Official Discuss your CB Draft team

[KCattheStripe]

So, rounded out my nine man rotation this morning.

Coach Stan Van Gundy

PF Al Horford/
SF Gerald Wallace/ Linas Kleiza
C DeMarcus Cousins/ Antonio McDyess
SG Eric Gordon/ Raja Bell
PG Jrue Holiday/ Beno Udrih

NOLA Bucs - not to be confused with our Eastern Conference rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks - are still claiming to be the best rebounding team in the league. With a pair of 10 rpg forwards flanking the best rebounder in college basketball.

The quartet of Mssrs. Okafor, Stoudamire, Griffin and Blair beg to differ.

[Fafnir]

Brandon Jennings is a better player than Mo Williams, at least he was last year. In his rookie year he was often asked to be the leading scorer on his team, so while I will concede he was bit streaky. He took shots he shouldn't. He won't be asked to do any of that, and on this team LeBron will be the leader. On the Bucks Jennings is the leader. I think his shooting percentages should improve, and Jennings' top tier defense should remain.

I'm going to address your points in a series of posts IP, too much meat for just one or two. Lets address this contention:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=FIPub

I don't think its at all clear Jennings is better than Mo Williams. Jennings is a better defender than Mo Williams, but Williams is a much much better offensive player. His TS% is hugely better, he's a better FT and 3PT shooter, and even gets assists at a comparable rate.

Both turn it over at a similar pace (Jennings a bit better), and Jennings is also a slightly better rebounder.

I think they're comparable players, but I'd go with Williams overall. Despite his awful playoff performance against Boston.

Jennings is a much superior talent and fundamentally a better guy to be starting. (I like Mo Williams as a 6th man scorer) But I don't think you can say your PG situation is better than the 2009-2010 Cavs. Especially with how inconsistent Jennings was last year.

[indeedproceed]

Brandon Jennings is a better player than Mo Williams, at least he was last year. In his rookie year he was often asked to be the leading scorer on his team, so while I will concede he was bit streaky. He took shots he shouldn't. He won't be asked to do any of that, and on this team LeBron will be the leader. On the Bucks Jennings is the leader. I think his shooting percentages should improve, and Jennings' top tier defense should remain.

I'm going to address your points in a series of posts IP, too much meat for just one or two. Lets address this contention:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=FIPub

I don't think its at all clear Jennings is better than Mo Williams. Jennings is a better defender than Mo Williams, but Williams is a much much better offensive player. His TS% is hugely better, he's a better FT and 3PT shooter, and even gets assists at a comparable rate.

Both turn it over at a similar pace (Jennings a bit better), and Jennings is also a slightly better rebounder.

I think they're comparable players, but I'd go with Williams overall. Despite his awful playoff performance against Boston.

Jennings is a much superior talent and fundamentally a better guy to be starting. (I like Mo Williams as a 6th man scorer) But I don't think you can say your PG situation is better than the 2009-2010 Cavs. Especially with how inconsistent Jennings was last year.

1) Jennings did more with less last season

2) When Mo Williams was last a Buck (at age 25, as opposed to age 20), he shot 38% from 3pt range. When he went to the Cavs and started playing off of LeBron James, his 3pt % jumped to over 40%.

3) Point 2 is important because despite the very high discrepancy in TS%, Jennings and Williams are only separated by 7% as far as actual FG% goes, and Jennings had to force a lot of shots last year. He didn't play alongside LeBron at the wing to handle the scoring; he played alongside John Salmons and Mbah A Moute. Next to LeBron, based on Williams' own evolution, there is every indication that Jennings shooting %'s should rise. The only number that ought to remain independent is his FT%, which was a solid if not spectacular 81%.

4) Brandon Jennings tiers out as the second best defensive point guard in the league statistically. Mo Williams is not even on the same field as Jennings here, and Williams played for one of the best defensive teams in the league last season.

EDIT: I didn't really tie it all together, I just listed things. Apologies.

I contest your contest (contestion?). Jennings in context performed I believe better than Mo Williams would have in the same situation. He also because of his physical abilities would logically be making leaps and bounds in improvements over the next 2 years, and playing alongside LeBron James would help his game out immensely, as it already helped out Williams. In a related note, playing Jennings in Williams stead should make the cavaliers a significantly better team on defense, and at worst won't hurt them on offense. Ideally though, because of the shooters around him and Jennings improved (over williams) ability to penetrate to the hoop, the Cavs offense should also improve.

[Evantime34]

Brandon Jennings is a better player than Mo Williams, at least he was last year. In his rookie year he was often asked to be the leading scorer on his team, so while I will concede he was bit streaky. He took shots he shouldn't. He won't be asked to do any of that, and on this team LeBron will be the leader. On the Bucks Jennings is the leader. I think his shooting percentages should improve, and Jennings' top tier defense should remain.

