CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Northwest Division

[indeedproceed]

In 5 years I could see Foye as a more than very serviceable starter or really really good sixth man.

Really? Who would you equate him to as a player?

[Roy Hobbs]

Portland are you worried about the health of your team? Over the past 3 years, Redd and Shaq have each missed 98 games. Jermaine O'Neal has missed 67 games and Manu has missed 53. You have a great roster on paper but does it worry you that you may be missing 4 starters for significant periods of time?

We addressed this in our press conference a bit.  There is some concern, but I wouldn't call it a major concern.  We did what we could to mitigate the risk, by drafting a deep team that will 1) allow our players to rest, and 2) allow us to replace any one player who is injured adequately.

We're not that concerned about Shaq and J.O.  Shaq played 75 games last season, and Jermaine played 68 (and sat out the last two games not due to injury, but to rest for the playoffs).

The riskiest player on our team may be Michael Redd, although many of his injury issues have had as much to do with the Bucks tanking as they have him being majorly injured.  The ACL issue was obviously a major injury, but the number of games missed in recent years is not a good indicator of his true health.

Also, of course, just about every team in this league has injury issues.  Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Phoenix are four other teams that will all rely heavily on players with past and present injury issues, and there are many other examples, as well.

[indeedproceed]

Portland are you worried about the health of your team? Over the past 3 years, Redd and Shaq have each missed 98 games. Jermaine O'Neal has missed 67 games and Manu has missed 53. You have a great roster on paper but does it worry you that you may be missing 4 starters for significant periods of time?

We addressed this in our press conference a bit.  There is some concern, but I wouldn't call it a major concern.  We did what we could to mitigate the risk, by drafting a deep team that will 1) allow our players to rest, and 2) allow us to replace any one player who is injured adequately.

We're not that concerned about Shaq and J.O.  Shaq played 75 games last season, and Jermaine played 68 (and sat out the last two games not due to injury, but to rest for the playoffs).

The riskiest player on our team may be Michael Redd, although many of his injury issues have had as much to do with the Bucks tanking as they have him being majorly injured.  The ACL issue was obviously a major injury, but the number of games missed in recent years is not a good indicator of his true health.

Also, of course, just about every team in this league has injury issues.  Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Phoenix are four other teams that will all rely heavily on players with past and present injury issues, and there are many other examples, as well.

I want to just repost everything that was said at 2am.

[Rondo2287]

Portland are you worried about the health of your team? Over the past 3 years, Redd and Shaq have each missed 98 games. Jermaine O'Neal has missed 67 games and Manu has missed 53. You have a great roster on paper but does it worry you that you may be missing 4 starters for significant periods of time?

We addressed this in our press conference a bit.  There is some concern, but I wouldn't call it a major concern.  We did what we could to mitigate the risk, by drafting a deep team that will 1) allow our players to rest, and 2) allow us to replace any one player who is injured adequately.

We're not that concerned about Shaq and J.O.  Shaq played 75 games last season, and Jermaine played 68 (and sat out the last two games not due to injury, but to rest for the playoffs).

The riskiest player on our team may be Michael Redd, although many of his injury issues have had as much to do with the Bucks tanking as they have him being majorly injured.  The ACL issue was obviously a major injury, but the number of games missed in recent years is not a good indicator of his true health.

Also, of course, just about every team in this league has injury issues.  Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Phoenix are four other teams that will all rely heavily on players with past and present injury issues, and there are many other examples, as well.

I want to just repost everything that was said at 2am.

I found it to be a great read once I got to work this morning

[Roy Hobbs]

Portland are you worried about the health of your team? Over the past 3 years, Redd and Shaq have each missed 98 games. Jermaine O'Neal has missed 67 games and Manu has missed 53. You have a great roster on paper but does it worry you that you may be missing 4 starters for significant periods of time?

We addressed this in our press conference a bit.  There is some concern, but I wouldn't call it a major concern.  We did what we could to mitigate the risk, by drafting a deep team that will 1) allow our players to rest, and 2) allow us to replace any one player who is injured adequately.

We're not that concerned about Shaq and J.O.  Shaq played 75 games last season, and Jermaine played 68 (and sat out the last two games not due to injury, but to rest for the playoffs).

