Denver Nuggets Gainsville Celtic
-Guards: Russell Westbrook, Ronnie Brewer, Terrance Williams, Steve Blaek
-Forwards: Trevor Ariza, Drew Gooden, Taj Gibson, Josh Childress
-Center: Tim Duncan, Darko Milicic
PG Westbrook/Blake
SG Brewer/Williams
SF Ariza/Childress/
PF Gibson/Gooden/
C Duncan/Milicic
100 Words:
I think that Westbrook is a good person to run this backcourt as long as Ariza manages to regain his shooting form. The thing that worries me is that without a premier scorer at the 2/3 (the traditional 1st or 2nd scorer on a team), who is going to take the burden off of Ariza, who wilted under the pressure this past season? Duncan/Gibson/Gooden/Milicic Is as good a bigs rotation as there is probably, from top to bottom. Other teams have better starters, but 1-4 is one of the best. Childress could surpass Ariza for the starting minutes, but I think Ariza starting will be as much about his own ego (compared with Childress's own balanced temperment) as anything else. I like Blake behind Westbrook and I see Blake playing a lot of minutes at the 2 also, unless Terrance Williams finds some consistency.
Utah Jazz Donoghus
-Guards: Jose Calderon, Omri Casspi, Danilo Gallinar
-Forwards: Pau Gasol, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson, Craig Smith
-Centers: Yao Ming, Robin Lopez
PG: Calderon,
SG Omri Casspi/ Gallinari
SF Luc Mbah A Moute/Wesley Johnson
PF Pau Gasol/Craig Smith
C Yao Ming/Robin Lopez
100 Words:
I am no longer a big Calderon fan. I know he can pass the ball, and I know he doesn't turn the ball over, but he doesn't play good defense, and he just can't seem to improve at all. That said, I love Casspi, Gallinari, and Mbah a Moute. In my own vision for this team, Wesley Johnson would start over Mbah a Moute but this isn't my squad. Pau Gasol and Yao Ming as the top starting 4,5 in the division, if not the conference, if not the league. They're going to be a little slow, but that's mostly on Ming's shoulders, not Gasol's. These guys while in the game together will dominate every facet of the post. Casspi, Gallo, Johnson, and Calderon should keep the opposing teams' post defenders honest with their ability from deep. Also love Robin Lopez behind Ming. If Yao isn't ready for training camp, which is a possibility, Lopez can easily start and play as a tough defender in the post.
Portland Trailblazers Jsaad
-Guards: Evan Turner, Goran Dragic, Ricky Rubio, Jason Williams
-Forwards: Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Maurice Evans
-Centers: Brook Lopez, Spencer Hawes, Matt Bonner
PG Dragic, Jason WIlliams
SG Turner
SF Thad Young, Evans
PF Favors, Bonner
C Lopez, Hawes
100 Words: This is obviously not a playoff caliber team, and really can't be honestly evaluated until next season (or the season after) when Rubio comes over. Favors should be inconsistent at best this season, and while Turner should be better, he won't be an all-star or anything close. I also don't like Young as a SF, I think he's proven that he's more of a tweener with a leaning to 4 than a tweener with a leaning towards the 3. That's the bad news. The good news is that there isn't a younger core in the league that is head and shoulders above this one, and with the addition of Rubio a very good case could be made for team of the future. Brook Lopez is a straight out stud at the center, and Favors/Turner should compliment him well. The record won't look good this season, but the lottery pick could become their starting SF.
Oklahoma City Thunder Greenbean
-Guards: OJ Mayo, Darren Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, DeMar DeRozan
-Forwards: Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Big Baby Davis
-Center: Chris Kaman, Marreese Speights
PG Darren Collison
SG Sefelosha
SF Butler
PF O'Neal
C Kaman
100 Words:
This team should start Speights. There is no way that Jermaine O'Neal can consistently start at the 4 with that team. Too slow, and honestly too versatile to waste him playing major minutes at the 4. I love Darren Collison, like Thabo Sefelosha, and have cooled a bit on Butler. I worry about the shooting with Darren Collison being the only consistent shooter out there, I don't know if there will be enough room for Kaman and Speights to operate. The defense on the wings should be excellent, and O'Neal can hold his own. BBD should provide a good burst off the bench, and DeMar Derozan should supplant Thabo as the starter at the 2 within 2 years.
