2010 CB Draft: Pacific Division Press Conferences

[Fafnir]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

They'll still have to eat up 20 minutes in the playoffs though.

Howard 40 minutes, Jamison can only go about 36 minutes. That leaves 20 minutes you'll need from them, in the playoffs. And that's assuming you're perfectly healthy, teams are rarely are perfectly healthy.

3 out of the four conference finalists had major front court injures during the playoffs. I don't think your team can survive one.

[riah32]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

[Fafnir]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

40 minutes would be in the playoffs I believe.

[Roy H.]

Question for Sacramento:

How will you deal with long defensive teams?

Is shooting a concern for your team?

What is your crunch time lineup?

1.  Shooting is not a question.  Rashard + Garcia are top notch shooters, Jefferson and Lee historically have been, and Boozer / Randolph both have range well outside the key.  Jeff Teague was an extremely good shooter in college, as well (44.1% in his senior season).  I'd put Sacramento as one of the top shooting teams in the league, honestly.

2.  It's hard to name a crunch time lineup without knowing the opponent and the game circumstance.  Boozer and Rose are obviously a given.  If I'm trying to make up a deficit, Lewis is probably in there, if it's a very close game, probably Richard Jefferson.  I anticipate that Garcia will see minutes over Lee at the end of games, but it depends upon how they both look to start the year.  At center, again, it depends upon whether I need offense or defense; if it's defense, Dampier is in there, and if it's offense, then we go with a Boozer/Randolph front court.

3.  I'd deal with long defensive teams the same way I would anybody else:  by attacking them.  Both Boozer and Randolph, despite mediocre height, have excelled in this league as both outstanding scorers and rebounders, and both have played against opposing forwards and centers.  The rest of my starting lineup is very tall, with Lewis, Garcia, and Rose all being above-average height for their positions.

[StartOrien]

Quetion for Los Angeles:

You are relying heavily on Tyson Chandler, who has missed over 30 games in the past two seasons. Outside of that your team is comprised of finesse players who are notorious for being significantly below average on the defensive side.

When he's out, whether it be through injury or just not being in, how in the world are you going to stop anyone in the post?

[StartOrien]

Question for Los Angeles

Can you really expect 30 minutes a night out of Michael Beasley? He's already considered a tremendous flop at the #2 spot and has had a well documented history with drug abuse.

[StartOrien]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

For his career he's averaged a little less than 36 minutes a night, and has shown absolutely no signs of fatigue through his career. Maybe we'd play him slightly less than 40, but I don't think that's all that high for him.

[Fafnir]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

For his career he's averaged a little less than 36 minutes a night, and has shown absolutely no signs of fatigue through his career. Maybe we'd play him slightly less than 40, but I don't think that's all that high for him.

Wait so your plan is 40 minutes a night during the whole season?

[celticpride07]

Quetion for Los Angeles:

You are relying heavily on Tyson Chandler, who has missed over 30 games in the past two seasons. Outside of that your team is comprised of finesse players who are notorious for being significantly below average on the defensive side.

When he's out, whether it be through injury or just not being in, how in the world are you going to stop anyone in the post?

Ilgauskas is 7 foot 3 he can handle post defense against backup players... If for some reason chandler were injured bargnani would start at center. Bargnani is a below average defensive player but he is 7 feet and still young and can improve defensively under coach k.

[celticpride07]

Question for Los Angeles

Can you really expect 30 minutes a night out of Michael Beasley? He's already considered a tremendous flop at the #2 spot and has had a well documented history with drug abuse.

Beasley is fine. Its not like nba players don't smoke weed.  Beasley is to good of a talent to not get minutes.

[Fafnir]

Question for Los Angeles

Can you really expect 30 minutes a night out of Michael Beasley? He's already considered a tremendous flop at the #2 spot and has had a well documented history with drug abuse.

What does where he was drafted have to do with anything?

[StartOrien]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

For his career he's averaged a little less than 36 minutes a night, and has shown absolutely no signs of fatigue through his career. Maybe we'd play him slightly less than 40, but I don't think that's all that high for him.

Wait so your plan is 40 minutes a night during the whole season?

Ya, that was a mistake. I'd only play him about 35, and have Monroe & Davis split the other 5 minutes. I'll adjust the front page.

[Roy H.]

Question for Los Angeles

Can you really expect 30 minutes a night out of Michael Beasley? He's already considered a tremendous flop at the #2 spot and has had a well documented history with drug abuse.

Beasley is fine. Its not like nba players don't smoke weed.  Beasley is to good of a talent to not get minutes.

LA:

Do you forsee a circumstance where you would go with a Bargnani/Beasley or Bargnani/Harrington front court?  If so, how do you keep that team from being hurt defensively?

What type of pace will you be playing at?

[Fafnir]

For more on Greg Monroe, here's a link I provided in my presser but it really should be read if you're not familiar with him. Both for this draft, and just as a basketball fan. Really good stuff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17087/the-truehoop-dossier-greg-monroe

I'm familar with him and Ed Davis.

Ya, I was just posting the link. Not neccesarily to you Faf.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Dwight Howard will be playing 40 minutes a night, so its not as if the backup center role will be huge. From there, we're counting on two highly touted rookies to eat up about 30 minutes (in the regular season) in roles that are tailor made for what they're already capable of doing.

Can Howard stay on the court for 40 minutes a night without getting into foul trouble. Also all that wear and tear and Howard may effect him in the playoffs don't you think??

For his career he's averaged a little less than 36 minutes a night, and has shown absolutely no signs of fatigue through his career. Maybe we'd play him slightly less than 40, but I don't think that's all that high for him.

Wait so your plan is 40 minutes a night during the whole season?

Ya, that was a mistake. I'd only play him about 35, and have Monroe & Davis split the other 5 minutes. I'll adjust the front page.

Okay, I was thinking you were using him just like the Magic have. 36 during regular season and then 40 in the playoffs.

No reason he can't do that and stay healthy and on the court, he's been a horse during his time in the league. Its Jamison I worry about more. (though every player gets hurt eventually  I still think about that night in Utah)

[StartOrien]

Quetion for Los Angeles:

You are relying heavily on Tyson Chandler, who has missed over 30 games in the past two seasons. Outside of that your team is comprised of finesse players who are notorious for being significantly below average on the defensive side.

When he's out, whether it be through injury or just not being in, how in the world are you going to stop anyone in the post?

Ilgauskas is 7 foot 3 he can handle post defense against backup players... If for some reason chandler were injured bargnani would start at center. Bargnani is a below average defensive player but he is 7 feet and still young and can improve defensively under coach k.

Coach K has no NBA experience, and currently is underperforming with Team USA. It's also questioned how much influence he actually had on the "Redeem Team." Isn't it a bit of a reach to constantly reference your coach to fix a gaping hole?