Well, with the NBA lockout just days away, the focus has changed from the very weak NBA draft held on Thursday. Even with the inevitable approaching, I still found myself fascinated with the NBA draft. Even with a weak class of incoming players - I was still there looking and analyzing at all the picks. So, without further ado, let's look at a few of those players who I think could have some fantasy value in 11/12 (whenever that is)...
#1 - Kyrie Irving - of course the #1 pick is going to have fantasy value. Cleveland is in full rebuild mode and should play him 30+ minutes a night. Because really, are they going to let an aging Baron Davis run the show? I don't think so. My concern on Irving is that he played about 300 minutes of college basketball. So he's still a bit of an unknown. But, like any rookie on a bad team, he will force shots and try to do too much. I say JBL owners beware...
#2 - Derrick Williams - To me, he looks like the best player right now in this draft. The problem, he plays in Minnesota (so far). He'll be behind Beasley and Love but should still hopefully carve out 25 minutes or so. I think he can have some fantasy value for sure.
#3 - Enes Kanter. I like this guy's potential. Despite not playing last year at Kentucky I think he has great potential to be a factor in Utah this coming season. I think he can pair nicely with Big Al and provide a presence in the paint for the Jazz. He will take over Okur's minutes and should be a fantasy factor as the season moves along. Kanter and Favors are a nice young duo that could allow them to move Millsap.
#6 - Jan Vesely. I love this dude for so many reasons!! I love this kid because he tongued his girlfriend when he was drafted. He's known as the 'Dunking Ninja' on You Tube. When asked if he was the European Blake Griffin - he responded with, "No, Blake is the American Jan Vesely." He is the next Andrei Kirilenko! And remember what AK47 went for in the land of fantasy a few years ago?? He was a $50 dollar player. I think this kid has that kind of potential.
#8 - Brandon Knight. While I'm not a huge fan of the player, I'm a bigger fan of the situation he landed in. For the longest time, Knight was pegged as the #3 choice going to Utah to play behind Devin Harris. However, he slipped to #8 and now has a chance to start in Detroit. Stuckey is not a pure PG and I think Knight could actually get significant minutes next season. Again, I think he will struggle with his shooting %'s but he should earn himself a JBL team spot on Auction night.
#9 - Kemba Walker. He gets mixed reviews from the experts on whether he'll make in the pro game. I like him though. Another guy who I think landed in the right situation. Charlotte is trying to change it's culture and only has Augustin and Henderson in the backcourt right now so I think Walker can earn enough minutes to be a fantasy factor. He was the PG on the NCAA winning team that wasn't loaded with stars so he can definitely play. I think he could be a late night pickup on JBL auction night.
#10 - Jimmer Fredette. Another perfect situation for a guy. Jimmer can play PG beside a much bigger guard Tyreke. The knock on Evans was that he wasn't a pure PG and loved to drive the ball too much. Well, now Tyreke can drive and kick it out to one of the best shooters the NCAA has ever seen. The Kings backcourt now features high volume guys like Tyreke, Jimmer, and Marcus Thornton. Will there be enough balls to go around?? No doubt this guy gets drafted at Auction.
#12 - Alec Burks. I admit, I don't know much about this kid. I do know that he was one of the best SG options available though and that he's landed on a team desperate for SG help. The Jazz trotted out Raja Bell last season on many nights at SG so Burks has a chance to contribute right away. Not sure how many minutes he'll get but he's probably a good risk/reward type player to draft late at auction and stash away on the bench.
#15 - Kawhi Leonard. A projected top 5 pick for the week leading up to the draft he somehow slipped to #15 and landed with the Spurs. San Antonio is great at identifying talent so I fully trust that they know what they're doing here. And just think, the only player standing in Leonard's way to significant minutes is an aging Richard Jefferson. So yes, I think Kawhi is going to play a lot next season.
