How is my Pick 2 team?

[indeedproceed]

They remind me a lot of the Heat from last year with a better center but with a wing player who isn't capable of dominating 1 on 5 anymore.

Chalmers/Arroyo<<Lowry
Wade>>>>Fields
Q-Rich<<<Pierce
Beasley<Ibaka
J O'Neal<<<<Bogut

Andrew Bogut's play last year put the Bucks into the playoffs. He is a pretty superior option to JO at the center position, to the point where it is not really comparable.

Wade is definitely better than Pierce, but Fields is a way better option than Richardson. Lowry and Ibaka are both superior players too, to Beasley and Arroyo, with Beasley being a better player in certain roles, but not in the way Miami used him.

I can understand the point, that there isn't a scorer of Pierce's ability (or close, really) next to him on my squad, but I don't think they're as clear cut a one trick pony as Miami was last season.  

[wdleehi]

TheWiz


PG  Wall
SG  Harden
SF  Green
PF  Bosh
C   Oden (next season)

Bench
PG  Blake
SG  Garcia
SF  R. Butler
C/PF Monroe
PF/C Humphries

Every player is an NBA rotation level player.  Good mix of experience and high ceiling talent. 


TheWiz are looking to sneak into the playoffs this season with an eye towards springing into contendership next year.

[nickagneta]

TheWiz


PG  Wall
SG  Harden
SF  Green
PF  Bosh
C   Oden (next season)

Bench
PG  Blake
SG  Garcia
SF  R. Butler
C/PF Monroe
PF/C Humphries

Every player is an NBA rotation level player.  Good mix of experience and high ceiling talent. 


TheWiz are looking to sneak into the playoffs this season with an eye towards springing into contendership next year.

Good young team of starters with a solid bench but I have to say I have zero confidence that Greg Oden will ever play another NBA game. Without him being what he could be, this team is missing a lot. If he comes back and reaches 3/4 of his potential, this team is going places.

[Rondo2287]

PG: Deron/Farmar
SG: Salmons/Artest
SF: Smith/Artest
PF: Rashard/Hickson
C:  Collison/Shaq

[Who]

Bench
PG  Blake
SG  Garcia
SF  R. Butler
C/PF Monroe
PF/C Humphries

I think Butler's performance in terms of defense and rebounding drops hugely when used as a small forward instead of a two guard. He plays good defense with his size advantage at the two but struggles when playing against men his own size. Also, he's a below par rebounding two which becomes even more exposed when playing the three.

I would play Green, Garcia and Harden ahead of R. Butler at the three and keep R.Butler at the two.

Garcia doesn't have great size for a SF but he's a lot tougher physically and mentally than Butler is. He handles the defensive duties there better than Rasual does. He can't rebound either though.

Harden and Green are solid rebounders at their respective positions ... best to couple of them alongside one of the backup wings as often as possible. I think Harden would make a solid second unit go-to scorer.

[nickagneta]

Roster:
1: Lowry/Bayless
2: Fields/Stevenson/R Williams
3: Pierce/R Williams
4: Ibaka/Hansbrough/Gooden
5: Bogut/Ibaka

Mins Breakdown:
Pg: Lowry (32), Bayless (16)
Sg: Fields (30), Stevenson (15), R Williams (3)
Sf: Pierce (32), R Williams (16)
Pf: Ibaka (20), Hansbrough (15), Gooden (13)
C: Bogut (35), Ibaka (13)

This team reminds me a bunch of my Portland team. Probably a very, very good defensive team that is going to rely on a great offensive system and players playing in that system to succeed offensively.

Good overall team though. Better than the real life Bucks.

[slamtheking]

C: Tyson Chandler/Chris Andersen
PF: Dirk Nowitski/Tiago Splitter
SF: Richard Jefferson/Wes Johnson
SG: Brandon Roy/Josh Childress
PG: Jarrett Jack

I still need a backup PG (although I will likely play Roy a bit at the point), but other than that, I am very happy with my roster.

