Celticsblog Fantasy Roster Review

[Edgar]

mike bibby
raja bell
richard jefferson
paul millsap
elton brand

bibby is a solid pg; he can pass and create for himself. bell is an all defense 2nd team player and can shoot the 3 very well. jefferson is a good scorer- he slashes and shoots well. millsap, granted the weakest of the starting line up, played well on the jazz for limited minutes and is a decent rebounder with good potential. he had some nice career nights the previous season. and well brand is brand. the franchise man. the, "you got branded" stamper. he can do it all. plus with this small lineup, the team can run, run, run, and run some more.

what are your thoughts? obviously i need a bench. scoring seems pretty taken care of. more defensive minded players wouldn't hurt.

i have 2 picks in the 7th so i'm going to build my bench there. i know already who i'm targeting. in my opinion, another steal if he falls that far.

i get no love at all guys?

you need another big

Curry is available,

Edgar if we were at a bar I would buy you a drink.

haha, you make me laugh my ### off.

I swear to nation i will get rid of curry before this ends
i swear to nation....

[JSD]

I'd have to concede that right now the Nets are #1 in the East and the league.

Portland is going to run their old bones out of the gym.

Portland is kind of young to talk deep playoffs is it not? Team of the future, not now IMO.

I agree. Dominate the regular season but come playoff time they'll lose in the WCF to either the Rockets or Warriors. Lebron will be tough to beat in the 2nd round, too.

I think it would be close between the Blazers and Rockets, and close between the winner of that series and the Nets.  Really, though, I don't see any other team touching those three, barring something major happening here.

I do  agree with this though

[Gainesville Celtic]

I'd have to concede that right now the Nets are #1 in the East and the league.

Portland is going to run their old bones out of the gym.

Portland is kind of young to talk deep playoffs is it not? Team of the future, not now IMO.

I agree. Dominate the regular season but come playoff time they'll lose in the WCF to either the Rockets or Warriors. Lebron will be tough to beat in the 2nd round, too.

I don't buy it.  I'm fairly skeptical about the "you can't win in the playoffs unless you've won in the playoffs before" argument.  Elite talent, coupled with strong defense, wins.  I mean, most of the Lakers lacked playoff experience before this year.  Same thing with the Hornets.  Or even the Celtics (look up KG's, Ray's, and even Paul's playoff record some time).

Experience might tip a series if it's close in terms of talent, but i think a team of elite players would win in the playoffs, regardless of their age.  I think it would be close between the Blazers and Rockets, and close between the winner of that series and the Nets.  Really, though, I don't see any other team touching those three, barring something major happening here.

I agree that youth/inexperience alone doesn't stop teams from winning titles.... but with teams like Portland, Houston, Nets that are so clearly stacked with talent up and down the roster, i think we have to look at a few, more subjective and/or more subtle issues to discuss who beats who[/b], like:

- can these players play together?
- who takes the last shot?
- can they get a stop when they need it?

with evenly matched teams, i think those are the things that set the winners apart --- uncoincidently they're also things that the WORLD CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS excelled at or answered last year (sorry i always write that in all caps).  And who plays the roles of Rondo and Perk "we want to win, but we're here to win it for the older guys"...

I haven't looked at all the rosters but re: the 3 teams Roy mentioned:

NETS -- a lot of offensive firepower, but how do they stop Amare or Duncan or even Boozer in the last 2 minutes of a Game 7?  Da West is small, albeit offensively talented for a PF, and Okur has never been a great defender.  And can Maggette, Pierce and Da West all get enough touches? What happens with Okur getting a reduced role?  Does Gooden accept being a 6th man?

ROCKETS -- who takes the last shot or the big shots in close games?  Shaq's on the bench or he'll get fouled.  Bogut's as bad a FT shooter as Shaq.  Odom's a great front-runner and a very talented player, but he's at best a good #2 or great #3 guy.  I guess Kevin Martin ... but has he showed that ability yet?  Personally?  I'd lock down Martin and Parker and dare Wallace and Odom to make the shot.

BLAZERS --- Iggy, Gay and Amare are all at that point where they're ready to be "the man" and there's not a clear-cut leader and/or someone to keep the pecking order (Amare, iggy, Gay) enforced. Who's the leader? Horford is a calming influence (see: Hawks in real life).  But does this team lose their way if Amare gets in foul trouble throughout a series vs. a guy like Duncan or Dwight Howard?

