive alongside these playmaking giants. Hence, I went with Brandon Roy, Joe Dumars, Terry Porter, Jeff Hornacek & Steve Francis. All of these guys hover between 38-44% from 3PT range, and some of them (Dumars, Porter and Hornacek in particular) would be absolute killers with modern spacing. Walter Davis is less of a 3PT shooter, but nonetheless one of the premier mid-range shooters of his era. I have no doubt his incredible shooting amongst all this skill would blend right in.
Tenacious guard defendersLed by one of the GOAT guard defenders in Joe Dumars, I wanted to build a mosquito fleet of defensive guards alongside my skilled bigs. I'm not particularly worried about the size of my guard rotation - Dumars, Porter, Hornacek & Francis all have significant experience defending players bigger than them. Their tenacity, drive, strength and IQ all allow them to counter size disadvantage. It also allows us to play full-court pressing defences at all times with all 4 of my core guards, which is one half of my plan to wear opposing teams down.
Transition play from all positionsThe other half of my plan to wear down the opposition is through relentless transition play. Chris Webber and Terry Cummings are both fiersome big men in transition, capable of grabbing the rebound and flashing down the court in an instant. All the perimeter players are threatening on the fastbreak too, capable of running lanes either into the paint or spreading out to the arc for deep shots. Having the Greyhound, Ralph Sampson and Steve Francis come off the bench only further emphasises this with their relentless athleticism and movement. With the amount of bigger and slower teams in this draft, I think this team can burn just about everyone down the floor.
Versatility at both ends & capability to scaleI think this team possesses great versatility in a manner of ways. It can go big, go even smaller, play 4-out 1-in micro sets, and overall adjust to whatever it is faced with. I think the balance of this group sets it apart. I am confident in its ability to scale to whichever team it faces, especially because I would be a brilliant coach
Aesthetic joy that such a team would bringLast, but definitely not least, I think this team would be an incredible joy to watch. I want all of my teams to play beautiful basketball, and I think this team ticks that box more than any. It has high level passers everywhere, dynamic scoring and shooting, relentless defence, constant movement, athleticism, and a series of high character hard workers. I think this team would be simply brilliant to watch, alongside being impossible to stop.
The Players:Chris Webber (2000-2001):1. Accolades: All-NBA 1st Team, All-Star, 4th in MVP voting.
2. Stats: 27.1PPG, 11.1RPG, 4.2APG, 1.7BPG, 1.3SPG, 48% FG, 70% FT, 52% TS, 24.7PER, 5.5BPM, 11 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Webber will serve as the focal point for the Magic offence, carrying a signifcant load with his scoring and playmaking. Webber was an incredibly versatile scorer, capable of utilising several post-moves and nasty footwork to score inside and at close range. Webber's first step was explosive, and his baby right hook was money. He was also more than comfortable facing up and hitting deep mid-range shots both from stationary and off the dribble. This made him a nightmare to try and prevent from scoring.
On top of this, Webber was an incredible passer, and transformed the big man position. He could initiate in the half-court as a proto-point forward, and was excellent at hitting cutters and open shooters whilst in the post. His playmaking allowed other players to thrive alongside him, especially in transition - Webber's passing and ball-handling was deadly in transition. He could throw outlet passes, but more important was the grab-and-go. And this was all launched by his rebounding prowess.
Webber was a rebounding champion in the late 90s, and averaged over 11RPG in the season chosen. He had great timing and positioning, and anticipated where the ball was going very well. This allowed for good tempo control for whatever team he played for.
Webber was an underrated defensive player in his prime. Capable of protecting the rim and jumping passing lanes, Webber used his athleticism and BBIQ to impact shots all over the court. Whilst not as imposing as some other big men drafted, Webber's awareness of how the game was played allowed for routinely strong defensive impact.
This was all enhanced by his leadership and communication - I believe Vlade Divac called Webber 'the glue' that held the Kings team together, or something to that effect. He directed his teammates on both ends of the court, and this leadership helped boost his squads.
Webber will be playing the starting C with Orlando in this modern era, which will allow him to still operate wherever he wants to on the court. At 6'10", 260lbs and with a 7'3.5" wingspan, Webber has prototypical big man size and length.
Brandon Roy (2008-2009):1. Accolades: All-NBA 2nd Team, All-Star, 9th in MVP voting.
