CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Pacific Divison

[Evantime34]

I have the regular season standings something like this:

1) Golden State

-Boozer/Nash is not getting the respect it deserves, this is a terrific combo.  This Division suffers from "Benchitis," therefore making GS's reserves the default cream of the crop.

2) Buffalo

-I think this team is ultimately one of the best teams overall and would win a playoff matchup against any of these other 4 teams.  However, the bench is very suspect, I'm not big on Duhon (check out that late season collapse in efficiency last year), and i think Jamison/Allen will need to be rested regularly to make sure team is fresh for post season.  Rebus, if your bench was better you're a clear 1 seed, but the way it stands i see you at 2 right now - but plenty good enough to be one of the frontrunners for the Western Conference Finals.

3) Phoenix

-Big Al saga should be interesting in the early parts of the season.  Like you said i see this team milling around the .500 mark for a bit until Al comes full form and the team takes its identity.  Once this happens i think you're well on your way to the playoffs.  I think it all comes together just in time to stave off Sac from challenging for the 3 seed.

4) Sac

-Love the combo of Blake/Roy/Turk, but just too much emphasis on trial-by-fire for these rookies.  I really do like craig smith, he's just not going to be able to carry your bench.  I'd say that if some of these young guys develope properly, your team is challenging for a top Divisional seed in 2 years....perhaps even next year.

5) Vegas

-Obviously this team is a few years away, they will be real good when it comes together, but will they ever play defense? Ariza can't cover 5 guys, haha.  Sideshow Bob is solid but if he's the only big man playing defense and grabbing rebounds he might get beat up somethin good.

I also disagree with this.

Thank you for giving me some love.

My opinion is
1. Golden State: More experience, better bench. IP it's good that your three best players have all had playoff experience. However, your experience in the playoffs has been as supporting players, Rondo (4th option two years ago, 3rd option last year), Biedriens (3rd option on the playoff team two years ago), Jefferson (played in the playoffs very early on and since then has only known losing was the 2nd option on a mediocre team). Who is going to lead? None of those players are really leaders. My best two have been mostly the best players on playoff runs.
People are really sleeping on my bench, we have great three point shooters that will be difficult to guard, we have defense and we have high ceiling players that could end up giving us the best bench in the league.
BTW saying Thompson is in the class of Jefferson, or Boozer is laughable.
2. Phoenix: Deep young team that could fit well together. I picked them over Buffalo because Jamison is the worst possible match up for Jefferson, also Rondo is a poor match up for Duhon. I think Phoenix is just a deeper team.
3. Buffalo: Lead by a great player, very good team. I have issues about Jamison being your four in this division, I have larger issues with your bench. That being said even with the problems I have with your team, it is still a difficult decision between you and Phoenix. I feel that we all are top 5 teams.

[indeedproceed]

Evantime, hopefully you understand I agree with no rankings that have me 3rd. Its nothing personal, its just Pacific.

How do you respond to recent criticism that "Golden State has nash who is getting old", "Okur is a stiff", and "Thompson will be just as good if not better than boozer"?

Also its been said that since "Deng was Hurt last year and Hedo runs circles around him in his sleep"

How can your team possibly bounce back from that?

[Evantime34]

Evantime, hopefully you understand I agree with no rankings that have me 3rd. Its nothing personal, its just Pacific.

How do you respond to recent criticism that "Golden State has nash who is getting old", "Okur is a stiff", and "Thompson will be just as good if not better than boozer"?

Also its been said that since "Deng was Hurt last year and Hedo runs circles around him in his sleep"

How can your team possibly bounce back from that?

I will dismiss all of them as ridiculous
1. Are 15.7/9.7 the numbers of an old guy? His best skills are his passing and shooting which don't diminish as quickly as skills like athleticism.
2. Okur averages 17 and 8 plus being a good defender, how many centers had numbers that good in the league? How many centers shoot 40%+ from three? He is under no circumstances a stiff
3. Thompson averages 11/7 Boozer is near a 20/10 guy, maybe Thompson eventually becomes as good as Boozer but that day is not today, nor any day within the next two years.
4. Deng has had a long time to deal with his injury, about as much time as Kevin Garnett. I assume both will come back healthy. Before Deng got hurt his defense on D-Wade was the reason that the Bulls knocked off the defending champion heat. If he can guard Wade he will not be "chasing Hedo anywhere". Hedo is a match up problem because of his size and shooting ability. Deng is almost as tall and a hell of a lot more athletic, he should be able to guard Turk pretty well.