BTW, i think Portland and Orlando matchup quite nicely thanks 
http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=64&topic=21876.msg346898#msg346898

[Roy Hobbs]

You've convinced me, G.C.  When the only question about your team is "maybe they have too much talent", I guess they're pretty much unstoppable.

(Again, I'm trying to be objective, but I considered all of the above issues in putting my roster together.  I agree that I could use a bit more veteran leadership, but for now Haslem, Blake, and the coaching staff will carry that particular burden.  And, as I mentioned in my response to B.T., one of the reasons I picked Gay over, say, Beasley is because he's perfectly content being a second fiddle.)

[Celtic Fan Forever]

The 7th round has officially started, just made my pick.

[JSD]

"ROCKETS -- who takes the last shot or the big shots in close games?  Shaq's on the bench or he'll get fouled.  Bogut's as bad a FT shooter as Shaq.  Odom's a great front-runner and a very talented player, but he's at best a good #2 or great #3 guy.  I guess Kevin Martin ... but has he showed that ability yet?  Personally?  I'd lock down Martin and Parker and dare Wallace and Odom to make the shot."

Forget a game down the stretch how about an entire series? In the 2007 NBA finals Parker proved he can be that guy.

[Big Ticket]

You know Roy... I'm starting to wonder about this assumed dominance I awarded your team...  the more I think about it, the more I see 3-4 starters that like to shoot, and 3 that as of this year will be "the guy" on their respective teams.  They're also young and unlikely to willing sacrifice the way KG-PP-Ray did this year.  Ray easily transitioned into a 3rd option because his greatest strength fit perfectly with the other two and as a contingency.  I have to assume Amare is your go to guy, with Gay being the lead dog on the perimeter?  But Iguodala was clear about wanting to be the alpha and TJ Ford has never been too afraid of shooting.  Horford is also growing into himself and based on last year's playoffs is starting to get awfully confident, dare I say even cocky.

It's going to be an interesting juggle for you... there's no denying the massive talent, but how will they play together... that is the question I pose to you.

Rudy Gay has shown a willingness to defer to others; in fact, the most oft-repeated criticism of him in college was that he *wasn't* an alpha-dog.  Iggy has played in a system where he's deferred to teammates his entire career, as has Amare.  Neither has been a major locker room problem in that regard (although there are other issues with Amare's attitude from time to time).  Horford is used to being overshadowed, and is a "quiet leader" type, as is Ford.

I drafted this team as much on "fit" and attitude as I did in terms of talent (thus, why I took Gay over several more talented players, including Beasley.)  Amare is the *only* guy who has been any sort of a problem at any stage of his career, and I don't have any major concerns with that.  The rest of the guys have all shown themselves to be team-first.

Plus, come on, my coach is Norman Dale.  If he can't get these guys to buy into an "all for one" attitude, there's no hope for the game.

Hmmm, well I suppose that is a sufficient response.   

I'm basing these assumptions off of some suppsoed grumblings from Iguodala after Iverson was traded.  He wanted to be the lead guy and Philly wasn't sure if he was capable.  I envision the same type of thing happening with Gay now that Pau is gone.  Mostly I'm reaching to find chinks in your armor.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Detroit Pistons:

Chris Kaman
Emeka Okafor
Hedo Turkoglu
Jason Richardson
Earl Watson

Jason Terry
Carl Landry
Mickael Pietrus



I like it.

[Roy Hobbs]

Mostly I'm reaching to find chinks in your armor.

No need to find chinks.  You can just say "I have Lebron, and if he gets hot, there isn't a team in the league that's shutting him down over seven games".  I'm not sure if that's 100% accurate, but it's close.

[Scribbles]

Wow Utah gets no love at all...how can a trio of Tmac, Johnson, and Aldrige not get a playoff spot..ouch

[Gainesville Celtic]

You've convinced me, G.C.  When the only question about your team is "maybe they have too much talent", I guess they're pretty much unstoppable.

