2009 Celticsblog Draft: Voting Analysis : Team of the Future

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Has Thad Young proven he can play PF? I seem to recall him struggling there.

Will Gordon be as effective if he's not the offensive focal point?

Thaddeus Young actually has better numbers at power forward then small forward. Also, the numbers don't really matter as much as the matchup does, which is very pro-Young if he's going up against Jamison as his defensive game will make it tough for Jamison to score, while he could be a scoring threat easily against Jamison.

Ben Gordon will get his points, particularly against Allen and whoever is on the Buffalo bench. He's a useful threat after Jamison covering Duncan ends horribly and the Buffalo coach switches back to Howard on Duncan, which will open up the court for both Young and Gordon. He's been a sixth man in his career before, and has no problem not being the focal point.

[indeedproceed]

Has Thad Young proven he can play PF? I seem to recall him struggling there.

Will Gordon be as effective if he's not the offensive focal point?

the real question is can Young play SF

he spend most of his time (42% at PF vs 22% at SF..this is out of total avalable mins at each position) as a PF, and he was more effective there than as a small forward.

As a small forward his speed is no longer an asset, and as a PF he gives opposing players trouble with his athleticism and speed.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Still offering TPs for justifications for Buffalo votes or legitimate questions from prospective voters.

[Kwhit10]

For the record I doubt Elson will see much playing time at all.  Our Center minutes will be solely taken up by Bynum and Okafor with Okafor's minutes being about 66% PF 34% C.  While Tim Thomas will off the bench and be a Villanueva-esque type player if we need to space the floor.  Also if we went smaller, we could put Balkman at the 4 as well.

Orlando you feel Richardson is a bigger advantage over our SG's but I don't see it, Brewer has played him to a stand still, in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points.  While Parker shoots at a high percentage, and Pargo can certainly light it up (as he is describe as Ben Gordon-lite).  With our very good defenders at the SG position, who is going to score the basketball when LeBron sits down?

[indeedproceed]

You're not in a good position if you picked a 2010 date for Mike Dunleavy's return in your office pool.

It appears you're in pretty good shape if you picked a date in late October or early November.

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, who originally didn't think Dunleavy would be back until at least January 2010, said Tuesday that he hopes the shooting guard will be ready for the season opener at Atlanta on Oct. 28.

"Our medical people are very pleased with his progression," O'Brien said. "I've changed my view point to a pessimistic one from a standpoint of him being ready in the middle of the season to one that I'm hoping he'll be ready to go for game one."

Scribbles ANGRY!

[Roy Hobbs]

You're not in a good position if you picked a 2010 date for Mike Dunleavy's return in your office pool.

It appears you're in pretty good shape if you picked a date in late October or early November.

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, who originally didn't think Dunleavy would be back until at least January 2010, said Tuesday that he hopes the shooting guard will be ready for the season opener at Atlanta on Oct. 28.

"Our medical people are very pleased with his progression," O'Brien said. "I've changed my view point to a pessimistic one from a standpoint of him being ready in the middle of the season to one that I'm hoping he'll be ready to go for game one."

Scribbles ANGRY!

Yet another of the vastly underrated Western squads.

[indeedproceed]

Yup..just a day late, a buck short.


(I'm writing..the report...I'm losing, and failing..when i move, I'm flailing now...)

Come on you guys know the words.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yup..just a day late, a buck short.


(I'm writing..the report...I'm losing, and failing..when i move, I'm flailing now...)

Come on you guys know the words.

You just can't have too many Blink 182 references.

[Lucky17]

For the record I doubt Elson will see much playing time at all.  Our Center minutes will be solely taken up by Bynum and Okafor with Okafor's minutes being about 66% PF 34% C.  While Tim Thomas will off the bench and be a Villanueva-esque type player if we need to space the floor.  Also if we went smaller, we could put Balkman at the 4 as well.

Orlando you feel Richardson is a bigger advantage over our SG's but I don't see it, Brewer has played him to a stand still, in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points.  While Parker shoots at a high percentage, and Pargo can certainly light it up (as he is describe as Ben Gordon-lite).  With our very good defenders at the SG position, who is going to score the basketball when LeBron sits down?