#18 - Chris Singleton. He is supposedly the best defender in this draft and he's landed in Washington where they need some help. He will battle Vesely for minutes but should be on the floor a lot because of his ability to play D. He doesn't have much of an offensive game but he should get many open looks because of Wall's passing abilities. A possible late night JBL pick.
#22 - Kenneth Faried. Think Reggie Evans or Dennis Rodman type rebounder. Plus, he could actually start for Denver if they don't re-sign Kenyon Martin. He could be a nice value pick if you are in need of rebounds.
Well, there you have it...those are some of the guys that I like from this NBA draft. If we do see a lockout I think this year's JBL draft could be the most interesting one ever. Why? Because for the first time ever we won't have the luxury of pre-season games. We won't know what teams' rotations will look like. We won't know how FA's will be fitting in with their new teams. The uncertainty excites me. Although I do not want to see a shortened NBA season because that would mean our JBL season would be shorter as well.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Iguodala Rumors continue...
So, another day, another blog post, and another Andre Iguodala trade rumor.Today's features a Chris Kaman for Iguodala swap. If you're a Clippers fan (is there such a thing?) then this has to be an exciting rumor. Can you imagine a starting lineup of Mo Williams, Eric Gordon, Iguodala, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan? Very appealing.
Is moving Chris Kaman the right thing to do? I say yes. Is he a quality big man? Yes. Absolutely. He has 18 and 10 potential with some blocks in fantasy land. But the LA landscape is changing. He will no longer be needed to put up those kind of points with Blake, EG, and Mo around. He's really a 4th option. And as good as an athlete he is for being a big man (and a white guy) - he's not athletic enough to keep up with the track meet pace that LA could set. The other knock on Kaman is his durability. How many games has he played each season over the last 5 years? Try 32-76-31-56-75. He misses games. So, I say the Clippers are doing the right thing by considering moving him.
Iguodala would be a great fit in Clipperland in my view. I think his overall fantasy game would mesh very nicely with that group. I think he could still average 12-15ppg and he would stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Mo Williams isn't the most 'pure' PG in the league so I could easily see AI averaging over 5 assists a night as a point-forward. And all those rebounds, steals, and blocks. Yummy.
And if Kaman could get and stay healthy - he could be a very good center in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers need to get bigger in the middle as they just can't survive with Spencer Hawes in the middle and Kaman could put up some good numbers. Kaman is always a fantasy risk because of his health but I have to think his numbers would be better (fantasy-wise) in Philly than in LA. Blake and EG are the focus in LA. Where in Philly, it's Elton Brand and a bunch of other guys. Kaman really could shine in Philly. Again, only if he stays healthy. And it's that health risk that has Philly wanting more than just Kaman for Iguodala. Can't say I blame them. And it never hurts to ask.
I guess the other implication for Philly in this potential deal would be the promotion of Evan Turner to starting SG and Thaddeus Young would get more minutes as well. Young could have a breakout season with more minutes as he averaged 13 and 5 in just 26 minutes per game last season. He also had 90 steals! Add another 10 minutes of run to his night and he could be a 17 and 7 guy. Oh so nice. Sleeper! And what about Turner? He was the #2 pick last season behind John Wall but had a very disappointing season. He would be one of those high risk - high reward guys to keep an eye on for sure. Now, if there is a lockout, the risk is even bigger if the JBL Auction rolls around and we don't know if Turner can handle the starting gig. That just adds to the intrigue of the JBL draft in my view. How much would Turner go for at Auction? Would he even be drafted at all???
Well, that's all for tonight....back to back blogs baby!! Offseason Johnny is on a roll!
Is moving Chris Kaman the right thing to do? I say yes. Is he a quality big man? Yes. Absolutely. He has 18 and 10 potential with some blocks in fantasy land. But the LA landscape is changing. He will no longer be needed to put up those kind of points with Blake, EG, and Mo around. He's really a 4th option. And as good as an athlete he is for being a big man (and a white guy) - he's not athletic enough to keep up with the track meet pace that LA could set. The other knock on Kaman is his durability. How many games has he played each season over the last 5 years? Try 32-76-31-56-75. He misses games. So, I say the Clippers are doing the right thing by considering moving him.
