How's My Pick 2 Team?

[The Walker Wiggle]

Crappy bench...

So who wins in a back alley fight between New York's bench and Philadelphia's bench?

PG Aaron Brooks
SG Jordan Crawford Wes Johnson
SF Kawhi Leonard
PF Andray Blatche
C Andris Biedrins

While the 76ers second unit has some glaring character flaws, it's underrated. Brooks is only a nagging ankle injury and a season and a half removed from a top-15 point guard campaign.

Jordan Crawford is a streak shooter, who, when hot, is one tough cover. Wes Johnson is never a tough cover.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the more promising rookies in his class, he's rebounding and defending at a high level. And it's already nearly impossible to back him down. He ranks in the 98th percentile among post defenders.

Andray Blatche is one of my least favorite players and he's averaging career lows in free throw attempts and assists, but I'll acknowledge that he's an NBA starter on talent alone.

And though Andris Biedrins doesn't inspire me with courage, he still runs the floor hard, finishes at the rim (.644 FG%), blocks shots, and is a serviceable rebounder.

EDIT - Never mind. I see Yoki waited until just before I'd posted to deal Crawford and Biedrins for Wes Johnson. *Sigh*

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Hows the new Philly?


Philadelphia Rocky Balboa

PG - Andre Miller
SG - Monta Ellis
SF - Danilo Gallinari
PF - Ekpe Udoh
C  - Spencer Hawes

@DrayBaltche, Aaron Brooks, Kawhi Leonard, Wes Johnson, Terrence Williams, Jonny Flynn

Depth Chart will go

Andre Miller / Ellis (until Brooks return to the NBA) / Brooks / Flynn
Monta / Kawhi / Wes Johnson / T-Will
Gallo / Kawhi / T - Will
Udoh / Baltche / Gallo
Hawes / Baltche

@PhillyRockys giving @DrayBlatche Center and PF spots? Aint that a ton of work for 26 year old 6'11'' young man? #BallInThePaint #Baltche

[indeedproceed]

OHHHH No. You don't get to nevermind me, buddy.

Crappy bench...

So who wins in a back alley fight between New York's bench and Philadelphia's bench?

PG Aaron Brooks
SG Jordan Crawford
SF Kawhi Leonard
PF Andray Blatche
C Andris Biedrins

While the 76ers second unit has some glaring character flaws, it's underrated. Brooks is only a nagging ankle injury and a season and a half removed from a top-15 point guard campaign.

Jordan Crawford is a streak shooter, who, when hot, is one tough cover.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the more promising rookies in his class, he's rebounding and defending at a high level. And it's already nearly impossible to back him down. He ranks in the 98th percentile among post defenders.

Andray Blatche is one of my least favorite players and he's averaging career lows in free throw attempts and assists, but I'll acknowledge that he's an NBA starter on talent alone.

And though Andris Biedrins doesn't inspire me with courage, he still runs the floor hard, finishes at the rim (.644 FG%), blocks shots, and is a serviceable rebounder.

Sorry, I don't buy Aaron Brooks until proven otherwise. He was a petulant child in Houston, and was only mildly better in Phoenix. It may be true that all he needs is a shot, but I'll believe it when I see it. He's never been a defensive plus, and when his shot isn't falling he doesn't make up for it.

Jordan Crawford is a streak shooter who when hot is one tough cover. When he's not hot (most of the time) he's not an NBA-player. Doesn't bring defense or playmaking to the table. He might improve, just isn't there yet.

Andris Biedrins, you're glossing over how much of a wuss he is. He rebounds okay on a team that doesn't rebound okay, and he doesn't shoot it unless he's gonna make it (but that doesn't mean he's gifted offensively). He's attempting 4.14 field goals per 40 minutes. There are 441 other people in the world who logged NBA minutes this year who attempted shots more often than he has, and there are 7 guys who have logged NBA minutes who have not.

Andray Blatche is a guy I just don't believe can play for a winner.

