2010 CB Draft: Pacific Division Press Conferences

[Roy H.]

Rashard may be athletic, but is he quick enough to keep up with opposing SFs? That's his advantage over opposing PFs. And for the record, I don't consider Miller a great defender either.

The Magic CEO says that he's going to see more time at small forward next season, and last year SVG said that Rashard can play the three.

Link, Link

The thing is, from my POV, in Orlando if Rashard isn't playing the 3, its because he can't not because they don't want to put him there based on fit.

Based on fit the Magic have 2 starting quality powerforwards in Ryan Andersen and Brandon Bass squarely behind Lewis just rotting away taking turns on DNP's and 14 minute a night games. There is absolutely no reason to start a less talented Pietrus or play Barnes big minutes unless Rashard can't get it done.

As I explained above, Orlando wants two things:  1) four shooters in its lineup, and 2) a strong defensive presence outside of Howard.  The only way they can achieve that goal is by starting Pietrus or Barnes, which pushes Rashard to the 4.  Is it that hard to believe that SVG valued Pietrus or Barnes more than he does Bass or Anderson?

I mean, insist all you want that he can't play the position.  His coach says he can, his CEO says he can, he's played there repeatedly in the past, and he's one of the most athletic players in the entire NBA.  

[Who]

Rashard may be athletic, but is he quick enough to keep up with opposing SFs? That's his advantage over opposing PFs. And for the record, I don't consider Miller a great defender either.

Lewis isn't that athletic anymore. Not for a small forward.

He is definitely in decline physically.

I don't think he can create off the dribble (from distance) against small forwards anymore but his post game will still be very effective and he'll still be an excellent shooter.

Defensively, he was about average in his final season as a full time starter at the three. I think he'll perform at that level again.

[Who]

Rashard may be athletic, but is he quick enough to keep up with opposing SFs? That's his advantage over opposing PFs. And for the record, I don't consider Miller a great defender either.

The Magic CEO says that he's going to see more time at small forward next season, and last year SVG said that Rashard can play the three.

Link, Link

The thing is, from my POV, in Orlando if Rashard isn't playing the 3, its because he can't not because they don't want to put him there based on fit.

Based on fit the Magic have 2 starting quality powerforwards in Ryan Andersen and Brandon Bass squarely behind Lewis just rotting away taking turns on DNP's and 14 minute a night games. There is absolutely no reason to start a less talented Pietrus or play Barnes big minutes unless Rashard can't get it done.

As I explained above, Orlando wants two things:  1) four shooters in its lineup, and 2) a strong defensive presence outside of Howard.  The only way they can achieve that goal is by starting Pietrus or Barnes, which pushes Rashard to the 4.  Is it that hard to believe that SVG valued Pietrus or Barnes more than he does Bass or Anderson?

I mean, insist all you want that he can't play the position.  His coach says he can, his CEO says he can, he's played there repeatedly in the past, and he's one of the most athletic players in the entire NBA. 

SVG didn't play Rashard at the three because he was reluctant to change an offensive system that served them so well in the two previous seasons including one trip to the NBA Finals.

That is the only reason Lewis did not play the three last season.

He was inflexible and didn't explore his lineups properly and it came back to bite him on his rear end.

[Lucky17]

For people who don't seem to be fans of Greg Monroe & Ed Davis:

Would it please you more to have Hedo back up Jamison at the 4, extend Matthews minutes and play Terrence Williams at the backup 3?

That's an idea.

I would actually have a look at the waiver wire, and see what kind of veteran bigs are still available. Koufos is expendable; how many young prospects do you need?

Also, I have to confess my ignorance, but who is Dom Jones?

[Roy H.]

Rashard may be athletic, but is he quick enough to keep up with opposing SFs? That's his advantage over opposing PFs. And for the record, I don't consider Miller a great defender either.

Lewis isn't that athletic anymore. Not for a small forward.

He is definitely in decline physically.

I don't think he can create off the dribble (from distance) against small forwards anymore but his post game will still be very effective and he'll still be an excellent shooter.

