IP Ranks Your 'Pick 2' Team By Division (All 6 Divs now in!)

[KCattheStripe]

I'm curious to hear what about their individual games makes you think that they'll make for an uneven wings. To me their abilities complement each other well.

Both of them are long, athletic SFs who are at their best playing off the ball, and shooting jumpers.  Deng prefers his from 15 feet, while Gay is more of a 20 foot shooter, but neither is a great slasher (both can do it, but its not their strength).

And defensively, both of them would have trouble chasing true SGs like Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, etc. 

Now don't get me wrong, its not a terrible fit, I just think for the talent they both have, you are not going to get the most out of them.  And I think you could replace either one of them with a less talented SG who is more of a slasher (say, John Salmons), and it would work out better, and then you could have upgraded Brandon Bass to really do some damage right away. 

Here is my thought on Deng/Gay..and the way Memphis deals with screen runners.

Luol Deng and Rudy Gay are both more than just jump shooters. Luol Deng is a more versatile scorer than you might believe, he's very good at finishing at the rim, and he takes about as many midrange (16-23 feet) jumpers per 40 mins as Paul Pierce does. Like Pierce, because he's long and athletic, he gets that shot up on most guys, certainly any 2 guard in the league.

Rudy Gay also can put the ball on the floor, but unlike Deng, he's shooting nearly 40% from long range.

While neither guy is a magic man around the basket that can layin any shot they please, both of them are athletic finishers, and good at drawing fouls.

In short, I don't think either one will be hurting for scoring opportunities.

Now, as far as defending Ray Allen or Rip Hamilton (other guys that use screens as well escape me), Memphis also has Courtney Lee, who is fully capable of doing that about as well as one could hope from a guy who isn't an elite defender. If they face guys who are going to run that game on them, they can manage Deng and Gay's minutes as they please and put in Lee..or they can go small, with Gay at the 4, or they can just use Deng's size advantage on the other end to compensate what he's giving up defensively.

You also need to watch more Grizzlies games, Rudy is not a spot up shooter, he's very good off the bounce and Memphis runs a ton of isos for him.

[indeedproceed]

Nobody wants to watch more Grizzlies games..even during the playoffs.

[Bahku]

Thank you very much, IP, for all the time and effort put into this, (TPs) ... it's a lot of fun and very interesting to think of these new combinations, and how they'd react if playing together in real life.

I apologize ... I wish I'd had more time to get into the discussions with you folks, and do the Final Rosters like last year, but it's just plain crazy for me right now, and I didn't have the extra time to be as involved as I would've liked.

I may still try to do some rosters if I get a little extra time this week, but I saw that some people had already done theirs, and in a much more complete/exhaustive way, so mine would probably be a bit anti-climactic.

Anyway, I think this has become a CB favorite and tradition at this point, and one that most of us will look forward to each spring from now on. I personally would put Orlando ahead of Chicago and New York especially, but we're all a bit biased to our own teams, obviously.

I did put a lot of thought into rebuilding from a viewpoint of getting players that were an improvement at their positions, and also personalities that would work well together in a more fluid combination, so I would've ranked my team a little higher in "Pick-Two" success as well, but again, there's a lot of bias in there, I imagine.

Thanks again for all your hard work ... I would call this year's "Pick-Two Draft" a tremendous success, thanks to all those involved ... but you especially!

[slamtheking]

IP's Anticipated Standings/Seeds

EASTERN:

1   Miami   61   21
2   Chicago   59   23
3   New York   53   29
4   Orlando   50   32
5   Boston   47   35
6   Milwaukee   46   36
7   Atlanta   44   38
8   Indiana   41   41

===================================
WESTERN:

1   LA Lakers   57   25
2   Portland   55   27
3   San Antonio   54   28
4   Dallas   53   29
5   OKC   53   29
6   Phoenix   50   32
7   Sacramento   50   32
8   Minnesota   50   32

EDIT: I was gonna do breakdowns and stuff, but meh. I don't really feel like it. That means someone wins.