Iguodala would be a great fit in Clipperland in my view. I think his overall fantasy game would mesh very nicely with that group. I think he could still average 12-15ppg and he would stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Mo Williams isn't the most 'pure' PG in the league so I could easily see AI averaging over 5 assists a night as a point-forward. And all those rebounds, steals, and blocks. Yummy.
And if Kaman could get and stay healthy - he could be a very good center in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers need to get bigger in the middle as they just can't survive with Spencer Hawes in the middle and Kaman could put up some good numbers. Kaman is always a fantasy risk because of his health but I have to think his numbers would be better (fantasy-wise) in Philly than in LA. Blake and EG are the focus in LA. Where in Philly, it's Elton Brand and a bunch of other guys. Kaman really could shine in Philly. Again, only if he stays healthy. And it's that health risk that has Philly wanting more than just Kaman for Iguodala. Can't say I blame them. And it never hurts to ask.
I guess the other implication for Philly in this potential deal would be the promotion of Evan Turner to starting SG and Thaddeus Young would get more minutes as well. Young could have a breakout season with more minutes as he averaged 13 and 5 in just 26 minutes per game last season. He also had 90 steals! Add another 10 minutes of run to his night and he could be a 17 and 7 guy. Oh so nice. Sleeper! And what about Turner? He was the #2 pick last season behind John Wall but had a very disappointing season. He would be one of those high risk - high reward guys to keep an eye on for sure. Now, if there is a lockout, the risk is even bigger if the JBL Auction rolls around and we don't know if Turner can handle the starting gig. That just adds to the intrigue of the JBL draft in my view. How much would Turner go for at Auction? Would he even be drafted at all???
Well, that's all for tonight....back to back blogs baby!! Offseason Johnny is on a roll!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
NBA Rumours...
Hello again Chronicles lovers...all 6 of you. I'm back again. Geez Johnny, how are you getting this done? Well, a battle with strep throat and a nasty cough has me in the spare bedroom in the basement. So, rather than waste my best moves on the Mrs. trying to get her naked - I have more time for JBL and NBA discussion. Lucky for you. No 'getting lucky' for me. Oh well.
I recently saw a trade rumour that had Monta Ellis leaving Golden State for Philly in a swap for Andre Iguodala. Interesting. This rumour surfaces just days after GS announces the hiring of 1st time head coach Mark Jackson. I kinda like the hiring. I'm not a huge fan of re-treading guys that have been unsuccessful in the past. Could GS fans get excited over the hiring of Sam Mitchell? So why not Jackson? He could be good...we just don't know.
So, who wins a Ellis for Iguodala swap. Despite the offensive talent difference - I think this deal is a good one for GS. They get a defender - something they've desperately lacked. They get bigger in the backcourt. And they remove a ball hog from their system. Yes, Andre is a couple years older than Monta and his salary isn't exactly friendly over the next couple of years but GS needs to change their culture. They are currently built around offense with the idea that we can outscore you. Guess what GS? This hasn't worked for you. Try something else.
Did you know that Ellis was actually a net minus player for Golden State when he was on/off the floor (according to http://www.82games.com/)? Which means - that Golden State actually got out-scored by their opponents when Ellis was on the floor (-233). So, he's a high volume shooter (led the league in shot attempts per game); he turns the ball over a lot; and he doesn't play good defense (don't let all those steals sway you).
Iguodala, by contrast, was a positive player for the 76ers. He is a good scorer (14ppg), a good passer, taller than Monta, can steal, block, rebound, and would provide GS with a defender at the SG position to match up with some of the better scorers in the Western Conference (Kobe, Gordon, K-Mart, Tyreke, Manu, etc). I like this deal from GS's point of view.
