I still think Williams may not be a factor. Last year, people touted Turner and Johnson and they did little in their rookie years. Certainly not enough to tout them as X Factors.
1) Neither Wesley Johnson or Evan Turner were as efficient or as capable a scorer as Williams. Williams was the most efficient jumpshooter, the best scorer in the paint, and shot better than 50% from 3 on 2 attempts per game.
2) The role I'm projecting for Williams plays to his strengths, and not his weaknesses. He'll usually play against a SF who is not a primary scoring option, or even a secondary scoring option. He'll play primarily against backups, or in some situations against weaker starters whose defensive deficiencies allow him to flourish.
3) People said Blake Griffin's rookie class was weak. People said he was only one of a few players who had all-star potential. People said he wouldn't be as dominant as he was in college. People said similar things about Tyreke Evans. Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose. Just like Wes Johnson and Evan Turner had underwhelming rookie years, some guys really produce. Everyone agrees that if anyone is going to really produce, its going to be Derrick Williams, and many people questioned the thought process behind Cleveland's selection of Kyrie Irving at #1, as Williams was likely the more sure NBA prospect.
4) If Derrick Williams had an underwhelming NBA year next season, and these playoffs are the hypothetical result of that season next year, how did my fake Portland Trailblazers get to the second seed in the West, and win the toughest division in the fake league?
Hill is still a very good defender and how does Portland deal with Vince off the bench?
Well first, asking what someone is going to do about Vince Carter off the bench for 25 minutes or so a game in 2011 is like asking how a team is going to handle Steve Francis for 25 minutes or so off the bench in 2008. His defense has always been poor, and his offense has fallen off along with his athleticism. He shot his worst shooting % in 7 years last season, and when he was on the court last year, the Suns scored less and defended worse than when he was off it (although to be fair, that was marginal. The point was, he wasn't adding anything).
And, assuming Vince Carter's play doesn't continue to degrade from last season, I'll play one of James Harden or Carlos Delfino in him, whichever has the less 'threatening' offensive assignment and is in the game. I don't see Vince as a difference-maker at all here.
Topic: 2011 CB Draft Western Playoffs: 1st Round (Read 44926 times)