Interesting take on the projections.  Achieving the 5th best record in the league is something I can live with.  We're much better in the playoffs than the regular season anyway 

[indeedproceed]

IP's Anticipated Standings/Seeds

EASTERN:

1   Miami   61   21
2   Chicago   59   23
3   New York   53   29
4   Orlando   50   32
5   Boston   47   35
6   Milwaukee   46   36
7   Atlanta   44   38
8   Indiana   41   41

===================================
WESTERN:

1   LA Lakers   57   25
2   Portland   55   27
3   San Antonio   54   28
4   Dallas   53   29
5   OKC   53   29
6   Phoenix   50   32
7   Sacramento   50   32
8   Minnesota   50   32

EDIT: I was gonna do breakdowns and stuff, but meh. I don't really feel like it. That means someone wins.

Interesting take on the projections.  Achieving the 5th best record in the league is something I can live with.  We're much better in the playoffs than the regular season anyway 

Yeah. I think you'd find that Hamilton at the 3 would cost you some serious games in the regular season. He's a lengthy guy and his size isn't terrible..but he can't guard 3's who are physical enough to drive..and with Kaman missing so many games (and honestly, like I said, don't like the fit next to Duncan) I think the interior D won't be up to the job with only one solid defender in the paint to make up for Hamilton's flaws.

[Roy H.]

EDIT: I was gonna do breakdowns and stuff, but meh. I don't really feel like it. That means someone wins.

Just admit it:  As a Celtics fan, it's too nauseating to think about a LA / Miami Finals. 

(There's a reason why Folsom Prison moved and changed its name.)

[indeedproceed]

EDIT: I was gonna do breakdowns and stuff, but meh. I don't really feel like it. That means someone wins.

Just admit it:  As a Celtics fan, it's too nauseating to think about a LA / Miami Finals. 

(There's a reason why Folsom Prison moved and changed its name.)

Haha..you assume Milwaukee is not better than both teams. I'd assume that too, if I weren't the one making the rankings...

[KCattheStripe]

While I still think we're a playoff team, the pick 2 Grizz would like to congratulate JaVale McGee on his performance in tonight's slam dunk contest. Jumping over cars is for suckers.

[indeedproceed]

While I still think we're a playoff team, the pick 2 Grizz would like to congratulate JaVale McGee on his performance in tonight's slam dunk contest. Jumping over cars is for suckers.

The Milwaukee Bucks would like to congratulate Serge Ibaka for taking JaVale's finals dunk with his first attempt, nailing it the first time, and probably doing a better job than JaVale would've done anyways, despite getting robbed with the 45.

2-19-11! Never Forget!!!!

[indeedproceed]

Okay, so I'm going to admit, I'm bored as all get-out, and I put my team into NBA2k11. Aside from "Change the Genre" games like Mass Effect, NBA2k and NHL are literally the only games I can play anymore..stupid kids play all the shooters way better than I do, and there is something emasculating about getting beat by an 11 year old that I just cannot get over.

So my team is in NBA2k11, and frankly, I just love it. Serge Ibaka and Andrew Bogut roam the paint like wolves on a sheep farm. That's where it all starts...nobody gets offensive boards on me, and nobody gets easy layups.

Then, it moves on from there. Paul Pierce and Kyle Lowry dominate the first frame, because between Pierce, Lowry, Fields, and Ibaka, if I can find an open jumper, its good. Fields, Lowry and Pierce are all at worst adaquate outside shooters, and Ibaka cleans up the middle. Because many baskets end in missed shots for the other team instead of makes, usually i can get Lowry or Pierce into the paint to do damage before the defense resets.

On the times when the other guys do make a shot, Pierce or Bogut are usually good for two in a halfcourt setting if the clock is low.

When Pierce, Ibaka and Lowry come out, Reggie Williams, Tyler Hansbrough and Jerryd Bayless come to work, While I am much more prone to give up a basket, all three guys are primarily offensive first players..and Reggie Williams, at least in this game, is to me nearly as dangerous as Pierce off the dribble. He, like Pierce, rarely dunks, but midrange, layins, and open 3's are golden. Bayless is a dribble-drive machine, and Hansbrough, much like in real life, seems to get into contact and still finish.

Asik, while offensively practically useless, is also a pretty proficient help-side shot blocker. He's not much when a bigger guy (shaq dominates me when Bogut is out, for instance) takes him alone, but since I don't care about his fouls, and I don't care so much about a basket here or there, Asik will challenge everything under the sun.