(Again, I'm trying to be objective, but I considered all of the above issues in putting my roster together.  I agree that I could use a bit more veteran leadership, but for now Haslem, Blake, and the coaching staff will carry that particular burden.  And, as I mentioned in my response to B.T., one of the reasons I picked Gay over, say, Beasley is because he's perfectly content being a second fiddle.)

I amended my post to be about how do you seperate 3-4 teams who all have a lot of talent and no clear roster holes....

 like you, I built my team with a mind toward "How might these guys actually play together" not just who's the best on the board.  (Which BTW is why i like Miller alongside Duncan, which you said you didn't.... )

FWIW, taking JUST THOSE 3 (great) TEAMS YOU LISTED and taking into account intangibles like Team Defense, Who takes the last shot, leadership, how do their games fit, ego, etc.... i'd rank them:  Blazers, Rockets, Nets. 

[Gainesville Celtic]

"ROCKETS -- who takes the last shot or the big shots in close games?  Shaq's on the bench or he'll get fouled.  Bogut's as bad a FT shooter as Shaq.  Odom's a great front-runner and a very talented player, but he's at best a good #2 or great #3 guy.  I guess Kevin Martin ... but has he showed that ability yet?  Personally?  I'd lock down Martin and Parker and dare Wallace and Odom to make the shot."

Forget a game down the stretch how about an entire series. In the 2007 NBA finals Parker proved he can be that guy.

uh.... versus the as-of-yet-undrafted Boobie Gibson.  And can he do that without defenses keying on Duncan?  I guarantee you teams will be more willing to help off of Odom and Bogut than they will Duncan.

Parker is a very good PG. But asking him to win the series for you is a bit much... he may have been the MVP, but Duncan was far and away the best player.

[KCattheStripe]

Upon reading the Orlando Magic GM's statement, Wizards' GM KCatthestripe had this to say:

" I would first like to apologize for our misuse of the acronym "AARP". I honestly thought that the "R" stood for "retro". That was honestly what we thought was your reasoning behind hiring Hubie Brown and drafting Brad Miller and Allen Iverson."

In a related note when asked about Coach Brown, Andrey Blatche said, "Who's Hubie Brown, was he the guy who said 'SEND IT IN JEROME'?"

Atthestripe continued, " We are more than willing to conceed the fact that Tim Duncan has won 4 world championships. Bully for him. But he has yet to prove that he can adapt to coach Browns system, or learn to play along side Allen Iverson.

Oh, I would also like to remind Gainsville Celtic that Christian Laettner also won 2 NCAA championships. And as we all know, he was a sure fire winner.

I would like to show Mr. Celtic a player hungrier for a ring than Allen Iverson, but I can't think of any NBA player whose diet contains rings.

I was also confused when Mr. Celtic said that the people of Orlando were hungry for ANOTHER winner.

When was Orlando's hunger satiated by a first winner?

In regards to Mr. Celtic's match-up predictions, he makes the fatal mistake of thinking that we're even remotely interested in playing a half-court game with the Magic. Has anyone, other than Shaq's Lakers, been successful at a half court game against Tim Duncan? No, so why would we bother? We have Andrey Blatche for a God's sake"

In a related note when asked about his GM critiquing his half-court defensive abilities, Blatche had this to say, " Whats a half-court?"

Atthestripe continued, " We have no interest in halfcourt matchups, we just plan on running Tim Duncan and Brad Miller into the ground. The Magic have Tony Parker, the better version, in AI but no Manu, no Manu anywhere.

We are by no means saying we are the superior team to the Magic. We just think we should let the talking be done at the house that Unseld built.

[bucknersrevenge]

Wow Utah gets no love at all...how can a trio of Tmac, Johnson, and Aldrige not get a playoff spot..ouch

easy...youre not working with a glorified fantasy league roster like the nets and blazers thats why. 

i actually like your team. good mix of stars and role players. i think tmac plays the pure scorer role on that squad. jojo is the all around playmaker and defender and aldridge supplies the post scoring and then beyond that a good mix of guys around them that would know their roles and fit into the scheme. you could end up having one of the more complete teams in the conference i think.

[Evantime34]

I really like my team. Full of solid veterans who are looking at their last chance at Championship, lead by young phenom and a two time MVP. We will run and we will play defense. The Golden State Warriors are afraid of no one.