SAM's NBA Hit List

[Yatagarasu]

Ty Lawson and Stephen Curry aren't the most durable guys on court, so having 4 more point guards does provide insurance.

[SecretAgentMan]

Rip City

Sizzlebshu's team

Starting 5:

 

PG: Chris Paul

SG:Iman Shumpert

SF:Josh Smith 

PF: Dirk Nowitzski

C:Al Jefferson

 

Bench

Kevin Garnett

Jamal Crawford 

Kyle Korver

Michael Beasley 

Reggie Evans

Rodney Stuckey

Reggie Jackson

Brandon Wright

Myers Leonard

Richard Hamilton

 

 

This team is one of the best.
Paul is the top PG in the game and this is a group of elite big men.

 

You also have a lot of elite defenders too. Smith, KG, Horford. Then a lot of nice scorers. This is defiantly one of the best teams

[flaccopoe]

 

Rip City

 

Starting 5:

 

PG: Chris Paul

SG:Iman Shumpert

SF:Josh Smith 

PF: Dirk Nowitzski

C:Al Jefferson

 

Bench

Kevin Garnett

Jamal Crawford 

Kyle Korver

Michael Beasley 

Reggie Evans

Rodney Stuckey

Reggie Jackson

Brandon Wright

Myers Leonard

Richard Hamilton

 

 

This team is one of the best.
Paul is the top PG in the game and this is a group of elite big men.

 

You also have a lot of elite defenders too. Smith, KG, Horford. Then a lot of nice scorers. This is defiantly one of the best teams

 

 

Who's team is this?  You should really list the team owner next to the team name.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Who's team is this? You should really list the team owner next to the team name.

Sizzles

[-Truth-]

This is definitely a very good team. Solid complements at several positions. Kevin Garnett should help mask the sub-par defense of Al Jefferson, even if for a single season. Jamal Crawford is a very good insurance policy for Iman Shumpert, and a top tier off-the-bench scorer. Shumpert had an uneven season and an even rockier Offseason, but could be better in his second year after the ACL tear, and seems to have improved his outside shot when struggling in the paint this past season. The ability of Dirk Nowitzki, Jefferson and Garnett to be consistent threats away from the basket should allow Josh Smith more opportunities at the rim, and vice versa. This will bode well for Smith, as he's an elite finisher at the cup, but converted a porous 30% of his attempts otherwise. Kyle Korver will help keep defenses on their toes, and Reggie Evans will crash the boards off the bench. This team does lack a competent distributor in the backcourt when Chris Paul is on the bench, but the passing capabilities of the frontcourt will be of assistance in that department. One of the only concerns I'd have is with the interior defense. The other is with the age of Nowitzki and Garnett, both of whom are retirement candidates, which is in part predicated by their inability to remain healthy. But even if both hang it up after this season, this team would still be able to deploy Crawford at the 2, Shumpert at the 3 and Smith at the 4, where they've all had experience playing. There's a lot to like about this roster.

[Geving]

Solid team, but with a short window to contend as I expect Dirk and other oldies to have significant roles on this team. Not high on Smith, but I think he fits this team well with Dirk at the 4. The bench is good with KG, Crawford who's a great guy to have come off the bench, Korver as the 3 point specialist and Evans as a rebounding machine. But I wouldn't have touched Beasley with a 10 foot pole.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

I definitely understand the part about rotating, which should help maintain the health of Gallinari and Bryant once they're back. My concern with that would be the performance of the reserves while they're on the bench this season. The ones you have pegged at the one, two and three spots, could be a bit of a liability when on the court together. Regarding the defense, solid coaching a strategy can definitely mask inefficiencies on the defensive end, though this may not prove to be as successful against the upper echelon Offenses of the league. Lastly, I'm a little uncertain whether you have enough athleticism to implement a lot of defensive recovering. It could also be difficult for Gallinari and Bryant given the injuries they're coming off of. Don't at all mean to come off as critical. I'm just hoping to hear you elaborate a little further regarding these questions.

