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

[nickagneta]

Between the quality and depth I've got in my bigs, I really don't see an issue.

This is something I see you saying a lot and I just don't see it.

AV and West I like but Martin hasn't played in over 71 games since 2002-03 and has played in over 66 games once in the last 6 years. If the last six years are any indication you can expect at best 50 games, a declining game, less minutes and a restricted postseason performance from him.

Splitter and Bonner aren't exactly what I called high quality players. They are a dime a dozen in this league as neither is really exceptional and got their minutes more out of Popovich resting Duncan so much and having next to nothing at the PF position than actually showing so much quality that they displaced someone.

Brad Miller won't even be playing next year with the severity of his injury.

I'm not going to blast you for lack of health with West, like some, or AV because reports are that both should be okay for the start of the season but who knows whether there will be effects from those injuries.

It's a decent bunch but I just don't see the quality or quality of depth you are talking about.

[nickagneta]

He's averaged 76 games for the past 4 seasons.

I think you guys are just yanking my chain.  If you don't want to put me 1st that's fine, but don't act like you can justify it.

I don't quite get the David West concern.  Yes, it was an injury, but it was a clean tear with no further ligament / nerve damage.  Those are the types of injuries that guys make full recoveries from all the time.  West has been mostly healthy, especially in recent years.  I don't see him as a huge concern going forward.  He might be rusty in the early going, but by the time the playoffs roll around, he'll be back at 100% strength, I have no doubt.

The following guys missed 17+ games (20%+ of the season) last year:

Eric Gordon
Deron Williams
Rudy Gay
Andrew Bogut
Antwan Jamison
Tyreke Evans
Caron Butler
Chris Kaman
Joakim Noah
Carlos Delfino
Andrew Bynum
Carlos Boozer
Danilo Gallinari
Mo Williams
Baron Davis
Nick Young
Brandon Jennings
Rip Hamilton
Anthony Morrow
Andrei Kirilenko
Marvin Williams

... and a ton more.  Yet, the only guy I'm seeing getting seriously critiqued for injuries is David West.  Is that because he's playing on a top contender in the East?

I have to agree with Roy. I don't see West being an injury concern or Varejao. Now Kenyon Martin and Brad Miller....that's another story.

[Roy H.]

I have to agree with Roy. I don't see West being an injury concern or Varejao. Now Kenyon Martin and Brad Miller....that's another story.

I think that's a more valid concern.  The strange thing about Kmart -- and maybe it's just coincidence -- is that despite having consistently injury-prone seasons, he hasn't missed a playoff game since 2007.  My guess is when the playoffs come around, he'll be in there, bringing toughness and rebounding off the bench.

Brad Miller...  After microfracture surgery in May, I think he's toast.  He's expected to be back by January, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him miss the majority of the season.  He'll bring leadership, but not a lot more.

[mgent]

Between the quality and depth I've got in my bigs, I really don't see an issue.

This is something I see you saying a lot and I just don't see it.

AV and West I like but Martin hasn't played in over 71 games since 2002-03 and has played in over 66 games once in the last 6 years. If the last six years are any indication you can expect at best 50 games, a declining game, less minutes and a restricted postseason performance from him.

Splitter and Bonner aren't exactly what I called high quality players. They are a dime a dozen in this league as neither is really exceptional and got their minutes more out of Popovich resting Duncan so much and having next to nothing at the PF position than actually showing so much quality that they displaced someone.

Brad Miller won't even be playing next year with the severity of his injury.

I'm not going to blast you for lack of health with West, like some, or AV because reports are that both should be okay for the start of the season but who knows whether there will be effects from those injuries.

It's a decent bunch but I just don't see the quality or quality of depth you are talking about.

I obviously don't think I've got the best frontcourt in the game, what I meant was injury isn't a concern.  I mean you're talking about 1 of my backups here.  Don't mean to blast IP, but he's starting Bogut and Amare who are more injury-prone than West, and he's got 4 bigs compared to my 6, yet his team doesn't seem to be taking a hit in voting.  I don't see how you could say I don't have depth in comparison with the rest of the league

Value-wise, Kenyon Martin is an above average 3rd big, and Splitter and Bonner are both average 4th men.  Add that to two solid starters in West and Varejao, and I don't see how bigs are an issue.

[RebusRankin]

Hey, I voted. If some people don't like it. Too bad. Pawnee looking at you.

[mgent]

When was the last time two of the league's premier perimeter passers teamed up before LeBron and Wade?  Jordan and Pippen?

