2012 CB Draft Central Division Press Conferences

[Roy H.]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

I reserve the right to argue in the alternative depending upon how the playoffs play out, but Jack, Young, and Haywood are all competent NBA players.

[Kane3387]

This team has Melo, Bogut, Felton and Roy and TMac off the bench, who I know he can utilize to the best in whatever they can still do. Still a defensive oriented squad.

Aren't there some pretty serious questions about Melo (selfishness), Bogut (injury history), Roy (can he play even 20 minutes per night), Felton (fat), and TMac (older than dirt, little production), though?  I think I have the Cavs as a playoff team, but isn't their best case scenario third place in their division?  If not, how do you take down Detroit and Chicago?  Is it all on Pops?

Boris Diaw was fat and he was decent to good when he got to the Spurs. Why can't Felton be the same? That's on Pop. Also, Diaw was having a poor season in Charlotte, he got traded and got back to decent. Hello, Tyrus Thomas can be the same. That's Popovich's magic.

Obviously Roy's been cleared to play. And while he's not the old Brandon Roy, he's still better than a lot of backup 2's. Leadership qualities alone.

How many old players did Pop have and was still productive because they made him bought in to what role they'll be better suited at? Fabrico Oberto, Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley? All was with Pop during their downside of their careers yet they were productive in his system during their tenure. TMac cant be the same?

He made Danny Green a known commodity. You know who's better than Danny Green? BRANDON RUSH. Imagine what he can do to him. Tiago also had a solid year under Pop's tutelage. Jason Smith is also as much of a hustler, rebounder and has better offensive game, who's to say Pop can't transform him.

Melo is a scorer and an excellent one at that, he can and is warranted to be a little selfish. He's also a very underrated passer and he'll learn from Pop when and where to pass.

Bogut's injury history, still looking at it glass half empty no matter how much it's been stated that their not nagging injuries. If that's the case, then it's safe to assume that Wade will go down with injuries, so as CP3 and Nene and Avery Bradley. They had more NAGGING injuries than Bogut did.

All the players on this team (other than Thomas, he has a little work ethic problem that needs, well, work) are high character guys. High character guys flourish with Pop's system.

Those role players were playing with Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

This team has Melo, Bogut, Felton and Roy and TMac off the bench, who I know he can utilize to the best in whatever they can still do. Still a defensive oriented squad.

Aren't there some pretty serious questions about Melo (selfishness), Bogut (injury history), Roy (can he play even 20 minutes per night), Felton (fat), and TMac (older than dirt, little production), though?  I think I have the Cavs as a playoff team, but isn't their best case scenario third place in their division?  If not, how do you take down Detroit and Chicago?  Is it all on Pops?

Boris Diaw was fat and he was decent to good when he got to the Spurs. Why can't Felton be the same? That's on Pop. Also, Diaw was having a poor season in Charlotte, he got traded and got back to decent. Hello, Tyrus Thomas can be the same. That's Popovich's magic.

Obviously Roy's been cleared to play. And while he's not the old Brandon Roy, he's still better than a lot of backup 2's. Leadership qualities alone.

How many old players did Pop have and was still productive because they made him bought in to what role they'll be better suited at? Fabrico Oberto, Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley? All was with Pop during their downside of their careers yet they were productive in his system during their tenure. TMac cant be the same?

He made Danny Green a known commodity. You know who's better than Danny Green? BRANDON RUSH. Imagine what he can do to him. Tiago also had a solid year under Pop's tutelage. Jason Smith is also as much of a hustler, rebounder and has better offensive game, who's to say Pop can't transform him.

Melo is a scorer and an excellent one at that, he can and is warranted to be a little selfish. He's also a very underrated passer and he'll learn from Pop when and where to pass.

Bogut's injury history, still looking at it glass half empty no matter how much it's been stated that their not nagging injuries. If that's the case, then it's safe to assume that Wade will go down with injuries, so as CP3 and Nene and Avery Bradley. They had more NAGGING injuries than Bogut did.

All the players on this team (other than Thomas, he has a little work ethic problem that needs, well, work) are high character guys. High character guys flourish with Pop's system.

Those role players were playing with Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan.

Those role players are playing for Popovich and Pop's mentality that you can do this role, and do it right, and we'll win. Duncan and Ginobli had miss some games during those years, yet those role players flourished without them. That's Pop doing his thing right there.