With a healthy brandon roy this is the best team in the draft. Without a healthy brandon Roy they're a 5th seed or so.

I don't think we'll ever see 100% Brandon Roy again.  With bone-on-bone, I think we're going to be looking at 70% - 80% of the player he was, max.  That being the case, even if 75% Brandon Roy played 82 games, I'd still put LA and Miami ahead of Dallas.

I'd put San Antonio right up there w/ the elite teams

Well thank ya kindly pa'tner.  A tip of the ol' 10-gallon hat (and a TP)to ya' for the kind words on behalf of the San Antonio Spur(ned).

[slamtheking]

TPs to Who, KCat and Edgar for their appraisals of the Spur(ned).  (a little late in coming guys, my apologies)

[Roy H.]

PG: Deron/Farmar
SG: Salmons/Artest
SF: Smith/Artest
PF: Rashard/Hickson
C:  Collison/Shaq

Here's my take on it:  you really boxed yourself into a corner with the Rashard Lewis pick.  I didn't think he made much sense for you at the time, and I think you let your interest in him override considerations regarding how he'd fit. At one time, you had the foundation of a near-contender.  I think you let criticism get to you a little bit, and you ended up with a team that is inferior to what you traded away.

I like Collison, but not as a starting center.  Rashard can't play PF unless he's next to a dominant -- or at least, imposing -- big man, which Collison isn't.  Smith just isn't as good as Pierce.  I think Afflalo was a better fit than Salmons.  I think Artest is a skeleton of his former self right now, and don't trust him on a good team.  

I think you've got to start Hickson; otherwise, the trade with Phoenix didn't make a ton of sense.  I'd probably bring Rashard off the bench, if you can't trade him.

I still give you props for transforming the Twolves, and they're still probably borderline playoff team.  However, I had so much higher expectations; I thought you were on track to be a top-four team in the West.

[nickagneta]

PG: Deron/Farmar
SG: Salmons/Artest
SF: Smith/Artest
PF: Rashard/Hickson
C:  Collison/Shaq

Not sure what to make of this team. II don't see Josh Smith as a SF or Artest playing nice as a role playing bench player. I also see a lack of rebounding as being a problem. That said, there's a ton of talent on this team so if they are hot offensively they should win more than they lose. If they are cold offensively or face a superior defensive team, things could get tough.

I would try to move Josh Smith or Rashard Lewis with Collison and see if you can get a better starting center. That would open up Artest into his natural starting SF position and sure up a weakness in rebounding in the middle.

[wdleehi]

Bench
PG  Blake
SG  Garcia
SF  R. Butler
C/PF Monroe
PF/C Humphries

I think Butler's performance in terms of defense and rebounding drops hugely when used as a small forward instead of a two guard. He plays good defense with his size advantage at the two but struggles when playing against men his own size. Also, he's a below par rebounding two which becomes even more exposed when playing the three.

I would play Green, Garcia and Harden ahead of R. Butler at the three and keep R.Butler at the two.

Garcia doesn't have great size for a SF but he's a lot tougher physically and mentally than Butler is. He handles the defensive duties there better than Rasual does. He can't rebound either though.

Harden and Green are solid rebounders at their respective positions ... best to couple of them alongside one of the backup wings as often as possible. I think Harden would make a solid second unit go-to scorer.

The bench swing men are swapable based on matchups.


Harden will start.  He is penciled in as the SG of the future of this team.  The starters are my core.  They are going to learn to play together. 

[indeedproceed]

I think what Roy and I are getting at is that these players score well in the roles they're in on their current teams because they are surrounded by superior scorers. Landry Fields gets open looks because defense's have to account for Amar'e, Gallo, Felton and Chandler with double teams and quick shifts.Ibaka scores because of the attention Durnat, Westbrook and Green attract. On this team I don't see many offensive threats that cause a defensive team to rotate or double team.

