2012 CB Draft Atlantic Division Press Conferences

[nickagneta]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

[WeMadeIt17]

Boston, How would you respond to the charge that Jackson and Artest are not elite defenders, in fact are average at best defenders at this point in their careers and are living off their past accomplishments at this point?

To all the Atlantic teams, how do your teams match up to other likely Eastern play-off teams such as Indiana, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta and Detroit?

This question never got answered

Honestly I feel like NYK match up well with teams. In fact as people will say they pose matchup issues I say we do just as much. We are a very fast and tough team to stop. While on defense we are very long more so at the end of games where we have Durant Leonard and Jordan grabbing rebounds. So We'll see but i know one thing that KD will keep us in a lot of games.

[Kane3387]

Boston: You seem to bring up Stephen Jackson performance in the playoffs but dont bring up his season performance, if jackson had played great in the regular season and bad in the playoffs which performance would you bring up?

I wouldn't. He wouldn't be on the squad. It's why I didn't draft Sefolosha.

I need guys who can produce in the post season. I have Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, and Marc Gasol. It's championship or bust with my team honestly.

Smart answer, but you cant judge someone by just one playoff performances, so take a look at this

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/378/seasontype/3/stephen-jackson

Not that smart of an answer, since if he'd drafted Thabo he'd have somebody who could play great defense on everyone from Tony Parker to Kobe Bryant to Dwyane Wade and Lebron.

[WeMadeIt17]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

[ronaldo943]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

[Kane3387]

Boston, How would you respond to the charge that Jackson and Artest are not elite defenders, in fact are average at best defenders at this point in their careers and are living off their past accomplishments at this point?

To all the Atlantic teams, how do your teams match up to other likely Eastern play-off teams such as Indiana, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta and Detroit?

This question never got answered

It's on the page before this one...

Artest is still good. I admit he gets distracted and if he isn't playing against elite wings a little disinterested. BUT he gets up for the bog matchups.

Both games vs Miami her is Lebron against Ron.

game 1 - James was 12-27 for 44% shooting and had 31 points. I will take 27 shots to get 31 points
game 2 - James was 12-26 for 46% shooting and had 25 points. I will take 26 shots to get 25 points.

Both are inefficient performances.

Here is Paul Pierce. It's ugly.

game 1 - Pierce shot 7-18 for 38% shooting and had 18 points. 18 shots for 18 points. Bad.
game 2 - Pierce shot 4-14 for 26% shooting and had 13 points. 14 shots for 13 points. Turrible!

So when he plays elite guys he turns it up. I am cool with that. If all he brings to the table is making elite scorers inefficient in playoff games then I am very satisfied with his contribution.

[RebusRankin]

Boston, you say its championship or bust with your team and then name Westbrook, Griffin and Gasol. None have won a championship and only Westbrook has even been to an NBA Finals. How can you be championship or bust with a team with little play-off success?

BC I look at my talent level compared to the rest of the teams in the CB League. It's about this league and the expectations you have based on your talent and team compared to the others. It's not about the individual player as much as it is the team you created in this CB League.

Explain how your whole team works as a unit. I don't see it right now.

[WeMadeIt17]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

You could go with per 48 and all that stuff. Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

[Roy H.]

Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

How do you expect Monta to change his game to adapt to Durant?

[ronaldo943]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

You could go with per 48 and all that stuff. Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

Thanks for answering the question

Lou Williams > Monta Ellis

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2799/lou-williams
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2751/monta-ellis

[WeMadeIt17]

Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

How do you expect Monta to change his game to adapt to Durant?

In a similar way he took less shots when he went to the bucks making sure Jennings got his shots as well. No Matter what Ellis can be a number 1 option on many teams in the NBA he knows he is on a very good team though and he is most def. The number 2 option in NYC because Durant is the best scorer in the world. So he knows that he doesn't have to go out there and kill himself to shot every shot. He can defer. Just like any player would do while playing with Kevin.

