2011 CB Draft Northwest Division Press Conference

[Kane3387]

The Utah Jazz

Any thought of using Haywood as the starting C to strengthen the defense and then use Jefferson as a offensive 6th man? 

Certainly, But I really like KG working with a superior offensive post talent like Jefferson. With haywood in at the same time I have no one on the block I can throw the ball into. I think the defense will be ok for the first few minutes that Kg is fresh in and energized. Haywood will spell KG and then Big Al moves to the 4.

I think Haywood is accustomed to coming off the bench and doesn't need to be in a rhythm to really play "his game". Jefferson on the other hand I think will produce more consistently if he is starting. It improves his chances of getting in the flow of the game.

[indeedproceed]

Head to head I said Big Al is at a slight disadvantage to Bogut but on this team he is playing with the kind of support that will not ask him to go one on one vs Bogut all the time. That being said Bogut will have to think twice about leaving him when he goes to play help defense.

Yeah but its not a slight disadvantage. Al Jefferson is a one-dimensional player; an elite low-post scorer, but only a 'good' scorer all-around, an opportunistic rebounder and an unfocused and undisciplined defender. He's not on Bogut's level, not even close.

[Roy H.]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

[celticpride07]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

10th in the west with kobe and rondo seems really low.

[Kane3387]

Head to head I said Big Al is at a slight disadvantage to Bogut but on this team he is playing with the kind of support that will not ask him to go one on one vs Bogut all the time. That being said Bogut will have to think twice about leaving him when he goes to play help defense.

Yeah but its not a slight disadvantage. Al Jefferson is a one-dimensional player; an elite low-post scorer, but only a 'good' scorer all-around, an opportunistic rebounder and an unfocused and undisciplined defender. He's not on Bogut's level, not even close.

Al Jefferson is in the same tier of player that Bogut is. They both have never played in playoff games. Neither has been to an All Star game. Jefferson is the better scorer by far. Bogut didn't even average 13 ppg. For his career he has averaged 12. Jefferson averaged 18 +. They both are good rebounders. Jefferson is the more efficent player if you look at PER.

Jefferson PER = 20.20
Bogut PER = 16.77

Jefferson also shoots 76% from the line. Very solid for a big. Bogut shoots 44%!!!! So it doesn't matter if Big Al fouls him because he will miss them anyways. He can't even be in the games when it's close and FTs are the deciding factor.

Also their FG% was almost identical. Are they better then the other in certain aspects of the game? Sure. But overall they bring about the same amount to the table, just in different ways.

Again they are in the same tirer of player. The third guy at best on a championship team unless you have a once in a generation player to team him with.

[Fafnir]

Head to head I said Big Al is at a slight disadvantage to Bogut but on this team he is playing with the kind of support that will not ask him to go one on one vs Bogut all the time. That being said Bogut will have to think twice about leaving him when he goes to play help defense.

Yeah but its not a slight disadvantage. Al Jefferson is a one-dimensional player; an elite low-post scorer, but only a 'good' scorer all-around, an opportunistic rebounder and an unfocused and undisciplined defender. He's not on Bogut's level, not even close.

He's not even opportunistic as a rebounder, he's lazy.

Just his own rebounding rates can't tell you how many defensive rebounds the Jazz didn't get because Jefferson couldn't be bothered to box out.

[StartOrien]

If I'm starting a team, I take Andrew Bogut over Al Jefferson every time.

[celticpride07]

i just dont get all the portland love.  amare is a superstar but can he carry a team alone. bogut is always injured.  lowry had one good year. harden was streaky all year. delfino and sessios are not that great. robin lopez got outplayed by channing frye. jerbko mills tolliver henderson morrow are not a championship bench.


i think utah is way better than portland

2 superstars in pierce and KG. former all stars baron davis and caron butler. not to mention big al jefferson. and the 6th man of the year in jamal crawford.

[Roy H.]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

10th in the west with kobe and rondo seems really low.

It does seem low.  Here's what I don't like: 

1.  Ron Artest.  He's not a good player anymore.  His defense is still pretty good, but his offense and rebounding are poor;

2. Antwan Jamison.  Solid offensive production, but his rebounding has fallen off a cliff, his efficiency is starting to slip and his defense is poor. 

3.  Sam Dalembert.  Dalembert just isn't a very smart player.  He preserves blocked shots over positioning. 

4.  Rondo next to Kobe.  Rondo needs the ball in his hands, so does Kobe.  Kobe is most effective next to a point guard like...  Mo Williams.  He was a perfect fit for your team; a ball-dominant guard is going to be useless next to Kobe.

I want to like your team better, but I just don't like the personnel or the fit very much.  I'm open to being convinced, however.

[StartOrien]

Portland and Utah are super-duper close. I'd be inclined to side with Utah but I teeter between.

[Kane3387]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

I disagree. I don't think Portland is better then Utah. Utah has the best wing player in Pierce. The best defensive player in KG. Utah's third best player is on the same level as Portland's second best player. Amare didn't win a game this year against Pierce an KG. 0-8. He has won zero playoff games as "the guy" and Pierce and KG have won a ring together.

None of Portland's players have proven they can play well in the playoffs besides Amare.

Utah has the better bench (Jamal Crawford?!?!?!) and deeper front court. Portland is giving Jerebko 16 minutes per game!!!!

*Wild Card* ==== Baron Davis

He WILL be great with KG and Pierce! He has more ability than Lowry to take over a game for periods of time and Lowry is very undersized against Davis.

