2011 CB Draft Northwest Division Press Conference

[Scribbles]

Questions for Indeed and Portland.

1.  Carlos Delfino missed a fair amount of games last year due to concussions and a rib injury.  Any worry if he gets knocked around or takes a hard fall he'll suffer another concussion and be out?

2. Derrick Williams. You have him projected at averaging around 15 ppg next year but he only averaged 19.5 a game in college.  Do you think his game will translate over that well?  He was a stretch 4 in college(was the tallest player in Arizona's starting 5 I believe) and physically dominated opposing players.  At the NBA level can he defend small forwards and can he score at that level when being guarded by players with equal strength/athletic ability?  

[indeedproceed]

Al Jefferson shoots 43% against Andrew Bogut, plays exponentially worse defense, fouls more often, and ultimately scores less over their career matchups. He's not mentally tough, he's shown an unwillingness to work hard on defense, and on top of that, the dude is 6'9 without shoes! Bogut is 6'11 w/o shoes, and on top of that he's the more skilled player. Al Jefferson didn't stop Bogut from playing solid team defense when he was with Minnesota, he didn't stop him from playing it while he was in Utah, and he won't stop him this time in Utah either.

[indeedproceed]

Questions for Indeed and Portland.

1.  Carlos Delfino missed a fair amount of games last year due to concussions and a rib injury.  Any worry if he gets knocked around or takes a hard fall he'll suffer another concussion and be out?

Ah, when the concussion first happened, future prospects didn't look good. Delfino recovered though, wasn't rushed back, and managed to finish out the season averaging 30+ minutes a night, missing only one game.

Getting another concussion is a worry for anyone who has had a bad one before. The odds are just much higher. But, I don't think its a worry for Delfino anymore than it is for anyone who has missed time due to concussion.

2. Derrick Williams. You have him projected at averaging around 15 ppg next year but he only averaged 19.5 a game in college.  Do you think his game will translate over that well?  He was a stretch 4 in college(was the tallest player in Arizona's starting 5 I believe) and physically dominated opposing players.  At the NBA level can he defend small forwards and can he score at that level when being guarded by players with equal strength/athletic ability? 

Well likely few SF's will have equal strength. Derrick Williams graded out as the strongest rookie in his class, and maybe 1 or 2 in 50 in the NBA that play the majority of the minutes at the 3 will be able to contend with that.

At the 3 he's bigger and stronger, at the 4 he's more skilled and quicker.

I knocked his FG% down from 59% to 52% and knocked his 3pt % from 50% down to 39%.

I gave him 10 FGA's in 28 minutes, knocked down this FTA's and rebounds, and came out around 15ppg. Yes, I do think he's that good.

He was the most efficient scorer in college basketball, and he didn't do it on athletic ability alone. He was commended for letting the offense come to him, picking his shots wisely, and rarely settling for an easy jumper when there was a path to the hoop available. I think 15 points is very possible, and not even overly optimistic.

[mgent]

Mgent,

Williams is obviously a huge question mark, but I think you're underrating Delfino a little bit.  He's one of the better wing defenders in the league.  The only guys that he can't handle are the super-fast wings, and that's not Pierce.

What?! Maybe a good shooter but not "one of the best defensive players in the NBA". No way. The guy didn't get one vote for ALL NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM. See the link below. You are overrating him big time.

http://www.examiner.com/nba-in-national/2011-all-defensive-team-announced

You weren't quoting me with the "one of the best defensive players in the NBA" right?  I said he was one of the BETTER defensive WINGS.

Tony, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe.

After those guys I can't think of anyone else clearly better than Delfino.

Edit:  Just looked at the link, forgot about Wallace.

I am very wary of using statements like "one of the best" as it is a very subjective adjective.  I think if you are going to use statements like that, my advice is that it be unquestionable to anybody.  Like "Amare is one of the best offensive PF's in the leauge", "Tony Allen is one of the best defensive wings in the league", "Nash is one of the best passers in the league", "Zach Randolph is one of the best rebounders in the league".  You are free to use statements like that as you please, but it definitely leads posters to question your objectivity in every statement you make rather than trusting you.

Here, you have pointed out that Delfino is definitely not a top 10 defensive wing in the NBA, and while you can't think of anyone clearly better than Delfino, I can't say that Delfino is clearly better than another handful of players like Courtney Lee, Ariza, Artest, Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Mickael Pietrus, and probably others.  I'd put him somewhere in the top 10-20 wing defenders in the NBA.

Well there's a difference between "one of the best" which means among the best, and "one of the better" which means better than most.