I traded Gooden and Stevenson for cap relief and picks.

In real life, Kyle Lowry just had a 36 point game, and Serge Ibaka...to me anyways..had the best dunk of the night tonight when you factor in that he jumped from a half inch behind the ft line and still rocked it, despite being listed at 6'10. Even Dwight Howard couldn't do that.

Just absolutely love my team, and you know we're taking "Edgar's Knicks" in the first round.

Yeah yeah...its just 2k11 and I'm pretty good at it..and my team wouldn't do as well without me knowing how to use the game..but still..love it.

[barefacedmonk]

Folsom is the best team in this league and should win it all with that roster...Miami being the runners-up.

Trail Blazers and Wizards have done a very good job at improving their team.

[Bahku]

Folsom is the best team in this league and should win it all with that roster...Miami being the runners-up.

Trail Blazers and Wizards have done a very good job at improving their team.

Gotta agree with the top two teams ... but I have Orlando as vastly improved, well-balanced, deep, a cohesive unit, and coming in just behind Miami in the East. (I'm also shamelessly biased).

[barefacedmonk]

Folsom is the best team in this league and should win it all with that roster...Miami being the runners-up.

Trail Blazers and Wizards have done a very good job at improving their team.

Gotta agree with the top two teams ... but I have Orlando as vastly improved, well-balanced, deep, a cohesive unit, and coming in just behind Miami in the East. (I'm also shamelessly biased).

I was just looking at teams that are currently plagued with injuries and/or are bottom feeders. Portland and the Wizards just stood out immediately.

I agree though, fake Magic>real Magic...there are a few other teams that are better in this league than the real ones...the Kings come to mind without looking at the rosters again.

[indeedproceed]

Folsom is the best team in this league and should win it all with that roster...Miami being the runners-up.

Trail Blazers and Wizards have done a very good job at improving their team.

Probably right..Folsom is a heck of a squad. Miami, same. In a finals setting, I don't think it would be as cut and dry..I think there is real room there for Miami to do something, because of the step down from Odom to Randolph, where it looks like to me the biggest stepdown Miami took was on Chris Bosh's midrange game, but they gained a heck of a lot defensively with Josh Smith.

Obviously Miami's biggest problem is size, just like the real Miami. Makes you wonder..how much would it take to pry Kevin Garnett away from Boston? Josh Smith+Boris Diaw for Garnett and another rotation worthy piece?  

Folsom is the best team in this league and should win it all with that roster...Miami being the runners-up.

Trail Blazers and Wizards have done a very good job at improving their team.

Gotta agree with the top two teams ... but I have Orlando as vastly improved, well-balanced, deep, a cohesive unit, and coming in just behind Miami in the East. (I'm also shamelessly biased).

I was just looking at teams that are currently plagued with injuries and/or are bottom feeders. Portland and the Wizards just stood out immediately.

I agree though, fake Magic>real Magic...there are a few other teams that are better in this league that the real ones...the Kings come to mind without looking at the rosters again.

Bucks Bucks Bucks!

[barefacedmonk]

Probably right..Folsom is a heck of a squad. Miami, same. In a finals setting, I don't think it would be as cut and dry..I think there is real room there for Miami to do something, because of the step down from Odom to Randolph, where it looks like to me the biggest stepdown Miami took was on Chris Bosh's midrange game, but they gained a heck of a lot defensively with Josh Smith.

Obviously Miami's biggest problem is size, just like the real Miami. Makes you wonder..how much would it take to pry Kevin Garnett away from Boston? Josh Smith+Boris Diaw for Garnett and another rotation worthy piece?

Miami lost Chris Bosh and LA lost Odom..so, I consider it a wash. I don't think Miami gets past LA in this league especially if Pau plays aggressive. Miami doesn't have any answer for Pau....and Haywood is not a bad center either...like you said, the bigs win it for LA.

Bucks Bucks Bucks!

I like the duo of Ibaka and Bogut...should make for a very good rebounding and defensive pair.

Kyle Lowry>Jennings...(atleast this year)

EDIT: Actually, once you compare the rosters and think about it, you have to definitely put the Bucks under the "vastly improved" category.