The riskiest player on our team may be Michael Redd, although many of his injury issues have had as much to do with the Bucks tanking as they have him being majorly injured.  The ACL issue was obviously a major injury, but the number of games missed in recent years is not a good indicator of his true health.

Also, of course, just about every team in this league has injury issues.  Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Phoenix are four other teams that will all rely heavily on players with past and present injury issues, and there are many other examples, as well.

I want to just repost everything that was said at 2am.

Haha, yep.  Also, folks, the fact that Portland (and Phoenix) are dedicating time to their team between 2:00 and 3:00am on a work night should be all the evidence you need that these teams won't stop until they've reached their full potential. 

(There's been a momentary detente in the Phoenix / Portland cold war.)

[johnnyrondo]

I think the thing with injuries is its magnified in players in their 30's. They seem to get injured more and definitely take longer to recover from minor injuries. I think if Manu or Redd were 25 or so, there would be more confidence that their injuries are behind them. I do like you plan of resting your stars best players more throughout the season. A healthy team come playoff time is more important than a higher seed imo.

One question for Roy. When I was trying to defend Cuba's pick of Shaq as people were piling it on on him, you seemed to be very anti-Shaq. Basically saying he stunk on defense and was toast. Now you're his biggest fan. Was your heavy criticism on Shaq all part of a notorious plan to bring his trade value down so you could acquire him? Or are you now making lemonade out of lemons?

[Edgar]

all part of a notorious plan to bring his trade value down so we could acquire him

[Rondo2287]

I think the thing with injuries is its magnified in players in their 30's. They seem to get injured more and definitely take longer to recover from minor injuries. I think if Manu or Redd were 25 or so, there would be more confidence that their injuries are behind them. I do like you plan of resting your stars best players more throughout the season. A healthy team come playoff time is more important than a higher seed imo.

One question for Roy. When I was trying to defend Cuba's pick of Shaq as people were piling it on on him, you seemed to be very anti-Shaq. Basically saying he stunk on defense and was toast. Now you're his biggest fan. Was your heavy criticism on Shaq all part of a notorious plan to bring his trade value down so you could acquire him? Or are you now making lemonade out of lemons?

[Roy Hobbs]

One question for Roy. When I was trying to defend Cuba's pick of Shaq as people were piling it on on him, you seemed to be very anti-Shaq. Basically saying he stunk on defense and was toast. Now you're his biggest fan. Was your heavy criticism on Shaq all part of a notorious plan to bring his trade value down so you could acquire him? Or are you now making lemonade out of lemons?

I wouldn't necessarily say we were "anti-Shaq".  We said his defense -- meaning, specifically, his pick-and-roll defense -- had suffered, and we said a pick in the third round was "a little high".  That doesn't mean we didn't like him, though; we called him a "good player", although I think he would have been a horrible fit playing alongside Rajon Rondo on a youth-oriented squad.  The Hawes-for-Shaq trade was a good one for both teams.

We got him for mid-fourth round value, and we feel that Shaq's pick-and-roll defense will be helped by playing next to a very good defender in Jermaine O'Neal.

Also, of course, remember that you said the Shaq pick was the very best pick of the entire third round, and you described him (in his current form) as an all-star center.

[wdleehi]

Feels good to see other GMs argue which one of my players will be better then the others.

[johnnyrondo]

I do remember trying to boost up Shaq's value, so he wasn't just given away. People were worried that Cuba was going to give him away for a 5th rounder or something. It worked to some extent.  I think Hawes is a good player. A mod proposed that I should find the quote you made, so here it is:

He's still a good player, but he's on his last legs, and his defense has really suffered for it.

You did say he is still a good player. I'm assuming you meant offensively, based on the defense part afterwards.

[wdleehi]

Denver.

In order could you please list who you feel will be the best players on your team 5 years from now form best to worst. You have a great collection of young talent and I'm interested in seeing who you feel will eventually develop into the best impact type NBA player of the group.

Personally, I'm a believer in Oden so my list would be:

1. Greg Oden
2. Jeff Green
3. Kevin Love
4. Brandon Wright
5.(tie) Mike Conley and Randy Foye

1) Greg Oden
2) player received in Yao Ming trade
3) Green
4) Love
5) Conley

What type of player do you think you'll land in the Yao trade that is better than Green / Love / Conley?  Aren't most teams with young, elite talent looking to build for the future, making a player like Yao less useful?