2. Stats: 22.6PPG, 5.1APG, 4.7RPG, 1.1SPG, 0.3BPG, 48% FG, 38% 3PT, 82% FT, 57% TS, 24.0PER, 6.2BPM, 13.5 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Despite being cut-down in his prime, Brandon Roy was still one of the elite guards of the period. I would argue that onlyLeBron, Kobe & Wade were definitely better than him as wings in 08-09. This predominantly comes from Roy's awesome offensive game, which was as well-rounded and smooth as almost anyone. Roy could score in almost any way - his silky jumpshot was money from the short mid-range all the way out to the deep three, and his shooting mechanics off the dribble were incredibly clean. Roy was one of the best mid-range shooters in the entire league, but an underrated aspect of his game was his 3PT shooting off-ball. 82% of his threes this season were assisted, and he shot 43% on corner threes (which made up approx. 1/3 of his total 3PT attempts). I think this directly translates to fitting around a superstar who can pass like Webber.
His ball-handling enabled Roy to create separation easily, often off one or two moves, to then get to wherever he wanted at will. He used the step-back, crossover and hesitation to great effect. His ball-handling also fed his finishing at the rim. Roy was an underrated athlete - his max vertical was on par with Rudy Gay at 40.5", which combined with his body control and footwork to enable strong inside finishing. He deployed floaters, euro-setps and spin moves to finish around opponents when he could not go over them.
Roy's playmaking is often underrated, and he was a more than capable reader of the opposing defence. He made pinpoint passes in the PnR, and was capable of finding shooters for kickouts on his drives. This is indicative of his high BBIQ - Roy was rarely reckless, nearly always making the right decision in pressure environments. Never is this more displayed than inhis routine clutch displays, showing strong composure in the face of immense pressure.
Roy was one of the stronger players at his position, which allowed him to play decent (if not otherworldly) defence. He was a powerful 215lbs who used his core strength and his vertical to bother players on defence, and he was capable of defending multiple positions on the floor.
Roy will start at the SF, to continue our trend of skill and IQ over size.
Joe Dumars (1992-1993):1. Accolades: All-NBA 2nd Team, All-Defensive 1st Team, All-Star, 10th in MVP voting.
2. Stats: 23.5PPG, 4.0APG, 1.9RPG, 1.0SPG, 0.1BPG, 47%FG, 38% 3PT, 86% FT, 56% TS, 17.6PER, 2.1BPM, 9.1 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Joe Dumars was one of the premier defensive players on the perimeter in NBA history. He was Michael Jordan's best defender, according to Mike himself. He had quick feet, active hands, and an incredible appetite for working on the defensive end. He was one of the best at keeping in front of his man and defending without fouling. He generated steals at an alright rate, but his presence and physicality did more damage than his stats. Despite not being an enormous player, Dumars had the tenacity and understanding of the game to guard 1-3. As such, he will be taking the premier oppositon perimeter player on a nightly basis. Here is MJ on Dumars:
"He thought well, and he was very smart about his defense. I think he approaches the game as trying to dissect his opponents and try to find weaknesses or try to force them to do things they didn't feel comfortable doing. He introduced certain tricks to make me expand on my talents as an offensive player, and that is why I consider him one of the best."
This all goes to Dumars' nature as a leader. He led through his example, showing his teammates what the standards needed to be for professionalism and drive. He was composed in high-pressure situations, executing with great effect on both ends when the game was tight.
Speaking of the other end, I have not even touched on Dumars' offensive game. He was, similar to Roy, an excellent shooter from both the mid-range and from 3PT. Dumars utilised pull-up jumpers and floaters to great effect inside the arc, being able to stop on a dime and rise up over defenders. His 3PT shooting will likely come chiefly off passes on this team. Dumars was a strong finisher at the rim despite his size, utilising crafty moves to get to his spots. He also had a highly developed post-up game to beat up on smaller guards.
Dumars was a strong secondary playmaker on the perimeter, possessing good court vision and a thorough understanding of defences. He was precise with his passing, and utilised his ability to penetrate with the dribble to find open men.
Dumars will start at the SG for us, and is our primary point-of-attack defender.
Terry Porter (1990-1991):1. Accolades: All-Star, 9th in MVP voting.
