How's My Pick 2 Team?

[indeedproceed]

Well, Brooks is still in China isn't he? What's his deal?

[The Walker Wiggle]

Here we go, I'll comment on others later tonight:

PG - Jrue Holiday, Baron Davis, Beno Udrih
SG - Ronnie Brewer, OJ Mayo (Holiday, Udrih, Johnson)
SF - Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady (Brewer)
PF - Amar'e Stoudemire, Ryan Anderson
C - Kurt Thomas, Nikola Vucevic, Cole Aldrich

I like the Magic to win the East. A well-balanced offense, solid defense, with far better depth than the other contenders. In a sprint to the finish, that counts for a lot.

And unlike some, I have no problem with Thomas starting. Chicago was forced to start him for stretches of last season and the Bulls didn't miss a beat. And in the playoffs? I'm certainly more comfortable with Kurt than Derrick Favors.

Anyway, it's Anderson who'll be getting the bulk of the minutes. And while it may not have sunk in league-wide, he's playing at an All-Star level. In fact, by virtually every comprehensive advanced statistic (Win Shares, Player Efficiency Rating, Plus/Minus, etc.) he's second to only Lebron James among forwards in the East.

I've said it before, but I did not expect you to come out ahead in the Dwight Howard to New York trade. Nice work.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Well, Brooks is still in China isn't he? What's his deal?

So is Chandler. I believe they needx to stay because their teams are in deep playoff contention, and they can't go back until they finish a season.

[Lucky17]

I'll offer up some constructive criticism on some rosters tomorrow, when I have a chance. Probably during the break between rounds.

One thing: while some rosters seem to be "better" than others, I don't think there are any really poorly constructed ones this time around. Regardless of whether that's due to the number or the skill of the participating GMs, I think people have done pretty well.

Looking forward to seeing who's available for me at 11.28 tomorrow.

[The Walker Wiggle]

You know hwat, let me finally throw my team on the ole choppin block

Jennings / Barea
P. George /
W. Chandler / Pietrus
D. Williams / Villanueva/ Maxiell
T Chandler/ Biyombo

There's a lot to love about this team, including its upside, and four-fifths of the starting line-up. This is a team that should play a very watchable brand of basketball, able to both push the pace and defend at a fairly high level. A pair of well-tempered wings, an elite center coming off a title, and I believe your point guard is underrated, having made the leap forward that everyone - myself included - expected of him last year.

Jennings shooting percentage is up, particularly at the rim, he's gotten his three point shot in order, he's taking care of the basketball, he remains an underrated defender and he's keeping that hash of a Bucks team at least pointed in the right direction. That and he's played a handful of truly masterful games, including that 31 point, 8 assist, 4 steal, 0 turnover win over Miami.

That's the good. You also have the worst power forward rotation in our league and probably also its thinnest bench - which is somewhat inexplicable given your draft position?

[The Walker Wiggle]

Well, Brooks is still in China isn't he? What's his deal?

So is Chandler. I believe they needx to stay because their teams are in deep playoff contention, and they can't go back until they finish a season.

Possibly not to his credit, Wilson Chandler abandoned his Zhejiang Lions right before the team's first round series. In fact, he was in the stands for the last Nuggets game.

Brooks, however is sticking it out with the first place Guangdong Southern Tigers, and barring an upset, or a change of heart, won't be back with the Suns until mid-March.

[The Walker Wiggle]

I think his ceiling is an obvious comparison: Gilbert Arenas.

I don't much like the Arenas comparison, if only because of Gil's improbable career arc. Although if you compare both at 22 their numbers are uncannily close, with Jennings holding the edge by virtue of his better passing.

[The Walker Wiggle]

One thing: while some rosters seem to be "better" than others, I don't think there are any really poorly constructed ones this time around. Regardless of whether that's due to the number or the skill of the participating GMs, I think people have done pretty well.