Well, for arguments sake (before addressing your next post), I'd say that you're really underestimating Andrew Bogut. The best scorer he's had around him has been injured most of the year (John Salmons), with other guys being out extended time (Drew Gooden, Carlos Delfino) that should have contributed on the offensive end, and on top of that Brandon Jennings was attempting to take up the slack (still shooting poorly), but even he went down injured.

Through that Bogut has managed to shoot 50% (well, 49.7%), and score 13.5 points, despite often facing double teams and facing a slow recovery from the arm injury he suffered last April. I don't see how Bogut doesn't score significantly better next to guys like Pierce, Fields and Lowry, who are better distributors than anyone Milwaukee has at their positions, as well as a very good scorer in Pierce to take the pressure off him.

As far as 21 yr old Ibaka, 22 yr old Fields, and 24 yr old Lowry goes, I think telling these guys what they can and can't do is hazardous to your health. They're all under 25 and established starters, 2 of them for playoff teams, and all 3 scoring in double digits. I think as much as you say "they couldn't score, because they wouldn't have all the open looks", there isn't a guy on my team that is the volume scorer Stoudemire or Durant are...I don't see why they won't be able to score more with more shots.

For example with my Grizz, I'd have Marc Gasol man up against Bogut and the only person I'd consider doubling would be Pierce and even then I'd be okay with Deng and Gay Isoed on him. Offensively this team reminds me of the 2007 Celtics in that It's Pierce playing with solid low post threat but facing great difficulty getting everyone else open. But far superior defensively.

Gasol on Bogut would be interesting. I know that Gasol destroyed him the last time they faced each other, but I'd like to see how the teams work together.

[wdleehi]

PG: Deron/Farmar
SG: Salmons/Artest
SF: Smith/Artest
PF: Rashard/Hickson
C:  Collison/Shaq

You really need a pick and roll big man cappable of 17-22 points a game. 

[Who]

Bench
PG  Blake
SG  Garcia
SF  R. Butler
C/PF Monroe
PF/C Humphries

I think Butler's performance in terms of defense and rebounding drops hugely when used as a small forward instead of a two guard. He plays good defense with his size advantage at the two but struggles when playing against men his own size. Also, he's a below par rebounding two which becomes even more exposed when playing the three.

I would play Green, Garcia and Harden ahead of R. Butler at the three and keep R.Butler at the two.

Garcia doesn't have great size for a SF but he's a lot tougher physically and mentally than Butler is. He handles the defensive duties there better than Rasual does. He can't rebound either though.

Harden and Green are solid rebounders at their respective positions ... best to couple of them alongside one of the backup wings as often as possible. I think Harden would make a solid second unit go-to scorer.

The bench swing men are swapable based on matchups.


Harden will start.  He is penciled in as the SG of the future of this team.  The starters are my core.  They are going to learn to play together. 

Oh yeah, Harden should start.

Sorry if I was unclear, I just meant he'd be a nice starter to plug into whatever second unit lineup you plan on using. His scoring threat and rebounding ability could help balance out that lineup. Similar to how Boston have often used Pierce or Ray in the second unit over the past few years.

It might be good for Harden too to be the main scoring threat for a few minutes a night instead of always being the 3rd/4th option that he will be in the starting unit. Get him a few more touches and shot attempts. Keep him more involved in the short term and maybe it helps his development in the long term.

[Lucky17]

Yet another trade:

PG: Nash
SG: Afflalo
SF: Ariza
PF: Jamison
C:  Jordan

Bench: Mayo, Casspi, McDyess, Wallace, McRoberts

Better frontcourt fit. I also think that our team defense and rebounding has improved, hopefully leading to more transition opportunities.

I recognize that Ariza's become a poor shooter in NO; I acquired him more for his defense than his offense. I wonder if he might work at PF in a small-ball lineup, with Casspi at SF.

Still working on the roster. I am hoping for at least one more major trade.