Is Your Pick Two Team Better than When it Started?

[wdleehi]

The new LA Pigs.


PG  Foye
SG  Kobe
SF  Turk
PF  Gasol
C   Gortat


Bench

SG/PG  Redick  (He works as a PG in the Triangle offense much like a Ron Harper.  Kobe and Turk are the true PGs)
PF   Tyler Hansbrough
SF   Moon
C    Boone

The starting 5 looks very strong although there's no telling if Gortat can produce consistently with starter's minutes.  But overall that's probably about a wash with their current 5, and maybe even a little better depending on how Turk adjusts.  

The bench is a big dropoff at every position, and there's only one guy - Redick - who's a legitimate scoring threat, and that's mostly on catch-and-shoot plays.  Hansborough and Boone are bangers who struggled to create their own shots at the NBA level, and Moon has probably at least plateaued as a player and may be regressing.  But Hansborough stands a good chance at improving and he'll provide good energy when the starters are off.  Bench defense should be ok but the team will lean on the stars to provide the large majority of their scoring, which might wear Kobe down like we're seeing this season.

I think this team would dominate most starting 5s but would struggle to hold leads when the backups come in.  Teams with multiple quick, skilled players at the 1-3 could give this team a lot of trouble.  I could see a conference finals, but I think a lot would have to break their way to go much further.

Reddick and Moon both play good defense. 

And unlike the Celtics, I would not do the Hockey linup changes.  Since Kobe and Turk are the main two guys to run the offense, one of them will likely be on the court at all time. 

[Who]

The new LA Pigs.


PG  Foye
SG  Kobe
SF  Turk
PF  Gasol
C   Gortat


Bench

SG/PG  Redick  (He works as a PG in the Triangle offense much like a Ron Harper.  Kobe and Turk are the true PGs)
PF   Tyler Hansbrough
SF   Moon
C    Boone

Let me ask again.

 I'd like to see a guy off the bench who can create his own offense

Start JJ Redick at the point and bring Randy Foye off the bench = bench scorer + I think a better fit in starting lineup

Redick will be a perfectly adequate point guard in the Triangle and while playing alongside Kobe + Turkoglu + Gasol. His shooting ability is a great fit in that lineup too.

[fairweatherfan]

Still don't like how you trades West.  I think you could have gotten back more in return (with Yao probably having at least one round of self life left)

Eh, I ultimately got Yao and Diaw for West and the 4.21.  I've never been a big West fan, I think his game is falling off and I wanted more of a playmaking big to play off of Paul and help the bench lineups execute.  And when Oden went 4th I was pretty sure Yao wouldn't last to 2.21.  I feel pretty good with my value. 

The SacTown Kings

C:  Andrew Bynum
PF: David West
SF: Caron Butler
SG: Corey Brewer
PG: Tyreke Evans

Bench: Emeka Okafor, Jared Dudley, Marcus Thornton, and Brandon Rush

I like your squad individually, but I'm not sure who makes the plays for that team.  I haven't seen enough of Evans to know, but my understanding is he's much more of a scoring, one-on-one PG than a distributor.  If he can adjust his game to the big spike in talent, this team becomes deadly, at least when he's in the game.  I could still see it struggling with ball movement when he's on the bench though.

Rebounding and especially defense should be very very good with this team.  A lot will hinge on ball movement and how well the guys work together. 

[Truck Lewis]

without trying to defend my team much,,i will defend my binkie, Tyreke.  He is a 20 year old rookie already averaging 5+ assists.  With maturity will come better slot selection, better passing and use of teammates, and likely a better shot.

edit:

alot of peoples' opinions is off of seeing this 20 year old play with what can only be described as garbage.....lets see how he distributes with a stud center like bynum,a pf like West who knock down 20 footers all day, and an all around solid player like caron.

