2012 CB Draft Central Division Press Conferences

[Rondo2287]

Yoki - Overall I thought your drafting of talent was pretty darn good, however the trades that you made I would have to grade at the low end of the Yoki scale which really set your team back.

I do like what you ended up with though because I personally believe that Melo is at his best when he is the clear cut best player on the team. 

My question for you is what do you do when 1/3 of the way through the season bogut goes down with some type of broken bone?

Then this team is dead, plain and simple. Drummond an Smith might fill the defensive load but its not gonna be enough. But let me flip the script, what if he stays healthy?

If he stays healthy you have yourself a pretty darn good player and my keep fantasy team gets a nice boost!

[Roy H.]

Cleveland,

Tyrus Thomas shot 35.7% from the field last year as a power forward, and played on the worst team in NBA history.  His offense was atrocious, his defense was bad, and his rebounding was very poor.

Is this guy good enough to start on a playoff team?  And why do you like him better than Kenyon Martin?

[indeedproceed]

Wdleehi, you've got a lot of uncertainty on your roster. Avery Bradley just had another surgery, Nic Batum seemed to regress last year, so did Carl Landry, Mike Pietrus, Kirk Hinrich and Raja Bell.

What can be done, if anything, to remove some of these unknowns?

[Roy H.]

Chicago, I've noticed that you're asking a lot of questions, but haven't posted your own presser.  Is that because you can't handle the scrutiny?

[indeedproceed]

Chicago, I've noticed that you're asking a lot of questions, but haven't posted your own presser.  Is that because you can't handle the scrutiny?

No, its because I'm getting married in 4 days, am alone in my 3-person office, and don't have the internet at home (just my phone).

Have you met me, Roy? Have you? That presser would've been up in April if I'd had had the time.

[Roy H.]

Chicago, I've noticed that you're asking a lot of questions, but haven't posted your own presser.  Is that because you can't handle the scrutiny?

No, its because I'm getting married in 4 days, am alone in my 3-person office, and don't have the internet at home (just my phone).

Have you met me, Roy? Have you? That presser would've been up in April if I'd had had the time.

Chicago, who would be more effective defending the post...

... this "guy"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JycY3NMo4uA

... or this guy?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Cleveland,

Tyrus Thomas shot 35.7% from the field last year as a power forward, and played on the worst team in NBA history.  His offense was atrocious, his defense was bad, and his rebounding was very poor.

Is this guy good enough to start on a playoff team?  And why do you like him better than Kenyon Martin?

Why Cleveland liked him more than Kenyon is he's more athletic, more better defensively (talent wise atleast) than him.

Tyrus' problem in CHA is lack of motivation. No one in that could motivate him, and Kemba's leadership abilities was probably not enough. This team laden with veteran leaders who went to hardships and struggles in their careers (Roy and McGrady) that could motivate him to be back on track. This team is not gomna ask him to do as much, unlike in Charlotte where he's trying too hard to live with that contract.

Oh, Jason Smith is starting, until Thomas proves himself to be the better option. Coach Pop said so, and he loves them twin towers.

[indeedproceed]

Chicago, I've noticed that you're asking a lot of questions, but haven't posted your own presser.  Is that because you can't handle the scrutiny?

No, its because I'm getting married in 4 days, am alone in my 3-person office, and don't have the internet at home (just my phone).

Have you met me, Roy? Have you? That presser would've been up in April if I'd had had the time.

Chicago, who would be more effective defending the post...

... this "guy"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JycY3NMo4uA

... or this guy?

Against Shaq? Probably the actual Ru-Paul. Novelty factor.

[Rondo2287]

Cleveland,

Tyrus Thomas shot 35.7% from the field last year as a power forward, and played on the worst team in NBA history.  His offense was atrocious, his defense was bad, and his rebounding was very poor.

Is this guy good enough to start on a playoff team?  And why do you like him better than Kenyon Martin?

Why Cleveland liked him more than Kenyon is he's more athletic, more better defensively (talent wise atleast) than him.

