2011 CelticsBlog Draft Board

[KCattheStripe]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

Well, aside from Nash, Lucky has taken the existing 40-win Suns and improved (in some cases dramatically) at every single position.

Before that he basically had my Bulls team from last year, but with Melo in place of LeBron.

He's got more than capable defenders at 2,3,4,5, and the one of if not the best facilitators in basketball running the show. They're going to be getting up and down the court like a jet, and the transition opportunities from their defense will be plentiful.

Jrich is not jet fast anymore, neither is Haslem. They'll defend, but they don't have any scoring weapons.

[KCattheStripe]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

Kobe is absolutely not the passer Wade is, but his extra size puts them on par defensively.

[celticpride07]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

lebron is on another level i agree hes even allowed to travel as he wishes.

[Who]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

Agreed but I'd also add -- Melo and Kobe are also better jump-shooters and have better post games than Wade or LeBron.

More versatile (well-rounded) in the way they score the ball. Less reliant on high screen and rolls and dribble penetration from behind the three point line.

[indeedproceed]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

lebron is on another level i agree hes even allowed to travel as he wishes.

haha....well played.

[Lucky17]

It's a trade that helps both teams, I think, which is a rarity.

Nash is a top-flight PG who can run an offense and make things easier for the guys around him. He's now got defenders around him, a frontcourt that will control the boards, and two wings who can get out on the break, one of whom is a consistent 3-point threat.

I might have done OK standing pat with Melo and then drafting the best available PG at this point, but I didn't feel as though I really wanted to do that.

I also now have 8 picks in the next 5 rounds (my final pick is the 10.17), so I've got some chips to play with.

[indeedproceed]

Jrich is not jet fast anymore, neither is Haslem. They'll defend, but they don't have any scoring weapons.

I'm not sure what to expect from Haslem next year, but Jason Richardson shouldn't have any problems getting up and down the court, and playing next to Nash.

Well, except for that one thing which I had forgotten about until now.

Remember that scene at the end of the last Naked Gun where Frank's in the delivery room and the doctor shows him a black baby, and he starts chasing Nordberg (OJ Simpson)?

Well allegedly something pretty similar happened between Steve Nash and Jason Richardson. 

[Lucky17]

Jrich is not jet fast anymore, neither is Haslem. They'll defend, but they don't have any scoring weapons.

I'm not sure what to expect from Haslem next year, but Jason Richardson shouldn't have any problems getting up and down the court, and playing next to Nash.

Well, except for that one thing which I had forgotten about until now.

Remember that scene at the end of the last Naked Gun where Frank's in the delivery room and the doctor shows him a black baby, and he starts chasing Nordberg (OJ Simpson)?

Well allegedly something pretty similar happened between Steve Nash and Jason Richardson.  

No, that was a big urban myth/telephone-game type rumor.

It was Nash cheating on his wife, not JRich sleeping with Nash's wife.

[need SO's "bestest buds" Google image skills]

[indeedproceed]

Jrich is not jet fast anymore, neither is Haslem. They'll defend, but they don't have any scoring weapons.

I'm not sure what to expect from Haslem next year, but Jason Richardson shouldn't have any problems getting up and down the court, and playing next to Nash.

Well, except for that one thing which I had forgotten about until now.

Remember that scene at the end of the last Naked Gun where Frank's in the delivery room and the doctor shows him a black baby, and he starts chasing Nordberg (OJ Simpson)?

Well allegedly something pretty similar happened between Steve Nash and Jason Richardson. 

No, that was a big urban myth/telephone-game type rumor.

It was Nash cheating on his wife, not JRich sleeping with Nash's wife.

[need SO's "bestest buds" Google image skills]

I liked it better when it was more scandalous.

STEVE NASH IS A SAINT!

[KCattheStripe]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

Agreed but I'd also add -- Melo and Kobe are also better jump-shooters and have better post games than Wade or LeBron.

More versatile (well-rounded) in the way they score the ball. Less reliant on high screen and rolls and dribble penetration from behind the three point line.

I agree that they have more ways to score, Who. But only in Isos, which is why I think it won't work. As badly as the Heat were plagued by alternating Iso plays this past year, at least when the play broke down Wade or Bron could make the pass out, I'm not as confident in Melo and Kobe doing the same.

[indeedproceed]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

Agreed but I'd also add -- Melo and Kobe are also better jump-shooters and have better post games than Wade or LeBron.

More versatile (well-rounded) in the way they score the ball. Less reliant on high screen and rolls and dribble penetration from behind the three point line.

I agree that they have more ways to score, Who. But only in Isos, which is why I think it won't work. As badly as the Heat were plagued by alternating Iso plays this past year, at least when the play broke down Wade or Bron could make the pass out, I'm not as confident in Melo and Kobe doing the same.

Yeah the worst case scenario is them just alternating isos.

The triangle offense would really benefit here. Keeps the ball moving and forces Kaman to be involved.

[Who]

Kidd or ____
Rip or ____
Melo
Millsap
Noah

With a scoring backup guard and a defensive wing on the bench. Plus two bigs.

That was the team I was hoping Chicago would build prior to trading Millsap.

[indeedproceed]

Kidd or ____
Rip or ____
Melo
Millsap
Noah

With a scoring backup guard and a defensive wing on the bench. Plus two bigs.

That was the team I was hoping Chicago would build prior to trading Millsap.

The disappointment is palpable.

[mgent]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.

I agree with KC.  Kobe has averaged about 5 assists a year, Wade has been more of a 6/7 assists per year guy.  Defensively Wade has passed Kobe at this point. The only thing Kobe still has on Wade is his shooting.

[mgent]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

Well, aside from Nash, Lucky has taken the existing 40-win Suns and improved (in some cases dramatically) at every single position.

Before that he basically had my Bulls team from last year, but with Melo in place of LeBron.

He's got more than capable defenders at 2,3,4,5, and the one of if not the best facilitators in basketball running the show. They're going to be getting up and down the court like a jet, and the transition opportunities from their defense will be plentiful.

Jrich is not jet fast anymore, neither is Haslem. They'll defend, but they don't have any scoring weapons.

Jason Richardson might not be a back-to-back slam dunk contest winner anymore, but he's definitely still a capable scorer.  He was averaging 19 points with Nash at the beginning of the year on 47% shooting.

I really like this team.  JRich and Ariza will be unreal on the break with Nash and look out if that backcourt gets hot from deep.