Also so not underestimate how having Thabo pick up full court on Lowry can disrupt this offense. In the end Portland does not have the wing talent they need to beat Utah in a 7 game series, nor do they have experience necessary. Look at OKC... Young and talented but they needed a year to do it. Portland still hasn't done it in real life and they are similar to this Portland team. This years real Nuggets are another good example as well.

[Kane3387]

Head to head I said Big Al is at a slight disadvantage to Bogut but on this team he is playing with the kind of support that will not ask him to go one on one vs Bogut all the time. That being said Bogut will have to think twice about leaving him when he goes to play help defense.

Yeah but its not a slight disadvantage. Al Jefferson is a one-dimensional player; an elite low-post scorer, but only a 'good' scorer all-around, an opportunistic rebounder and an unfocused and undisciplined defender. He's not on Bogut's level, not even close.

He's not even opportunistic as a rebounder, he's lazy.

Just his own rebounding rates can't tell you how many defensive rebounds the Jazz didn't get because Jefferson couldn't be bothered to box out.

He averaged 9.7 a game and had the second most of his career. He's been a 20 and 10 threat every year. I admit Bogut is overall a little better, but it's not like he is "on another level". The guy is a career 12.7 ppg guy and 57% foul shooter. He doesn't bring as much offensively as some think. He's like a Marcus Camby in his prime. Again both will never be the second best player on a championship team UNLESS they are playing with a transcendent talent.

[Roy H.]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

I disagree. I don't think Portland is better then Utah. Utah has the best wing player in Pierce. The best defensive player in KG. Utah's third best player is on the same level as Portland's second best player. Amare didn't win a game this year against Pierce an KG. 0-8. He has won zero playoff games as "the guy" and Pierce and KG have won a ring together.

None of Portland's players have proven they can play well in the playoffs besides Amare.

Utah has the better bench (Jamal Crawford?!?!?!) and deeper front court. Portland is giving Jerebko 16 minutes per game!!!!

*Wild Card* ==== Baron Davis

He WILL be great with KG and Pierce! He has more ability than Lowry to take over a game for periods of time and Lowry is very undersized against Davis.

Also so not underestimate how having Thabo pick up full court on Lowry can disrupt this offense. In the end Portland does not have the wing talent they need to beat Utah in a 7 game series, nor do they have experience necessary. Look at OKC... Young and talented but they needed a year to do it. Portland still hasn't done it in real life and they are similar to this Portland team. This years real Nuggets are another good example as well.

Eh...  Amare was a pretty huge part of those Phoenix teams, which won plenty of playoff games.  The key is to surround him with complementary talent.

Here's why I like Portland slightly better:  I like the fit of their pieces.  Bogut and Amare have clearly defined roles, as do Delfino, Harden, and Lowry.  Williams is the bench star.  The bench guys all fit needs.  I can see Portland functioning as a real team, and functioning extremely well.

Utah probably has more raw talent.  However, I don't like Caron Butler at SG.  He's historically been a SF, and that's where he's most effective.  He and Pierce have very similar games, except Butler is a vastly inferior shooter (unless you expect a 31.9% 3PT shooter to replicate the 43% he put up in 29 games last seaason).  I think Big Al next to KG is going to be very potent offensively, but I think that Big Al is going to make a lot of dumb mistakes. 

Roles just seem a lot messier on Utah, and I think that makes a difference.  That's why I give Portland the slight edge.

[Kane3387]

Portland and Utah are super-duper close. I'd be inclined to side with Utah but I teeter between.

Then that means our games would be close and likely come down to execution in the final few minutes which is a lot like how the NYC Vs BOS games were all year this year. Yet did NYC win a game? No. Why? Execution.

Who do you think will consistently be able to execute more efficiently? Utah or Portland?

Look at the coaching. Look at the match-ups and look at the rosters. In these scenarios Andrew Bogut's career 57% FT shooting seriously hurts Portland. Bogut shot 44% from the line last year.

[celticpride07]

My preliminary conference ranks:

2.  Portland
4.  Utah
5.  Denver
10.  OKC

As always, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and have horribly underrated your squad.  I already moved some teams around based upon yesterday's arguments, and I'm willing to do the same again.

10th in the west with kobe and rondo seems really low.

It does seem low.  Here's what I don't like:  

1.  Ron Artest.  He's not a good player anymore.  His defense is still pretty good, but his offense and rebounding are poor;

2. Antwan Jamison.  Solid offensive production, but his rebounding has fallen off a cliff, his efficiency is starting to slip and his defense is poor.  

3.  Sam Dalembert.  Dalembert just isn't a very smart player.  He preserves blocked shots over positioning.  

4.  Rondo next to Kobe.  Rondo needs the ball in his hands, so does Kobe.  Kobe is most effective next to a point guard like...  Mo Williams.  He was a perfect fit for your team; a ball-dominant guard is going to be useless next to Kobe.

I want to like your team better, but I just don't like the personnel or the fit very much.  I'm open to being convinced, however.

1. ron artest doesn't need to be the greatest rebounder, hes a sf.  he still can knock down shots and spreads the floor.  he brings a tenacity and defensive passion to the lineup. defense wins.

2. antawn jamison is coming off the bench with his scoring. he is on the bench because hes a poor defender.  which puts a good defender and shot blocker in tyrus thomas at the starting pf.

3. everyone is goin to love sam dalembert on the C's for the mle. he is always healthy never misses a game. can shoot a little and block shots and rebound. solid nba center.(coming to the c's i hope)

4.rondo is running the point, and calling plays..kobe then gets the ball and does his work. artest kobe rondo are a defensive nightmare for teams.  i thought defense was important in the cnba?

EDIT: kobe does not miss the playoffs, a team with kobe and rondo definitely don't miss the playoffs especially with that defense and firepower depth