2010 CB Draft: Southeast Division Press Conferences

[KCattheStripe]

Questions for Charlotte:

What offensive system do you plan on running?

Who's going to be your 6th man?

How well do you think your team will rebound the ball?

A heavy pick and roll offense.

Rodney Stuckey.

Solidly, not spectacularly.

You have two PGs who are not good play makers to run the pick and roll with, do you worry that they will miss Amar'e on the way to the hoop?

Neither of them have played with a big of the quality of Amar'e these past two seasons, hell not even the quality of Okafor. Also, Duhon has been running D'antoni's pick and roll with no bigs. I'd like to see what he can do with Amar'e.

So the answer is you don't have one?

Jameer Nelson at time struggled to hit Howard on the way to the hoop. I think your lack of a above average passer at the PG will hold back what Amar'e can offenisvely.

My answer is that  they'll do better with higher quality players. That the knock isn't on their playmaking skills but rather whom they have been making plays for.

[indeedproceed]

I have more of a (sincere) question for charlattle's gm.

if duhon's playing for D'antoni helped him with his pick and roll skills, how will that change now that big mike isn't around? better players or no, duhon's respectable-ish stats from last season should atleast partially be attributed to a system.

also, since brandon jennings and eric maynor are playing for D'antoni and with better players, should I also expect their passing acumen to get substantially better?

[ChampKind]

Question for the Magic:
How will you defend post threats?

How many minutes will AK-47 see at what positions?

How strong of a rebounding team do you think your squad will be?

Who is your primary wing defender? If its Joe Johnson how will that mesh with his heavy offensive responsibilities of this squad?

Typed this once, lost it, I'm typing it again but I'm not sure if it makes sense to anyone but me at this point. Which I suppose is how David Kahn goes through every day in Minnesota. Either way, my response:

Post threats will be dealt with on the interior by Aldrich/Biedrins/Aldridge/Pekovic (not necessarily in that order)...but with athletic help defenders and weakside shotblockers in AK-47, Amir Johnson, and Aldridge, opposing centers won't have much time to camp out in the paint. While strong post presences will pose difficulties, this team's athleticism and length makes up for its lack of bulk.

AK is in for 34 mins/game, approximately 20 in a SF role and 14 in a PF role, depending on match-up.

Despite a lack of a true veteran post presence, this is a team that does rebound very well. Without bulk, we have a wide range of wiry, long jumping jacks that can pull down boards. Biedrins and Aldrich are both top notch rebounders at center, and Amir Johnson's length makes him a plus rebounder and shot blocker. Though LaMarcus Aldridge doesn't rebound well for a man his size, he's flanked by active players on the glass and hustle players who can keep the ball alive inside. Thanks to our size at the 2/3 (JJ, VC, Dunleavy), we'll squeeze a few extra boards out of the backcourt despite the fact that none of those guys are prolific on the glass as well.

Our primary wing defender will depend on the match-up. JJ's ability to guard 2s and 3s thanks to his size is helpful, but if AK isn't pressed to guard an opposing big with range, he'll be able to apply his smothering defense and long arms to opposing 3s as well. However, judging by the offensive firepower on this team, I wouldn't look too much into Joe Johnson carrying the whole weight of the team and dealing with that burden. We have six guys who have career averages of over 12 ppg, and shooters like Terry, Dunleavy, Carter, and Aldridge can take over in spurts when they are feeling it.

We're fluid, we can score through many different avenues, and if something isn't working, this roster offers several different fixes. Though I understand that interior bulk is probably the most glaring concern, I feel like the athleticism, length, and team defense is strong enough to address that problem - and that's not counting the play of guys like Aldrich and Pekovic, who could be major players with aggressive and tough play inside. While we're an average defensive squad, we're one of the best scoring units in the league, and that is going to lead to a lot of wins.

I like these guys. You should like these guys. They're gonna be fun to watch, at the very least.