2. Stats: 17.0PPG, 8.0APG, 3.5RPG, 2.0SPG, 0.1BPG, 52% FG, 42% 3PT, 82% FT, 63% TS, 21.7PER, 7.4BPM, 13.0 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Terry Porter is an incredibly underrated player, and his 90-91 season was flat out incredible. His efficiency in scoring the ball was extreme (63% TS!!!). His scoring versatility is a key part of this, able to score from anywhere on the court. He used his strong frame to draw fouls, was efficient from the mid-range, and could penetrate off the dribble. His ability to shoot would make him a deadly threat in a modern offensive scheme, as he also had the size and skill to get to work inside the arc. His ability to hit the 3PT shot both off the dribble and off the catch kept defences very accountable.
However, Porter's most impact offensively likely came from his playmaking. He was an exceptional passer and floor general, rarely turning it over whilst quarterbacking a strong offence. He elevated this when it mattered the most in the playoffs, and he was often seen working as the vocal leader commanding the team on offence. His court vision allowed for reading of the opposition defences, and he was able to anticipate how teams would react to certain prompts. His ability to anticipate, react & probe was the cornerstone for his offence.
Porter's value on the other end of the floor cannot be understated either. Built similarly to Dumars, Porter was a strong and relentless perimeter defender. He was brilliant at generating steals and turning them into fast break opportunities, and his built frame allowed for some versatility in his intensity. His awareness comes to the fore again on the defensive end, as he was able to jump opposition offensive schemes before they knew what hit them.
His relentlessness on the defensive end was coupled with high levels of endurance, allowing him to continue to excellent to a very high standard on both ends of the floor. He rarely showed signs of fatigue, which allowed him to impose himself upon the opposition as the game wore on.
Porter will be our starting PG, and will form a nasty defensive duo on the perimeter with Joe Dumars.
Terry Cummings (1984-1985): 1. Accolades: All-NBA 2nd Team, All-Star, 5th in MVP voting.
2. Stats: 23.6PPG, 9.1RPG, 2.9APG, 1.5SPG, 0.8BPG, 50% FG, 74% FT, 54% TS, 22.1PER, 4.3BPM, 10.7 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Terry Cummings rounds out the starting 5 at PF. Originally drafted as a super 6th man, I just couldn't resist starting him - he's too darn good!. Cummings was a very strong scorer, capable of putting the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. He had a very polished post game, able to rely on hook shots, fade aways, drop steps and quick spins over either shoulder. He was able to execute these moves against a wide variety of opponents, and would explot the weakness of any opposed to him.
Cummings was an excellent mid-range shooter (noticing a theme here?), and was able to hit shots out to 18-20 feet reliably, both off the catch and off he dribble. His threat from the mid-range fed his other scoring prowess, as he was an explosive athlete capable of getting to the rim quickly if the defence was up too aggressively.
Cummings' explosiveness in addition to his strong build allowed for him to be a nightmarish match-up in the PnR, especially with the higher emphasis on popping from screens in modern offensive schemes. I personally can't wait to see defences try to slow down a Webber-Cummings PnR with Roy, Dumars & Porter surrounding them on the perimeter.
Cummings was a strong rebounder, due to his athleticism and good positioning. He was an excellent offensive rebounder, as he used his strength to muscle his way into great positions which allowed for easy points on put-backs. This athleticism also allowed for strong transition play, which will be an asset alongside Webber and the perimeter players.
The Preacher was well-regarded for his leadership and his work ethic. He maintained great physical conditioning, and was dedicated to constnt improvement. There is a significant amount of strong character on this roster.
At 6'9" with a 7'0" wingspan (apparently, according to the internet) I'm totally comfortable with Cummings' blend of length, strength and athleticism to hold his own against all PFs on either end.
Ralph Sampson (1983-1984):1. Accolades: All-Star, Rookie of the Year.
2. Stats: 21.0PPG, 11.1RPG, 2.0APG, 2.4BPG, 0.9SPG, 52% FG, 25% 3PT, 66% FT, 55% TS, 20.1PER, 0.9BPM, 6.0 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Moving to my bench, we begin with Ralph Sampson. At 7'4" with a 7'6" wingspan (again, apparently!), Sampson was a physical anomaly with his combination of length, fluidity and athleticism. Sampson was one of the most coordinated players of that height, able to catch, dribble and pass with significant ease. I've gone with his rookie season, as it was his only one playing at the 5 (where he really belonged, he was just more perimeter-oriented than Hakeem).
