2012 CB Draft Atlantic Division Press Conferences

[WeMadeIt17]

I'm at work now won't be answering to many questions but you keep your monta debate going while he and durant plan on showing they win together

[RebusRankin]

Kane, thank you for explaining your team's strategies on offense and defense.

What do you do if any of your big three have foul trouble? You said they would each play 38 minutes per night which makes sense in theory given their talent and age, however we know foul trouble happens, so how do you deal with it?

You're assuming Griffin, Artest and Jackson will be successful playing man to man, yet Jackson is not a 2 yet you have him playing there. Jackson and Artest have declined defensively. Are your starters capable of playing man to man?

Outside of Westbrook, you have little outside shooting in your lineup, are you concerned that will allow teams to clog the lane to limit Westbrook's drives and Griffin and Gasol?

[ronaldo943]

I'm at work now won't be answering to many questions but you keep your monta debate going while he and durant plan on showing they win together

Unless i see it in real life i dont believe it.

[WeMadeIt17]

But before i go Monta will defer to KD reason being durant is a once in every 10 years player you sacrifice for players like him. Plus kd isn't dumb he knows there is gunna be nights where he has to defer to monta

[RebusRankin]

NY, I am still waiting for you to explain how Ellis and Durant can actually work together but putting that aside.

Jordan struggled on D at times this past year and had issues with foul trouble. Can BBD and Haslem give you effective minutes there?

You say Jordan will play 30 mpg yet he only played 25 mpg last year and 22 mpg in the play-offs, why does he play more for you?

[WeMadeIt17]

I'm at work now won't be answering to many questions but you keep your monta debate going while he and durant plan on showing they win together

Unless i see it in real life i dont believe it.

So what's the point of this whole thing? People coming in with their minds up thats fair.. well we know why monta gets a bad rap

[WeMadeIt17]

Ok sorry i have this thing called work will be on later to answer more of the repetitive questions

[Kane3387]

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.

Numbers tell a different story. Gasol doesn't have to be though.

What teams have the personnel to stop Boston's big three?

There is no 2012 Spurs, Heat, or Celtics out there.

Based on who we play in the playoffs the strategy will change a bit, but Westbrook doesn't need to be Steve Nash or Rajon Rondo. That's not him. When was the last time a pg like that won? 2008?

Griffin gets a lot of points off pick and rolls and in transition. Also at the line. That's not really facilitation in the half court. Gasol getting on the block and posting up isn't hard...

I mean the offense isn't built on looking for things like Ray Allen coming off screens. It's simple in a Chicago Bulls kind of way. That team had the best record in the NBA. With the talent we have compared to the rest of the league, it really doesn't need to be rocket science.

[ronaldo943]

But before i go Monta will defer to KD reason being durant is a once in every 10 years player you sacrifice for players like him. Plus kd isn't dumb he knows there is gunna be nights where he has to defer to monta

Im SOLD! At first i didnt think KD and Monta would work but after this i believe you. NEW YORK KNICKS 2012 CB DRAFT CHAMPIONS!

[wdleehi]

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.

Numbers tell a different story. Gasol doesn't have to be though.

What teams have the personnel to stop Boston's big three?

There is no 2012 Spurs, Heat, or Celtics out there.

Based on who we play in the playoffs the strategy will change a bit, but Westbrook doesn't need to be Steve Nash or Rajon Rondo. That's not him. When was the last time a pg like that won? 2008?

Griffin gets a lot of points off pick and rolls and in transition. Also at the line. That's not really facilitation in the half court. Gasol getting on the block and posting up isn't hard...

I mean the offense isn't built on looking for things like Ray Allen coming off screens. It's simple in a Chicago Bulls kind of way. That team had the best record in the NBA. With the talent we have compared to the rest of the league, it really doesn't need to be rocket science.

I don't see it.  The team will be fine offensively, but there are plenty of defensive PGs (unlike the lack of ones in LA and Miami) in the conference.  There is no one to stretch the floor.  Teams will be able to pack it in and dare Artest or Jackson  to beat them from the outside. 

[celticpride07]

If rose and shumpert were healthy I would like Brooklyn a lot more.

2013

Boston
Brooklyn
Knicks
Sixers

2012
Boston
Knicks
Brooklyn
Sixers

[Kane3387]

Kane, thank you for explaining your team's strategies on offense and defense.

What do you do if any of your big three have foul trouble? You said they would each play 38 minutes per night which makes sense in theory given their talent and age, however we know foul trouble happens, so how do you deal with it?

You're assuming Griffin, Artest and Jackson will be successful playing man to man, yet Jackson is not a 2 yet you have him playing there. Jackson and Artest have declined defensively. Are your starters capable of playing man to man?

Outside of Westbrook, you have little outside shooting in your lineup, are you concerned that will allow teams to clog the lane to limit Westbrook's drives and Griffin and Gasol?

Sure Rebus. Foul trouble happens and you just have to bring in the bench. If one goes out then I think you just allocate touched to the other two more. Augustine can play. Depending on match ups like for example against your team I might play Artest at 4, Jackson at 3, and Rip or Augustine with Russ.

Foul trouble does happen but none of my guys are notorious fowlers and usually get the benefit of the doubt from the officials.

Jackson played the two in Charlotte with Chandler, Diaw, and Wallace. I think the 2 and the 3 for the most part are interchangeable. It will mostly come down to match ups. If we need to go small we can. I just like the attitude and toughness those guys bring. I want some nastiness on my squad and with the big three.

I think those guys can still defend. There aren't a ton of elite wing scorers to begin with. They also aren't asked to exude a lot of energy on offense so they can save it for D. I posted number about Artest. He still has the tenacity to make the best of the nest work for everything they get.

But we all know that defending a great player is not one man's job. It is a team goal and I like what my team brings as a whole on the defensive end.

As for shooting. I think if left wide open all my guys can hit shots. They're NBA players. Artest minutes will be dictated on the matchup and just bc he starts doesn't mean he plays a ton, but rather that consistency is kept in the lineup and rotation.

[WeMadeIt17]

But before i go Monta will defer to KD reason being durant is a once in every 10 years player you sacrifice for players like him. Plus kd isn't dumb he knows there is gunna be nights where he has to defer to monta

Im SOLD! At first i didnt think KD and Monta would work but after this i believe you. NEW YORK KNICKS 2012 CB DRAFT CHAMPIONS!

Now sarcastic comments showing your grown up

[ronaldo943]

But before i go Monta will defer to KD reason being durant is a once in every 10 years player you sacrifice for players like him. Plus kd isn't dumb he knows there is gunna be nights where he has to defer to monta

Im SOLD! At first i didnt think KD and Monta would work but after this i believe you. NEW YORK KNICKS 2012 CB DRAFT CHAMPIONS!

Now sarcastic comments showing your grown up

How am i being sarcastic i really think you guys are really good way better than our team

[Fafnir]

But before i go Monta will defer to KD reason being durant is a once in every 10 years player you sacrifice for players like him. Plus kd isn't dumb he knows there is gunna be nights where he has to defer to monta

Im SOLD! At first i didnt think KD and Monta would work but after this i believe you. NEW YORK KNICKS 2012 CB DRAFT CHAMPIONS!

Now sarcastic comments showing your grown up

Lets get back to debating basketball instead of taking shots at each other, only warning.