[KCattheStripe]

I have more of a (sincere) question for charlattle's gm.

if duhon's playing for D'antoni helped him with his pick and roll skills, how will that change now that big mike isn't around? better players or no, duhon's respectable-ish stats from last season should atleast partially be attributed to a system.

also, since brandon jennings and eric maynor are playing for D'antoni and with better players, should I also expect their passing acumen to get substantially better?

1) It's not like Spolestra was against running a pick and roll and being creative with it, see game 4 of the heat Celtics series.

2) yes.

[indeedproceed]

so would it be fair to say you believe that although spolstra isn't the offensive guru (rip) that D'antoni is, because of duhon's running partners his assists probably won't drop off much, if at all?

[KCattheStripe]

so would it be fair to say you believe that although spolstra isn't the offensive guru (rip) that D'antoni is, because of duhon's running partners his assists probably won't drop off much, if at all?

Yes.

[Fafnir]

However, judging by the offensive firepower on this team, I wouldn't look too much into Joe Johnson carrying the whole weight of the team and dealing with that burden. We have six guys who have career averages of over 12 ppg, and shooters like Terry, Dunleavy, Carter, and Aldridge can take over in spurts when they are feeling it.

My concern is over who will facilitate the offense, your starting line up consists of a 3 players who can all score but aren't used to creating for others.

You have enough guys who've all been scorers for their team, can they adjust without a true point?

[nickagneta]

As the focus for today moves towards the Northwest division I just wanted to congratulate the rest of the Southeast division GMs. I think we all acquitted ourselves very well in this endeavor and put together what I believe to be easily the deepest, most competitive division in the game. I think when all is said and done and 4 SE teams are in the Eastern Conference playoffs, we should be proud.

The great tradition of the Southeast division carries on once more.

[ChampKind]

However, judging by the offensive firepower on this team, I wouldn't look too much into Joe Johnson carrying the whole weight of the team and dealing with that burden. We have six guys who have career averages of over 12 ppg, and shooters like Terry, Dunleavy, Carter, and Aldridge can take over in spurts when they are feeling it.

My concern is over who will facilitate the offense, your starting line up consists of a 3 players who can all score but aren't used to creating for others.

You have enough guys who've all been scorers for their team, can they adjust without a true point?

Terry can handle the 1 for extended stretches, especially when accompanied by able ballhandlers and plus distributors like JJ and Kirilenko. However, when a true point is needed, Ty Lawson played very well in his rookie season and is the pure point that can distribute amongst the scorers. He'll be mentored by a steady vet in Jason Terry and I think Lawson will come along nicely and pack a solid punch as the change of pace guard who benefits from drawing single coverage and falling under the radar in opposing defenses as he develops.

[Fafnir]

However, judging by the offensive firepower on this team, I wouldn't look too much into Joe Johnson carrying the whole weight of the team and dealing with that burden. We have six guys who have career averages of over 12 ppg, and shooters like Terry, Dunleavy, Carter, and Aldridge can take over in spurts when they are feeling it.

My concern is over who will facilitate the offense, your starting line up consists of a 3 players who can all score but aren't used to creating for others.

You have enough guys who've all been scorers for their team, can they adjust without a true point?

Terry can handle the 1 for extended stretches, especially when accompanied by able ballhandlers and plus distributors like JJ and Kirilenko. However, when a true point is needed, Ty Lawson played very well in his rookie season and is the pure point that can distribute amongst the scorers. He'll be mentored by a steady vet in Jason Terry and I think Lawson will come along nicely and pack a solid punch as the change of pace guard who benefits from drawing single coverage and falling under the radar in opposing defenses as he develops.

So how many minutes will Lawson play?

I don't think you can count on a bench player to regulate your teams offense unless he's getting a ton of minutes, probably more than Terry (at least at PG)

[jgod213]

Questions for the Heat:

How the heck is the triangle going to work? You have Steve Nash a player who is completely wasted in the triangle offense, additionally you only have one big man who has the proper skill set to be productive in it. (Odom)

How well will you rebound?

