2012 CB Draft Central Division Press Conferences

[indeedproceed]

Presser is done, at least as much as I'm going to do with it.

Here is the rotation I've settled on, for those of you who look at such things. This did not come easily, so appreciate it, maggots!

I see my lineup as a series of puzzles and compliments, so mixing and matching them to achieve balance at all times is critical.

A tentative regular season minutes schedule, assuming health:

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)

Qualifier: This is not a 'set' rotation for the playoffs. This is just an example.

Question 1: Why in the crap are you doing that? Why not just start Young?

A1: Shut up, I'm getting to that.

My frontcourt is very talented, but has issues with spacing. Splitter and Haywood could play together while Bosh rests, but I think at best I break even there, and I don't build on a lead.

Notes/Rules Of Thumb regarding individual players:

Jrue Holiday always guards the other teams' starting point. Always. All the time. Unless we're ahead by 10 or he's injured, Holiday plays with the opposing starting PG.

Dwayne Wade and Pierce's minutes will start out at a hard cap of 30, which will be lifted at the all-star game, and slowly increased. Bosh's hard cap is 35, but I expect him to play less.

Splitter, Haywood, and to a lesser degree Butler will all get ample chances to play, and these will be matchup defined. There are nights Splitter will play more minutes (and Bosh more at the 4), and there are nights when Splitter will pull a DNP-CD. Pat Riley doesn't care about his precious feelings.

[StartOrien]

1) Detroit - D'antoni with this lineup in the regular season is good.
2) Tie between Chicago and Indiana. I think they finish with the same record. Chicago isn't going to max its players out in the regular season and will drop some games as a result. This is smart though. Indiana will go Balls to the Wall and Rondo has an incredible statistical year.
4) Cleveland - I don't trust Bogut to stay healthy. I also don't like Pop with Melo to begin the season, but I think this team still fights for the 8th seed after a bonding session between its coach and best player.

Hmm ... good point, yeah, I think Detroit win the division too.

Leaning towards Detroit as my choice for top seed in the East.

I dunno though, this is a pretty tough divsion.  I think that might cost them the #1 seed.  I could See Indiana, Chicago and Detroit beating eachother up pretty good

Solid point.  Still, Ru Paul or not, I have a hard time seeing anybody but Chicago taking that #1 seed.  I like Detroit's team, but I think Chicago is better.

Why the Bulls over the Pistons?

I'm a believer in Chicago's starters over Detroit's.  I'm staying open-minded for a playoff series, but I think during the regular season, a Wade/Pierce/Bosh team will win.

Surprised by this, cuz I'd think it'd be the opposite.

[Roy H.]

PF: Bosh (10), Young (23) Parsons (5)
C: Splitter (15), Bosh (23)

... and for the remaining 20 minutes, IP will be playing Harry Dresden.  Magic is about the only thing that can save that disaster of a front court waiting to happen.

[ronaldo943]

Presser is done, at least as much as I'm going to do with it.

Here is the rotation I've settled on, for those of you who look at such things. This did not come easily, so appreciate it, maggots!

I see my lineup as a series of puzzles and compliments, so mixing and matching them to achieve balance at all times is critical.

A tentative regular season minutes schedule, assuming health:

PG: Holiday (32), Jack (10), Shved (6)
SG: Wade (30), Jack (18)
SF: Pierce (30), Parsons (18)
PF: Bosh (10), Young (23) Parsons (5)
C: Splitter (15), Bosh (23)

Qualifier: This is not a 'set' rotation for the playoffs. This is just an example.

Question 1: Why in the crap are you doing that? Why not just start Young?

A1: Shut up, I'm getting to that.

My frontcourt is very talented, but has issues with spacing. Splitter and Haywood could play together while Bosh rests, but I think at best I break even there, and I don't build on a lead.

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

And even though I didn't list Haywood, Butler, or Lamb in the above lineup, I'm not saying I'm not going to play them, or see them not getting minutes. There are just certain times when they'll get more than others.

Notes/Rules Of Thumb regarding individual players:

Jrue Holiday always guards the other teams' starting point. Always. All the time. Unless we're ahead by 10 or he's injured, Holiday plays with the opposing starting PG.

Dwayne Wade and Pierce's minutes will start out at a hard cap of 30, which will be lifted at the all-star game, and slowly increased. Bosh's hard cap is 35, but I expect him to play less.

Splitter, Haywood, and to a lesser degree Butler will all get ample chances to play, and these will be matchup defined. There are nights Splitter will play more minutes (and Bosh more at the 4), and there are nights when Splitter will pull a DNP-CD. Pat Riley doesn't care about his precious feelings.

Why in the crap are you doing that? Why not just start Young?

[Roy H.]

1) Detroit - D'antoni with this lineup in the regular season is good.
2) Tie between Chicago and Indiana. I think they finish with the same record. Chicago isn't going to max its players out in the regular season and will drop some games as a result. This is smart though. Indiana will go Balls to the Wall and Rondo has an incredible statistical year.
4) Cleveland - I don't trust Bogut to stay healthy. I also don't like Pop with Melo to begin the season, but I think this team still fights for the 8th seed after a bonding session between its coach and best player.

Hmm ... good point, yeah, I think Detroit win the division too.

Leaning towards Detroit as my choice for top seed in the East.

I dunno though, this is a pretty tough divsion.  I think that might cost them the #1 seed.  I could See Indiana, Chicago and Detroit beating eachother up pretty good

Solid point.  Still, Ru Paul or not, I have a hard time seeing anybody but Chicago taking that #1 seed.  I like Detroit's team, but I think Chicago is better.

Why the Bulls over the Pistons?

I'm a believer in Chicago's starters over Detroit's.  I'm staying open-minded for a playoff series, but I think during the regular season, a Wade/Pierce/Bosh team will win.