[Evantime34]

Evantime, hopefully you understand I agree with no rankings that have me 3rd. Its nothing personal, its just Pacific.

How do you respond to recent criticism that "Golden State has nash who is getting old", "Okur is a stiff", and "Thompson will be just as good if not better than boozer"?

Also its been said that since "Deng was Hurt last year and Hedo runs circles around him in his sleep"

How can your team possibly bounce back from that?

Can't we just get along and agree that we're both top 4 teams?

[riah32]

Well since half of you guys have passed judgement on me and I feel you guys will give me no shot at making the playoffs I will be forced to wait to the second round of voting to laugh at you guys for giving me more chance now. As far as Thompson goes you need to look at his stats in games he played over 30 minutes he hand more than what he average. He didnt start for a while last year being a rookie. I think this year he only gets better. As far as Hedo being a product of a system I think your wrong. I think any center in the league minus a few third string and second string centeres could put up the same numbers as big al did in Minnesota considering they are the wrost run franchise in basketball and they have not one other player on that team besides him that can score. Hell Perky could put up the same numbers in Minny as big Al. For all the critics about I got too many rookies I believe I dont I got 2 players that played 4 years of college ball which is more than most rookies in the league who come in after one or even 2 years. Those worried about touches there will be plenty of balls to go around as we will be a fast paced running team on offense and will be a hardnosed defending team when needed. Thabeet runs the floor really well for a big men so how many centers in the league can do that. He is a project only cause he hasnt played basketball for very long but he seems like he will do be things and should average around 8-10ppg and 10-12rpg. Majority of his points will come from dishes from hedo or roy penetrating to the basket. As far as low post presence jason thompson is good on the block and quick enough to go buy guy on the block so hedo can use him if necessary. You guys also fail to thing about the possibleity of me trade some of my younger guys for a veteran or what not. I think before passing judgemnt you should look at the numbers my guys averaged in both the pros and college for those that are rookies.

[riah32]

Hey eventime quick question who guards Craig Smith when boozer goes out or does boozer play 48 minutes a game cause gallineri isnt a pf?

[RebusRankin]

Dwight Howard only played one game last year versus Utah but put up 28pts and 20 rebounds. Antawn put up 17pts and 9 rebounds versus Utah last year so I think both will be fine against Golden State.

GS, Boozer missed 45 games last year, 49 in 2005/2006 and 31 in 2004/2005, any worries he'll be out a large amount of time this year?

Deng missed 33 games last year, after 19 the year before and is still out.

http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/08/deng-drops-in-to-delight-baske.html

Maggette missed 31 games last year.

So you have three starters coming off serious injuries, including one that is still out. How does your team deal with that? Personally I'd rank your team lower due to that. Not that I don't like your team.

[Roy Hobbs]

You guys also fail to thing about the possibleity of me trade some of my younger guys for a veteran or what not.

I know for me, I won't be taking things like trade chips into account for the "win now" teams.  I think this is a more compelling argument for future-oriented squads.

I think before passing judgemnt you should look at the numbers my guys averaged in both the pros and college for those that are rookies.

I agree, people should study your team.  However, keep in mind that some rookies are hard to project into the pros.  Every season, certain rookies break out, while others are busts.  Even a guy like Mike Beasley, who averaged 25+ ppg in college, had a fairly mediocre rookie year.  It's the primary reason why so many rookies fell so far down in our draft.

[Rondo2287]

Sacramento Im sorry but before I can take any more into account on your team can you please provide me some evidence on how your team beats mine instead of just saying so and so is better than so and so?  I just dont see it and would like to hear your thoughts

[wdleehi]

Phoenix: why are you avoiding my questions?   

I answered them all. At length in full essay form.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=31054.msg561462#msg561462

Sorry.  Must be another team.  Vegas?

[nickagneta]

You guys also fail to thing about the possibleity of me trade some of my younger guys for a veteran or what not.

I know for me, I won't be taking things like trade chips into account for the "win now" teams.  I think this is a more compelling argument for future-oriented squads.

I think before passing judgemnt you should look at the numbers my guys averaged in both the pros and college for those that are rookies.

I agree, people should study your team.  However, keep in mind that some rookies are hard to project into the pros.  Every season, certain rookies break out, while others are busts.  Even a guy like Mike Beasley, who averaged 25+ ppg in college, had a fairly mediocre rookie year.  It's the primary reason why so many rookies fell so far down in our draft.

