2009 Celticsblog Draft: Voting Analysis : Team of the Future

[Roy Hobbs]

The slightly revamped Buffalo Braves

PG: Chris Duhon
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Al Thornton
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Dwight Howard

Bench: Linas Kleiza (SF/PF), Zaza Pachulia (PF/C)

Thornton is a  great athlete, but I'm not sure that he solves your shooting woes (.367 eFG% on jump shots is pretty horrific for a SF), and he's an inferior defender and passer when compared to Kirilenko.

You got worse in my eyes with your trade.  I really like Kirilenko and thought he fit well with your team.  You have Howard as the low post threat, and Ray and Antwan to spread the floor and provide addtional scoring.  I saw Kirilenko as that tough to defender to go against the tough SG/SF/PF's.  I think you lose that tough defender now and don't know what you really gain with Thornton except maybe some youth (and less of a headache maybe? but I really think Kirilenko is past all that), but I wouldn't want to gain youth on a win now team.  Also I thought Kirilenko and Jamison worked well interchangeably at the forward spots without really having to define the positions.  But I must admit, in real life I really like Kirilenko, although I know others don't agree [cough] ROY [cough].

Haha.  I don't like Kirilenko much (or at all) but I think he was better for Buffalo.  I think AK47 brings more to the table than Thornton, in terms of passing and defense.  They're about equally poor shooting jumpers, so I would have kept Kirilenko.

(AK47's defense is phenomenal.  It's a flawed metric, but in terms of Opponent's PER, he held opponents to an unheard of 10.1 last season.)

[indeedproceed]

So what Roy, you're saying the Suns are better than the Braves now?

[Roy Hobbs]

So what Roy, you're saying the Suns are better than the Braves now?

Lol.  The Suns need to consolidate some of that talent, to clearly define the roles for their young team.

[StartOrien]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

1. Stephen Curry
2. Andre Igoudala
3. Shane Battier
4. Lamarcus Alridge
5. Kurt Thomas

6. Ricky Rubio. Rubio would start if he came over across seas and I'd probably move Curry to the bench. With intentions of going small in crunch time.

[ChampKind]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

[celtsrp33]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

1. Stephen Curry
2. Andre Igoudala
3. Shane Battier
4. Lamarcus Alridge
5. Kurt Thomas

6. Ricky Rubio. Rubio would start if he came over across seas and I'd probably move Curry to the bench. With intentions of going small in crunch time.

I think Curry/Rubio will struggle against any PGs, AI is a very good all-around guy, Battier is still decent but not great, Aldridge should have a breakout year this year - he was good last year but should only get better, Thomas is all done.

I like a couple of your picks, but Curry is your only outside threat and inside you have Kurt Thomas    Defensively, you are good at the 2-3 but will struggle inside and at the PG position.  Overall a lower to mid tier team IMHO

[wdleehi]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

I think you need an 'enforcer' down low off the bench. 

[ChampKind]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

I think you need an 'enforcer' down low off the bench. 

I think Landry can handle that.  He's big enough to defend the 4/5 and has stepped up when Yao went down admirably.  Efficient offense and solid defense, and I think without Yao and Artest he'll break out this year.

[wdleehi]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

I think you need an 'enforcer' down low off the bench. 

I think Landry can handle that.  He's big enough to defend the 4/5 and has stepped up when Yao went down admirably.  Efficient offense and solid defense, and I think without Yao and Artest he'll break out this year.

Doesn't intimidate.  Doesn't change shots. 

[indeedproceed]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

I think you need an 'enforcer' down low off the bench. 

I think Landry can handle that.  He's big enough to defend the 4/5 and has stepped up when Yao went down admirably.  Efficient offense and solid defense, and I think without Yao and Artest he'll break out this year.

Doesn't intimidate.  Doesn't change shots. 

He's kinda like Big Baby in that regard. He'll keep you away from the basket 6 times outta 10, but if you get the ball in a place you like, you'll miss the shot because you missed the shot, not because he made you miss.

[StartOrien]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

1. Stephen Curry
2. Andre Igoudala
3. Shane Battier
4. Lamarcus Alridge
5. Kurt Thomas

6. Ricky Rubio. Rubio would start if he came over across seas and I'd probably move Curry to the bench. With intentions of going small in crunch time.

