How's My Pick 2 Team?

[nickagneta]

http://espn.go.com/nba/allstar2012/story/_/id/7613634/kyrie-irving-leads-team-chuck-rising-stars-game-win

Kyrie Irving is a stud.....just saying.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

[Roy H.]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

I'd be surprised if most experts had Kidd or West in their top-50 right now, though.  Kidd's averaging 5/5, and West is at 12/7.

[Merovech]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

I checked that list out...and I disagree with so much of it.  Then again, it is for the 201-2011 season, not this one.

[theswitch]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

I checked that list out...and I disagree with so much of it.  Then again, it is for the 201-2011 season, not this one.

I'm pretty sure it's for this one, there are some rookies in there (if I remember correctly).

[The Walker Wiggle]

http://espn.go.com/nba/allstar2012/story/_/id/7613634/kyrie-irving-leads-team-chuck-rising-stars-game-win

Kyrie Irving is a stud.....just saying.

Did you watch? Are you ready to admit you were wrong about Rubio yet?!

Oh and before the game, Friday morning, just for kicks, Ricky set a new world record by making 18 shots from behind the backboard in less than a minute. True story.

[Roy H.]

http://espn.go.com/nba/allstar2012/story/_/id/7613634/kyrie-irving-leads-team-chuck-rising-stars-game-win

Kyrie Irving is a stud.....just saying.

Did you watch? Are you ready to admit you were wrong about Rubio yet?!

Oh and before the game, Friday morning, just for kicks, Ricky set a new world record by making 18 shots from behind the backboard in less than a minute. True story.

While nobody should draw too many conclusions from a rising stars all-star game, both Irving and Rubio should be all-stars in the future.

[Merovech]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

I checked that list out...and I disagree with so much of it.  Then again, it is for the 201-2011 season, not this one.

I'm pretty sure it's for this one, there are some rookies in there (if I remember correctly).

Sorry, I meant to say that it was made before this season (I think it was posted November 2011?)

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice to see 4 of my starting 5 in the top 50:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7116977/nba-player-rankings-1

This was supposedly judged by 91 experts.

I trust em' .

I'd be surprised if most experts had Kidd or West in their top-50 right now, though.  Kidd's averaging 5/5, and West is at 12/7.

I'm pretty sure Kidd will be averaging right around 9-9 and 8...just like he was going into the playoffs last season.

Takes a while for the ol' motor to heat up...we should know, right (Our Celtics?)

And West? He's like the 3rd option on Indy...if he were here(MEM), I'm sure Kidd and Marc Gasol (one of the best passing big men in the game not named Pau, KG or Duncan), would look out for him.

He'd be good for 16-18 pts and 8-9 rebs, I'm projecting.

[bostonpatriot]

Since the Draft Board and the General Discussion thread got merged into one, we're starting a new thread for discussion of individual teams, team needs, etc.

I'll start with Redz' team:

PG - Brandon Knight / Jarrett Jack
SG - Gerald Henderson / Gary Neal / Martell Webster
SF - Grant Hill / Francisco Garcia / Jan Vesely
PF - Greg Monroe / Channing Frye / DJ White
C  - DeMarcus Cousins / Larry Sanders

Thoughts?  What did people think of the Jimmer for Neal (and Leuer for White) trade?  What positions should be targeted in the 10th and 11th?

EDIT:  Finished drafting.

It's very difficult to project Brandon Knight. How much you believe in his growth as a ditributor/floor general dictates what you do with this team.

I'd probably try to trade Monroe for a play-making wing - someone that would eventually replace Hill once he retires - and a defensive minded big with enough shooting/mobility to space the floor to pair with Cousins. Or maybe bet on Sanders to grow on that role - I think he has a 16ft jump-shot in him. Monroe+Cousins should be a tough frontcourt to deal with but they'd still produce diminishing returns.

Jimmer for Neal and Leuer for White make sense considering Jack and Frye are already on the roster.

The team is a bit too deep on the wings. Having Hill, Garcia, Jack, Frye, Neal and Webster as veteran leaders in a relatively young team is smart but maybe 2 of the swingmen should be allowed to find a place somewhere else. Try do develop Henderson and Vesely, that can be quite a combo in terms of wing defense.

[bostonpatriot]

I accidently deleted my really long and nice speel about my team, so I'll just ask, "What do you think this team needs to be a real title contender (assuming that you guys don't agree with me when I say this team rocks)?  What should I have done differently?"