Why would Philly do this deal? You have to think one of the reasons would be that Elton Brand led the team in scoring at just 15ppg last season. Did any NBA team have a leading scorer that averaged less than that? I don't think so. Philly ranked 18th in PPG as a team last season and adding Monta would give them a go-to player. Now, could Monta and Jrue Holiday play together in the backcourt? How tall is Jrue? Wouldn't Philly be too small in the backcourt? And is Monta really a Doug Collins guy? If Collins could get Monta to buy into the Philly system - it might work - but can Collins convince him?
It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this rumour. Usually, nothing ever does. But with GS hiring a new coach and looking to change its culture - something should happen there.
Another trade rumour floating around is the Minnesota and Toronto deal...
Minny would get the #5 pick and DeMar DeRozan
TO would get the #2 pick and Jonny Flynn
Quick - which way do you think I'm going to lean on this one???
If you guessed I LOVE this deal for Minny - you are correct sir.
First of all, I just commented on Jonny Flynn last week. Not a fan.
I guess TO is trying to get a potential star in Derrick Williams with the #2 pick. They struggled at SF last season trying Sonny Weems and James Johnson and others during the season. But is Derrick Williams a sure thing?? And is Jonny Flynn really the answer at PG? They have Calderon. They have Jerryd Bayless (who averaged 18 and 6 in some late season starts). So is Flynn an upgrade? And if TO moves DeRozan - who plays SG? Weems? The knock on DD is his outside game and lack of 3PT shooting (5 for 52 on the season). If they move him, who plays SG? Barbosa? In just his second season, DD averaged over 17ppg and shot a very respectable 47% from the field. He had over 80 steals and over 30 blocks. Not bad for a sophomore in the NBA on a very shitty team. I think it's too soon to move DD for a 2nd tier PG and a #2 pick.
From the Minny side - I think this would be a solid move. If they keep the #2 pick they have to take Derrick Williams because he is the 'best available'. That doesn't work for them because they have Beasley at SF and Love at PF. No room for Williams. They want to move down. So, why not move down to #5 and fill one of their 2 biggest needs - SG and Center - by acquiring a young and emerging SG like DeRozan. He fits where the Wolves are going (age) and would probably be a good #3 scorer behind Love and Beasley.
And then, with the #5 pick, they could go big and hope that Enes Kanter, the 6'11, 260 pound centre from Turkey is still around and hope to mold him into their C of the future. One website that does a NBA mock draft lists 5 writers mocks. They have Kanter going 5-3-7-6-8 in their various mock drafts. So, he could be there and he could be a good value pick.
Another option is this Janus Valanciunas from Lithunia. Another big young foreign centre (those always pan out right??). But he's rated very highly as well in the mock drafts. He could be another option with the 5th pick.
Now, this deal will probably never happen because of KAHN in Minny. He doesn't do anything right so this trade is bound to fail. But, for once, it's a rumour that has Minny coming out on top in my books.
This NBA draft appears to be shaping up to be an interesting one - for a couple of reasons.
1) it's being called a weak draft and there aren't many projected 'stars' in it - but that always changes and guys surprise us all the time. So who will those guys be in this draft?
2) With the potential lockout looming there could be drastic changes to the salary cap and team managment systems - which could see NBA teams cutting high paid veterans to make room for cheap rookies - which could mean that 1st round picks (and even 2nd rounders) are suddenly valuable to a NBA team and potentially fantasy friendly.
So, as my 2011 JBL draft preparation continues - I shift my focus to the young talent about to be picked in the 2011 NBA draft. So exciting...
Kudos to French Lick today for trimming his roster down. He can protect 4 players for next season and has narrowed his list down to 5 players:
I recently saw a trade rumour that had Monta Ellis leaving Golden State for Philly in a swap for Andre Iguodala. Interesting. This rumour surfaces just days after GS announces the hiring of 1st time head coach Mark Jackson. I kinda like the hiring. I'm not a huge fan of re-treading guys that have been unsuccessful in the past. Could GS fans get excited over the hiring of Sam Mitchell? So why not Jackson? He could be good...we just don't know.
