2010 CB Draft: Central Division Press Conferences

[Lucky17]

1. Chicago takes the division, thanks to the transcendent play of James, and a very nice supportive cast in the starting lineup. But aside from Amundson, and perhaps Tony Allen, there's little to depend on from the bench. Redd will be a welcome addition, if he is healthy. LBJ hoists another flawed roster onto his shoulders and into the playoffs--but not very far.

Just had to add that last sentence, didn't you? Just had to.

We'll see. Oh, we'll see.

I know, I know.

[Who]

The question with Marc Gasol is how many shot attempts is he going to get on that Indiana team and how efficient can he be given his particular skill-set with those shot-attempts.

--------------------------------------------------

Marc Gasol is far and away the next best scoring threat on the Lakers so there is no good reason for him not to get 12-13 shot attempts. Gasol got 5.4 FTAs on 9.4 shot attempts last season. So let's say he gets another 6.5 FTAs on top of his 12-13 shot attempts.

So even if Marc Gasol's FG% dropped to 54% (on 12.5 FGAs), and his FT% remained constant, Marc Gasol would be scoring about 17.8ppg (TS% of 58%).

-------------------------------------------------

Marc Gasol is also playing with Kobe Bryant who is one of the best playmaking wings in the NBA. A player who receive a huge burden of the opponent's defensive attention + who will create easier shot attempts for his teammates. Consequently, Marc Gasol will still receive a healthy number of easy shot attempts.

Marc Gasol has a good low post game. He'll be very effective against against mediocre or subpar post defenders but his scoring will decrease when facing top notch post defenders. He is very intelligent, excellent shot selection, a good passer, is very good on the pick and roll, has a solid jump shot (35% of his shots were jumpers, he hit 44.5% of them, mostly short and midrange jumpers). He gets on the offensive glass which also creates high percentage shot attempts.

-----------------------------------------------------

I think this is a guy who can raise his scoring to 18ppg on that team and still remain highly efficient. He'll get the opportunities on that roster and I think he has the skill-set to answer those demands against all but the toughest defensive centers.

[indeedproceed]

1. Chicago takes the division, thanks to the transcendent play of James, and a very nice supportive cast in the starting lineup. But aside from Amundson, and perhaps Tony Allen, there's little to depend on from the bench. Redd will be a welcome addition, if he is healthy. LBJ hoists another flawed roster onto his shoulders and into the playoffs--but not very far.

Just had to add that last sentence, didn't you? Just had to.

We'll see. Oh, we'll see.

I know, I know.

Great White Buffallo......Great White Buffalo....

[action781]

Pau averaged 18.8 points per game when he played with the Lakers without Bynum in 2007-2008.

While that sounds like a great point, I think the sample size is too small too long ago, or due to being brought in midseason.  

Pau averaged 18.3 ppg this season WITH Bynum.  Would Pau really only score .5 ppg more if Bynum were gone?

While playing three minutes less per game - 34mpg in the half a season without Bynum + 37mpg in the two seasons since then.

Per 36 minutes, Pau was scoring 20ppg in that half a season and 18ppg in the two years since.

That's largely my point, that projected Marc to score 20 PPG you're basically saying he'll score at the same rate as his brother.

I'm not sure I see that happening.

I still think that Pau could put up over 20 ppg right now if Bynum were out.  But I guess I have no stats to show it, so let's stick with your Pau 20 ppg.

I said I projected Marc to score 16-20 ppg.  16 is 80% of 20.  Is expecting somewhere between 80-100% of Pau's scoring unimagineable?  Or is he not even that good?  I say he is.  If you do not, then I guess we'll agree to disagree once again.


***IN OTHER NEWS:

Indiana Pacers have just offered Who a position as full time director of public relations.  Starting Salary:  5 TP's per day

[indeedproceed]

marc gasol is going to have to score 18 ppg for indiana to work. I think he'll come out strong but flounder a bit under the double teams he'll receive

[Roy H.]

marc gasol is going to have to score 18 ppg for indiana to work. I think he'll come out strong but flounder a bit under the double teams he'll receive

18 ppg isn't that easy for a center to achieve.  Only four centers in the entire NBA did it:  David Lee (20.2), Brook Lopez (18.8 ), Chris Kaman (18.5), and Dwight Howard (18.3).  

Names that didn't make the 18.0 point threshold:  Tim Duncan (barely), Al Jefferson, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, Nene, and Al Horford.

Eight power forwards scored over 18 points per game.  That means to crack that threshold, Marc Gasol would have to be statistically one of the top 13 big men in the NBA.  I can't see it.  

[Fafnir]

marc gasol is going to have to score 18 ppg for indiana to work. I think he'll come out strong but flounder a bit under the double teams he'll receive

18 ppg isn't that easy for a center to achieve.  Only four centers in the entire NBA did it:  David Lee (20.2), Brook Lopez (18.8 ), Chris Kaman (18.5), and Dwight Howard (18.3).  

Names that didn't make the 18.0 point threshold:  Tim Duncan (barely), Al Jefferson, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, Nene, and Al Horford.

Eight power forwards scored over 18 points per game.  That means to crack that threshold, Marc Gasol would have to be statistically one of the top 13 big men in the NBA.  I can't see it.  

top 13 scoring big man

[indeedproceed]

I think gasol has that capability

[Roy H.]

I think gasol has that capability

You better hope not.  If Indiana has Kobe Bryant plus Marc Gasol turns into one of the best offensive big men in the NBA, there's very little chance that you're finishing ahead of them.

[indeedproceed]

Hey, if indiana springboards ahead of me that's fine. it'll be because they're winning more games, not because my bulls are losing them.

and gasol scoring around 17 to 18 points a night doesn't mean he scores that on the bulls.

[indeedproceed]

besides, even with gasol elevating his play I don't think that makes indiana finish ahead of chicago or milwaukee

[nickagneta]

I think gasol has that capability

You better hope not.  If Indiana has Kobe Bryant plus Marc Gasol turns into one of the best offensive big men in the NBA, there's very little chance that you're finishing ahead of them.

Better not say that Roy. Not sure either leBron or IP could stand the idea of finishing THIRD in the division

@IP 

[Rondo2287]

Honestly once i saw that IP had the first pick in the draft i pretty much conceded that i would finish 2nd in the division at best.  So i wanna thank all of you all for your kind thoughts and taking the time to think about and talk about my team!

[nickagneta]

Honestly once i saw that IP had the first pick in the draft i pretty much conceded that i would finish 2nd in the division at best.  So i wanna thank all of you all for your kind thoughts and taking the time to think about and talk about my team!

Suck up   

[Rondo2287]

Why is everyone writing off cleveland...I know they got question marks at the center spot they look like they got a deep and talented team.

I think all of these teams in this division have a question mark with their teams.

Bulls-depth issues

Bucks- Not a fan of either of their centers

Detroit-Young

Indiana-not a fan of your pf and sf

Cleveland-Center issues

Theses are not how I rank these teams just my thoughts about each.

My centers might not be great in fantasy basketball but in a land where defense matters, my centers are pretty darn good

Gortat is a career backup and Tauriaf cant seem to stay healthy so and I dont like ur back up PF's either. Who you going to play if Tauriaf gets hurt??

Well i think you are one of the few that feels this way.  Gortat got several offers and would have been a starting center in the league had Orlando not matched.  The way i see it, if most NBA teams, and most people on this board, see gortat as a starting center, I'll trust their judgement