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Chase Buddinger
PF: Shawn Marion
C: Tiago Splitter
Bench: Mo Williams(PG/SG), Willie Green(SG), Dorell Wright(SG/SF/PF), Gustavo Ayon(PF), Chris Anderson(C), Lavoy Allen (PF/C)

Start D. Wright. In fact, my starting 5 would be:
Westbrook
Wright
Marion
Ayon
Splitter

The offense would be ugly - based on Westbrook dribble penetrations (which the lack of spacing from that frontcourt would make harder) and Splitter post-ups - but you'd have the best defensive team in the league and a very good rebounding (elite defensive rebounding). Establish that identity with your starting five and then you can bring Mo Williams, Carter and Andersen from the bench depending on what the game asks. That roster needs a good coach capable and very adept of in-game adjustments. Like Jerry Sloan, not Phil Jackson.

[bostonpatriot]

• Ditto for Antawn Jamison (probably the biggest difference in opinion between the two of us). I think he is a very weak defender/rebounder and only a marginal offensive player at this stage of his career, and is overall, a net negative. I rate him as a third string PF at this stage in his career. So, same with Memo, a low level backup big man.

Antawn Jamison is officially underrated here - where most are rating Derrick Favors as a starting caliber power forward...

I don't know why I suddenly feel so defensive of Antawn, but I do. For the month of February he's averaging 22 points on .442 FG%, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 turnover. Hardly middling numbers. He remains a solid floor spacer, and underrated without the ball - ranks 46th in PPP as a cutter, 60th in the pick and roll, 67th in transition.

He's still one of the top-15 starting power forwards, a group which includes a number of poor defenders.

The problem with Antawn Jamison is that his numbers still look decent but he's a gigantic defensive liability and he struggles immensely versus good defenders/good defensive teams as he always lacked reliable shot-creation skills but has got even worse as he ages. Think of how Kevin Garnett destroyed him in the playoffs 2 years ago. His TS% is now below 50% - that's awful for a big. His rebounding rate is now at 11%. Huge liability. A guy who can't defend, can't rebound and with that combination of prolific and inefficient scoring is hurting his team more than helping and it's not even close.

Jamison was always better without the ball than with it. Allows him to finish plays closer to the basket. That's why he did so well in Dallas.

[RebusRankin]

When can we petition other GMs to team up for the Summer CB Draft? Lucky, Wiggle, Bahku, Nick, consider this an invite.

[Merovech]

I accidently deleted my really long and nice speel about my team, so I'll just ask, "What do you think this team needs to be a real title contender (assuming that you guys don't agree with me when I say this team rocks)?  What should I have done differently?"

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Chase Buddinger
PF: Shawn Marion
C: Tiago Splitter
Bench: Mo Williams(PG/SG), Willie Green(SG), Dorell Wright(SG/SF/PF), Gustavo Ayon(PF), Chris Anderson(C), Lavoy Allen (PF/C)

Start D. Wright. In fact, my starting 5 would be:
Westbrook
Wright
Marion
Ayon
Splitter

The offense would be ugly - based on Westbrook dribble penetrations (which the lack of spacing from that frontcourt would make harder) and Splitter post-ups - but you'd have the best defensive team in the league and a very good rebounding (elite defensive rebounding). Establish that identity with your starting five and then you can bring Mo Williams, Carter and Andersen from the bench depending on what the game asks. That roster needs a good coach capable and very adept of in-game adjustments. Like Jerry Sloan, not Phil Jackson.

At least somebody agress my old team had defensive talent.  I made a few semi-blow it up trades to get a lot younger though, so you're sadly a little late.  I did enjoy your input, however.

[Roy H.]

I accidently deleted my really long and nice speel about my team, so I'll just ask, "What do you think this team needs to be a real title contender (assuming that you guys don't agree with me when I say this team rocks)?  What should I have done differently?"

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Chase Buddinger
PF: Shawn Marion
C: Tiago Splitter
Bench: Mo Williams(PG/SG), Willie Green(SG), Dorell Wright(SG/SF/PF), Gustavo Ayon(PF), Chris Anderson(C), Lavoy Allen (PF/C)

Start D. Wright. In fact, my starting 5 would be:
Westbrook
Wright
Marion
Ayon
Splitter

The offense would be ugly - based on Westbrook dribble penetrations (which the lack of spacing from that frontcourt would make harder) and Splitter post-ups - but you'd have the best defensive team in the league and a very good rebounding (elite defensive rebounding). Establish that identity with your starting five and then you can bring Mo Williams, Carter and Andersen from the bench depending on what the game asks. That roster needs a good coach capable and very adept of in-game adjustments. Like Jerry Sloan, not Phil Jackson.

At least somebody agress my old team had defensive talent.  I made a few semi-blow it up trades to get a lot younger though, so you're sadly a little late.  I did enjoy your input, however.

I don't think that would have been a great defensive squad.  In terms of points allowed per possession, here are the ranks of that proposed starting lineup:

Splitter:  197th
Ayon:  127th
Marion: 137th
Wright: 335th
Westbrook:  171st

No way does that lineup rank out as the best defensive team in the NBA.  Each player (outside of Wright) can play good defense, but none are showing it consistently this year.  Above average, yes.  Elite, no.