CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Northwest Division

[Gainesville Celtic]

(full disclosure -- and i mentioned this to Roy in a chat: I'm very low on both Redd and Lewis as 2-way players. Tremendous offensive talents (if somewhat one-dimensional) but as good as they are offensively i think they hurt their teams defensviely. Both have come a long way since being real NBA 2nd round  picks, but I'm not a huge fan of either. One of the on POR would be fine, but the 2 together makes me cringe. Or drool i guess depending on how you look at it )

We'll just chalk this up to a legitimate difference of opinion.  I really, really like Rashard Lewis (I've drafted him two out of three years in this draft), and I think Michael Redd, at the very least, is as good of a defender as Ray Allen.

Also, regarding Michael Redd's defense, I think this quote is instructive:

While in China, Redd was further inspired by an unlikely source. Matched against Kobe Bryant in practices, Redd marveled at how much intensity the 2008 MVP brought to the defensive end. "In our practices everybody wanted to stop everybody," says Redd, 29. "But Kobe, man, he never took a possession off."

Skiles calls Redd "a work in progress"—he and his teammates still have bad habits to break, such as chasing the rebounder rather than getting back on defense—but the early returns are encouraging. Redd shut out Kevin Durant in the first half of a 98--87 win at Oklahoma City on Oct. 29, and in a 94--86 victory at New York on Sunday he held Jamal Crawford to one point on 0-for-6 shooting before leaving the game with a right-ankle sprain in the third quarter. In previous years Redd would have regularly been staring at the back of Crawford's jersey, but showing newfound quickness, he forced Crawford to take tough perimeter shots.

Instead of making another All-Star team, Redd lists earning All-Defensive honors as his highest priority. Says Redd, "At this stage in my career I want to be a complete player. And to do that you have to play great defense."

Link.

I think that says a lot about how Redd is going to approach this season.  Any guy who shows the effort and ability to shut down Kevin Durant is a guy I want on my team.

Good stuff Roy. The Crotornats are a tough team and I appreciate the fact that we agree that GMs can simply differ on players ---- that it's not an indication that one of us is a moron or evil or has some agenda.

that said, you're evil for liking Redd 

Durant finished that game with 12 points after being shut out in the first half so I wonder what changed (and Durant took the leap later in the year, this was the first game of the season). Maybe broken clocks and twice a day and all that?

And IMO Redd may *want* to be All-Defensive team, but I don't know that that really means his defense has improved (I mean i can be impressed by my neighbor's jogging regimen and *want* to drop 40 pounds.... doesn't change the fact that i'm fat ). A couple of games at the start of the season make for a nice SI piece when teams' storylines are still coming together --- but the previous 8-9 years of his career say more to me about his almost non-existant defensive abilities. Will that commitment to defense still be there as he's coming back from a knee injury that will, at least initially, make laterally movement trickier?

Any concerns that MIL with Redd as the #1 guy has never made it past the 1st round of the playoffs? Or that Lewis' SEA teams didn't do that until they had Ray (and then only that 1 season when they won 52 games)? Does star players' defense play into that?

[indeedproceed]

If you guys want to see an indepth talk about Roy's team RE: injuries look here. I didn't want to quote all of it but its worth reading.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=31052.msg559084#msg559084

[johnnyrondo]

If Manu is that "elite" player why isn't he starting? All the players I listed were starters and the Pistons were led by Billups, Sheed and Ben who all started.

For the same reason he's not starting in "real life".  He galvanizes the bench, he accepts the role, and we prefer keeping his minutes down.  As the saying goes, it's not who starts, it's who finishes.  Much like in San Antonio, it's pretty likely that Manu will be one of the go-to guys down the stretch.

OK props to Roy for answering so many questions. Can I ask one more follow-up please please please?  Just curious, but on the "elite" scale how would you rank the Spurs threesome of Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu? I'd probably rank them in that order (and probably HDM and KC might do the same), but I'm curious if you feel that Manu is/was (guess I have to include "was" do to RJ) their 3rd guy, or do you think he's more elite than either Parker or Duncan or both? Did HDM and KC make mistakes drafting their guys in the 1st round? Also curious how others would rank these guys.

[wdleehi]

Nuggets, Who is the "team of future" right now in the NBA? How does your team match-up against them?

I have the pieces to trade for a player of that level. 