[Who]

I very much like Jordan Crawford as a third string combo guard. Not as a rotation player though.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Andray Blatche is a guy I just don't believe can play for a winner.

As opposed to Earl Clark?

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Crappy bench...

So who wins in a back alley fight between New York's bench and Philadelphia's bench?

PG Aaron Brooks
SG Jordan Crawford Wes Johnson
SF Kawhi Leonard
PF Andray Blatche
C Andris Biedrins

While the 76ers second unit has some glaring character flaws, it's underrated. Brooks is only a nagging ankle injury and a season and a half removed from a top-15 point guard campaign.

Jordan Crawford is a streak shooter, who, when hot, is one tough cover. Wes Johnson is never a tough cover.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the more promising rookies in his class, he's rebounding and defending at a high level. And it's already nearly impossible to back him down. He ranks in the 98th percentile among post defenders.

Andray Blatche is one of my least favorite players and he's averaging career lows in free throw attempts and assists, but I'll acknowledge that he's an NBA starter on talent alone.

And though Andris Biedrins doesn't inspire me with courage, he still runs the floor hard, finishes at the rim (.644 FG%), blocks shots, and is a serviceable rebounder.

EDIT - Never mind. I see Yoki waited until just before I'd posted to deal Crawford and Biedrins for Wes Johnson. *Sigh*

Appreciate it though man. Brooks is indeed fragile, yet solid. Wes is athletic and can run the floor. T-Will and him running with Monta would look sweet. At the expense of defense though but I mean it's all about match ups. Not to mention T-Will is a point guard who's hiding inside a 6'6'' SG's body. I can make him point when again, there could be a mismatch.

[indeedproceed]

And as far as a bench pepsi-challenge,

Brooks
Jordan Crawford
Leonard
Blatche
Biedrins

vs

Ridnour
Klay Thompson
Corey Brewer
Earl Clark/Erden
Birdman

I don't think its much of a fight.

Andray Blatche is a guy I just don't believe can play for a winner.

As opposed to Earl Clark?

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

Earl Clark is playing 10 minutes a night for the 3rd seed in the East, homeboy! (although you're right, I'm not counting on Earl Clark to be the backbone of my second unit, this was a potential pick.)

[The Walker Wiggle]

Andris Biedrins, you're glossing over how much of a wuss he is.

This wasn't me?

But it's cruel to force him to continue to play basketball when he obviously hates it.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

@IndeedProceed thinks @DrayBaltche does not play for a winner? MY team just WON the lottery 2 years ago #Inyourface

 

[indeedproceed]

Andris Biedrins, you're glossing over how much of a wuss he is.

This wasn't me?

But it's cruel to force him to continue to play basketball when he obviously hates it.

that WAS you, but the latest installment kind of makes me think that you think he's a productive player.

[KCattheStripe]

Pick 2 Miami Heat:
PG:Nash
SG: Wade 
SF:Granger 
PF: Favors 
C: Gortat

Bench: Haslem. Mozgov. Livingston. The Jones Brothers James and Dahntay. Ben Wallace.

Gave my opinion on this team in the now defunct Discussion Thread but to summarize, I think this is one of the best teams in this Draft but think that Favors isn't close to being ready for starting minutes and might be years away from reaching the potential he occasionally flashes. I would worry about Nash's defense against teams with fast PGs or a set of big tall guards.

A good team, but a step down from what it could be had you not traded Lebron. 

Wade and Lebron have figured out how to play with each other. 

What is the learning curve between Nash and Wade?  Can Wade be as effective without the ball?  Is Miami going to be as good with the reduction of defense?

I agree with this.

I would never have traded LeBron and I question just how effective Nash's strengths will be when mitigated by Wade's need for the ball in his hands.

I disagree. Wade and LeBron have figured out how to play together but they still haven't found a way to make Joel Anthony grow 6 inches or have a legitimate three point threat on the wing. I agree that the total tonage of talent on the actual Heat is greater but the pieces don't fit and they don't lead to championships.