His skill for a big man, let alone a big man of such size, was quite unreal. He was able to catch a rebound, turn and dribble it up the length of the court with comfort and speed. He was a good passer, and would often relieve guards of ball-handling duties on occasion to set up unique offensive schemes. He was a strong passer out of double-teams, as his incredible height allowed him to see over most of them and spot the open man to deliver it to. He was certainly happy to score, but was nonetheless a willing passer who recognised what it took to serve his offences the best. Alongside his ball-handling was his shooting touch - Sampson had a smooth mid-range game, and was able to shoot over just about any defender. He spaced the floor for other players, and as such could operate alongside various different kinds of big men (such as Webber, Cummings, Millsap & Bogut).
He was a very solid rebounder, especially when playing the C position. He was strong on both ends of the glass, utilising his height and coordination to grab difficult rebounds. His offensive rebounding was of particular value, as he could go back up for a score immediately without much opposition due to his sheer size. His defensive rebounding + his ability to dribble and pass made him a fairly unique threat in transition.
At his size, he was also an imposing defensive figure. He was not the strongest big man, but was able to get away with it due to his timing and size. He was an incredible shot-blcker, and would deter lots of drives through his sheer size and intimidation. His massive reach forced significant adjustment around the rim even if he did not reject the shot, and he was capable of using his length to jump post-entry passes.
His BBIQ was often on-show on both ends of the floor, allowing him to scale his game to a variety of both teammates and opponents. It is this versatility and uniqueness that excited me about nabbing Stick. He will come off the bench, but is fully capable of allowing us to go big.
Walter Davis (1978-1979):1. Accolades: All-NBA 2nd Team, All-Star, 5th in MVP voting, Rookie of the Year.
2. Stats: 24.2PPG, 6.0RPG, 3.4APG, 1.4SPG, 0.2BPG, 53% FG, 83% FT, 58% TS, 22.1PER, 3.3BPM, 10.1 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Walter Davis will be either the first or second player off the bench, depending on the match-ups. I think Davis is an incredibly underrated player - he was MJ's favourite player for a reason! I think his skill-set is very similar to Roy's, and will allow for me to always have a nightmare match-up at the wing.
Davis was an incredible shooter. Above 50% on high volume with much of his game coming from the mid-range is an incredible number. I have no doubt that if he played the modern game he would be a premier perimeter threat. Nonetheless, his shooting off the catch and off the dribble was still super precise. His mechanics were super smooth, and his athleticism + high release made his jumper hard to challenge.
Jump-shots were not the only way he could score. He could draw fouls and knock down free throws, he was capable of finishing at the rim, he worked hard off the ball to get open and he had a variety of creative dribble moves to get separation. Like many of my players, he excels in transition, using his straight line speed and athleticism to either initiate or finish the transition. He was nicknamed the Greyhound for a reason!
He wasn't just a scorer either - whilst scoring was his best weapon, his high IQ allowed him to recognise when and where to make the right pass. He made intelligent reads of the way the defence was reacting, and would adjust his game accordingly.
He used this on the defensive end too, with quick hands and good lateral speed allowing him to be a strong defensive force. He generated a decent amount of turnovers, and had versatility to guard a number of spots. He was also a strong rebounder, thanks to these skills of athleticism and anticipation.
As a rookie, he finished 5th in MVP voting and was the equal of Hall of Famer Paul Westphal immediately. He positively impacted locker-rooms, was reliable in clutch situation, and understood the importance of strong team dynamics. In my opinion, he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Not bad for a 6th/7th man!
Steve Francis (2000-2001):1. Accolades: None (followed by 3 consecutive All-Star appearances, despite being worse seasons).
2. Stats: 19.9PPG, 6.9RPG, 6.5APG, 1.8SPG, 0.4BPG, 45% FG, 40% 3PT, 82% FT, 56% TS, 21.6PER, 5.0BPM, 12.2 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Steve Francis was one of the premier athletes in the entire league in his (sadly short) prime. I've picked the year prior to his 3 consecutive All-Star appearances, because to me it was his best one - he just wasn't as popular. He was the prototype to the Westbrook-type guards we see today.
Explosion is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Steve Francis. He had an incredibly quick first step, a 43" vertical leap (the same as Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady & Clyde Drexler), and was strong through the core. He combined this incredible athleticism with a really tight handle. He was quite an exceptional ball-handler, utilising crossovers, hesitations and shimmies with incredible speed. Bursting by defenders after several moves was a staple of his game, often making defenders look quite foolish.
Francis was a versatile scorer, capable of finishing inside or pulling up for mid-range jump shots off the dribble. He was also a 40% 3PT shooter in this season, and was able to create 3PT looks both off the dribble and off the catch. His ability to score both on and off-ball is exciting for this team. With the amount of transition looks we will seek to generate, and the capability of all the big men (besides 3rd string Bogut) to grab rebounds and go, Francis' athleticism will be even more of a weapon.