Surprised by this, cuz I'd think it'd be the opposite.

I've never been a particularly big Nene or Ilyasova fan, and I think Wes Matthews is about as overrated as Kyle Lowry on here.

[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.

[indeedproceed]

PF: Bosh (10), Young (23) Parsons (5)
C: Splitter (15), Bosh (23)

... and for the remaining 20 minutes, IP will be playing Harry Dresden.  Magic is about the only thing that can save that disaster of a front court waiting to happen.

haha, I did my math wrong, and I'm not even mad at the 'disaster' comment because you got Harry Dresden involved.

[Roy H.]

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.

That's a great argument.  Well done, seriously.  However, aren't you basically presuming the best case scenario? 

Also, I'm not sure that Carmelo "Stop Snitchin'" Anthony is a particularly high character guy, but that's picking at nits.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

1) Detroit - D'antoni with this lineup in the regular season is good.
2) Tie between Chicago and Indiana. I think they finish with the same record. Chicago isn't going to max its players out in the regular season and will drop some games as a result. This is smart though. Indiana will go Balls to the Wall and Rondo has an incredible statistical year.
4) Cleveland - I don't trust Bogut to stay healthy. I also don't like Pop with Melo to begin the season, but I think this team still fights for the 8th seed after a bonding session between its coach and best player.

Hmm ... good point, yeah, I think Detroit win the division too.

Leaning towards Detroit as my choice for top seed in the East.

I dunno though, this is a pretty tough divsion.  I think that might cost them the #1 seed.  I could See Indiana, Chicago and Detroit beating eachother up pretty good

Solid point.  Still, Ru Paul or not, I have a hard time seeing anybody but Chicago taking that #1 seed.  I like Detroit's team, but I think Chicago is better.

I believe you guys are underestimating Pop's coaching ability.

He took a Spurs team with an old Duncan, Ginobli, Parker and some new names to the best record in the west.

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.

I think you are overrating Melo, Bogut, Felton, roy and Tmac. 

The spurs have something incredibly rare, IMO they are the patriots of the NBA.  They have a few Stalwarts that stay year after year and a fantastic coach.  Duncan is one of the best players this league has ever seen.  And Parker Duncan and Ginobili work together better than many other pairings ever have.

Yes you do have Pop, but the players on those spurs teams are also very very good and everything there begins and ends with Duncan.

Pop had players like Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter and turned them into good role players. TMac, Rush, Roy, Jason Smith, Tyrus Thomas are not far along when it comes to talent, maybe they're more talented. They are also high character guys (except Thomas, something needs to be done to that work ethic), and it seems that high character guys flourish on his system.

Melo, Bogut and Felton are not Duncan, Ginobly and Parker. But that's not far off a gap talent wise. But all are good passers in their own rights (even Melo, ball hog as he is he's a good passer) and Pop's system ensures ball movement and get easy shots. It'll work for these three, other's will buy in and will be involved, and if the play get's stagnant, you always have Melo to bail you out, like what Ginobli does with the real life Spurs.

[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.

That's a great argument.  Well done, seriously.  However, aren't you basically presuming the best case scenario? 

Also, I'm not sure that Carmelo "Stop Snitchin'" Anthony is a particularly high character guy, but that's picking at nits.

It's always best case scenario or your team morale will go spiraling down. The team's outlook should always be that way, so they'll be motivated to do the best they can do.

[Roy H.]

So, Yoki, any truth to the rumor that you just make wacky trades to keep things interesting for the rest of us?  Your arguments and draft picks are top notch stuff.

[Kane3387]

So, Yoki, any truth to the rumor that you just make wacky trades to keep things interesting for the rest of us?  Your arguments and draft picks are top notch stuff.

I honestly thought he was just trying to make it interesting for himself. Waiting on picks and stuff can be boring.

[Who]

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?

[Kane3387]

1) Detroit - D'antoni with this lineup in the regular season is good.
2) Tie between Chicago and Indiana. I think they finish with the same record. Chicago isn't going to max its players out in the regular season and will drop some games as a result. This is smart though. Indiana will go Balls to the Wall and Rondo has an incredible statistical year.
4) Cleveland - I don't trust Bogut to stay healthy. I also don't like Pop with Melo to begin the season, but I think this team still fights for the 8th seed after a bonding session between its coach and best player.

Hmm ... good point, yeah, I think Detroit win the division too.

Leaning towards Detroit as my choice for top seed in the East.

I dunno though, this is a pretty tough divsion.  I think that might cost them the #1 seed.  I could See Indiana, Chicago and Detroit beating eachother up pretty good

Solid point.  Still, Ru Paul or not, I have a hard time seeing anybody but Chicago taking that #1 seed.  I like Detroit's team, but I think Chicago is better.

Why the Bulls over the Pistons?

I'm a believer in Chicago's starters over Detroit's.  I'm staying open-minded for a playoff series, but I think during the regular season, a Wade/Pierce/Bosh team will win.

Surprised by this, cuz I'd think it'd be the opposite.

I've never been a particularly big Nene or Ilyasova fan, and I think Wes Matthews is about as overrated as Kyle Lowry on here.

I think you have to take into account the system and the PG. Good fit for Ily (Tim Thomas) and Wes (Quentin Richardson).

Guys like that just play out of their mind in that system when its run by an elite do it all PG. 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.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

So, Yoki, any truth to the rumor that you just make wacky trades to keep things interesting for the rest of us?  Your arguments and draft picks are top notch stuff.

That's not true at all.

I'm too impulsive with trades. Always thinking that I'll never have the depth I need and became content with settling on a lower level talent just to get depth. That's something I need to learn. But I'm glad it made it interesting if that's the case.