[indeedproceed]

So in the frontcourt, possible matches are:

Bosh-Splitter
Bosh-Haywood
Bosh-Vucevic
Young-Bosh
Young-Vucevic
Parsons-Splitter
Parsons-Haywood

NEVER Young-Splitter or Young-Haywood

I don't understand ...

(1) Why not Thaddeus Young and Splitter / Haywood?
(2) Why play Parsons with Splitter / Haywood and not T.Young?
(3) Why play Thaddeus Young with Vucevic but not Splitter / Haywood?

I think I over-thought this. I'm re-evaluating.

[Rondo2287]

So in the frontcourt, possible matches are:

Bosh-Splitter
Bosh-Haywood
Bosh-Vucevic
Young-Bosh
Young-Vucevic
Parsons-Splitter
Parsons-Haywood

NEVER Young-Splitter or Young-Haywood

I don't understand ...

(1) Why not Thaddeus Young and Splitter / Haywood?
(2) Why play Parsons with Splitter / Haywood and not T.Young?
(3) Why play Thaddeus Young with Vucevic but not Splitter / Haywood?

I think I over-thought this. I'm re-evaluating.

No take backs!

[indeedproceed]

PG: Holiday (32), Jack (10), Shved (6)
SG: Wade (30), Jack (18)
SF: Pierce (30), Parsons (18)
PF: Bosh (15), Young (28), Parsons (5)
C: Haywood (15), Bosh (18), Splitter (15)

That's an example of just one way the whole thing could breakdown. And I'm mostly sticking to it.

[Roy H.]

So in the frontcourt, possible matches are:

Bosh-Splitter
Bosh-Haywood
Bosh-Vucevic
Young-Bosh
Young-Vucevic
Parsons-Splitter
Parsons-Haywood

NEVER Young-Splitter or Young-Haywood

I don't understand ...

(1) Why not Thaddeus Young and Splitter / Haywood?
(2) Why play Parsons with Splitter / Haywood and not T.Young?
(3) Why play Thaddeus Young with Vucevic but not Splitter / Haywood?

I think I over-thought this. I'm re-evaluating.

No take backs!

I think what IP meant to say is, he's starting Ru Paul next to Brenda Haywood.

[indeedproceed]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

[Lucky17]

Some numbers to compare:

Chris Bosh
6'11", 235 lbs.
PER at PF: 19.4.
Opponent PER at PF: 15.6 (net +3.80)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 20.6/13.5

Thaddeus Young
6'8", 220 lbs.
PER at PF: 19.5
Opponent PER at PF: 18.1 (net +1.4)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 12.0/10.3


Ersan Ilyasova
6'10", 235 lbs.
PER at PF: 20.3
Opponent PER at PF: 18.2 (net +2.1)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 22.8/17.6

Amir Johnson
6'9", 210 lbs.
PER at PF: 14.8
Opponent PER at PF: 13.6 (net +1.2)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 19.3/15.4

I think the PF matchups are very close. Better collective PERs and PER differentials for Chicago, better rebounding for Detroit.

[Kane3387]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

Not saying it's wrong. I'm saying I think those guys getting more minutes hurts your team in regards to finishing ahead of Lucky. You're sacrificing talent for preservation. I agree that you do that with older players though.

Again this all about the regular season. When the playoffs start and we see the match ups things may change entirely.

[Roy H.]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

Not saying it's wrong. I'm saying I think those guys getting more minutes hurts your team in regards to finishing ahead of Lucky. You're sacrificing talent for preservation. I agree that you do that with older players though.

Again this all about the regular season. When the playoffs start and we see the match ups things may change entirely.

Is Lucky's strategy to run his starters into the ground?  Chris Paul averaged 36 minutes last year.  Nene averaged around 30.  33 each for Granger and Matthews.  Ilyasova averaged 28 minutes.

Aren't both of those teams going to be playing their benches a lot?

[Lucky17]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

Not saying it's wrong. I'm saying I think those guys getting more minutes hurts your team in regards to finishing ahead of Lucky. You're sacrificing talent for preservation. I agree that you do that with older players though.

Again this all about the regular season. When the playoffs start and we see the match ups things may change entirely.

Is Lucky's strategy to run his starters into the ground?  Chris Paul averaged 36 minutes last year.  Nene averaged around 30.  33 each for Granger and Matthews.  Ilyasova averaged 28 minutes.

Aren't both of those teams going to be playing their benches a lot?