If you can't get what you perceive as fair value with Yao, will you dump him for the best offer you receive?  Or will you keep both he and Oden on the roster?

No one said he has to be as young.

And if Yao proves himself healthy, how many teams would not give up a 20 + point scorer at SG/SF/PG/PF for a 20 point scoring C that is so big?

[Gainesville Celtic]

(b) with the larger lineup ---- 2 O'neals, Bibby, Redd and Lewis --- that might be the weakest perimeter defense in the CBD (redd + lewis). How do you overcome that? Lewis' advantages come on the offensive end and with matchups. His lateral movement and man-to-man D are very weak (his poor rebounding shouldn't be an issue w/ the O'neals)

I wouldn't call Lewis' small forward defense "very weak".  We can only go by our own observations in this regard, as it's impossible to prove.  However, Rashard has the athleticism and size to be a good perimeter defender.  If people want to use defensive metrics like the ones Hollinger likes to use, the last season Rashard was a SF the team was better defensively with him on the court, and he held opposing SFs to a 15.5 Opponent's PER.  Also, of course, Rashard was a key component on the #1 rated team last season in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions.

Like you I don't put an overwhelming amount of stock (good or bad in Hollinger's stat-based analysis --- esp. PER which at times is alltogether off).

So Lewis' opponents' PER means little to contradict the 20 or so Magic games where I've seen him struggle with moving his feet vs. guys like Pierce, Melo, etc. I see them getting by him into the lane then finding guys as the O'Neals collapse.

It's less of an issue in the West, but if you were to make it to the Finals i think it would be an achilles heel.

DHoward was reason #1 and #2 why their defense allowed so few points (defend the paint, rebounds to keep 2nd shots low). Lewis would be 5ht or 6th on my list. Honestly ORL is the perfect situation for Lewis alongside Howard. I'm not confident that the Oneals can still provide the same covereage as DHoward.

(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 )

[wdleehi]

Denver.

In order could you please list who you feel will be the best players on your team 5 years from now form best to worst. You have a great collection of young talent and I'm interested in seeing who you feel will eventually develop into the best impact type NBA player of the group.

Personally, I'm a believer in Oden so my list would be:

1. Greg Oden
2. Jeff Green
3. Kevin Love
4. Brandon Wright
5.(tie) Mike Conley and Randy Foye

1) Greg Oden
2) player received in Yao Ming trade
3) Green
4) Love
5) Conley

What type of player do you think you'll land in the Yao trade that is better than Green / Love / Conley?  Aren't most teams with young, elite talent looking to build for the future, making a player like Yao less useful?

If you can't get what you perceive as fair value with Yao, will you dump him for the best offer you receive?  Or will you keep both he and Oden on the roster?

No one said he has to be as young.

And if Yao proves himself healthy, how many teams would not give up a 20 + point scorer at SG/SF/PG/PF for a 20 point scoring C that is so big?

Not to mention three way moves either.  Team gives up a poo-poo platter of young talent for Ming, who are then sent to another team with an offensive threat that fits my team.



Or of course, the Yao/Oden tandem works, and I have plenty of offense.

[johnnyrondo]

I think the thing with injuries is its magnified in players in their 30's. They seem to get injured more and definitely take longer to recover from minor injuries. I think if Manu or Redd were 25 or so, there would be more confidence that their injuries are behind them. I do like you plan of resting your stars best players more throughout the season. A healthy team come playoff time is more important than a higher seed imo.

One question for Roy. When I was trying to defend Cuba's pick of Shaq as people were piling it on on him, you seemed to be very anti-Shaq. Basically saying he stunk on defense and was toast. Now you're his biggest fan. Was your heavy criticism on Shaq all part of a notorious plan to bring his trade value down so you could acquire him? Or are you now making lemonade out of lemons?

Please don't edit my quotes and leave my name attached to it, like above. If I wanted to say "stars" I would have said so. I crossed it out on purpose after I looked at the roster again. For the gazillionth time Rondo2 trying to be "that guy" and provoke Chicago. Don't ruin this thread as well with your childishness.