How? Some feel Ming's injury is career ending or that he'll never be the same. How much value does he really have at max money and major injury issues?

The Bucks have two players under 25 and have already proven themselves to be near all-star talents. How does your team match-up against them for the future?

How?  One, Ming is going through the same thing Big Z did early in his career.  Big Z came out of it the same, so I expect Ming to.  Also, as you can see from the arguments, I have a lot of young high ceiling players that other owners like.  I can trade a few in a package deal without hurting the teams key players.  

While they have one star and a really good role player, they do not have the depth of talent nor the trade flexibility I have put together.  So going into the future, my team will be better able to add the talent pieces needed.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Denver ---

i like the talent that you've put together.  Again sorry if i missed these 2 questions in your press conference or follow-ups:


---- what would have to happen for you to make the playoffs this year or next in the deep West? What 1 guy do you think has the best shot of improving enough from last year to this to help that happen?


---- fast forward: Your young guys are progressively getting better, your team makes the first round of the playoffs a time or 2 but can't make that next jump to going deeper (the hardest improvement for a team to make IMO).

Assuming each of your players improves along their expected career paths (and for the sake of argument that Yao can't come back; not a certainty of course.... but as a GM you plan that he can't and jump for joy when he does), what's the ideal type deal you'd make to get better? I.E. who do you make a push for and who do you give up?

The pre-Rose Bulls struck out with Ben Wallace, but you could argue the Melo Nuggets hit a double with AI, then moved the runner ahead with the Billups deal. In each case there were obviously other factors, but I hope you get my point/question.


---- last question: Can i get some fries with those chicken nuggets?

[The Walker Wiggle]

Good morning ladies and gentlemen from Seattle.

I'm just checking in to let you all know that, while real life has been doing it's best to get in the way of the CBNBA, I will have the presser done today and with ample time for review and necessary banter. It's on the way.

-HDM

Glad to hear it! It would be sad to see both front runners hurt themselves today. Now, I hope Utah follows suit.

[Roy Hobbs]

Any concerns that MIL with Redd as the #1 guy has never made it past the 1st round of the playoffs? Or that Lewis' SEA teams didn't do that until they had Ray (and then only that 1 season when they won 52 games)? Does star players' defense play into that?

I'm not really concerned about Redd's past playoff successes.  I mean, look at KG:  he had one sustained playoff run before joining the Celtics, but prior to that, he'd had a bunch of first round failures.  Even great players need teammates around them.  For instance, last time he was in the playoffs, Redd averaged 27.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, and had a .565 eFG%.

Regarding Rashard Lewis, he's been to the playoffs five times, has gotten out of the first round three times, and played very well (including hitting multiple clutch shots) in leading his team to the NBA Finals last season.

[Rondo2287]

I would rank Manu ahead of TP before Manu's injury.  I think right now you gotta put manu behind TP because manu had a year off and TP had a break out year, but I think Manu can regain that spot with another good year

[Roy Hobbs]

Good morning ladies and gentlemen from Seattle.

I'm just checking in to let you all know that, while real life has been doing it's best to get in the way of the CBNBA, I will have the presser done today and with ample time for review and necessary banter. It's on the way.

-HDM

Glad to hear it! It would be sad to see both front runners hurt themselves today. Now, I hope Utah follows suit.

I'm glad to see that you continue to take shots at Portland, Wiggle, without offering any substantive public criticism.  I think it makes your criticism fairly useless, but to each their own.  I guess at least you're not continuing on your whispering campaign to undercut our team behind our backs and outside of the public eye.  Or, are you?

[indeedproceed]

If Manu is that "elite" player why isn't he starting? All the players I listed were starters and the Pistons were led by Billups, Sheed and Ben who all started.

For the same reason he's not starting in "real life".  He galvanizes the bench, he accepts the role, and we prefer keeping his minutes down.  As the saying goes, it's not who starts, it's who finishes.  Much like in San Antonio, it's pretty likely that Manu will be one of the go-to guys down the stretch.

OK props to Roy for answering so many questions. Can I ask one more follow-up please please please?  Just curious, but on the "elite" scale how would you rank the Spurs threesome of Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu? I'd probably rank them in that order (and probably HDM and KC might do the same), but I'm curious if you feel that Manu is/was (guess I have to include "was" do to RJ) their 3rd guy, or do you think he's more elite than either Parker or Duncan or both? Did HDM and KC make mistakes drafting their guys in the 1st round? Also curious how others would rank these guys.