He was an excellent rebounder for a guard, chiefly due to his excellent athleticism. He could grab defensive rebounds and launch transition offence within moments, but he was also capable of crashing the offensive glass for put-backs or second chance possessions.
He was an underrated defender, capable of generating steals with his combination of athleticism and anticipation. His athleticism allowed for positional versatility, and he was more than capable of playing lockdown defence.
Francis will likely be 3rd off the bench, to relieve either Porter or Dumars.
Jeff Hornacek (1991-1992):1. Accolades: All-Star.
2. Stats: 20.1PPG, 5.1APG, 5.0RPG, 2.0SPG, 0.4BPG, 51% FG, 44% 3PT, 89% FT, 59% TS, 18.9PER, 4.3BPM, 11.6 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Jeff Hornacek might be one of the most underrated shooters, if not players of all time. Career 40% shooter from deep on over 2000 attempts, and was even more deadly in the mid-range, shooting 50% between 16-23 feet in his final 4 seasons (the stat wasn't measured before then). In those final four seasons, he shot an astonishing 61% on corner 3s! His insane corner shooting will be a great weapon to our team, both in transition and the half-court.
But Hornacek was much more than just brilliant shooting. He was an excellent overall scorer in his prime in Phoenix, capable of dropping 20PPG whilst living around the 50/40/90 mark (almost averaged those % splits over his whole career). He was an excellent shooter off the dribble in his prime too, capable of scoring off unorthodox footwork which allowed him to catch his opposing defences off-guard. He found high percentage shots at will, and was an underrated finisher at the ring. He was also nearly automatic from the FT line, even if his volume of attempts wasn't overly high.
His playmaking is an underrated aspect of his offensive game. Despite primarily playing at the SG position, he was an excellent passer for that slot, which allowed him to complement ball-dominant playmakers like Kevin Johnson and John Stockton. He was a solid ball-handler who made smart decisions, and was strong both in transition and in the half-court in this regard.
His rebounding for a small guard was quite exceptional, especially given he does not possess the freakish vertical athleticism of a Steve Francis. He helped protect the defensive glass and ensured that the opposition didn't get 2nd chance looks. This also allowed for more fast break starts, which is a theme of this team.
One thing that constantly gets overlooked is how good defensively Hornacek was in his prime. He was a relentless steal generator, who would hound the opposition tenaciously. Similar to his future teammate in Stockton, he used his great IQ and anticipation to offset any lack of athleticism, frustrating opponents with his timing and positioning.
Hornacek lifted when it mattered the most - his 3PT shooting actually (somehow) rose in the playoffs, which is very atypical. I believe in the modern game he would be an incredible offensive talent, and I think he is as good a shooter as any in this league.
Paul Millsap (2015-2016):1. Accolades: All-Star, All-Defensive 2nd Team.
2. Stats: 17.1PPG, 9.0RPG, 3.3APG, 1.8SPG, 1.7BPG, 47% FG, 32% 3PT, 76% FT, 56% TS, 21.3PER, 4.2BPM, 10.1 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Despite being drafted with my final pick, Millsap will actually form part of the core 10 of the rotation. This is in large part due to his incredible versatility. He couldn't be limited to a specific role or position on either end of the floor - he was capable of playing both big man spots, and could defend some of the bigger SFs in the league too.
His scoring arsenal was quite intriguing. He was a capable shooter from deep and the mid-range, possessed a strong post game both high and low, and was capable of handling the ball too. At 6'7" and 260lbs with a 7'1" wingspan, he presented match-up problems for any who were on him. He was much too quick for most opposing 5s, but put a 4 or even a 3 on him and he would bully them on the inside. I think every Celtic fan can remember him dropping 45/13 with 4 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals on the Celtics in the playoffs (despite us winning the game in OT).
He was a tenacious rebounder, despite his lack of height. He used his incredibly powerful frame to get into great positioning, and was a good vertical athlete to boot. He read the trajectory of missed shots well, and secured lots of defensive rebounds. This in combination with his ball skills allowed Millsap to launch transition opportunities.
His defence was strong, and was particularly so in the season selected. Nearly 2 steals and 2 blocks per game over 81 games is a very impressive number. He used his powerful build to hold his own against bigger opponents, and was able to generate steals on them and by jumping the passing lanes. His anticipation and length allowed him to come over for helpside blocks on other big men and perimeter players driving to the hole too. We anticipate being able to maintain a strong identity on both ends of the floor with any combination of our big men on the court.