Delfino is at least in the 80-90th percentile as far as wing defenders go.

I guess I would need to see the complete list of who is better then Delfino. I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

I think my list is pretty complete.  The only other guys I would throw in the discussion are Mbah a Moute, Deng, the shells of Artest and Hill, and maybe Kirilenko.

I don't think anybody can really argue he's out of the top 15.

[indeedproceed]

I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

Salmons was on Ray. Delfino was on Pierce.

The only time Delfino guarded Ray was when Maggette was out there, and that's because he couldn't guard Ray, not because Delfino couldn't guard Pierce.

Defino's versatility is a strength, not a weakness. Its also the same strength that allows me to play him at the 2 as a stopper if need be.

[Kane3387]

Utah:

From my perspective, you made some brilliant moves at the beginning of the draft (ending up with Pau + Paul, without giving much up in return), and some great moves at the end (getting Big Al, Butler, etc.)  So... what happened in the middle rounds?  It seems like you kept trading back, rather than aggressively chasing talent.  Would you change things in hindsight?

In terms of your rotation, any thoughts to starting Haywood and/or Thabo, to give better balance to your starting lineup? 

The Kaman pick really hurt me Roy. I thought him being an All Star in 2010 and complimenting Pierce and Gasol was rather nice. However I could tell the board was really down on Kaman due to injuries. He was my third round pick and I didn't have a fourth.

There wasn't really anymore centers available so I decided to go with Dalembert. I didn't think Dalembert would last till the fourth round so I traded him for a fourth and other picks. I picked up Dalembert in the fourth. At that point I didn't see a huge difference in talent so I acquired 4 sixth rounders and a fifth.

You see when I was trying to trade Kaman to ppl I got good advice from KCatTheStripe. He said ppl will low ball you in the first week but when the second week comes around they will see wholes in their team and be more willing to trade. At that point I decided to get guys I thought I could sell in trade conversations. I picked Andre Miller and some other guys. I ended up turning those guys into Davis, Crawford, Butler, and Big Al.

In hindsight I wouldn't have drafted for need in the third round. I would have drafted for talent. I have learned that you can really build your team a lot more efficiently through trades then in the draft.

I have thought about Thabo and Haywood a lot actually. Thabo more then Haywood though because I like how Jefferson complements KG kind of like Shaq did. However I just want to go with my five best overall guys to begin with, excluding Crawford. I feel all of those guys are better when they start because it's easier for them to get in the flow of the game and find a rhythm. Thabo and Haywood are accustomed to coming off the bench and they don't really need to find a rhythm to be productive.

That being said if defense is needed or were playing OKC or the Kings for example and Kobe/LBJ is giving it to Caron or Pierce then I see Larry Brown quickly putting Thabo in.

Thanks.

[mgent]

I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

Salmons was on Ray. Delfino was on Pierce.

The only time Delfino guarded Ray was when Maggette was out there, and that's because he couldn't guard Ray, not because Delfino couldn't guard Pierce.

Defino's versatility is a strength, not a weakness. Its also the same strength that allows me to play him at the 2 as a stopper if need be.

Which you just might need to with JJ, Kobe, and Butler in the division.

I too remember Delfino guarding Pierce.  I don't remember his defense on him being a "joke."

[indeedproceed]

I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

Salmons was on Ray. Delfino was on Pierce.

The only time Delfino guarded Ray was when Maggette was out there, and that's because he couldn't guard Ray, not because Delfino couldn't guard Pierce.

Defino's versatility is a strength, not a weakness. Its also the same strength that allows me to play him at the 2 as a stopper if need be.

Which you just might need to with JJ, Kobe, and Butler in the division.

I too remember Delfino guarding Pierce.  I don't remember his defense on him being a "joke."

In the playoffs that's probably gonna happen once and a while, or switch Harden and Delfino on defense.

[indeedproceed]

Denver:

1)Is it worth the offense gained to start Calderon and Wright  when defensively both Bosh and Nene are going to have to keep their head on swivel to keep guys outta the paint?

2) Both Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson are historically poor leaders, versatile weapons, two-way threats, and good-but-not-great players. How does combining them together equal profit?

[Fafnir]

I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

Salmons was on Ray. Delfino was on Pierce.

The only time Delfino guarded Ray was when Maggette was out there, and that's because he couldn't guard Ray, not because Delfino couldn't guard Pierce.

Defino's versatility is a strength, not a weakness. Its also the same strength that allows me to play him at the 2 as a stopper if need be.

Maggette curling around screens after Ray!