Well said. And in that vein, I'd only add that while I gave in to the temptation of ranking the playoff teams in the East (I never got around to the West) it's an even more fruitless exercise than in the CB Draft proper since it's far from a level playing field. I was impressed by the rebuilds of a number of the league's most hopeless franchises - the Raptors for one.

[indeedproceed]

Trade
Jazz trade Chris Andersen
Knicks trade: Patrick Patterson

[Edgar]

P.G. Jameer Nelson /    Raymon Felton
S.G. Delonte West /     Stephen Jackson
S.F. Paul Pierce /      Ron Artest
P.F. Kevin Garnett /    Tyrus Thomas
C.   Anderson Varejao / Shelden Williams

to be hones this team is one big center of becoming championship material.

I will play GM and take Delonte to starting lineup with Jameer

Can you see the defense in that second unit, I willl play something with other alternative lineups too

P.G. Jameer Nelson /    Raymon Felton   /   Delonte
S.G. Delonte West /     Stephen Jackson  /  Jackson
S.F. Paul Pierce /      Ron Artest       /  Pierce
P.F. Kevin Garnett /    Tyrus Thomas     /  Artest
C.   Anderson Varejao / Shelden Williams /  Varejao

I beleive this team can be champion in the actual NBA.
for real.

[indeedproceed]

How is my pick 2 team?

Starters:

Andre Miller
Kevin Martin
Danilo Gallinari
Ekpe Udoh
Spencer Hawes

Bench:

@DrayBlatche
Aaron Brooks
Kawhi Leonard
Jordan Crawford
Terrence Williams

Re-inserted Miller and Udoh to the starting unit to have some firepower in the bench. Brooks plays more minutes. @DrayBlatche will get #Starter minutes but comes off the bench to have some defense in the starting unit.

I really wish along the lines you'd have gotten some high-rebounding, high-defense guys for the post.

Scoring abounds, lots of versatility between 2/3, 3/4.

A backup 5 and a backup 1 immediately.

Dray Blatche, gross.

They're gonna win some games people don't expect them to when they occasionally get hot from outside, but against a team that is disciplined with average wing defenders they're going to lose 7 times out of 10.

Likely a better team next year than this year.

[StartOrien]

Well, Brooks is still in China isn't he? What's his deal?

So is Chandler. I believe they needx to stay because their teams are in deep playoff contention, and they can't go back until they finish a season.

I believe Chandler has worked out a deal where he might not have to partake in the playoffs. I haven't heard a word about Brooks though. Is it possible there isn't interest in him?

[Edgar]

Some funny mod move this from there to here....


P.G. Jameer Nelson /    Raymon Felton
S.G. Delonte West /     Stephen Jackson
S.F. Paul Pierce /      Ron Artest
P.F. Kevin Garnett /    Tyrus Thomas
C.   Anderson Varejao / Shelden Williams

to be hones this team is one big center of becoming championship material.

I will play GM and take Delonte to starting lineup with Jameer

Can you see the defense in that second unit, I willl play something with other alternative lineups too

P.G. Jameer Nelson /    Raymon Felton   /   Delonte
S.G. Delonte West /     Stephen Jackson  /  Jackson
S.F. Paul Pierce /      Ron Artest       /  Pierce
P.F. Kevin Garnett /    Tyrus Thomas     /  Artest
C.   Anderson Varejao / Shelden Williams /  Varejao

I beleive this team can be champion in the actual NBA.
for real.

[Rondo2287]

I don't think you have enough scoring Edgar.  I think you will in the same spot as the current celts. Very good defensively probably top 2.  I just don't know if you have the guys you need to put the ball in the basket.

[StartOrien]

Reread your post, Roy.

Regarding Villanueva,

I'll admit it, I hate the guy too. But I think he's got a good fit on this squad if he needs to play minutes. His defense can be masked by the surrounding cast, and offensively all he's really being asked to do is to continue to stretch the floor. As abysmal of a season as he had last season, he did shoot .380 from behind the line on a mess of a Pistons team.

What he's being asked to do is well within what he should be able to do.