How will you defend post scorers? How will you defend enough to win?

I'm not gonna lie, i really don't know the triangle offense or its particulars at all haha, but what i do know is that it requires a lot of movement, cutting, and intelligent/quick decision making.  For these reasons i don't see Steve Nash as "wasted" in this system but even potentially a terrific fit for it.

However, as Roy mentioned, as the GM i'd be more inclined to just give Phil Jackson this group of players and let him put into place whatever offensive scheme he deems most effective.  Again, this man is one of the greats of our time, i'd have to think that he would find a way to create a highly effective offense with the best playmaker in the NBA, a multiskilled wingman in Jax, and a uniquely talented bigman in Odom.

Rebounding will be touchy at the beginning of the season, but once we get healthy and Anderson returns, i don't see it as a huge issue at all.  Lamar Odom was rated as the 10th best PF in Hollinger's "rebound rate" and cracked the top 5 for PF "defensive rebound rate" last season. 

Anderson, while only an average rebounder for his position, is a game-changing shot blocker who finished the season 6th in the league in blockes/game and 2nd in the NBA in blocks/48 minutes. 

Further, back in the '08-'09 season when Jamario Moon was playing closer to 25mpg he finished 3rd amongst SFs in blocks/48minutes, 7th in steals/game, and 4th in steals/48minutes. 

Stephen Jackson finished this past season 4th, 4th and 6th amongst SGs in rebounds/game, steals/game and blocks/game. 

Shannon Brown finished last season 1st amongst PGs in blocks/48minutes

All things considered i think i have a pretty talented mix of athletic defenders who can both challenge shots and harass ballhandlers.  We don't have a cookie-cutter big guy who can do it all himself, but collectively this group has a ton of length and defensive intelligence which should make it a relatively formidable defense.

[indeedproceed]

Questions for the Heat:

How the heck is the triangle going to work? You have Steve Nash a player who is completely wasted in the triangle offense, additionally you only have one big man who has the proper skill set to be productive in it. (Odom)

How well will you rebound?

How will you defend post scorers? How will you defend enough to win?

I'm not gonna lie, i really don't know the triangle offense or its particulars at all haha, but what i do know is that it requires a lot of movement, cutting, and intelligent/quick decision making.  For these reasons i don't see Steve Nash as "wasted" in this system but even potentially a terrific fit for it.

http://www.coachawinningteam.com/basketball_play_triangle/

Steve Nash is absolutely wasted in the triangle offense.

[StartOrien]

It's my understanding that if you watch enough Better Basketball DVD's you can master any type of offense.

[KCattheStripe]

It's my understanding that if you watch enough Better Basketball DVD's you can master any type of offense.

Count it.

[jgod213]

http://www.coachawinningteam.com/basketball_play_triangle/

Steve Nash is absolutely wasted in the triangle offense.

I don't think wasted is accurate; I guess if Phil Jackson was to stick to the pure principals of the triangle then Nash would be marginalized when the ball was rotated to the other side of the court, but again i drafted Phil Jackson because he's knows how to get the most out of his players and one would assume that he is crafty enough to make adjustments to the offense.

I understand that the triangle isn't ideal for Nash, but if we're really going to harp on coaching philosiphies then why aren't we talking about Kevin Stallings? he's never even coached in the NBA it could be a total disaster in Orlando.  Nevermind health concerns, Rudy T hasn't coached in 6 years.  Eric Spolestra has only 2 years of NBA coaching experience; some believe (whether founded or not) that Riley will eventually take over the real Miami Heat now that they actually have a decent team.

To me it just seems like i'm being penalized for selecting Phil Jackson, which is kind of absurd.  Yet if coaching and coaches' offensive/defensive philosophies were important then other teams would have a lot more issues than the Heat would.