[PLamb]

If I had to go with a Final Four in each conference

East

New York - of course, no bias whatsoever
Orlando - Superman is surrounded by as much talent as he currently is if not more
Cleveland - Lebron wills this team this far but I hate their front court and think this would be this team's downfall
Toronto - gets the nod over Boston because of a more proven bench

West

Lakers - they have Kobe and Pau Gasol and Hedo, add Moses Malone's four friend's from his neighborhood and they go to the West semi's, it doesn't matter who else is on the team
Memphis - really like this team and its depth
Utah - probably the best team in the league, IMO
Denver - good team getting no pub

[Truck Lewis]

If I had to go with a Final Four in each conference

East

New York - of course, no bias whatsoever
Orlando - Superman is surrounded by as much talent as he currently is if not more
Cleveland - Lebron wills this team this far but I hate their front court and think this would be this team's downfall
Toronto - gets the nod over Boston because of a more proven bench

West

Lakers - they have Kobe and Pau Gasol and Hedo, add Moses Malone's four friend's from his neighborhood and they go to the West semi's, it doesn't matter who else is on the team
Memphis - really like this team and its depth
Utah - probably the best team in the league, IMO
Denver - good team getting no pub

i agree with your Utah assesment...the Granger gift helped big time,,,i got hosed by bad timing on that...

i got nothing but love for my bahku but i disagree about denver...not feeling howard and harrington combo

[Who]

without trying to defend my team much,,i will defend my binkie, Tyreke.  He is a 20 year old rookie already averaging 5+ assists.  With maturity will come better slot selection, better passing and use of teammates, and likely a better shot.

edit:

alot of peoples' opinions is off of seeing this 20 year old play with what can only be described as garbage.....lets see how he distributes with a stud center like bynum,a pf like West who knock down 20 footers all day, and an all around solid player like caron.

Definitely -- I expect Evans to improve a lot in those departments over the next few years.

I'm very impressed with his decision making + composure when he's controlling the basketball.

Once he gets used to playing alongside superior talents, of figuring out how to be effective while they have the ball and how to put them in situations where they can make plays for themselves ... he'll become one heck of a weapon (passing wise).

I think it'll take him a while though, his third or fourth season before things really click for him, but he'll be improving in other areas during that time.

[Lucky17]

Now that my nine-man rotation is set, I'll put my squad on the sacrificial altar:

PG: Mike Bibby   [Jarret Jack]
SG: Ben Gordon   [Demar Derozan]
SF: Tayshaun Prince   [Hedo Turkoglu]
PF: Chris Bosh   [Chris Bosh]
C:  Kendrick Perkins   [Andrea Bargnani]

PG/SG: Kirk Hinrich   [Jose Calderon]
SG/SF: Carlos Delfino   [Sonny Weems]
SF/PF: Jonas Jerebko   [Amir Johnson]
C: Nazr Mohammed   [Rasho Nesterovic]

I have half a mind to start Hinrich over Bibby, and/or Delfino over Gordon. I think depending on my opponent's strengths/weaknesses, I'll juggle these lineups. I think my backcourt's flexibility, depth, and experience is a real area of strength in how I match up against divisional and conference foes.

With his length, athleticism, and energy, Jerebko can back up both forward spots, and Mohammed is a serviceable veteran backup at center, for nights when Perkins runs into foul trouble. Still, I recognize that some heft would be a welcome addition to the roster, and I plan to acquire some muscle with my remaining picks.

I'm confident that this is a playoff team, one that should also be in the running for the Atlantic title.

[wdleehi]

Now that my nine-man rotation is set, I'll put my squad on the sacrificial altar:

PG: Mike Bibby
SG: Ben Gordon
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Chris Bosh
C:  Kendrick Perkins

PG/SG: Kirk Hinrich
SG/SF: Carlos Delfino
SF/PF: Jonas Jerebko
C: Nazr Mohammed

I have half a mind to start Hinrich over Bibby, and/or Delfino over Gordon. I think depending on my opponent's strengths/weaknesses, I'll juggle these lineups. I think my backcourt's flexibility, depth, and experience is a real area of strength in how I match up against divisional and conference foes.

