CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Central Division

[Celtic Fan Forever]

This question is for Detroit. The last thre championship winners being Boston, LA, and SA have all had DOMINANT fan bases.  How do you plan on overcoming the current economic problems in your city and making sure the seats are filled to give you a chance at the title?

We feel the city of Detroit will come together and realize that there team is ready to compete. We're gonnna start putting fans in the seats again

[Roy Hobbs]

Question for all five GMs:

Who is your biggest division rival, and why won't they win the division?

[Gainesville Celtic]

I'm sorry j.r., I like your starting five probably more than any other. But I can't get my mind wrapped around the thought that a bench of Jason Williams(who is still officially retired), DeShawn Stevenson(coming off severe back problems and shooting woes and fighting a losing battle to stay in front of Mike Miller and Randy Foye on the depth chart), 4 rookies in the worst draft since the Kenyon Martin Draft, a washed up Chris Mihm, Hilton Armstrong(a turnover machine) and Ryan Anderson is going to be able to provide your starters what they are going to need over the course of a season to be fresh and successful come the playoffs.

Why does everyone keep forgetting Keith Bogans he can put up double digit numbers any night of the week just with his three point shooting ability.

I think that most players are capable of putting up double digits any night.  Thats why they are in the NBA the problem with bogans is that despite decent minutes he has never done it over the course of a season

He scored double digits a lot last year some nights he's shooting was off and he only played like 10-20 mintues a game.

Per 36 minutes, Bogans scored 10.3 points (and scored substantially less than that while in Orlando.)  That's actually a pretty terrible scoring average.  That ranked Bogans 86th *among shooting guards* last year in terms of scoring per minute, and 339th overall.

I actually like Bogans ---- and would LOVE Ainge to add him to this year's real Celtics. He's a nice player who plays some good defense off the bench, hits timely shots, etc. Always hurt us when he was with Orlando.

But he's a combo SG/PG. He's not a SF. The lack of a real SF and the lack of a bench, continues to be my issue with CHI's team. The talent at the top of the roster makes up for some of those concerns, but not all of them.

And for the voting in a week (unless something changes), Jason Williams is the same as Yao Ming and Josh Childress ---- we have to assume he's NOT playing.

IMO, Chicago should see these criticisms as legit questions about their ability to challenge for the title, which implies that these same people (myself included) think there's a possiblity he can challenge for the title with 5-10 other teams....

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Also Detroit OJ has made his desire known to eventually transfer to PG is that one of the reasons you got a temporary fix at the Starting PG spot?

Yeah, that was a thought. OJ will play some backup point this year to see if he is ready to play it later on in his career. I think Watson will be a good mentor

[johnnyrondo]

For the record, the Bulls starters averaged 90ppg last yr. This will probably be similar to this year with Horford's going a little up do the Chris Paul effect and Martin's going a little down b/c he won't be needed to score 25 a night. Pau's might also go up, b/c Paul will look for him more than Kobe.

There's no doubt our bench can score 20 and our team will lead the league in scoring. Bogans will hit some threes, but will mostly be asked to play defense and to give Raja or Kevin a blow.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I am now here to answer questions, feel free to ask ones I didn't get to in the morning.

[johnnyrondo]

I will take bets on who is more likely to play in the NBA this season between J-will, Yao and Childress. Glen Davis is not signed yet either fwiw.

[johnnyrondo]

I am now here to answer questions, feel free to ask ones I didn't get to in the morning.

Will Marbury be online video chatting during the season?

[Roy Hobbs]

For the record, the Bulls starters averaged 90ppg last yr. This will probably be similar to this year with Horford's going a little up do the Chris Paul effect and Martin's going a little down b/c he won't be needed to score 25 a night. Pau's might also go up, b/c Paul will look for him more than Kobe.

You don't think Kevin Martin's scoring average will go down, moving from your 1st scoring option to your 3rd?

(By the way, lest you think I'm picking on you, I agree with GC's comment that your team is a legit title contender, depending upon how things break.  I do think, though, that the lack of depth will slow you down, and I don't think your team has the most scoring power in the league.  If you go with a primarily running offense, you're going to kill your starters, in my opinion.)

[Gainesville Celtic]

For the record, the Bulls starters averaged 90ppg last yr.

In this game/exercise this is a bit misleading (not on purpose)......

It sounds like a lot, but i would imagine most teams in the top 2-3 in their division have starting 5's that average 80-90 ppg (ours = 83, for example).

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I am now here to answer questions, feel free to ask ones I didn't get to in the morning.

Will Marbury be online video chatting during the season?

You bet 

[johnnyrondo]

For the record, the Bulls starters averaged 90ppg last yr.

In this game/exercise this is a bit misleading (not on purpose)......

It sounds like a lot, but i would imagine most teams in the top 2-3 in their division have starting 5's that average 80-90 ppg (ours = 83, for example).

First to answer Roy. I did say that Martin's will go down and that Horford's and possibly Pau's will go up.

To GC, you are welcome to make the argument that your team will score 83, but I think J-Rich and Charlie V's numbers would go down.

My point was just to say that my bench players don't need to score a lot. They will be playing with great scorers.

About the running game tiring a team out... most NBA GM's say a rough bang bang game poses more long term problems. I think if Steve Nash was asked to play a slower game it would hinder him long term. And obviously CP3 is much younger than Nash.

[johnnyrondo]

I am now here to answer questions, feel free to ask ones I didn't get to in the morning.

Will Marbury be online video chatting during the season?

You bet 

Sweet. Please ask him not to yell at me so much through the screen. it blew out my speakers once.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

My thoughts on the Central:

1a. Chicago
1b. Detroit
3.  Cleveland
4.  Indiana
5.  Milwaukee

[johnnyrondo]

Question for all five GMs:

Who is your biggest division rival, and why won't they win the division?

I'd prefer not to answer this question. I think it does more harm than good. I believe this division will get three or four playoff teams. Most likely three.