I'm going to address your points in a series of posts IP, too much meat for just one or two. Lets address this contention:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=FIPub

I don't think its at all clear Jennings is better than Mo Williams. Jennings is a better defender than Mo Williams, but Williams is a much much better offensive player. His TS% is hugely better, he's a better FT and 3PT shooter, and even gets assists at a comparable rate.

Both turn it over at a similar pace (Jennings a bit better), and Jennings is also a slightly better rebounder.

I think they're comparable players, but I'd go with Williams overall. Despite his awful playoff performance against Boston.

Jennings is a much superior talent and fundamentally a better guy to be starting. (I like Mo Williams as a 6th man scorer) But I don't think you can say your PG situation is better than the 2009-2010 Cavs. Especially with how inconsistent Jennings was last year.

1) Jennings did more with less last season

2) When Mo Williams was last a Buck (at age 25, as opposed to age 20), he shot 38% from 3pt range. When he went to the Cavs and started playing off of LeBron James, his 3pt % jumped to over 40%.

3) Point 2 is important because despite the very high discrepancy in TS%, Jennings and Williams are only separated by 7% as far as actual FG% goes, and Jennings had to force a lot of shots last year. He didn't play alongside LeBron at the wing to handle the scoring; he played alongside John Salmons and Mbah A Moute. Next to LeBron, based on Williams' own evolution, there is every indication that Jennings shooting %'s should rise. The only number that ought to remain independent is his FT%, which was a solid if not spectacular 81%.

4) Brandon Jennings tiers out as the second best defensive point guard in the league statistically. Mo Williams is not even on the same field as Jennings here, and Williams played for one of the best defensive teams in the league last season.

I was never that impressed with Jennings defense. That team would often slow down their opponents giving the opposing point guard less of chance to score transition points (which I assume would hurt Jennings rating). He was surrounded by a few very good defenders and I believe this helped.
I agree about the offense. Especially with Maggette replacing Mbah Moute on the wing for more offense (less forced shots, more opportunities).

[Fafnir]

4) Brandon Jennings tiers out as the second best defensive point guard in the league statistically. Mo Williams is not even on the same field as Jennings here, and Williams played for one of the best defensive teams in the league last season.

According to what statistics? A lot of defensive rating statistics are skewwed by team performance, which are you referring to?

I have him firmly outside of my top 10.

[indeedproceed]

4) Brandon Jennings tiers out as the second best defensive point guard in the league statistically. Mo Williams is not even on the same field as Jennings here, and Williams played for one of the best defensive teams in the league last season.

According to what statistics? A lot of defensive rating statistics are skewwed by team performance, which are you referring to?

I have him firmly outside of my top 10.

By a man who is well beyond out own statistical abilities when it comes to hoops:

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1071

POINT GUARD

First Team - Rajon Rondo, Boston
Rondo's defense is far from universally adored in New England, though I think that might be representative of a trend I commented on last year during the playoffs (when Derrick Rose was, alas, torching Rondo): There's no way to stop quick point guards with the current rules limiting hand-checking on the perimeter, so every team's own fans are down on their team's point guard defense. Rondo can be burned when he gambles, but those risks also help him post the league's second-best steal percentage (only teammate Tony Allen is a superior ballhawk) and Rondo has held opposing point guards nearly 10 percent under their usual production. That adds up to a third First Team selection in as many years.

Second Team - Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee
Don't laugh. While the book on Jennings was that he was too slight to be anything but a liability on defense, I've been impressed when I've seen him play and his numbers are strong across the board. In particular, Jennings' dMult of .864 (meaning opposing point guards produced at 86.4 percent of their usual rate against the Bucks) is tops among the point guards I considered.

[mgent]

No way Jennings is a better defensive player than Westbrook.

[indeedproceed]

No way Jennings is a better defensive player than Westbrook.

Prove it. I watched Bucks games and Thunder games...I'm assuming you've watched Thunder games and Bucks games..show me something that supports your theory.

EDIT: Apologize for the tone, not going for confrontational.

[The Walker Wiggle]

PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Luis Scola
C: Andrew Bynum

Bench Rotation:
C/PF: Udonis Haslem
SF: Chase Budinger
PG/SG: Leandro Barbosa

Making good on my promise of reciprocal feedback (even as I'm treating all of Nick's "team of the future" talk as a backhanded compliment) -

While Bynum may be the team's hope for the future, and franchise cornerstone, Ginobili should be the engine of the Boxers success this season as the team's top scorer, primary ball handler, and best defender. One of my favorite players, as well as only the second player in history to have won a Euroleague title, gold medal, and NBA championship. And muy simpatico with National team teammate Luis Scola. Will his first NBA starring role double as his victory lap?

Pressure on Bynum to stay healthy and focused. If he does he'll feast -  Ginobili and Felton will both turn the corner, draw defenders and find the open man; and not as if Scola can be ignored on the opposite block. It is a shame he isn't better passing out of the low post since Scola's head is always up and Ginobili and Barbosa both have great catch and shoot games. (But don't pass it to Chandler unless he's cutting to the rim! He shot a league worst 28.1% on his 89 open catch-and-shoot jump shots...)

