2010 CB Draft: Central Division Press Conferences

[Who]

I really like Gortat, I even told Rondo to consider drafting him.  But I don't think he's a scorer and I see zero statistics more evident than what I've produced saying that he would outscore Fisher.

Fisher is a more prolific scorer per minute than Gortat. He is also the more explosive (for lack of a better word) scorer who is more capable of big offensive nights.

Given Fisher's likely minutes (26-28mpg) and Gortat's (31-34mpg) their scoring should be comparable. Both should be scoring somewhere between 7-8 points per game in that time.

Only Gortat will be a lot more efficient because nearly all his shots are right at the rim versus Fisher's heavy jump shooting arsenal.

[Who]

Question for Milwaukee:

Gortat's points per minute and rebounds per minute declined for the second consecutive season.  Is this a concern?  If he averages 30 minutes per night, what are you looking at for production from him?

Gortat only played 6 games (41 total minutes) at the tail end of his first season with the Magic. Not enough data to be talking about averages and per minute numbers.

Heck, Gortat played more in the playoffs that season - 8 games and 48 minutes.

[nickagneta]

When are you guys going to start ranking the teams? I gotta get out of here at 5pm, so I want to see what I'm working with!

1. Milwaukee

2. Chicago

3. Indiana

4. Cleveland

5. Detroit

Milwaukee beats you in the regular season due to depth.  Indiana lags behind because of a weak offense, in my book. 

I'm falling in line with this.

Milwaukee wins the division by a couple games. Chicago barely holds off Indiana for second and those three teams make the playoffs.

Yes with my prediction of 4 teams from the Southeast making the playoffs and 3 from the Central that does only leave one Atlantic division team making the playoffs. And sorry Redz and Edgar that team from the Atlantic does not rhyme with For Tonto.

[Who]

When are you guys going to start ranking the teams? I gotta get out of here at 5pm, so I want to see what I'm working with!

My rankings ... Chicago are way ahead in first place.

Then Milwaukee and Indiana jostling for second spot.

With Detroit and Cleveland rounding out the division.

[action781]

PG:  Derek Fisher (27) - Jonny Flynn (18) - Marco Belinelli (3)
SG:  Kobe Bryant (37) - Marco Bellinelli ( 8 ) - Kyle Korver (3)
SF:  Mickael Pietrus (26) - Kyle Korver (22)
PF:  Tyrus Thomas (26) - Jason Maxiell (20) - Nenad Krstic (2)
C:   Marc Gasol (37) - Nenad Krstic ( 8 ) - Jeff Foster (3)

Reserve:  Rafer Alston;  Rights to:  Rasheed Wallace

I'd like to see you give more minutes to Tyrus Thomas and Mickael Pietrus. Both players are considerably more effective than their reserves.

* Three of your five starters averaged in single digits last year, with your four starters not named Kobe combining for 40.2 points per game.  Can you think of any team in recent memory that got so little production from 80% of its starting lineup?

I think Marc Gasol can lift his scoring up to 18ppg while still remaining highly efficient. If Pietrus and Thomas were both playing 30-34 minutes a night, I think they could combine for another 25 points. Then Fisher with his 7/8ppg.

That would give them around 50ppg plus Kobe's 27-30ppg.

The bench with Krstic, Maxiell, Korver and Flynn should comfortably be able to add 20-25ppg.

Interesting observations, Who.  I agree with Thomas.  Less so with Pietrus because I really want to see how open we can get Korver next to Kobe.  Pietrus' minutes increase a lot come playoff time to defend the elite wings, but that I'll save for later.

I don't know if you saw, but I responded earlier almost identically how you did in that I expect Marc to score 16-20 ppg and that with Pietrus and Thomas' minutes where they stand right now (higher than before), they'd get 10+ ppg and my starters would combine at 43-47 ppg along with Kobe's 27-30 ppg.  (I felt this all was very realistic and maybe even humble.)

I also agree that my bench of Flynn, Korver, Maxiell, Belinelli, and Krstic should be able to comfortably provide 20-25 ppg as you said, but hopefully more like 25-30ppg since I have Korver playing more minutes than you would and you left out Belinelli.

Where do you disagree, Roy, and think I will be weak on offense?

[Roy H.]

When are you guys going to start ranking the teams? I gotta get out of here at 5pm, so I want to see what I'm working with!

