Nets
Depth chart/roster
PG Derek Fisher
SG Courtney Lee
SF Paul Pierce
PF Elton Brand
C Rasheed Wallace
6th James Posey
7th Drew Gooden
8th Beno Udrih
9th Shannon Brown
10th Eddy Curry
11th Kwame Brown
12th Bill Walker
13th Matt Carroll
14th Patrick Ewing, Jr.
PG - 3 proven, capable points. Both Fisher and Udrih can run a team. While no stars here, we have solid players and depth. Shannon Brown played big in the playoffs, but with Fisher and Beno, he'll see more time at the 2, but can definitely move back to the point if we need him.
1. Derek Fisher
2. Beno Udrih
3. Shannon Brown
SG - Lee will shine this year, also with 4 veterans starting with him there won't be much pressure, he can just focus on what he does best and let the game come to him. Shannon Brown played huge in the playoffs, plan as using him as more of just a guard, rather than defined as a 1 or 2, and may even pressure Lee for the starting spot. Matt Carroll can come in for shooting, Bill Walker for energy, but neither should see regular rotation minutes. Pierce may even see some 2 if we go big.
1. Courtney Lee
2. Shannon Brown
3. Matt Carroll
4. Bill Walker
SF - Pierce is the main man here. If Paul got 30 minutes a night and Posey got 18 (in the regular season) we'd be doing fine (and both have proven to be durable throughout their carrers) . Walker may get a few chances and spot minutes but will have to work hard to crack the rotation. Ewing will be in the D-League, but may got a shot with if there are any injuries
1. Paul Pierce
2. James Posey
3. Bill Walker
4. Patrick Ewing, Jr.
PF - Brand doesn't have the wear of most players, so 35 minutes a night will be no problem, but with a guy capable of startin in Drew Gooden behind him, he may see closer to 30 minutes. Posey will see time when we go small and to cover the 4's who play outside (Dirk, Rashard, etc.). Brand and Gooden can cover the bangers and Posey can cover the shooters. Kwame Brown as the 4th big, anything he provides will be gravy, he definitely has the size and skill to be a good backup big.
1. Elton Brand
2. Drew Gooden
3. James Posey
4. Kwame Brown
C - Sheed is going to be the starting Center. With Brand/Gooden at the PF spot, Sheed will compliment them perfectly. Sheed can handle guys who can bang, but can also cover more perimiter oriented guys, and he's an inside/outside threat. The knock on Sheed lately has been he stays out on the periminter too much, but with Brand playing down low at the 4, it won't be a problem if Sheed plays outside and stretches the floor. Curry will flourish as a backup in our half court game, and can definitely match up with the low post beasts. Again anything that Kwame Brown gives us is gravy, he definitely has the size and skill to be a good backup big. Even if both Curry and Kwame are lazy and unproductive we're still fine with Wallace and Gooden (but a little small), but we're playing the odds that one of Curry and Kwame will be motivated and healthy enough to be a very good backup C. Best case scenario, Curry comes back and plays like he did in '07 (a realistic possibility) and then he could even start and we move Sheed to the bench backing up the 4/5 giving us a whole lot od depth down low.
1. Rasheed Wallace
2. Eddy Curry
3. Kwame Brown
4. Drew Gooden
Winning Experience:
Derek Fisher - 4 rings, 6 Finals appearances
Courtney Lee - 1 Finals appearance
Paul Pierce - 1 ring
Rasheed Wallace - 1 ring, 2 Finals appearances.
James Posey - 2 rings
Beno Udrih - 2 rings
Shannon Brown - 1 ring, 2 Finals appearances
Strategy/Philosphy
8 rings and 16 Finals appearances spread out on 7 different rotation players. We may be old, but I have proven winners. And unlike some teams that are in more of a NBA 2k or Live mindset, this isn't a video game team and my players actually fit together well with a clear pecking order. Pierce and Brand are the main scoring options and Sheed is third. We're not asking anybody to come off the bench or play a role that they aren't already accustomed to. I have shooters, slashers, and low post threats providing a good balance. We'll be using a half court, normal tempo offense. I feel like I have good depth, and plan on limiting Pierce's minutes to around 30 per game, and Sheed and Fisher to about 28 for the regular season. My biggest question mark is at Center, now we can go smaller at the Center position with Sheed as the starter and Drew Gooden as the backup and still compete, but if Eddy Curry can come back healthy and produce than we definitely have depth at the Center position and can match up with anybody in the league, also as much as most of us don't like Kwame Brown, he's definitely capable of being one of the best 2nd or 3rd string C in the league. If Curry produces we're looking at a 10 man rotation, if not, then more of a 9 man rotation. Like real life Boston/San Antonio our goal is a championship now, and we think our veterans can get us there.
Strengths:
Veteran experience. Championship experience. (8 rings, 16 Finals appearances).
Youth that can play/grow/develop while veterans lead (Courtney Lee, Shannon Brown)
Well defined roles, with players who have accepted these roles in real life. (Scoring options: 1/2 Pierce/Brand, 3. Sheed, 4/5 Fisher/Lee)
A strong inside/out low post presence on both offense and defense (Brand/Curry/Gooden can play down low Posey can play outside when at the 4, Sheed can play both)
Strong defenders (Brand, Sheed, Posey, Lee are all known for strong defense).
Strong Offense
Shooting (Pierce, Lee, Fisher, Posey, Sheed, Carroll - all 40% threats from downtown)
Driving (Pierce)
Low Post (Brand, Sheed, Gooden, Curry)
Question Marks/Weaknesses
Is the team too old? Nobody is saying my guys can't play, but just that they're too old. We're not looking at any of the "old" guys to play a lot of minutes (ideally kept around 30). And the only really old guys are Sheed and Fisher, and they have good depth at their positions and aren't being looked at to carry the loads. Nobody is saying this years real life Spurs or Celtics are too old (and Jef has them meeting in the Finals this year). If real life Spurs and C's are championship contenders, than so is this team.
Can Sheed stay motivated? Sheed flourished in Detroit when there was leadership (in Billups) and had support down low (in Ben Wallace). Sheed didn't due so good when there was a lack of leadership/defined roles (is Rip starting, is AI starting, who's the main man?) and had a revolving door of players around him (is Amir/McDyess/Maxiell/Kwame playing next to him?) With Pierce in charge, Brand in the trenches next to him, and a steady hand in Fisher, Sheed will play like an All Star.
Can Curry stay healthy and produce? Our half court style offense will suit Curry, and anything he can give us is just gravy. Being the backup Center, and also having other big man options there will be no pressure, and if he doesn't play/produce we're still a very formilable team. No pressure = health and production.
I truly see us as a championship contender. Are you seriously telling me you'd want to face this veteran team in the playoffs? We're like the real life San Antonio Spurs, most people sleep on them, because they're stacked with veterans and don't have the the super marketable stars, but nobody wants to play them and they always seem to win.
(FYI - I have a somewhat busy day at work, so any questions/criticism/responeses may not come till much later in the day).
Topic: CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Atlantic Divison (Read 55749 times)