That must be hilarious tape if it exists, probably as good as Ben Gordon trying to. Charles Barkley made me laugh so much when he showed clips of Gordon being a "magnet" and sticking to every screen set for Ray.

[Kane3387]

Mgent,

Williams is obviously a huge question mark, but I think you're underrating Delfino a little bit.  He's one of the better wing defenders in the league.  The only guys that he can't handle are the super-fast wings, and that's not Pierce.

What?! Maybe a good shooter but not "one of the best defensive players in the NBA". No way. The guy didn't get one vote for ALL NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM. See the link below. You are overrating him big time.

http://www.examiner.com/nba-in-national/2011-all-defensive-team-announced

You weren't quoting me with the "one of the best defensive players in the NBA" right?  I said he was one of the BETTER defensive WINGS.

Tony, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe.

After those guys I can't think of anyone else clearly better than Delfino.

Edit:  Just looked at the link, forgot about Wallace.

I am very wary of using statements like "one of the best" as it is a very subjective adjective.  I think if you are going to use statements like that, my advice is that it be unquestionable to anybody.  Like "Amare is one of the best offensive PF's in the leauge", "Tony Allen is one of the best defensive wings in the league", "Nash is one of the best passers in the league", "Zach Randolph is one of the best rebounders in the league".  You are free to use statements like that as you please, but it definitely leads posters to question your objectivity in every statement you make rather than trusting you.

Here, you have pointed out that Delfino is definitely not a top 10 defensive wing in the NBA, and while you can't think of anyone clearly better than Delfino, I can't say that Delfino is clearly better than another handful of players like Courtney Lee, Ariza, Artest, Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Mickael Pietrus, and probably others.  I'd put him somewhere in the top 10-20 wing defenders in the NBA.

Well there's a difference between "one of the best" which means among the best, and "one of the better" which means better than most.

Delfino is at least in the 80-90th percentile as far as wing defenders go.

I guess I would need to see the complete list of who is better then Delfino. I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

I think my list is pretty complete.  The only other guys I would throw in the discussion are Mbah a Moute, Deng, the shells of Artest and Hill, and maybe Kirilenko.

I don't think anybody can really argue he's out of the top 15.

TA, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe, Wallace, Deng, Artest (his strength and hands still make him better then Delfino), Corey Brewer, Ronnie Brewer, Mbah a Moute.

15 guys I consider better. There are others. Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Quinten Richardson, Pietrus, Dorell Wright, etc. that you could argue are better. Is he solid at defense and doesn;t hurt your team? Sure.. Is he considered a lockdown defender? No.

[Kane3387]

Al Jefferson shoots 43% against Andrew Bogut, plays exponentially worse defense, fouls more often, and ultimately scores less over their career matchups. He's not mentally tough, he's shown an unwillingness to work hard on defense, and on top of that, the dude is 6'9 without shoes! Bogut is 6'11 w/o shoes, and on top of that he's the more skilled player. Al Jefferson didn't stop Bogut from playing solid team defense when he was with Minnesota, he didn't stop him from playing it while he was in Utah, and he won't stop him this time in Utah either.

He never played with the amount of offensive talent he will in Utah... Ever. Not even close.

[indeedproceed]

TA, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe, Wallace, Deng, Mbah A Moute

I wouldn't argue any of these guys.

15 guys I consider better. There are others. Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Quinten Richardson, Pietrus, Dorell Wright, etc. that you could argue are better. Is he solid at defense and doesn;t hurt your team? Sure.. Is he considered a lockdown defender? No.

I don't think most of the guys on your list can be considered "lockdown" defenders. In the last 7 or so years, on the "lockdown defender list" I'd put early 2000's Bruce Bowen, mid-late 2000's Kobe, Shane Battier, and Ron Artest, late 2000's/early teens Tony Allen and Thabo Sefelosha.

Allen and Sefelosha are the only guys I can really consider 'lockdown' defenders in today's NBA.

But is Carlos Delfino an above average defensive player among starting swingmen? Yeah.

Al Jefferson shoots 43% against Andrew Bogut, plays exponentially worse defense, fouls more often, and ultimately scores less over their career matchups. He's not mentally tough, he's shown an unwillingness to work hard on defense, and on top of that, the dude is 6'9 without shoes! Bogut is 6'11 w/o shoes, and on top of that he's the more skilled player. Al Jefferson didn't stop Bogut from playing solid team defense when he was with Minnesota, he didn't stop him from playing it while he was in Utah, and he won't stop him this time in Utah either.

He never played with the amount of offensive talent he will in Utah... Ever. Not even close.