Millsap's passing similarly fits the identity we are trying to establish here in Orlando. He made the right pass time and again, and would thrive in a short-roll role in modern offensive schemes. This was fed by his overall understanding of the game, which complemented his energy and motor perfectly. Hustling on every possession and loose ball both inspired his teammates and gave them chances at extra possessions.
Millsap will be the 2nd big man off the bench for us.
Andrew Bogut (2009-2010):1. Accolades: All-NBA Third Team.
2. Stats: 15.9PPG, 10.2RPG, 1.8APG, 2.5BPG, 0.6SPG, 52% FG, 63% FT, 54% TS, 20.7PER, 3.1BPM, 7.5 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: Andrew Bogut's prime is, IMO, a little underrated due to the player he was at Golden State - where his offensive role was essentially passing and screensetting. Whilst he was still very capable of doing so at Milwaukee, his scoring repertoire was on show a bit more, and his athleticism allowed him to defend better.
His interior defence was his best trait - standing at 7'0", weighing 260lbs and possessing a 7'3" wingspan, Bogut had the strength and size to anchor defences against the most imposing opposition. He was a premier shot-blocker and rim proector, deterring the drives and post entries of the opposition. His positioning and ability to help on defence allowed him to be more than just a rim protector, but a true defensive anchor. Further, his 1v1 post defence was strong, using his size and strength to bother opposing monsters. This will be where he gets his most minutes, in situations where we need that extra bit of size and mongrel inside.
He was a strong rebounder on both ends of the floor, allowing him to generate tip-ins on offence whilst limiting opposing 2nd chance points down the other end. His sheer size and strength allowed him to be a battering ram inside, and he was very strong in boxing out players.
His playmaking was his calling card on offence, more so than his scoring. He set incredible screens, excelled at the hand-off, passed well from the high-post and would find open players when he had the ball in the paint. This, plus his impressive defensive ability, all stems from his combination of size and IQ. He understood the game at a very high level on both ends, allowing for countless blocks and assists. He made good choices, and forced the opposition to respect him.
His scoring in his prime was decent, if unspectacular. It was mostly through interior scoring, whether off dunks or post moves. He had a decent jump hook and drop step, and solid footwork.
Bogut is our 3rd string big man, drafted in order to counter teams trying to bruise us on the interior.
Jerry Stackhouse (2000-2001):1. Accolades: All-Star.
2. Stats: 29.8PPG, 5.1APG, 3.9RPG, 1.2SPG, 0.7BPG, 40% FG, 35% 3PT, 82% FT, 52% TS, 21.8PER, 5.1BPM, 9.2 Win Shares.
3. Write-up: A lot of people are worried by Stackhouse's 2PT efficiency, but me? Not so much. I believe it to be a product of his era as much as anything, where his TS% was quite in line with league averages (which is concerning, but that's a different discussion). Stackhouse is playing on a team of uber-efficient guys where he'll have much more room to operate than alongside Chucky Atkins & Joe Smith.
Stack was an incredibly talented scorer, regardless of efficiency - it is not easy to put up almost 30PPG, regardless of how green a light you have. He could put the ball in the bucket from just about anywhere on the floor, but made his money attacking the rim and drawing fouls. He drew 10 FTAs a game in this season and shot over 80% from the stripe, making this a real headache for opposing defences. He was athletic, long and strong, often able to power through or jump around the defence if they did not foul him. His driving threat opened up his nasty mid-range game too, combining a soft touch with a quick release. He moved well off the ball, and would create severe headaches for opposing defences.
He was a solid secondary ball-handler too - he could play both the SG and SF with his size and athleticism, but he had true guard skills. He was capable of initiating the offence, and his ball-handling allowed him to be even more of a threat to score the ball. Stack was great at identifying and exploiting mismatches. His crossover was one of the more deadly of the early 2000s, often forgotten because he played for Detroit.
His change of pace and athleticism allowed him to constantly be invovled in clutch moments down the stretch, drawing fouls at will and wreaking havoc. Whilst he is a 3rd stringer here, his offensive threat is still significant, and allows us to go with some really big firepower lineups like Dumars-Stackhouse-Roy-Webber-Sampson.
In conclusion - my team rules. Vote for gouki88.
Topic: 2023 CS Historic Draft - How's My Team? (Read 24673 times)