If Lebron is on the bench (for no more than 8 minutes a game during this series, I imagine), then Hinrich and at least one other of the JRich/CV tandem will likely be out there. That's three legit scoring options from the perimeter.

I'm not too worried about Pargo. If he should happen to get hot, Afflalo will be brought in to neutralize him. I see AA playing both guard spots (he can sub for Hinrich when Lebron is on the floor, and play SG alongside Hinrich when Lebron is out). AA can also knock down the outside shot if left open (he shot 40% from behind the arc last season, with 1.4 attempts per game).

Kwhit, how do you foresee the minutes break down for your frontcourt 3-man rotation, if Elson gets no burn? I'm guessing Bynum plays 35/40 minutes (assuming no foul trouble!), Okafor 25/15 between PF/C, leaving Tim Thomas and Joe Smith out there at PF for close to 20 minutes a game. Okafor's going to be gassed by Game 4 of this series, no?

[Kwhit10]

Kwhit, how do you foresee the minutes break down for your frontcourt 3-man rotation, if Elson gets no burn? I'm guessing Bynum plays 35/40 minutes (assuming no foul trouble!), Okafor 25/15 between PF/C, leaving Tim Thomas and Joe Smith out there at PF for close to 20 minutes a game. Okafor's going to be gassed by Game 4 of this series, no?

Andrew Bynum (34m @ C)
Emeka Okafor (21m @ PF) (14m @ C)
Carmelo Anthony (38m @ SF)
Renaldo Balkman (10m @ SF) (7m @ PF)
Joe Smith (10m @ PF)
Tim Thomas (10m @ PF)

Roughly, if any changes I could see Balkman's minutes at the PF spot be less.

[Gainesville Celtic]

For the record I doubt Elson will see much playing time at all.  Our Center minutes will be solely taken up by Bynum and Okafor with Okafor's minutes being about 66% PF 34% C.  While Tim Thomas will off the bench and be a Villanueva-esque type player if we need to space the floor.  Also if we went smaller, we could put Balkman at the 4 as well.

Orlando you feel Richardson is a bigger advantage over our SG's but I don't see it, Brewer has played him to a stand still, in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points.  While Parker shoots at a high percentage, and Pargo can certainly light it up (as he is describe as Ben Gordon-lite).  With our very good defenders at the SG position, who is going to score the basketball when LeBron sits down?

Nice slight of hand KWHIT10

in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points

this is true.

of course 3 days earlier Brewer "held" Richardson to 21 points (on 9 of 16 shooting). in the 2 games vs. Brewer & the Jazz the year before, Brewer "held" Richardson to 26 pts (on 8 of 16 shooting) and 24 points (on 8 of 14 shooting).

4 game average vs. Brewer over the last 2 years: 18.8 ppg
Total scoring average over the last 2 years (154 gms): 19.4 ppg


I don't know how to answer the question "who else is going to score besides Lebron" any clearer than:

JASON RICHARDSON (19.4 ppg (2007-2009); 18.6 ppg (career); 19.1 ppg (playoffs, 11 gm))

[Lucky17]

Kwhit, how do you foresee the minutes break down for your frontcourt 3-man rotation, if Elson gets no burn? I'm guessing Bynum plays 35/40 minutes (assuming no foul trouble!), Okafor 25/15 between PF/C, leaving Tim Thomas and Joe Smith out there at PF for close to 20 minutes a game. Okafor's going to be gassed by Game 4 of this series, no?

Andrew Bynum (34m @ C)
Emeka Okafor (21m @ PF) (14m @ C)
Carmelo Anthony (38m @ SF)
Renaldo Balkman (10m @ SF) (7m @ PF)
Joe Smith (10m @ PF)
Tim Thomas (10m @ PF)

Roughly, if any changes I could see Balkman's minutes at the PF spot be less.

I think those shared 27 minutes of backup PF time would be where this series would be won by Orlando.

In my mind, Varejao would easily win a matchup against Smith, and would also outhustle Tim Thomas on the boards. Balkman is gritty, but I don't think he could bang with Varejao (or Arthur) for very long, without diminishing his ability to defend Lebron.

