CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Central Division

[johnnyrondo]

Possible good news for startorien

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Spain-s-Rubio-trying-to-find-Minnesota-endorseme?urn=nba,180931

I think its tough for me to sound unbiased, but I've been saying it a whole lot to my friends; there's not question in my mind that he's coming to the NBA. I'm shocked about how this hasn't been major news, DKV is in terrible shape financially, and Rubio has limitless marketing potential (besides the whole, he's in minny thing)

I still am not convinced Rubio is going to be anything special. Until anyone in this draft proves to me they are any good, my assumption is going to be they are at best mediocre. Only after they start producing will I give any credence to anyone in this year's draft.

I think this makes this yr 6 month voting a good addition

[Rondo2287]

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

[nickagneta]

This question is for the General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

You have 4 guards that tend to be ball dominant guards that look for their own shot before passing, Harris, Crawford, Bell and Williams. Do you have concerns, like I do, that your team passing could become stagnant as players who are used to creating their own shot first, try to do so and don't try to create for others?

[riah32]

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.

[StartOrien]

Possible good news for startorien

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Spain-s-Rubio-trying-to-find-Minnesota-endorseme?urn=nba,180931

I think its tough for me to sound unbiased, but I've been saying it a whole lot to my friends; there's not question in my mind that he's coming to the NBA. I'm shocked about how this hasn't been major news, DKV is in terrible shape financially, and Rubio has limitless marketing potential (besides the whole, he's in minny thing)

I still am not convinced Rubio is going to be anything special. Until anyone in this draft proves to me they are any good, my assumption is going to be they are at best mediocre. Only after they start producing will I give any credence to anyone in this year's draft.

His play in the Olympics more than proved to me that he's something special.

[Roy Hobbs]

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.

[StartOrien]

So I win, right?

[Roy Hobbs]

So I win, right?

Haha.  You have to wait until the voting for the Eastern Conference playoff seeding, which takes place a week from today, I think.

[riah32]

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.

Well he doesnt need him to score 15-20 points a game he only needs him to score 8-10 ppg. His starters are going to score majority of his points. He needs Bogans to be like eddie house and hit the three. He had a bunch of nights last year where he was 4-6 from three of even 3-5.  

[ChampKind]

This question is for the General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

You have 4 guards that tend to be ball dominant guards that look for their own shot before passing, Harris, Crawford, Bell and Williams. Do you have concerns, like I do, that your team passing could become stagnant as players who are used to creating their own shot first, try to do so and don't try to create for others?

Harris's judgement has proven to be successful over the past few years, and his distribution ability improves year by year.  I don't think he's a concern.  However, as you noted, Crawford, Bell and Williams and more natural 2s that can also play the 1.  While that versatility is nice, it does leave us without a true distributor behind Harris.  

However, our SG/PG trio have all proven that they can fill in at the point, and with the passing ability of our guards and forwards (Bogut, West, Landry, especially Miller) this shouldn't be much of an impediment.  Ball movement will be plentiful with this team.  Bell has proven that he can run the point in limited minutes and distribute well (especially as he has re-acclimated to NBA ball), and Sweet Lou will have the onus on him in real life to be a better distributor, which I think we'll see.  

[StartOrien]

So I win, right?

Haha.  You have to wait until the voting for the Eastern Conference playoff seeding, which takes place a week from today, I think.

Formalities, Roy. I already called it.... Or do I have to call dibs?

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Detroit, What concerns do you have about a young player in OJ coming from a team where he was allowed free reign with the offense and was a bit of a chucker, coming into a team where he isnt necessarily the primary option on offense?

I think it will help him a lot more actually. He won't see any double teams, and a lot of teams won't focus on him. So expect him to get a lot of open looks.

[Roy Hobbs]

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.

Well he doesnt need him to score 15-20 points a game he only needs him to score 8-10 ppg. His starters are going to score majority of his points. He needs Bogans to be like eddie house and hit the three. He had a bunch of nights last year where he was 4-6 from three of even 3-5.  

If he needs him to score 8 - 10 points per game, he's in trouble, because Bogans isn't capable of it at this point in his career.  He'll give you, on average, 5 or 6 points per game, assuming he's playing a realistic, 20 minute per game role.  He's just not really that good of a player, in my opinion.

I think in terms of making the case that his bench isn't that weak, JR's case is best centered around Ryan Anderson, and potentially Stevenson and Williams.

[Rondo2287]

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?

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Questions for Detroit:

1) Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo didn't mesh very well in "real life"; why will they be better on your team?

2) What type of offense do you intend to run?

3) I liked the vast majority of your moves, but hated this trade:

Detroit: Mo Williams, Wilson Chandler, Rudy Fernandez, DJ White

Memphis: Rudy Gay, Mo Evans, JJ Barea

Can you explain your reasoning?  From an outside perspective, it seems like the upgrade from Chandler to Gay doesn't justify moving Williams or Fernandez. 

4) Does your team have the experience necessary for a deep playoff run?

Gay and Mayo will work well because they are both competing for a championship, no question about that.

We intend to run a half court offense, with Watson setting up everybody for easy buckets.

Going back, I might have given up a little too much in that trade, however I needed to get rid of Mo Williams since he was just a terrible fit on my team.

Yes, I think we have what it takes. We're a little young, but with a lot of veterans on the bench, as well as our leader Amare's playoff experience, I'm confident we can win now.