Defensively, he was about average in his final season as a full time starter at the three. I think he'll perform at that level again.

That's about how I see it.  Average defense, great shooting, and above-average overall offense.  Not an all-star, but a guy who can easily match his production from this past season (15 - 17 points), even alongside Sacramento's other offensive weapons.

[Who]

For people who don't seem to be fans of Greg Monroe & Ed Davis:

What I would like to know - from people who are not fans of Greg Monroe or Ed Davis - is how many players on opposing teams do you rank ahead of them in their respective positions?

How many teams have a better main big man off the bench than Greg Monroe? How many have a better second big off the bench than Ed Davis?

How many have a better backup center than Monroe and/or a better backup PF than Ed Davis?

[Lucky17]

For people who don't seem to be fans of Greg Monroe & Ed Davis:

What I would like to know - from people who are not fans of Greg Monroe or Ed Davis - is how many players on opposing teams do you rank ahead of them in their respective positions?

How many teams have a better main big man off the bench than Greg Monroe? How many have a better second big off the bench than Ed Davis?

How many have a better backup center than Monroe and/or a better backup PF than Ed Davis?

I'm sure both will be good players in the league. My concern is not their talent, but their readiness to contribute to a playoff contending team on a nightly basis during their first 80 games of play in the NBA.

Just one veteran big on Phoenix's team would really shore up that frontcourt rotation, I think.

[celticpride07]

am i the only one who sees the big problem that phoenix has no real backup point guard...with rudy fernandez possibly not playing this year i mean i am surprised nobody else has brought this up besides me. If baron davis gets hurt, they could be in big trouble.

also i believe its too late to add/drop players from your rosters.

[StartOrien]

am i the only one who sees the big problem that phoenix has no real backup point guard...with rudy fernandez possibly not playing this year i mean i am surprised nobody else has brought this up besides me. If baron davis gets hurt, they could be in big trouble.

also i believe its too late to add/drop players from your rosters.

If Baron Davis were to get hurt, AND if Rudy Fernandez were to skip town I'd still have Hedo Turkoglu, Terrence Williams and would also activate Dominique Jones.

The Celtics got to the finals with Nate Robinson as their backup PG this year, and won it with Eddie House (and a very little amount of Sam Cassell). I don't want to dismiss it as an unimportant position, but it can be performed by untraditional point guards.

From a pure 'get the offense started' stand point, I trust Turkoglu and/or Williams much moreso than House or Nate Rob.

[StartOrien]

He even calls plays!

[celticpride07]

i just signed up for yahoo fantasy basketball and saw stephen curry is ranked number 6 overall between kobe 5 and wade 7. I didn't realize how good curry is. Curry is expected to put up big numbers it seems. Brandon roy is ranked 23! Bargnani is ranked 29 overall!! Can anyone in this division compete with the Lakers Curry Roy backcourt?

[Lucky17]

i just signed up for yahoo fantasy basketball and saw stephen curry is ranked number 6 overall between kobe 5 and wade 7. I didn't realize how good curry is. Curry is expected to put up big numbers it seems. Brandon roy is ranked 23! Can anyone in this division compete with the Lakers Curry Roy backcourt?

Except this isn't fantasy basketball.

By the way, how are Chris Paul and Kevin Martin ranked?

[celticpride07]

i just signed up for yahoo fantasy basketball and saw stephen curry is ranked number 6 overall between kobe 5 and wade 7. I didn't realize how good curry is. Curry is expected to put up big numbers it seems. Brandon roy is ranked 23! Can anyone in this division compete with the Lakers Curry Roy backcourt?

Except this isn't fantasy basketball.


By the way, how are Chris Paul and Kevin Martin ranked?

chris paul is 2 and martin is 48 overall

[StartOrien]

Greg Monroe summer highlights. CB Draft aside, I really like the way this kid plays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QXeteY5pug

pass 35 secs in is sick

[Lucky17]

He even calls plays!

I think he's pointing to his fan in Orlando. [Notice the use of the singular, not plural.]