1. Milwaukee

2. Chicago

3. Indiana

4. Cleveland

5. Detroit

Milwaukee beats you in the regular season due to depth.  Indiana lags behind because of a weak offense, in my book. 

I'm falling in line with this.

Milwaukee wins the division by a couple games. Chicago barely holds off Indiana for second and those three teams make the playoffs.

Yes with my prediction of 4 teams from the Southeast making the playoffs and 3 from the Central that does only leave one Atlantic division team making the playoffs. And sorry Redz and Edgar that team from the Atlantic does not rhyme with For Tonto.

I would be very surprised if a team with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, David Lee, and Jameer Nelson missed the playoffs, especially when playing in the weakest division in the East.

[Fafnir]

I think it breaks down:

1. Chicago
2. Milwaukee
3 Indiana
4/5 Detroit/Cleveland

I'm most unsure about the bottom two actually. Barring an injury to Noah or James I don't see Chicago not winning the Central.

[riah32]

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.

[Rondo2287]

Question for Milwaukee:

Gortat's points per minute and rebounds per minute declined for the second consecutive season.  Is this a concern?  If he averages 30 minutes per night, what are you looking at for production from him?

Gortat only played 6 games (41 total minutes) at the tail end of his first season with the Magic. Not enough date to be talking about averages and per minute numbers.

Heck, Gortat played more in the playoffs that season - 8 games and 48 minutes.

I am looking for a stat line similar to Perkins from Gortat.  Anything more and I will be thrilled. 

probably like 8 points 10 rbs 1.3 blks

And when it comes to fouls.  If your coming off the bench and got fouls to give why not use them?  I Gortat will adjust to the starting role and adjust the amount of fouls he dishes out accordingly

[Lucky17]

What's Cleveland looking like?

[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

[nickagneta]

When are you guys going to start ranking the teams? I gotta get out of here at 5pm, so I want to see what I'm working with!

1. Milwaukee

2. Chicago

3. Indiana

4. Cleveland

5. Detroit

Milwaukee beats you in the regular season due to depth.  Indiana lags behind because of a weak offense, in my book. 

I'm falling in line with this.

Milwaukee wins the division by a couple games. Chicago barely holds off Indiana for second and those three teams make the playoffs.

Yes with my prediction of 4 teams from the Southeast making the playoffs and 3 from the Central that does only leave one Atlantic division team making the playoffs. And sorry Redz and Edgar that team from the Atlantic does not rhyme with For Tonto.

I would be very surprised if a team with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, David Lee, and Jameer Nelson missed the playoffs, especially when playing in the weakest division in the East.

Of course you would.

Except that team has pathetic depth and will have to be playing 33 and 35 year old players 40+ MPG to be successful. That will lead to injuries and some of those older players not making it through the season. I would theorize that there is a better chance of Pierce and Ray Allen and Brad Miller getting injured and not making it through the season due to Toronto's lack of depth than there is players like Manu, Roy, and Arenas not making it through the season because of their previous injury woes.

But that's an argument for another thread.

[Roy H.]

Where do you disagree, Roy, and think I will be weak on offense?

I think Fisher, Pietrus, and Thomas as all weak offensive players.  Also, I don't think it's a given that Gasol is going to improve his production like you and Who are projecting.  Right now in Memphis, he draws the other team's weaker big man, because defenses need to match up with Zach Randolph (along with Mayo and Gay, as you've pointed out).  When defenses now only have to key on stopping Gasol + Kobe, I think Gasol's numbers will either stay level, or decline slightly.  You and Who are basically projecting Pau Gasol production for Marc, and I don't think that's realistic.

Thus, I think your offense is going to be almost entirely reliant upon Kobe, a player who showed noticeable signs of decline last year (although he's still obviously an elite player).  On a lot of nights, I think opposing teams will outscore your starters head-to-head, and defensively, your bench won't be able to stop anybody to make up that gap.

In the end, I just don't think that Kobe + Marc Gasol + a bunch of below average players (and Pietrus, Fisher, and Thomas are all well below average at their positions) is good enough to place higher than third in this division.

[Roy H.]

What's Cleveland looking like?

From GF's sig:

PG: Mike Conley Jr.
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Troy Murphy
C : Shaq O'Neil

Bench: Jason Thompson Peja Stojakovic Joel Pryzbila James Posey TJ Ford Eddie House/Jalen House ( Eddie's son)Antoine Wright

[riah32]

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??