I think Curry/Rubio will struggle against any PGs, AI is a very good all-around guy, Battier is still decent but not great, Aldridge should have a breakout year this year - he was good last year but should only get better, Thomas is all done.

I like a couple of your picks, but Curry is your only outside threat and inside you have Kurt Thomas    Defensively, you are good at the 2-3 but will struggle inside and at the PG position.  Overall a lower to mid tier team IMHO

I like Alridge's defensive game. It's not all defensive team good, but I like it. And I think Thomas still can do enough inside defensively. I would say my strongest weakness is an interior presence, but we do plan on running most of the time.

[ChampKind]

The 2009 fake Cavaliers (pending)

C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David West
SF - Mike Miller/Luc Mbah a Moute
SG - Jamal Crawford/Mike Miller
PG - Devin Harris

Bench - Mbah a Moute, Sweet Lou Williams, Carl Landry, Andray Blatche, Charlie Bell

Not sure if the next option is another swingman or a big.  I like my lineup so far, not sure how they'd play together, but a good mix of young players and young veterans. 

I think you need an 'enforcer' down low off the bench. 

I think Landry can handle that.  He's big enough to defend the 4/5 and has stepped up when Yao went down admirably.  Efficient offense and solid defense, and I think without Yao and Artest he'll break out this year.

Doesn't intimidate.  Doesn't change shots. 

Fair enough, I may overrate his defensive game, but he's still improving, and I think he's one of the better defensive 4/5s right now...yeah could use some bulk though.

[The Walker Wiggle]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

Certainly a lot of hope for the future in Indiana. A nice pairing of proven young winners in first option, Iguodala, 25, and second option Aldridge, 24. And the Lig's most promising young backcourt? While Battier and Thomas are ideal mentors, and Shane can still anchor a defense. The two also prevent the Pacers from having the youngest roster in the league. (An honor that currently belongs to Las Vegas? Runner-up New Orleans?)

I also love the character of this team. And, to respond to another GM's comment, I'm higher on a possible Rubio and Curry pairing. Rubio is an underrated defender, is great in the passing lanes, and has good size for a point.

Possible concerns? (Some of which may be easily addressed as the team comes together.) Rebounding. Thomas may be better suited to a supporting role at this point. Iguodala may be more comfortable at the 3. A backcourt Plan B should Rubio not come to the States this season (though I remain optimistic).

[celtsrp33]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

1. Stephen Curry
2. Andre Igoudala
3. Shane Battier
4. Lamarcus Alridge
5. Kurt Thomas

6. Ricky Rubio. Rubio would start if he came over across seas and I'd probably move Curry to the bench. With intentions of going small in crunch time.

I think Curry/Rubio will struggle against any PGs, AI is a very good all-around guy, Battier is still decent but not great, Aldridge should have a breakout year this year - he was good last year but should only get better, Thomas is all done.

I like a couple of your picks, but Curry is your only outside threat and inside you have Kurt Thomas    Defensively, you are good at the 2-3 but will struggle inside and at the PG position.  Overall a lower to mid tier team IMHO

I like Alridge's defensive game. It's not all defensive team good, but I like it. And I think Thomas still can do enough inside defensively. I would say my strongest weakness is an interior presence, but we do plan on running most of the time.

Well, you ARE the PACERS.....   

[celtsrp33]

YOUR Indiana Pacers

1. Stephen Curry
2. Andre Igoudala
3. Shane Battier
4. Lamarcus Alridge
5. Kurt Thomas

6. Ricky Rubio. Rubio would start if he came over across seas and I'd probably move Curry to the bench. With intentions of going small in crunch time.

I think Curry/Rubio will struggle against any PGs, AI is a very good all-around guy, Battier is still decent but not great, Aldridge should have a breakout year this year - he was good last year but should only get better, Thomas is all done.

I like a couple of your picks, but Curry is your only outside threat and inside you have Kurt Thomas    Defensively, you are good at the 2-3 but will struggle inside and at the PG position.  Overall a lower to mid tier team IMHO

I like Alridge's defensive game. It's not all defensive team good, but I like it. And I think Thomas still can do enough inside defensively. I would say my strongest weakness is an interior presence, but we do plan on running most of the time.

Well, you ARE the PACERS.....