[WeMadeIt17]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

You could go with per 48 and all that stuff. Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

Thanks for answering the question

Lou Williams > Monta Ellis

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2799/lou-williams
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2751/monta-ellis

Ask around this blog or even if you could someone get an opinion from the NBA people would take Monta Ellis over Lou williams anyday of the week. Not saying lou is a bad player. But he isn't as good as Monta..

[ronaldo943]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

You could go with per 48 and all that stuff. Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

Thanks for answering the question

Lou Williams > Monta Ellis

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2799/lou-williams
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2751/monta-ellis

Ask around this blog or even if you could someone get an opinion from the NBA people would take Monta Ellis over Lou williams anyday of the week. Not saying lou is a bad player. But he isn't as good as Monta..

Make Monta come off the bench and see how good he does

[WeMadeIt17]

My rankings for this division:

Boston
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Gotta say though I am not too confident that any teams here go very far in the playoffs. Boston has a nice trio but also a WHOLE BUNCH O' CRAZY in its starting lineup and is rather weak after that. Also, their outside shooting is not exactly efficient. Don't get me wrong those guys like to take outside shots and will hoist up a bunch, but not at a good or even average rate.

New York will have serious chemistry issues as Durant will have to fight to get Ellis, Maggette and Davis to pass him the ball and do his thing. Also, their backcourt defense leaves a lot to be desired, and I am being nice here.

Brooklyn is only getting third place because I am punishing the Philadelphia franchise for quitting the game. Otherwise, given that their starting back court won't be playing basketball for the rest of 2012 and that they have little experience as backups almost across the board and that Cousins, to me, is a Dwightmare waiting to happen, they are a last place team and possibly worse than the Boxers. That's saying a lot.

Two playoff teams in this division. Zero teams making the Finals.

A lot of times Maggette and KD won't be on the floor together.. Monta is a willing passer with 6apg and would say that would go up with a scorer like Durant on his side.

In assists per 48 minutes monta is at 7.8 which is not impressive, sure he got 6 assist a game but he also got 3 turnovers a game he also took 18 shots

You could go with per 48 and all that stuff. Monta is a player. A good one at that. He can score with the best of them and has never played with someone like Durant. He has the chance to strive here and he will.

Thanks for answering the question

Lou Williams > Monta Ellis

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2799/lou-williams
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2751/monta-ellis

Ask around this blog or even if you could someone get an opinion from the NBA people would take Monta Ellis over Lou williams anyday of the week. Not saying lou is a bad player. But he isn't as good as Monta..

Make Monta come off the bench and see how good he does

I'm sorry Monta Ellis is the better player. And Monta is coming off the bench in NYC.. 

[indeedproceed]

I'm A) Not defending a 'Chicago V Boston' debate right now. We can do that later, in the playoffs. Assuming we're both there.

B) You said Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook are equal passers. That's a lie.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=westbru01&y1=2012&p2=parketo01&y2=2012

We both know Harden took over a lot of PG duties at points in the game allowing Russ to play off ball essentially making him a SG. Let's look at Russell when he played full time PG in 2010-11.

Assists Per Game: Russ 8.2 and Parker this year 7.7
Assists % for Russ 42.7 and this year for Parker was 40.3%
Per 36 minutes Russ was 8.5 and Parker this year was 8.7

So you are telling me in the span of the year Russ just forgot how to pass the ball? Or did his role in the offense change somewhat so that another highly talented player could be incorporated?

Russell Westbrook knows how to pass, he's just not great at running an offense.

The point I guess I've got, my biggest reservation, is that while I love your top 3 talents, big fans of all 3 players, your top 2 players both need a kind of specialized accessory to maximize their output, and I don't think you supplied those players.

Russell Westbrook especially, I think needed an elite passer (for a 2 guard. Average for a PG) next to him, and he didn't get it, and I think its a big deal.

PS: Marc Gasol is good too, but let's not pretend he's Tim Duncan's peer as a passer.