CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Southeast Divison

[indeedproceed]

BTW just so that the mods don't think this is personal on my part, because it isn't, I have received no less than 6 PMs from GMs around the league lauding my stance and agreeing that the NY GM only kept his team because he was a mods brother and that it isn't fair that said GM gets to do nothing and have others make his picks for him and yet if someone disagrees the mod brother is going to get defensive and summarily make bad comparisons between your team and that NY team.

As someone who has absolutely no stake in this argument,

I think it's fair that New York gets a pass when he has lost the internet for reasons that are out of his hands. He didn't take a vacation,k he's not blowing it off, he simply can't get to the internet.

I also think that the Knicks are a significantly better than the DC Boxers. I'm concerned with the ability of Jackson and Wallace to co exist, I don't buy into the Ramon Sessions hype and I agree with the statements made about Joel Pryzbilia. I do really like Scola though. But at the end of the day, just my opinion, I don't think this is playoff team, nor do I think they're anywhere close.

There's a surprise! Another GM whom the DC Boxers GM felt had a bad team is saying the Boxers won't make the playoffs. Very original.

Charlotte you may as well join the group as in a little while you will be finding out that I don't think you team is very good either.

Funny that you'd call me out when I've said nothing to you, but no hard feelings Nick. When I look at how our teams would match up, I'd rather have everyone that I have in my starting 5 over yours with the exception of Shooting Guard. I'd take Curry over Sessions, Caron Butler over the injury plagued Gerald Wallace, Blake Griffin over Scola and Javale McGee over Przybilla. Anytime.

You mean like today or going into the future. Of the players you listed the only guy I'd rather have is Tough juice over Gerald, and even then its not a huge difference. Pryzbilla over McGee is a huge difference.

[indeedproceed]

Hey Commish, you've been quiet all draft. What do you think of the Southeast?

[nickagneta]

Can someone here help me out with this tag of being injury plagued that people are throwing at Gerald Wallace. He's averaged 66 games per year over the last 5 years. How exactly is that injury plagued? Playing in over 80% of all the games his team has had over the last 5 years does not denote injury plagued to me. It denotes other GMs trying to find any way they can to put down a play on a good team.

[Fafnir]

Can someone here help me out with this tag of being injury plagued that people are throwing at Gerald Wallace. He's averaged 66 games per year over the last 5 years. How exactly is that injury plagued? Playing in over 80% of all the games his team has had over the last 5 years does not denote injury plagued to me. It denotes other GMs trying to find any way they can to put down a play on a good team.

Uh he missed 1/5 of the games each season over his career, that's pretty injury plagued. Shaq for example has had a ton of injury problems right?

He's played in 70% of the games over his career. Plus he's on the injury report all the time even when he does play.

[nickagneta]

Can someone here help me out with this tag of being injury plagued that people are throwing at Gerald Wallace. He's averaged 66 games per year over the last 5 years. How exactly is that injury plagued? Playing in over 80% of all the games his team has had over the last 5 years does not denote injury plagued to me. It denotes other GMs trying to find any way they can to put down a play on a good team.

Uh he missed 1/5 of the games each season over his career, that's pretty injury plagued. Shaq for example has had a ton of injury problems right?

He's played in 70% of the games over his career. Plus he's on the injury report all the time even when he does play.

maybe the Celtics should get rid of that waste of talent injury plagued PF of their's then since in the last two years he's missed close to 25% of the games they have played. Obviously missing even more than 20% of a season is worse and it obviously makes KG a worse player. Let's trade his ass out of town.

[Fafnir]

Can someone here help me out with this tag of being injury plagued that people are throwing at Gerald Wallace. He's averaged 66 games per year over the last 5 years. How exactly is that injury plagued? Playing in over 80% of all the games his team has had over the last 5 years does not denote injury plagued to me. It denotes other GMs trying to find any way they can to put down a play on a good team.

Uh he missed 1/5 of the games each season over his career, that's pretty injury plagued. Shaq for example has had a ton of injury problems right?

He's played in 70% of the games over his career. Plus he's on the injury report all the time even when he does play.

maybe the Celtics should get rid of that waste of talent injury plagued PF of their's then since in the last two years he's missed close to 25% of the games they have played. Obviously missing even more than 20% of a season is worse and it obviously makes KG a worse player. Let's trade his ass out of town.

That has nothing to do with my point, or everyone elses that Gerald Wallace does get injured with some frequency.

He's missed 12, 27, 20, and 11 games during his time in Charlotte. I do like him as a player, but to claim he's not an injury concern is silly. I wouldn't be losing sleep over it though.

[KCattheStripe]

Can someone here help me out with this tag of being injury plagued that people are throwing at Gerald Wallace. He's averaged 66 games per year over the last 5 years. How exactly is that injury plagued? Playing in over 80% of all the games his team has had over the last 5 years does not denote injury plagued to me. It denotes other GMs trying to find any way they can to put down a play on a good team.

I think it also has to do with the fact that if he gets one more of a particular injury ( a concussion) he can no longer play basketball. His style of play leaves this open as a possibility.

[Donoghus]

Hey Commish, you've been quiet all draft. What do you think of the Southeast?

Sorry, IP.  Its been a crazy week.  I haven't had much time to really go in depth and fire questions at GMs.

Here's how I see the Southeast:

1) Orlando (most complete team in the division)
2) Washington (has some scorers but I have frontcourt questions)
3) Atlanta (if they don't implode)
4) Miami (young team but has some potential in 2-3 years)
5) Charlotte (really, really, really young)

[Gomesfan]

Guys sorry I haven't done my conference yet, I am trying to make time.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Orlando, I didn't ask you if your team wouldn't have enough support for Lebron, I asked you if the case is they don't support Lebron enough, do you have what you need to make a big midseason trade and do you have the acorns to make it?