With his length, athleticism, and energy, Jerebko can back up both forward spots, and Mohammed is a serviceable veteran backup at center, for nights when Perkins runs into foul trouble. Still, I recognize that some heft would be a welcome addition to the roster, and I plan to acquire some muscle with my remaining picks.

I'm confident that this is a playoff team, one that should also be in the running for the Atlantic title.

I like the team better with Hinrich starting.  I think the cross defense with Ben Gordon would make the team stronger at the start.

Plenty of offense and defense.  A nice fit.


Team goes as far a Bosh takes them. 

[Lucky17]

I like the team better with Hinrich starting.  I think the cross defense with Ben Gordon would make the team stronger at the start.

Plenty of offense and defense.  A nice fit.

Team goes as far a Bosh takes them. 

I think so too. Hinrich's shortcomings as a playmaking guard are mitigated by Prince's abilities as a point-forward type. Gordon can penetrate and create his own shot as well. The second unit probably needs Bibby more to help initiate the offense.

Also, defensively, I may want to play Hinrich against opposing SGs, and let Gordon take opposing PGs.

TP for you.

[PLamb]

Now that my nine-man rotation is set, I'll put my squad on the sacrificial altar:

PG: Mike Bibby   [Jarret Jack]
SG: Ben Gordon   [Demar Derozan]
SF: Tayshaun Prince   [Hedo Turkoglu]
PF: Chris Bosh   [Chris Bosh]
C:  Kendrick Perkins   [Andrea Bargnani]

PG/SG: Kirk Hinrich   [Jose Calderon]
SG/SF: Carlos Delfino   [Sonny Weems]
SF/PF: Jonas Jerebko   [Amir Johnson]
C: Nazr Mohammed   [Rasho Nesterovic]

I have half a mind to start Hinrich over Bibby, and/or Delfino over Gordon. I think depending on my opponent's strengths/weaknesses, I'll juggle these lineups. I think my backcourt's flexibility, depth, and experience is a real area of strength in how I match up against divisional and conference foes.

With his length, athleticism, and energy, Jerebko can back up both forward spots, and Mohammed is a serviceable veteran backup at center, for nights when Perkins runs into foul trouble. Still, I recognize that some heft would be a welcome addition to the roster, and I plan to acquire some muscle with my remaining picks.

I'm confident that this is a playoff team, one that should also be in the running for the Atlantic title.

As you can tell from reading above I like your team a lot

I agree 100% with Mr. wdleehi, start Hinrich

Hinrich can run your point on offense finding Gordon and then switch on defense and take the two guards while Gordon guards PGs

The Bibby/Gordon starting combo is a disaster defensively

[Lucky17]

As you can tell from reading above I like your team a lot

I agree 100% with Mr. wdleehi, start Hinrich

Hinrich can run your point on offense finding Gordon and then switch on defense and take the two guards while Gordon guards PGs

The Bibby/Gordon starting combo is a disaster defensively

Yeah, I didn't like the idea of Bibby with Gordon much either. I think it makes more sense to send Bibby to the second unit than Gordon.

TP.

[Edgar]

I am happier now with blake and i expect to add the final piece tomorrow
I dont care if i have to offer the house

lobe to have blake who is being more than solid thisyear and gives miller a
break

my white chocolate 

[PLamb]

1. Age
Allen - 34
Grant Hill 37
Martin 32
Parker 34
Everyone else - 29 or less
Allen, Hill and Martin though older are superior athletes and still extremely productive starters on their teams, Parker will be a role player and not a starter on this team yet is having another very good shooting year
Age, no worry

Hmm...  I seem to remember a certain Plamb talking about the historical trends of wing players, suggesting that they fall off precipitously after they reach a certain age.  Specifically, I think this Plamb was referring to Ray Allen, in particular.

SSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Don't tell anybody.

[Who]

I am happier now with blake and i expect to add the final piece tomorrow
I dont care if i have to offer the house

lobe to have blake who is being more than solid thisyear and gives miller a
break

my white chocolate 

Steve Blake is an excellent addition. One of the most underrated offensive facilitators in the league at his position. His decision making, passing, floor leadership and shooting ability add a great amount to a team's offense.