Defensively, Boxers top six should be great with active, committed perimeter defenders and behind them a legit 7' shot blocker/rebounder and a pair of clever, chippy power forwards. Though the drop off after to offense-first players, Barbosa and Budinger is steep.

Concerns: Perimeter shooting. If Felton's 09-10 marksmanship is a fluke (he's a career 41% shooter) pairing him with the streak shooting Ginobili and Chandler could lead to some long nights.

Bynum's health and headspace. Still a lot to like in a Scola and Haslem frontcourt but that pairing lacks size, footspeed and above the rim play.

[nickagneta]

PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Luis Scola
C: Andrew Bynum

Bench Rotation:
C/PF: Udonis Haslem
SF: Chase Budinger
PG/SG: Leandro Barbosa

Making good on my promise of reciprocal feedback (even as I'm treating all of Nick's "team of the future" talk as a backhanded compliment) -

While Bynum may be the team's hope for the future, and franchise cornerstone, Ginobili should be the engine of the Boxers success this season as the team's top scorer, primary ball handler, and best defender. One of my favorite players, as well as only the second player in history to have won a Euroleague title, gold medal, and NBA championship. And muy simpatico with National team teammate Luis Scola. Will his first NBA starring role double as his victory lap?

Pressure on Bynum to stay healthy and focused. If he does he'll feast -  Ginobili and Felton will both turn the corner, draw defenders and find the open man; and not as if Scola can be ignored on the opposite block. It is a shame he isn't better passing out of the low post since Scola's head is always up and Ginobili and Barbosa both have great catch and shoot games. (But don't pass it to Chandler unless he's cutting to the rim! He shot a league worst 28.1% on his 89 open catch-and-shoot jump shots...)

Defensively, Boxers top six should be great with active, committed perimeter defenders and behind them a legit 7' shot blocker/rebounder and a pair of clever, chippy power forwards. Though the drop off after to offense-first players, Barbosa and Budinger is steep.

Concerns: Perimeter shooting. If Felton's 09-10 marksmanship is a fluke (he's a career 41% shooter) pairing him with the streak shooting Ginobili and Chandler could lead to some long nights.

Bynum's health and headspace. Still a lot to like in a Scola and Haslem frontcourt but that pairing lacks size, footspeed and above the rim play.

Pretty right on. I think Felton's shooting, especially from three, is for real and he will continue to show a higher efficiency there. Especially as he will be given the green light to shoot the wide open shots in D'Antoni's offense.

I don't think you are giving enough love to Scola and Haslem as big men. Are they the longest or largest guys? No. But come the end of the night they always seem to find a way to outrebound their opponents, regardless of size.

The team's weakness lies at the SF spot. Chandler will be my defensive SF and 5th option on offense, used mostly as a cutter going to the basket or finisher in transition. Budinger is a steep drop off in defense but I like the scoring punch that he and Barbosa bring off the bench.

Still have holes to fill but in a deep Eastern Conference, I'm hoping we have enough to make it to the playoffs and stay around a while.

[mgent]

No way Jennings is a better defensive player than Westbrook.

Prove it. I watched Bucks games and Thunder games...I'm assuming you've watched Thunder games and Bucks games..show me something that supports your theory.

EDIT: Apologize for the tone, not going for confrontational.

I'm not really one for defensive stats, but from watching games I consider Westbrook superior.  I'm not saying Jennings is light years behind, I'd say he's top 5.  Top 2 is pushing it.

[Evantime34]

Let me know what you think of my new team
1. Deron Williams
2. Roddy Beaubois
3. Josh Howard
4. Josh Smith/ Brandon Bass
5. Brandon Haywood/ Javale McGee

[Lucky17]

Let me know what you think of my new team
1. Deron Williams
2. Roddy Beaubois
3. Josh Howard
4. Josh Smith/ Brandon Bass
5. Brandon Haywood/ Javale McGee

How did you get Smith? Was there a trade? Haven't seen any confirmation.

Curious to know what the winning bid was for Smith, as I had been in discussions for him.

[Donoghus]

Alright, guess its time to throw it out there.  Rip away.

Utah Jazz

Coach:  Gregg Popovich

PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Omri Casspi / Danilo Gallinari
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute / Wesley Johnson
PF: Pau Gasol / Craig Smith
C:  Yao Ming / Robin Lopez

Gallinari will be moved around between the 2,3, and a bit of the 4.

[Who]

Alright, guess its time to throw it out there.  Rip away.

Utah Jazz

Coach:  Gregg Popovich

PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Omri Casspi / Danilo Gallinari
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute / Wesley Johnson
PF: Pau Gasol / Craig Smith
C:  Yao Ming / Robin Lopez

Gallinari will be moved around between the 2,3, and a bit of the 4.

I haven't looked closely yet but I would imagine that this is the top team in the West