That's fine. My point is that Andrew Bogut's defense has been better than Al Jefferson's offense...and that shouldn't be that big a deal. Bogut is the second best defensive center in the NBA.

[Kane3387]

TA, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe, Wallace, Deng, Mbah A Moute

I wouldn't argue any of these guys.

15 guys I consider better. There are others. Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Quinten Richardson, Pietrus, Dorell Wright, etc. that you could argue are better. Is he solid at defense and doesn;t hurt your team? Sure.. Is he considered a lockdown defender? No.

I don't think most of the guys on your list can be considered "lockdown" defenders. In the last 7 or so years, on the "lockdown defender list" I'd put early 2000's Bruce Bowen, mid-late 2000's Kobe, Shane Battier, and Ron Artest, late 2000's/early teens Tony Allen and Thabo Sefelosha.

Allen and Sefelosha are the only guys I can really consider 'lockdown' defenders in today's NBA.

But is Carlos Delfino an above average starter among starting swingmen? Yeah.

Al Jefferson shoots 43% against Andrew Bogut, plays exponentially worse defense, fouls more often, and ultimately scores less over their career matchups. He's not mentally tough, he's shown an unwillingness to work hard on defense, and on top of that, the dude is 6'9 without shoes! Bogut is 6'11 w/o shoes, and on top of that he's the more skilled player. Al Jefferson didn't stop Bogut from playing solid team defense when he was with Minnesota, he didn't stop him from playing it while he was in Utah, and he won't stop him this time in Utah either.

He never played with the amount of offensive talent he will in Utah... Ever. Not even close.

That's fine. My point is that Andrew Bogut's defense has been better than Al Jefferson's offense...and that shouldn't be that big a deal. Bogut is the second best defensive center in the NBA.

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.

[mgent]

Mgent,

Williams is obviously a huge question mark, but I think you're underrating Delfino a little bit.  He's one of the better wing defenders in the league.  The only guys that he can't handle are the super-fast wings, and that's not Pierce.

What?! Maybe a good shooter but not "one of the best defensive players in the NBA". No way. The guy didn't get one vote for ALL NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM. See the link below. You are overrating him big time.

http://www.examiner.com/nba-in-national/2011-all-defensive-team-announced

You weren't quoting me with the "one of the best defensive players in the NBA" right?  I said he was one of the BETTER defensive WINGS.

Tony, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe.

After those guys I can't think of anyone else clearly better than Delfino.

Edit:  Just looked at the link, forgot about Wallace.

I am very wary of using statements like "one of the best" as it is a very subjective adjective.  I think if you are going to use statements like that, my advice is that it be unquestionable to anybody.  Like "Amare is one of the best offensive PF's in the leauge", "Tony Allen is one of the best defensive wings in the league", "Nash is one of the best passers in the league", "Zach Randolph is one of the best rebounders in the league".  You are free to use statements like that as you please, but it definitely leads posters to question your objectivity in every statement you make rather than trusting you.

Here, you have pointed out that Delfino is definitely not a top 10 defensive wing in the NBA, and while you can't think of anyone clearly better than Delfino, I can't say that Delfino is clearly better than another handful of players like Courtney Lee, Ariza, Artest, Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Mickael Pietrus, and probably others.  I'd put him somewhere in the top 10-20 wing defenders in the NBA.

Well there's a difference between "one of the best" which means among the best, and "one of the better" which means better than most.

Delfino is at least in the 80-90th percentile as far as wing defenders go.

I guess I would need to see the complete list of who is better then Delfino. I will say this though, he rarely guarded Pierce. Salmons or Maggette was on Paul. Delfino was normally on Ray.

I think my list is pretty complete.  The only other guys I would throw in the discussion are Mbah a Moute, Deng, the shells of Artest and Hill, and maybe Kirilenko.

I don't think anybody can really argue he's out of the top 15.

TA, LeBron, Iguodala, Wade, Sefolosha, Battier, Marion, Prince, Kobe, Wallace, Deng, Artest (his strength and hands still make him better then Delfino), Corey Brewer, Ronnie Brewer, Mbah a Moute.

15 guys I consider better. There are others. Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Quinten Richardson, Pietrus, Dorell Wright, etc. that you could argue are better. Is he solid at defense and doesn;t hurt your team? Sure.. Is he considered a lockdown defender? No.

It's defense, which is incredibly subjective.  You could argue Delfino is better than some of those guys, just like it's your opinion that they are better than him.

After the 10 guys I listed it gets much harder to rank defense.  Bottom line is Delfino is clearly in the discussion for the next 10.