Maybe I should be comparing my team to the Bulls? 

[KCattheStripe]

When was the last time two of the league's premier perimeter passers teamed up before LeBron and Wade?  Jordan and Pippen?

Maybe I should be comparing my team to the Bulls? 

Kirk Hinrich couldn't lift BJ Armstrong's jock. 

[nickagneta]

Some opinions:

Best starting back court(PG/SG): Oklahoma City with Rondo and Kobe but I also love the Rose/Ray Ray tandem in Memphis and Paul/Roy joining in Orlando(if Roy is starting which he should be)

Best starting bigs(C/PF): Bogut/Amare in Portland has to be the winner but Gasol/Griffrin in Cleveland is pretty dang good as well.

Starting starting frontcourt(C/PF/SF): call me biased but I think its the Chandler/Millsap/Lebron trio in Sactown though I have to admit I really like the trios in Pawnee(Gasol/Randolph/Gay) and Utah(Jefferson/KG/Pierce) due to the familiarity the players have playing with each other.

Best bench:Golden State and it really isn't close. This might be the only team that can put in a high quality bench 5 to give starting teams a tough go. Unfortunately, I think they are probably starting 2 players that are more bench quality than starter quality.

Best old guy combo: Phoenix with Kidd and Manu. These guys can still bring it. KG/Pierce is pretty great too

Best young guy combo:Detroit's Wall/Derozan combo could have a very bright future as could El Salvador's Evans/Love duo and Cleveland's Griffin/Rubio pair but I have to give it to New Jersey's Durant/Conley teaming

Best teams no one is talking about: Chicago and Denver. Don't sleep on these teams. Lots of chemistry and quality and veteran GMs that can put together a great game plan and playoff argument

Best starting five: Sacramento....had to throw in the obligatory marketing of the best team in the game

[wdleehi]

When was the last time two of the league's premier perimeter passers teamed up before LeBron and Wade?  Jordan and Pippen?

Maybe I should be comparing my team to the Bulls? 

Where is the 2nd premier player?


AI2 is good, but no where near "premier" 

[mgent]

When was the last time two of the league's premier perimeter passers teamed up before LeBron and Wade?  Jordan and Pippen?

Maybe I should be comparing my team to the Bulls?  

Where is the 2nd premier player?


AI2 is good, but no where near "premier"  

[nickagneta]

When was the last time two of the league's premier perimeter passers teamed up before LeBron and Wade?  Jordan and Pippen?

Maybe I should be comparing my team to the Bulls? 

Where exactly are the premier perimeter passers on your team?

I don't consider Wade or AI2 premier perimeter passers. Actually, I don't think other than Rondo, Paul, Williams, LeBron, Nash, and Kidd that there are any other premier perimeter passes in the league.

Westbrook, Rose and Wall could be someday but at the moment they haven't shown it nearly as much as their desire to create their own shot. Calderon has posted some pretty good numbers but I don't consider him premier.

The last team I remember that had 2 truly premier perimeter passers were the 1980 Celtics with Bird and DJ. Walton was a premier passer who did most of his premier passing on the interior and in the outlet situation.

I will say Wade and Iguodala are very good passers as is Hinrich. I'm not sure of premier.

[mgent]

Iguodala led SGs (how he's listed on basketball-reference) in assists per game or was 2nd for SFs.  Wade, before he teamed up with LeBron, was a 6-7 assist per game player.  The only better passing wing is LeBron.

[KCattheStripe]

Iguodala led SGs (how he's listed on basketball-reference) in assists per game or was 2nd for SFs.  Wade, before he teamed up with LeBron, was a 6-7 assist per game player.  The only better passing wing is LeBron.

So now you're saying you're playing Igoudala out of position? 

[wdleehi]

Iguodala led SGs (how he's listed on basketball-reference) in assists per game or was 2nd for SFs.  Wade, before he teamed up with LeBron, was a 6-7 assist per game player.  The only better passing wing is LeBron.

So now you're saying you're playing Igoudala out of position? 

Isn't that the issue with him and Turner?  Both are SGs?

[mgent]

Iguodala led SGs (how he's listed on basketball-reference) in assists per game or was 2nd for SFs.  Wade, before he teamed up with LeBron, was a 6-7 assist per game player.  The only better passing wing is LeBron.

So now you're saying you're playing Igoudala out of position? 

Obviously not, he's a guard-forward, they just grouped him with guards in my stat search.  I had this stupid conversation about the way basketball-reference lists positions with somebody during the historical draft, who was convinced Oscar wasn't a PG.