And I think CV would take Smith and Thomas to the hoop every time. Neither would be able to stay in front of him.

[Kwhit10]

For the record I doubt Elson will see much playing time at all.  Our Center minutes will be solely taken up by Bynum and Okafor with Okafor's minutes being about 66% PF 34% C.  While Tim Thomas will off the bench and be a Villanueva-esque type player if we need to space the floor.  Also if we went smaller, we could put Balkman at the 4 as well.

Orlando you feel Richardson is a bigger advantage over our SG's but I don't see it, Brewer has played him to a stand still, in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points.  While Parker shoots at a high percentage, and Pargo can certainly light it up (as he is describe as Ben Gordon-lite).  With our very good defenders at the SG position, who is going to score the basketball when LeBron sits down?

Nice slight of hand KWHIT10

in their last meeting Brewer held Richardson to 4 points

this is true.

of course 3 days earlier Brewer "held" Richardson to 21 points (on 9 of 16 shooting). in the 2 games vs. Brewer & the Jazz the year before, Brewer "held" Richardson to 26 pts (on 8 of 16 shooting) and 24 points (on 8 of 14 shooting).

4 game average vs. Brewer over the last 2 years: 18.8 ppg
Total scoring average over the last 2 years (154 gms): 19.4 ppg


I don't know how to answer the question "who else is going to score besides Lebron" any clearer than:

JASON RICHARDSON (19.4 ppg (2007-2009); 18.6 ppg (career); 19.1 ppg (playoffs, 11 gm))

Well if you average his two scoring values from last year they played pretty evenly.  Also I wouldn't hold much to the matchups prior to that as Brewer was just entering the league and wouldn't expect him to be as good as he is now.  Brewer should be better than last year, not too sure Richardson will get any better than what we've already seen.

[The Walker Wiggle]

So, Wiggle, speaking of defense, how *do* you expect to contain Shaq, without opening a bunch of open looks for Edgar's other shooters?  And how does Anthony Randolph defend *anybody*?

I've conceded that Shaq is a bad match up for Houston. But I take some consolation in the fact that he averaged only 30 mpg in '08-'09 and will likely need that number to come down again next season. And since he can't make his free throws, play transition defense or guard the high pick and roll or screens, his conditioning isn't the only reason he'll find himself on the bench.

Meanwhile Portland doesn't have a player on the roster to defend Bosh either.

Bosh hung 34 points on Jermaine O'Neal, while shooting 57%. Jermaine managed 8 points on 31% shooting. That was their only match up because O'Neal wisely sat out the rest...

Bosh put up 40 points on 74% shooting and 18 rebounds on Sweet Lew in their first match-up last season and over four meetings averaged 24.5 ppg and 12.8 rpg to Lewis's 18.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg.

And Bosh ran rough shod over Brad Miller last season going for 31 twice and averaging 24 ppg and 12.3 rpg vs 16 ppg and 8 rpg in four match ups.

So what does Portland do over a seven game series considering Bosh can play 40+ minutes and Shaq 30-  ?

(It's funny that you're quoting from members of blogs to make your point, though.  I could find some stuff on here calling Tony Allen the second coming of D. Wade.)

Hobbs, I'm disappointed to see you turning your nose up at the new media, like a veteran beat reporter?

IMO, 82games is a great utility and not the average fansite. And Kelly Dwyer is well regarded.

And Jeff wouldn't put a front page article up trumpeting T.A.'s decision making, and in that vein, if the proprietors of Peachtree Hoops agree that Bibby is one of the league's worst defenders, having watched him struggle night in and night out, I'm interested.

P.S. Anthony Randolph is going to be fine, he's highly active, very long, rebounds and blocks shots at a thrilling rate. If he's struggling in any particular game we'll let Andres Nocioni grab and bump Lewis for 20 minutes, rattle his cage.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Redd is rested and ready

Redd is rested. But it's now Mid-Auguest and he has yet to return to the basketball court.

P.S. Is their a clause in Shaq's contract to protect the Crotonats if O'Neal injures himself during his reality show shenanigans or in a WWE match?