I am also convinced that LeBron is just never going to be the tenacious player that Wade is, but he'll also never accept that. He's a staggering statistical player but he does lack the killswitch that the all timers do. I see a lot more Tracy McGrady in LeBron than I do Kobe. So if I can get rid of him, keep Wade who does have that gear, get comprable talent in return and make the team more balanced in the process, I call that a win. And I would take this Heat team verses the current Heat roster 10 time outta 10.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Earl Clark is playing 10 minutes a night for the 3rd seed in the East, homeboy! (although you're right, I'm not counting on Earl Clark to be the backbone of my second unit, this was a potential pick.)

Chris Anderson helps, but Clark/Erden is a patch job. Fine if you don't have aspirations beyond the second round, but I can't buy in otherwise.

Ridnour has won me over, and I've been impressed by his play both as a back up point in Milwaukee and Minnesota and as a starting two guard when forced into the role.

Andris Biedrins, you're glossing over how much of a wuss he is.

This wasn't me?

But it's cruel to force him to continue to play basketball when he obviously hates it.

that WAS you, but the latest installment kind of makes me think that you think he's a productive player.

I can understand why he continues to get opportunities is all. He needs a change of scenery, ideally a steady reserve role on a winning veteran team. Unfortunately for him, that was only ever going to happen if Golden State waived him through the amnesty provision.

[wdleehi]

Pick 2 Miami Heat:
PG:Nash
SG: Wade 
SF:Granger 
PF: Favors 
C: Gortat

Bench: Haslem. Mozgov. Livingston. The Jones Brothers James and Dahntay. Ben Wallace.

Gave my opinion on this team in the now defunct Discussion Thread but to summarize, I think this is one of the best teams in this Draft but think that Favors isn't close to being ready for starting minutes and might be years away from reaching the potential he occasionally flashes. I would worry about Nash's defense against teams with fast PGs or a set of big tall guards.

A good team, but a step down from what it could be had you not traded Lebron. 

Wade and Lebron have figured out how to play with each other. 

What is the learning curve between Nash and Wade?  Can Wade be as effective without the ball?  Is Miami going to be as good with the reduction of defense?

I agree with this.

I would never have traded LeBron and I question just how effective Nash's strengths will be when mitigated by Wade's need for the ball in his hands.

I disagree. Wade and LeBron have figured out how to play together but they still haven't found a way to make Joel Anthony grow 6 inches or have a legitimate three point threat on the wing. I agree that the total tonage of talent on the actual Heat is greater but the pieces don't fit and they don't lead to championships.

I am also convinced that LeBron is just never going to be the tenacious player that Wade is, but he'll also never accept that. He's a staggering statistical player but he does lack the killswitch that the all timers do. I see a lot more Tracy McGrady in LeBron than I do Kobe. So if I can get rid of him, keep Wade who does have that gear, get comprable talent in return and make the team more balanced in the process, I call that a win. And I would take this Heat team verses the current Heat roster 10 time outta 10.

Except Lebron has been to the finals twice, T-Mac never got out of the 1st round.

The current Heat team went to the finals last year and have the best record currently in the NBA.  I would still take that team over the one you have.

[Who]

Earl Clark is playing 10 minutes a night for the 3rd seed in the East, homeboy! (although you're right, I'm not counting on Earl Clark to be the backbone of my second unit, this was a potential pick.)

Chris Anderson helps, but Clark/Erden is a patch job. Fine if you don't have aspirations beyond the second round, but I can't buy in otherwise.

Ridnour has won me over, and I've been impressed by his play both as a back up point in Milwaukee and Minnesota and as a starting two guard when forced into the role.

I would have liked to have seen NY take Dante Cunningham over Earl Clark.

[Roy H.]

I see a lot more Tracy McGrady in LeBron than I do Kobe. So if I can get rid of him, keep Wade who does have that gear, get comprable talent in return and make the team more balanced in the process, I call that a win.

That makes sense to me.  Basically, you have a team with comparable talent that you are personally a lot happier with.  In a non-competitive draft where the whole goal is to reshape teams to one's own liking, I call that a win.