I know we plan to play our bench. I think our depth is a real strength of our club. We can go 9-, 10-, 11-deep if needed.

[indeedproceed]

Some numbers to compare:

Chris Bosh
6'11", 235 lbs.
PER at PF: 19.4.
Opponent PER at PF: 15.6 (net +3.80)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 20.6/13.5

Thaddeus Young
6'8", 220 lbs.
PER at PF: 19.5
Opponent PER at PF: 18.1 (net +1.4)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 12.0/10.3


Ersan Ilyasova
6'10", 235 lbs.
PER at PF: 20.3
Opponent PER at PF: 18.2 (net +2.1)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 22.8/17.6

Amir Johnson
6'9", 210 lbs.
PER at PF: 14.8
Opponent PER at PF: 13.6 (net +1.2)
Defensive Reb Rtng/Total Reb Rtng: 19.3/15.4

I think the PF matchups are very close. Better collective PERs and PER differentials for Chicago, better rebounding for Detroit.

When Thad Young comes in for Philadelpha, his team scores 8.2 points per 100 possessions better than compared to when he is out.

When Ilyasova comes in for Milwaukee, his team score .08 points better than when he is off the court.

I think that Ilyasova's skill set is a lot sexier than Thad Young's, he's got those gaudy 3pt numbers. But the problem is that Ilyasova only did that for one half of an abridged season. There were five halfs of a season before that when his production was as inconsistent as you could ask.

I know, because I argued 2 years ago using his gaudy per36 numbers and tantalizing games here and there that he could be a 15 and 8 guy shooting 38% from range, and followed him like a lot puppy the entire 2010-2011 season, just to see the guy fall flat on his keyster.

Now maybe he does get it, and maybe that all works out

But if you're talking about regular season wins, I think the evidence is there that Young's 2 years of consistent play involving a consistent role, playoff and big game experience, and consistent minutes are a better piece than Ilyasova's. Just last season, why Ily was crazy-town-banana-pants from deep, Young still managed to make a bigger difference helping his team get wins than Ilyasova did.

[indeedproceed]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

Not saying it's wrong. I'm saying I think those guys getting more minutes hurts your team in regards to finishing ahead of Lucky. You're sacrificing talent for preservation. I agree that you do that with older players though.

Again this all about the regular season. When the playoffs start and we see the match ups things may change entirely.

I'm saying what specifically means that playing Jarret Jack at the SG spot 5 extra minutes per game will cost me games? Chandler Parsons?

Both pretty good players, who started 90% of the games they suited up for, and both played well enough in that role to hold that starting spot when healthy.

And allowing Pierce and Wade that extra 5 minutes of rest I believe will be the ultimate difference between games missed for nagging injuries, and games kept healthy. Injuries occur most during exhaustion, and typically worse. 

So if I'm sitting Wade 5 extra minutes, but that 5 extra minutes mean a knee sprain that would've sidelined him 12 games only sits him for 5, am I really costing myself wins?

[Kane3387]

Plus Chicago is going to be counting on the likes of Jack, Thad Young, and Haywood to play a lot of minutes so Pierce, Wade, and Bosh aren't burned out.

Right. That's going to happen.

Please tell me why that's wrong.

Not saying it's wrong. I'm saying I think those guys getting more minutes hurts your team in regards to finishing ahead of Lucky. You're sacrificing talent for preservation. I agree that you do that with older players though.

Again this all about the regular season. When the playoffs start and we see the match ups things may change entirely.

Is Lucky's strategy to run his starters into the ground?  Chris Paul averaged 36 minutes last year.  Nene averaged around 30.  33 each for Granger and Matthews.  Ilyasova averaged 28 minutes.

Aren't both of those teams going to be playing their benches a lot?

Yes and his is better. If IP played the starters more then it makes up for the differences in the benches. Since they're both pretty equal i like Lucky a little more b/c I also like his starters a little more.

I think after Jack and Young is goes downhill bad for IP and I am not a big Jack fan. Grievous Vasquez was the other pg for NO and Eric Gordon was out all year. Some games it seemed like Jack was their only non D-Leaguer and he has never really impressed me. Not a good shooter and typically it takes him as many shots to score the same amount of points.
He doesn't compliment Wade at all imo.

For Lucky. I like Hill's energy and Martin's aggressiveness. I'm a Ridnour and Budinger fan. too. Young is the best Bench player between the two teams, but after that I think Lucky has the next 4 out of 5.