Tyrus' problem in CHA is lack of motivation. No one in that could motivate him, and Kemba's leadership abilities was probably not enough. This team laden with veteran leaders who went to hardships and struggles in their careers (Roy and McGrady) that could motivate him to be back on track. This team is not gomna ask him to do as much, unlike in Charlotte where he's trying too hard to live with that contract.

Haha Yoki pulled a Magic Johnson

Awful Announcing
 ‏@awfulannouncing 3 Jun Magic Johnson: "I'm feeling more better about the Boston Celtics than I am the Miami Heat."

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Cleveland,

Tyrus Thomas shot 35.7% from the field last year as a power forward, and played on the worst team in NBA history.  His offense was atrocious, his defense was bad, and his rebounding was very poor.

Is this guy good enough to start on a playoff team?  And why do you like him better than Kenyon Martin?

Why Cleveland liked him more than Kenyon is he's more athletic, more better defensively (talent wise atleast) than him.

Tyrus' problem in CHA is lack of motivation. No one in that could motivate him, and Kemba's leadership abilities was probably not enough. This team laden with veteran leaders who went to hardships and struggles in their careers (Roy and McGrady) that could motivate him to be back on track. This team is not gomna ask him to do as much, unlike in Charlotte where he's trying too hard to live with that contract.

Haha Yoki pulled a Magic Johnson

Awful Announcing
 ‏@awfulannouncing 3 Jun Magic Johnson: "I'm feeling more better about the Boston Celtics than I am the Miami Heat."

But it's true. When your team is losing and no one can keep the heads straight, they won't care. They'll bee half-behind on ther performance and wouldn't even give a 2 cents. Even harder when your struggling. There's no morale, no motivation to get better.

TMac and Roy battled injuries, struggled when teu got back and yet still trying to prove everyone that they still have "it". Who could be a better mentor for Tyrus than those two? He can be fixed, with better environment, less pressure to keep up with his contract, a veterans and coaches who can motivate him. Worse case, in this team he can be a decent (refer to the Yoki Scale) PF with this team, or he can become the Chicago Bulls Thomas again.

[wdleehi]

Indiana- Bradley Shot 22% from 3 in the playoffs, does the lack of jump shooting from your back court concern you?

I think the combination of being in the playoff for the first time plus his injuries got him to fall back into bad shooting habits. 

The Celtics said during the regular season that they got him to stop shooting off balance, and we saw the results.  As his experience grows, I expect his numbers will not jump around so much anymore. 

[jgod213]

Indiana:

You mention that a lot of your success will be predicated on how your younger players mature and develope over the course of a season...

My question is, do you worry that the growing pains associated with such developement may end up costing you some games --> lead to a lower (worse) seed come playoff time.

[wdleehi]

Wdleehi, you've got a lot of uncertainty on your roster. Avery Bradley just had another surgery, Nic Batum seemed to regress last year, so did Carl Landry, Mike Pietrus, Kirk Hinrich and Raja Bell.

What can be done, if anything, to remove some of these unknowns?

We expect Bradley to recover be continue his growth.

Batum did not regress.  We expect him to continue to grow.


The older players are slowing (like older players do).  But they are being asked to play smaller roles then they did in their prime.

[jgod213]

Cleve:

I've asked it like 3 times, and i'm about to make it 4...

Why did you decide ultimately that Carmelo could not be used as a starting power-forward next to Bogut?

Why is starting Melo at the 3 next to Ty Thomas a better option than Melo at the 4 next to Brandon Roy, TMac, or Perry Jones?

[wdleehi]

Indiana:

You mention that a lot of your success will be predicated on how your younger players mature and develope over the course of a season...

My question is, do you worry that the growing pains associated with such developement may end up costing you some games --> lead to a lower (worse) seed come playoff time.

While that is always a possible, it then becomes a nightmare for the higher seeded team.   Which 4th or 3rd seeded team wants to see this team in the 1st round if that happens?  Rondo and those guys with another season under their belt?  Scary.