 

i understand your worries perfectly, there's a lot of good faith to expect from the players coming back from the injuries and more of that faith with the very young ones

when rotatating, will try to always keep it at 3 starting players + 2 coming off the bench; for example when Kobe's coming on the bench for a chat with me about how to go about next lol, then Gallinari stays in and plays with Vasquez at PG and Singler/Ponitka at SG and when Gallinari comes for a high five then Kobe will play with Hezonja and Micic; rotating Anderson with Scola/Hickson should feel a more natural thing to do, same with Cousins giving way to McGee/Karnowski

mostly i'd prefer to play double-teaming in defense; while there might be issues with forcing Kobe and Gallinari too much in playing defensive recovering, these three youngsters could keep the pace going:

- Hezonja is a very smooth, athletic guard with enormous potential to go with prototypical SG size for the NBA and excellent leaping ability; he's also been showing good anticipation defensively with a great knack for jumping passing lanes

- at 6'5, Micic uses has good footwork with good rotation; has shown to be active in the passing lanes and always seizes the opportunity to steal the ball; he's very competitive (like all balkan players lol) and shows excellent court awareness and anticipation skills

- Karnowski is huge at 7'1 and loves to play in the post; posseses very good mobility and agility, can simply outwork other bigs, beating them down the floor with quickness and speed and very good conditioning

the team is very raw defensively, i do acknowledge that... but could keep up with the high scoring teams offensivelly - so let's call it work in progress lol

ps: by the way, this was my first ever basketball draft and haven't been watching the sport as regularly as i used to, so i think i have done quite decent if i can say so myself lol - roll on the 2014 World Cup I say...

[-Truth-]

i understand your worries perfectly, there's a lot of good faith to expect from the players coming back from the injuries and more of that faith with the very young ones
when rotatating, will try to always keep it at 3 starting players + 2 coming off the bench; for example when Kobe's coming on the bench for a chat with me about how to go about next lol, then Gallinari stays in and plays with Vasquez at PG and Singler/Ponitka at SG and when Gallinari comes for a high five then Kobe will play with Hezonja and Micic; rotating Anderson with Scola/Hickson should feel a more natural thing to do, same with Cousins giving way to McGee/Karnowski
mostly i'd prefer to play double-teaming in defense; while there might be issues with forcing Kobe and Gallinari too much in playing defensive recovering, these three youngsters could keep the pace going:
- Hezonja is a very smooth, athletic guard with enormous potential to go with prototypical SG size for the NBA and excellent leaping ability; he's also been showing good anticipation defensively with a great knack for jumping passing lanes
- at 6'5, Micic uses has good footwork with good rotation; has shown to be active in the passing lanes and always seizes the opportunity to steal the ball; he's very competitive (like all balkan players lol) and shows excellent court awareness and anticipation skills
- Karnowski is huge at 7'1 and loves to play in the post; posseses very good mobility and agility, can simply outwork other bigs, beating them down the floor with quickness and speed and very good conditioning
the team is very raw defensively, i do acknowledge that... but could keep up with the high scoring teams offensivelly - so let's call it work in progress lol
ps: by the way, this was my first ever basketball draft and haven't been watching the sport as regularly as i used to, so i think i have done quite decent if i can say so myself lol - roll on the 2014 Wold Cup I say...

Given your pieces, having at least three starters on the floor seems to be a solid strategy.

I'll be honest in that I know nothing of the names you've listed, so I'll have to take your word for their assessments. Their development could do wonders for your bench.

Agreed about the Offense and Defense. This is my first Draft as well, so I understand where you're coming from. I've done the opposite in terms of watching more NBA than in the past years. Soccer is a sport I know absolutely nothing about, so I won't even pretend to contend with you there lol

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Given your pieces, having at least three starters on the floor seems to be a solid strategy.

I'll be honest in that I know nothing of the names you've listed, so I'll have to take your word for their assessments. Their development could do wonders for your bench.

Agreed about the Offense and Defense. This is my first Draft as well, so I understand where you're coming from. I've done the opposite in terms of watching more NBA than in the past years. Soccer is a sport I know absolutely nothing about, so I won't even pretend to contend with you there lol

to be fair, i only presented the good things that my young ones could do... there's an old saying from where i made eyes first... our (war) casualties are reported by the enemy ;)

 

2014 is going to be a very good year for sport - the hockey at the Winter Olympics in Russia, the soccer World Cup in Brazil and the basketball World Cup in Spain too

[flaccopoe]

to be fair, i only presented the good things that my young ones could do... there's an old saying from where i made eyes first... our (war) casualties are reported by the enemy ;)

 

2014 is going to be a very good year for sport - the hockey at the Winter Olympics in Russia, the soccer World Cup in Brazil and the basketball World Cup in Spain too

 

Not to mention LeBron, Kobe and Carmelo will be FAs.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Not to mention LeBron, Kobe and Carmelo will be FAs.

i signed Kobe for life so he's not going anywhere

[flaccopoe]

i signed Kobe for life so he's not going anywhere

 

I thought the Lakers already did that? :p

[flaccopoe]

:confused:

[SecretAgentMan]

I will continue when the NFL draft is over :P

[flaccopoe]

I want you back (this thread)!

