2011 CB draft: How does my team look?/division rankings

[indeedproceed]

En, I don't think Roy is done. At least not so done that he can't help a team more than he hurts it.

The one thing nobody is saying though, is that Roy has proven pretty solidly that given a full season and a fresh start, he will not take being benched in favor of j rich very well

[ChampKind]

I haven't been around much this weekend, but I'm looking to move Andre Miller, Beaubois, favors, Thad Young, or others in exchange for a legit 2 guard who can defend - willing to package 2 talented players together for an upgrade. Let me know if you're interested.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Is there any chance I can consult the unbiased Roy H for an opinion about my new team?

I'll do my best, while trying to be constructive:

2011 CB Draft's Atlanta Army Ants.

Coach: Tim Cone

PG - Fisher, Derek
SG - Ellis, Monta
SF - Jefferson, Richard
PF - Lewis, Rashard
C  - Cousins, DeMarcus

Andray  Blatche, Mario Chalmers, Terrence Williams, Kelenna Azubuike, Antonio McDyess, Andris Biedrins, Troy Murphy, Sasha Vujacic (the machine)

What I like:

1.  The sheer talent of your future front court.  DeMarcus Cousins and Andray Blatche are tremendously talented individuals, and if they play to their potential, with complement one another well.

2.  Offensively, the pair of Ellis and Fisher.  Monta Ellis is a tough guy to play beside.  You can't use a ball-dominant point guard, because Monta needs the ball in his hands.  You also can't have a selfish guy; you need somebody who is willing to defer to Ellis.  Offensively, the ideal guy would probably be Jameer Nelson, but Fisher is close to ideal.  He's a leader on the court and can hit big buckets, but he's also willing to give up the ball to his high-usage SG.

3.  Rashard Lewis and Richard Jefferson.  They were on my team last year, so I have to like them.   In secondary roles, though, I think both are very good role players who work very well in an offense.

What I don't like:

1.  Your defense.  Fisher is a very poor defender, and a front court of Rashard Lewis and DeMarcus Cousins is going to have a hard time defending the rim. 

2.  Your front court's maturity.  Cousins and Blatche have a lot of growing up to do.

3.  The reliance on Ellis.  Your team is going to live and die with Monta.  Some nights, he'll be brilliants, but on others, he's going to let you down.  I'd love to see a really strong second option, which you don't have.

Overall, I think you became a bit too trade-happy.  Ellis is your best player, but realistically he's a late first to second round player.  Everyone else, in terms of a total package, is more of a mid-round guy.  In other words, your team looks like a 2nd rounder and a bunch of 3rd, 4th, and 5th round guys.  In this draft, that will unfortunately sink you into the lottery.

Next year, I'd recommend trying more modest trades, and trying to draft around some sort of team blueprint you have in mind.  The most successful squads will be the ones that look like a cohesive team, and the Ants lack that a bit right now.

Still, being a rookie is hard, especially since most of these guys have been playing since 2007.  Good job, and hopefully we see you back next year.

Thanks. Now I have ideas on what to do. Like starting Chalmers over D-Fish. Unfortunately I need to live with DMC and Dray's maturity.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Roy is done.  It is sad, but it is the truth.  Richardson is slowing down.  He is no longer a fringe all-star. He is a 13-15 point scorer on a good team.

Did you see either of Portland's two playoff wins? Roy isn't the player he once was, but to say he's through? I'm guessing you didn't.

The last time Beasley was in a series, he got benched because he choked and was then given away for cap space.  But he can hang stats on a T-Wolves before getting busted again.

Again, who is your seventh man?

Paul is the best player in the division.  But he is also the player most likely to ask for a trade since this team is not as strong as his NO team.

He's yet to demand a trade. Are we going to knock James down a peg or two for his lack of loyalty? Also Magic have a better swing man rotation, and greater frontcourt depth than New Orleans, a team that was giving heavy minutes to fringe rotation players like Belinelli, Willie Green, Jason Smith, etc.

P.S. Is Willie Green a candidate for best player to go undrafted?

The Bullets are built around two all star players that lead their teams the playoffs surrounded by strong role players that come from playoff teams (this season or last)

Fits my Bobcats team to a T. I was an eighth seed and the first round's worst loss, and that was in a thirty team league. What were Portland's record? Indiana's? Remember what Paul did in last year's Hornets Lakers series, without David West?

[Edgar]

In all Honest
Pandas are great right now
and will only get better soon

[TheTruthFot18]

You like orl over was? I thnk Washington is the stronger team.

Agreed, if only because I'm very skeptical of any team that relies heavily upon Javale McGee and Michael Beasley up front.  I like the wings / backcourt, but the bigs are a weakness in my mind.