Well it depends on how you want to rank them. If you want to rank them on guys you want to build your franchise around, it probably goes Parker Duncan Manu. If you want to rank them on guys you'd want to build around to win a championship right now it'd go Duncan Parker Manu.

If you wanted to rank them according to who can change a game the fastest, it would go Manu, Parker, Duncan.

I'd equate having Manu come off the bench to a boxer having a really hard right hook he only throws once and a while. You're gonna watch the left jab, and you're gonna watch for the 1-2 combo..but heaven help you if you forget about that right hook, because if he lands that, its gonna put you down.

Manu isn't nearly as much a factor if he is relegated to being a "traditional" player. As a sixth man, he can be devastating.

[Roy Hobbs]

If Manu is that "elite" player why isn't he starting? All the players I listed were starters and the Pistons were led by Billups, Sheed and Ben who all started.

For the same reason he's not starting in "real life".  He galvanizes the bench, he accepts the role, and we prefer keeping his minutes down.  As the saying goes, it's not who starts, it's who finishes.  Much like in San Antonio, it's pretty likely that Manu will be one of the go-to guys down the stretch.

OK props to Roy for answering so many questions. Can I ask one more follow-up please please please?  Just curious, but on the "elite" scale how would you rank the Spurs threesome of Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu? I'd probably rank them in that order (and probably HDM and KC might do the same), but I'm curious if you feel that Manu is/was (guess I have to include "was" do to RJ) their 3rd guy, or do you think he's more elite than either Parker or Duncan or both? Did HDM and KC make mistakes drafting their guys in the 1st round? Also curious how others would rank these guys.

I'd rank the "real" San Antonio's big three as 1. Duncan, 2a. Parker, 2b. Manu.  I think Parker and Manu bring different things to the table, but they're basically on par with one another.  I do agree with Rondo2287's comment, though:  until Manu proves he's healthy again, Parker probably gets the nod in the short term.

Also, I don't think drafting either Duncan or Parker in the first round was a mistake.  However, value is subjective.  Last season, Manu was a first rounder, and Parker was drafted in the second.

[wdleehi]

Denver ---

i like the talent that you've put together.  Again sorry if i missed these 2 questions in your press conference or follow-ups:


---- what would have to happen for you to make the playoffs this year or next in the deep West? What 1 guy do you think has the best shot of improving enough from last year to this to help that happen?


---- fast forward: Your young guys are progressively getting better, your team makes the first round of the playoffs a time or 2 but can't make that next jump to going deeper (the hardest improvement for a team to make IMO).

Assuming each of your players improves along their expected career paths (and for the sake of argument that Yao can't come back; not a certainty of course.... but as a GM you plan that he can't and jump for joy when he does), what's the ideal type deal you'd make to get better? I.E. who do you make a push for and who do you give up?

The pre-Rose Bulls struck out with Ben Wallace, but you could argue the Melo Nuggets hit a double with AI, then moved the runner ahead with the Billups deal. In each case there were obviously other factors, but I hope you get my point/question.


---- last question: Can i get some fries with those chicken nuggets?

To make the playoffs, I would need more then one guy to show real growth on the floor and the whole team will have to buy into and exceed on defense.  

I expect Oden to make the big jump this year.  In the real NBA, he is the difference for Portland being a talked about team in the playoffs and a real contender in the playoffs.

To make the next jump, I am more then ready to pull the trigger on trades.  The depth I have is great, but I am not going to be fooled into believing this team is going to be the title winning team.  A package of players could bring back the missing piece.  (as well as a separate Ming trade)  Most likely will be pushing for a scorer.  Most likely will be sending out one or more of the bigs (not named Oden) and swing players.  Keep the ones that best fit with Oden.

[johnnyrondo]

Congrats to IP who is one more Burgess Meredith post away from hi 9th star!

I do think he should change his username to "+ 1 Hidden"  It would make things less complicated

[Roy Hobbs]

Congrats to IP who is one more Burgess Meredith post away from hi 9th star!

He earned his 1400th TP today, as well.  Good stuff out of ya, Phoenix.

[Edgar]

Congrats to IP who is one more Burgess Meredith post away from hi 9th star!

He earned his 1400th TP today, as well.  Good stuff out of ya, Phoenix.

well there has to be something good in phoenix..because their team stinks..