[SecretAgentMan]

I want you back (this thread)!

NFL draft isn't over

[SecretAgentMan]

Starters

Point Guard: Damian Lillard

Shooting Guard: Ben McLemore

Superstar (Small Forward): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Power Forward: John Henson

Centerpiece (Center): Derrick Favors

 

Bench

Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas

Shooting Guard: Jordan Crawford

Small Forward: Moe Harkless

Power Forward: Tony Mitchell

Center: Amar'e Stoudemire

Shooting Guard: Alec Burks

Point/Small Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Center: Samuel Dalembert

GOAT/Coach: Brian Scalabrine

You have some talent, but Stoudemire on the bench? MKG second option.

 

This team is a lot of unproven and does not have a  legit #1 scoring option WHO STARTS.....

 

That's why I can see this team being ranked last.... They have some solid role players and all, but passes on Dwayne Wade for Lillard.....

[-Truth-]

Lillard is a very good scorer. I would've passed on Wade for Lillard based on the age, upside and ability to score from every area on the floor.

[Geving]

Lillard is a very good scorer. I would've passed on Wade for Lillard based on the age, upside and ability to score from every area on the floor.

Same

[flaccopoe]

Starters

Point Guard: Damian Lillard

Shooting Guard: Ben McLemore

Superstar (Small Forward): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Power Forward: John Henson

Centerpiece (Center): Derrick Favors

 

Bench

Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas

Shooting Guard: Jordan Crawford

Small Forward: Moe Harkless

Power Forward: Tony Mitchell

Center: Amar'e Stoudemire

Shooting Guard: Alec Burks

Point/Small Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Center: Samuel Dalembert

GOAT/Coach: Brian Scalabrine

You have some talent, but Stoudemire on the bench? MKG second option.

 

This team is a lot of unproven and does not have a  legit #1 scoring option WHO STARTS.....

 

That's why I can see this team being ranked last.... They have some solid role players and all, but passes on Dwayne Wade for Lillard.....

 

Whose team is this, damnit?

[SecretAgentMan]

Whose team is this, damnit?

Look in the depth chart thread and be productive.

 

I do this all for you people, so you could at least find out for yourself...

 

But it's MH's team

[flaccopoe]

Look in the depth chart thread and be productive.

 

I do this all for you people, so you could at least find out for yourself...

 

But it's MH's team

 

Anyway, I generally agree with your assessment, except he wouldn't want to build a franchise around an aging player with injury concerns.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Lillard is a very good scorer. I would've passed on Wade for Lillard based on the age, upside and ability to score from every area on the floor.

 

I agree

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Starters
Point Guard: Damian Lillard
Shooting Guard: Ben McLemore
Superstar (Small Forward): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Power Forward: John Henson
Centerpiece (Center): Derrick Favors

Bench
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas
Shooting Guard: Jordan Crawford
Small Forward: Moe Harkless
Power Forward: Tony Mitchell
Center: Amar'e Stoudemire
Shooting Guard: Alec Burks
Point/Small Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Samuel Dalembert
GOAT/Coach: Brian Scalabrine
You have some talent, but Stoudemire on the bench? MKG second option.

This team is a lot of unproven and does not have a legit #1 scoring option WHO STARTS.....

That's why I can see this team being ranked last.... They have some solid role players and all, but passes on Dwayne Wade for Lillard.....

I love Wade and all but Lillard is the better pick. Especially with Wade's injury history and decline of late. Also Lillard put up 19 points a game, that's a very solid scoring threat. Stoudemire is a rotational player at this point he should be coming off the bench. MKG can attack the rim as well as anyone and assuming he succeeds in improving his jump shot which he has dedicated the offseason to, he should be a very nice complement who plays stellar defense and can rebound. Burks, Dalembert, Crawford, and Thomas can all put up points as consistently as well. I do agree that my team should be last though as it is very very young.

[SecretAgentMan]

I love Wade and all but Lillard is the better pick. Especially with Wade's injury history and decline of late. Also Lillard put up 19 points a game, that's a very solid scoring threat.

I'm in win now mode lol. That's how in grading this, everything in win now mode lol.

For a future, Lillard is better. Now I'd take Wade and his superstar status lol

[The Oakland Cathedral]

I'm in win now mode lol. That's how in grading this, everything in win now mode lol.

For a future, Lillard is better. Now I'd take Wade and his superstar (Knee permitting) status lol

Fixed.

[SecretAgentMan]

Fixed.

Haha. That's why I drafted a capable backup lol. Plus Holliday, Lee, and Gasol are all capable scorers :P.

Your team is good in 2-3 years IMHO. It shouldn't be ranked last but not first