Orlando has the best player. Chris Paul versus second banana Lamarcus Aldridge. That was all the argument that was needed to out my Charlotte squad that ran up against Dwight Howard last summer. But then also Jason Richardson/Brandon Roy is the best two guard rotation in the league. With Roy dominating, what, one game in four?

Beasley is the teams' seventh man. How many seventh men swing a series? Who's Washington's?

Roy is done.  It is sad, but it is the truth.  Richardson is slowing down.  He is no longer a fringe all-star. He is a 13-15 point scorer on a good team.   


The last time Beasley was in a series, he got benched because he choked and was then given away for cap space.  But he can hang stats on a T-Wolves before getting busted again. 

Paul is the best player in the division.  But he is also the player most likely to ask for a trade since this team is not as strong as his NO team. 

The Bullets are built around two all star players that lead their teams the playoffs surrounded by strong role players that come from playoff teams (this season or last) 


Aldridge stepped up as the best player on his team and led them to 49 wins after Roy leg finally gave out and Odom was injured, again.

Granger has an off year of 20 and 5 on a playoff team.   

Like IP said, Roy is not done. But due to injuries, he will be coming off the bench until he can prove he's a legit starter. I'm not asking JRich to score 20+ pts/game, just spread the floor, make those 3's and be a solid scoring threat w Maggette.

Beasley is coming off the bench to solve a lot of his old problems (condition, bad plays) while making his role more scoring based then before.

I'm not concerned that CP3 will request a trade. It would be more realistic to bring in a solid big at the trade deadline to work with him.

I'm not concerned with Granger either. Had an off season and probably will not return to that that all-star level. As for players leading their team through the regular season and making an impact in the playoffs, who did better?

Paul, Aldridge, or Granger?

[wdleehi]

Battler, west, and Kanter is a nice little combo off the bench. Roy is the best off the bench, but Washington is substantially deeper in rotation capable capable players.

PG Raymond Felton/ Goran Dragic
SG Landry Fields/ Delonte West/ Avery Bradley
SF Danny Granger/ Shane Battier/ Peja Stojakovic
PF Lamarcus Aldridge/ Ryan Anderson
C Marcin Gortat/ Enes Kanter/ Jason Smith

Orlando's bench at center and power forward brings more rotation capable players off the bench (birdman, Wilcox, Beasley) plus barnes and dunleavy (+webster) is on par or better then battier/Peja

My third big man split time with your starting PF last year in Orlando.  Therefore, my bench big is as good as your best big man.


As for the occasional Roy contributions (which are getting less and less) he gets the consistent contributions of Granger which will lead to a lot more then just two wins.

As for a 7th man, wasn't Battier the starter for Memphis when they won their first playoff game and series?

Wasn't West the 7th man on the Celtics after being a starter on a Cleveland team that would go deep into the playoffs.  

[Edgar]

In all Honest
Pandas are great right now
and will only get better soon

good luck getting a rebound

[mgent]

New look 76ers, now with a low post presence, can be seen below.

Let me know what you think, or if you can trade me a somewhat decent SF.

[wdleehi]

Fits my Bobcats team to a T. I was an eighth seed and the first round's worst loss, and that was in a thirty team league. What were Portland's record? Indiana's? Remember what Paul did in last year's Hornets Lakers series, without David West?

Except I do not have a "Cousins" in my starting lineup who after one whole season in the league is still pulling teams down in this event.


The closes thing I have, Kantor, is a 15 minute a game backup with insurance in the form of Jason Smith.  

[The Walker Wiggle]

I thought Memphis started Sam Young and Tony Allen? But I'm on my phone so can't check that. And I like both Delonte and Battier. My point is only that too much is being made of Beasley's flaws given his role.

[KCattheStripe]

I thought Memphis started Sam Young and Tony Allen? But I'm on my phone so can't check that. And I like both Delonte and Battier. My point is only that too much is being made of Beasley's flaws given his role.

You are correct, but Battier played way more minutes than young.

[wdleehi]

I thought Memphis started Sam Young and Tony Allen? But I'm on my phone so can't check that. And I like both Delonte and Battier. My point is only that too much is being made of Beasley's flaws given his role.

You are correct, but Battier played way more minutes than young.

My fault.


Memphis' 6th man. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

In all Honest
Pandas are great right now
and will only get better soon

good luck getting a rebound

No worries I'll just have Shard bring him out of the paint. Problem solved.

[Edgar]

In all Honest
Pandas are great right now
and will only get better soon

good luck getting a rebound

No worries I'll just have Shard bring him out of the paint. Problem solved.