JJ Reddick

2005-06 at Duke      26.7 PPG, 47% FG%, 42.1 3PTFG%, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.4 STPG College Player of the Year
2006-07 in Orlando    6.0 PPG, 41% FG%, 38.1 3PTFG%, 0.9 APG, 1.2 RPG, 0.3 STPG Stiff

Any questions why college stats need be ignored when talking pro basketball??

[RebusRankin]

Buffalo:

1) What does Al Thornton give you that Andre Kirilenko didn't?

Youth, slasher, a more traditional sf, a player with less baggage

2) Why is your team better than Phoenix?

3) How do you adjust if Ray Allen's inevitable decline starts this season?

Well to be honest I don't see Ray declining. I see Ray as being more of a Reggie Miller type. Reggie was putting up good numbers and shooting well through age 37 or three years older than Ray.

However, we would adjust by using QRich and James Jones more minutes at the two as both are strong outside shooters. We'd also look to Al Thornton to carry more of the scoring load as a third option.

4) How has your team's strategy changed now that Kleiza has signed overseas?

Well Kleiza was drafted as a 6th man who could hit the 3, rebound and play the 3 and the 4. So his loss hurts. To compensate, we have considered starting QRich and then using Thornton off the bench and swinging him between the 3 and 4. To start the year though, it likely means using QRich and Jones more to back up the swing spots and a few more minutes for ZaZa Pachulia and Skinner at the 4 spot.

5) Houston has repeatedly criticized your bench, saying that it was on par with Chicago's.  This was done even before Kleiza was lost.  How do you respond to this criticism?

I think that Houston is underating my bench. Its not Portland's but its not as horrid as he's made it out to be. ZaZa Pachulia is a young, solid big off the bench who's been productive in Atlanta and who many on this board wanted the Celtics to sign. James Jones is a proven rotational player (Phoenix, Portland, Miami) who provides strong outside shooting and is capable of solid play at the 2 and 3. QRich is hated by many here, I think in part due to his antics with Pierce but he's been an NBA starter for many years, is a strong outside shooter and has always been able to put up points. Sergio Rodriguez showed strong playmaking ability in Portland and in was hurt by being on a deep, young team. I think he's capable of solid minutes and that he'll start in Sacramento this year and play well. Skinner has been productive throughout his career as a low post scorer and rebounder. A good 4th big. Its a bench of role players for the most part but one that provides outside shooting, rebounding and scoring.

6) Right now, outside of your division I have the top three Western teams as Dallas, Portland, and Seattle.  How do you match up with each of these squads?

[johnnyrondo]

You guys also fail to thing about the possibleity of me trade some of my younger guys for a veteran or what not.

I know for me, I won't be taking things like trade chips into account for the "win now" teams.  I think this is a more compelling argument for future-oriented squads.

I think before passing judgemnt you should look at the numbers my guys averaged in both the pros and college for those that are rookies.

I agree, people should study your team.  However, keep in mind that some rookies are hard to project into the pros.  Every season, certain rookies break out, while others are busts.  Even a guy like Mike Beasley, who averaged 25+ ppg in college, had a fairly mediocre rookie year.  It's the primary reason why so many rookies fell so far down in our draft.

JJ Reddick

2005-06 at Duke      26.7 PPG, 47% FG%, 42.1 3PTFG%, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.4 STPG College Player of the Year
2006-07 in Orlando    6.0 PPG, 41% FG%, 38.1 3PTFG%, 0.9 APG, 1.2 RPG, 0.3 STPG Stiff

Any questions why college stats need be ignored when talking pro basketball??

In Riah's defense, Thabeet and Flynn were the #2 and #6 overall picks. Going by past history of top 6 picks I don't believe its a stretch for Sacramento to think these two rookies will contribute this season. Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Westbrook, Love, and Gallinari were the top 6 picks last year. The first 5 were starters as rookies and the sixth would have been if he hadn't gotten hurt.

[indeedproceed]

Phoenix: why are you avoiding my questions?   

I answered them all. At length in full essay form.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=31054.msg561462#msg561462

Sorry.  Must be another team.  Vegas?

Well? What did you think? Agree/disagree?

[johnnyrondo]

Phoenix: why are you avoiding my questions?   

I answered them all. At length in full essay form.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=31054.msg561462#msg561462

Sorry.  Must be another team.  Vegas?

Well? What did you think? Agree/disagree?

For some reason this convo reminds me of a "Does he like her, or does he like her like her?" convo