Wdleehi...  my bad, (have a TP) it's sometimes easy to misread while frantically toggling the window at work btween Celticsblog and a "spreadsheet"

Given our ability to make trades during the CBD, yeah we'll have enough to get another piece and wouldn't hesistate (as Ferry did).

The big difference is Ferry sat on Wally Szcerbiak's contract and passed up Jamison, Boozer or even Shaq. Our biggest trade chip might be Villanueva or Gasol (having gone through earlier why we couldn't really upgrade from JRich) -- since there are no "contracts" in CBD I can't say a guy with a big contract like Wally S. or Eric Snow.

While I've gone into why I think we won't *have* to add another piece, I do think we could if I'm wrong.

[Gainesville Celtic]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Again, I think including Tyson Chandler is mixing apples and oranges.

I see Horford much closer as a player to Chandler than David West in terms of their respective skill sets. David West is a dynamic offensive talent who doesn't rebound as well as he should and who's a (maybe) good defender.

Chandler (and Horford) are very-good-to-great defenders & rebounders who can give you 10-15 points a night.

West *has* flourished offensively playing with CP3, but I would argue that's because he's a better offensive player (i.e. if he was playing with, say, Mike Bibby or Hinrich he'd still get 16-19 ppg off his talent).

On the other hand, Chandler's average with CHI was 7.1 ppg and 10.2 ppg with NOR; He's not scored more than 22 points in a game with CP3 getting him the ball.

If you want to argue Horford scores 14 ppg instead of 11 ppg playing with CP3, fine. But generally speaking, leopards don't change their spots. Horford might improve/flourish, but he's not going to *become* David West.

[johnnyrondo]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Again, I think including Tyson Chandler is mixing apples and oranges.

I see Horford much closer as a player to Chandler than David West in terms of their respective skill sets. David West is a dynamic offensive talent who doesn't rebound as well as he should and who's a (maybe) good defender.

Chandler (and Horford) are very-good-to-great defenders & rebounders who can give you 10-15 points a night.

West *has* flourished offensively playing with CP3, but I would argue that's because he's a better offensive player (i.e. if he was playing with, say, Mike Bibby or Hinrich he'd still get 16-19 ppg off his talent).

On the other hand, Chandler's average with CHI was 7.1 ppg and 10.2 ppg with NOR; He's not scored more than 22 points in a game with CP3 getting him the ball.

If you want to argue Horford scores 14 ppg instead of 11 ppg playing with CP3, fine. But generally speaking, leopards don't change their spots. Horford might improve/flourish, but he's not going to *become* David West.

I lived in Chicago during the Chandler years. Trust me he is nothing like Horford. Chandler has no offense. He has one move and that's catching an alley-oop. His hands are horrible beyond that. He is nowhere the defender Horford is. He is a good week side shot blocker. CP3 was berry berry good for Tyson. His numbers will go down in Charlotte. If Horford was traded to the real New Orleans his numbers would go up a lot. Watch as Okafor's go up.

[johnnyrondo]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Just to be clear we have another SF, we're really high on. He has a long wingsman and we will take it slow with him, but by the spring time we might be able to exploit matchups and throw him in there to post up like a Hinrich. We don't need him to win, but it doesn't hurt to have him as a silent extra weapon.

This David Thorpe tweeting during the Summer:

 

  -James Johnson with the best hesitation move of the week for a bucket.
    -Johnson has scored on a great dribble move, a sweet jumper, and a post flash to the middle of the paint. Very, very nice.
    -I understand why the Bulls drafted Johnson. But not Gibson.
    -I think Ben Gordon taught Johnson how to shoot before jetting up the road. His arc is pro perfect.

To be clear then..who is your backup SF?

Deshawn and Bogans are the backups. Deshawn used to guard Lebron when the Wiz were most effective against the Cavs. They chose him over Butler or Jamison. James Johnson has the potential to be a backup for us. Right now he's like our 12 or 13th man, but like Lee or Gortat last yr for the Magic, I could see Johnson claiming some 3/4 minutes by the end of the season.

 

[indeedproceed]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Just to be clear we have another SF, we're really high on. He has a long wingsman and we will take it slow with him, but by the spring time we might be able to exploit matchups and throw him in there to post up like a Hinrich. We don't need him to win, but it doesn't hurt to have him as a silent extra weapon.

This David Thorpe tweeting during the Summer:

 

  -James Johnson with the best hesitation move of the week for a bucket.
    -Johnson has scored on a great dribble move, a sweet jumper, and a post flash to the middle of the paint. Very, very nice.
    -I understand why the Bulls drafted Johnson. But not Gibson.
    -I think Ben Gordon taught Johnson how to shoot before jetting up the road. His arc is pro perfect.

To be clear then..who is your backup SF?

Deshawn and Bogans are the backups. Deshawn used to guard Lebron when the Wiz were most effective against the Cavs. They chose him over Butler or Jamison. James Johnson has the potential to be a backup for us. Right now he's like our 12 or 13th man, but like Lee or Gortat last yr for the Magic, I could see Johnson claiming some 3/4 minutes by the end of the season.

 

Johnson aside, don't you think Deshawn and Bogans as the 3 is forcing both guys out of position? Neither guy saw significant mins at the SF, and the playoff series where the Wizards played Stevenson as Lebron's main defender, he averaged 28 pts, 8.5 rbs, and 7.5 assists. The Wiz lost in 4 games.

I think you're gonna need to put JJ out there sooner than you'd like. Against smaller SF's you'll be ok, but against bigger or elite SF's I don't see a guy on your bench that can compete defensively..unless JJ is ready from the jump.

[Rondo2287]

Any thoughts on Jason williams?