Minnesota Timberwolves Evantime34/Lip413
Guards: Deron Williams, Rodrigue Beaubois, Marquis Daniels
Forwards: Josh Howard, Gordon Hayward, Josh Smith, Brandon Bass
Centers: Brandon Haywood, JaVale McGee
PG Deron Williams/Beaubois
SG Rodrigue Beaubois/Hayward
SF Josh Howard/Hayward
PF Josh Smith/Brandon Bass
C Brandon Haywood/McGee
I like Deron Williams as the reigning "Best PG In the League". Chris Paul might very well steal that honor back this season, but Williams has it now. I also like Roddy B, but not as the starting 2 here. One reason being, he won't be ready for the start of the season. I think Hayward is talented enough now to be a role player at the 2 for a team that should get close to 20 ppg from its PG as it is now anyways. In the frontcourt, I like the idea of Josh Smith on other peoples' teams. I don't quite get him enough to get behind him, but he'll keep your team moving end to end, he'll create a lot of turnovers (and probably commit a fair amount too), and he'll take some ill advised shots. In the end, he'll bring more to the party than he takes away, so that's what really counts. Brandon Bass is a terrific traditional backup to have behind him. I also love McGee behind Haywood, and I think after this year, McGee might be the better player. Josh Howard has a LOT to prove this year. I think he's still got a fair amount of run left in him, and I think he can turn it around. We'll see. It'll be interesting to see if anything happens when knucklehead A (Josh Smith) meets knucklehead B (Josh Howard)
End Judgment:
1) Utah: I like the versatility, and I love the frontcourt. I think Yao's health is a major enough concern though that it keeps them from having HC in the playoffs.
2) Denver: Top to bottom the most talented team in the division, but even Tim Duncan can't compensate for Utah's frontcourt. I love Westbrook here too, especially with long athletic players like Brewer, Williams, Childress, and Ariza.
3) Minny: Deron Williams is the best thing going for this team, and it'll be up to him if they can leapfrog Utah or Denver. If Howard returns to form and Beaubois can quickly return to health to develop a rapport with Deron Williams, this team could concievably move ahead of both the #1 and #2 team, especially in terms of regular season wins.
4) OKC: I love Collison here, but he doesn't really compare to Deron Williams or Russell Westbrook. I also love Sefolosha, but I don't know how much his defensive ability will count 1)in a division without powerhouse SG's, and 2) on a team without a premier scorer on the wing.
5) Portland: A good team two years from now. Maybe a great one in 5. Portland will eat it up though and this is certainly a team that will be fun to watch if they gel.
And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!
Thanks IP!
I, for one, am happy seeing it. Nice, thorough breakdown too.
Wow IP I missed this. Thanks for the analysis!
Regarding the Thundah.
I think you are right about O'Neal at the 4, but I like having the option of a super big lineup. I also have a lot of versatile defenders on this team which has me excited about the different lineups, both big and small I can put out there.
The one component I am missing is shooting. Vujacic is one option to pair with Collison but we are all aware of "The Machine's" deficiencies.
If Thabo is getting exposed, DeRozan and Thornton are both options that can come in and provide offense while not giving up a ton on defense. Actually, Al Thornton's defense looked pretty good on the Wizards last year. He has a big body and he was talking the talk last year like he wanted to elevate that part of his game. His performance was pretty good until an injury sidelined him late in the season.
I think my team can be a top 5 defensive team. Kaman is slow but always a shot blocking presence. With the superior perimeter deefense, there should not be much penetration exposing Kaman down low.
I really think I have a playoff team in the West. The roster is somewhat flawed, but rock solid deep.
Topic: Official Discuss your CB Draft team (Read 402118 times)