2013 CB Draft : Draft Thread : VOTING ENDS 8:00PM EST TONIGHT

[rondoallaturca]

With the 19th pick in the 2nd round of the 2013 CB Draft the Portland Trailblazers select:

LUOL DENG

Just saw this. Riah now has Melo and Deng.

3 / 4 small ball lineup?

Im guessing so.

That's a pretty intriguing combo at the 3/4, too. Melo was significantly more effective at the 4, and his spotty defense can be more easily covered at that position.

[Fafnir]

And stop acting like Harden and Jefferson are terrible defenders.

Big Al is a bad defender, he's said so himself.

Harden was bad this year, really bad full on designated hitter Kobe mode of ignoring the play at times. But that's an effort issue, he was good for OKC off the bench with less offensive load.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9562293/al-jefferson-michael-kidd-gilchrist-charlotte-bobcats-plan

He's a bit plodding in space, and has struggled badly to corral opposing point guards. "It ain't no secret around the league that I struggle with my defense," Jefferson says. "My pick-and-roll defense is my weakness. And that's mind over matter. I just gotta suck it up, get my ass out there, and do it."8

[Fafnir]

With the 19th pick in the 2nd round of the 2013 CB Draft the Portland Trailblazers select:

LUOL DENG

Just saw this. Riah now has Melo and Deng.

3 / 4 small ball lineup?

Im guessing so.

That's a pretty intriguing combo at the 3/4, too. Melo was significantly more effective at the 4, and his spotty defense can be more easily covered at that position.

Both Deng/Anthony are good small-ball PFs.

I'm guessing most teams would put their PF on Deng? Not sure.

[rondoallaturca]

And stop acting like Harden and Jefferson are terrible defenders.

Jefferson is a horrible, awful, bad, putrid defender.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

With pick 2.22, the Mile High City Nuggets selects.

Rudy Gay

Argh, I don't know what I'm doing but it feels right, need someone who can defend and score in the wing department...

[Roy H.]

And stop acting like Harden and Jefferson are terrible defenders.

Jefferson is a horrible, awful, bad, putrid defender.

He's not good, but he's salvageable.  For him to be part of a good team defense, I think you'd need to see something like the 2010 Celtics, where Big Al could play the Shaq role.  A strong defending PF and defensive wings would go a long way toward solving Jefferson's defensive woes.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Only this man stops LeBron and he is on my team!

Pssst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDT-xCxyVfU

[fairweatherfan]

Wow, I had 3 guys I was thinking about at 2.10, and the only one taken is Iggy.  The move back is looking solid.

[Roy H.]

With pick 2.22, the Mile High City Nuggets selects.

Rudy Gay

Argh, I don't know what I'm doing but it feels right, need someone who can defend and score in the wing department...

I'd love to see Gay be that guy.  He's got all the tools to be an elite defender, but not the instincts and usually not the hustle.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

With pick 2.22, the Mile High City Nuggets selects.

Rudy Gay

Argh, I don't know what I'm doing but it feels right, need someone who can defend and score in the wing department...

I'd love to see Gay be that guy.  He's got all the tools to be an elite defender, but not the instincts and usually not the hustle.

I would not disagree that he lacks the motor, but he has shown before that he can lockdown with the best of them, that's good enough for me.

Now I got THREE scoring options, pick your poison!

[nickagneta]

There is still a TON of talent left on the board.

[Roy H.]

There is still a TON of talent left on the board.

Absolutely true.  There's a lot of parity in this tier, too; a lot of the guys available at the end of the second easily could have been taken at the top of the round.

[BigAlTheFuture]

And stop acting like Harden and Jefferson are terrible defenders.

Jefferson is a horrible, awful, bad, putrid defender.

Stop. Jefferson is by no means a good defender but he's no worse than Dirk, you have Gasol to off set his defensive woes. I didn't draft Jefferson to play defense. His offensive skill set was more appealing to me with Harden already on board. And last time I checked, we got 11 more rounds of this thing. I'm pretty sure I can find some defensive minded players to round out my roster.

Now get off my boy Big Al's back.

[McHales Pits]

I have no problem with the way Ibaka stepped up on Griffin in that GIF. All Griffin can do effectively is drive to the hoop for dunks/easy baskets. As a defender, when you see the ball is headed his way you need to step up and cut off his lane to the basket.

Did that look a little awkward? Yes...but the right mentality was applied.

Ibaka is 23 years old and has made two 1st Team All-NBA Defense teams as well as lead the league in blocks for three straight seasons. He is athletic which means he can rotate quickly, guard pick and rolls, and offer weak side defense. Rim protection is an important part of defensive schemes and I'm glad that I have the best rim protector in the game.

[indeedproceed]

Mod squad (Boston) picks Pau Gasol