So, who wins a Ellis for Iguodala swap. Despite the offensive talent difference - I think this deal is a good one for GS. They get a defender - something they've desperately lacked. They get bigger in the backcourt. And they remove a ball hog from their system. Yes, Andre is a couple years older than Monta and his salary isn't exactly friendly over the next couple of years but GS needs to change their culture. They are currently built around offense with the idea that we can outscore you. Guess what GS? This hasn't worked for you. Try something else.
Did you know that Ellis was actually a net minus player for Golden State when he was on/off the floor (according to http://www.82games.com/)? Which means - that Golden State actually got out-scored by their opponents when Ellis was on the floor (-233). So, he's a high volume shooter (led the league in shot attempts per game); he turns the ball over a lot; and he doesn't play good defense (don't let all those steals sway you).
Iguodala, by contrast, was a positive player for the 76ers. He is a good scorer (14ppg), a good passer, taller than Monta, can steal, block, rebound, and would provide GS with a defender at the SG position to match up with some of the better scorers in the Western Conference (Kobe, Gordon, K-Mart, Tyreke, Manu, etc). I like this deal from GS's point of view.
Why would Philly do this deal? You have to think one of the reasons would be that Elton Brand led the team in scoring at just 15ppg last season. Did any NBA team have a leading scorer that averaged less than that? I don't think so. Philly ranked 18th in PPG as a team last season and adding Monta would give them a go-to player. Now, could Monta and Jrue Holiday play together in the backcourt? How tall is Jrue? Wouldn't Philly be too small in the backcourt? And is Monta really a Doug Collins guy? If Collins could get Monta to buy into the Philly system - it might work - but can Collins convince him?
It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this rumour. Usually, nothing ever does. But with GS hiring a new coach and looking to change its culture - something should happen there.
Another trade rumour floating around is the Minnesota and Toronto deal...
Minny would get the #5 pick and DeMar DeRozan
TO would get the #2 pick and Jonny Flynn
Quick - which way do you think I'm going to lean on this one???
If you guessed I LOVE this deal for Minny - you are correct sir.
First of all, I just commented on Jonny Flynn last week. Not a fan.
I guess TO is trying to get a potential star in Derrick Williams with the #2 pick. They struggled at SF last season trying Sonny Weems and James Johnson and others during the season. But is Derrick Williams a sure thing?? And is Jonny Flynn really the answer at PG? They have Calderon. They have Jerryd Bayless (who averaged 18 and 6 in some late season starts). So is Flynn an upgrade? And if TO moves DeRozan - who plays SG? Weems? The knock on DD is his outside game and lack of 3PT shooting (5 for 52 on the season). If they move him, who plays SG? Barbosa? In just his second season, DD averaged over 17ppg and shot a very respectable 47% from the field. He had over 80 steals and over 30 blocks. Not bad for a sophomore in the NBA on a very shitty team. I think it's too soon to move DD for a 2nd tier PG and a #2 pick.
From the Minny side - I think this would be a solid move. If they keep the #2 pick they have to take Derrick Williams because he is the 'best available'. That doesn't work for them because they have Beasley at SF and Love at PF. No room for Williams. They want to move down. So, why not move down to #5 and fill one of their 2 biggest needs - SG and Center - by acquiring a young and emerging SG like DeRozan. He fits where the Wolves are going (age) and would probably be a good #3 scorer behind Love and Beasley.
And then, with the #5 pick, they could go big and hope that Enes Kanter, the 6'11, 260 pound centre from Turkey is still around and hope to mold him into their C of the future. One website that does a NBA mock draft lists 5 writers mocks. They have Kanter going 5-3-7-6-8 in their various mock drafts. So, he could be there and he could be a good value pick.
Another option is this Janus Valanciunas from Lithunia. Another big young foreign centre (those always pan out right??). But he's rated very highly as well in the mock drafts. He could be another option with the 5th pick.
Now, this deal will probably never happen because of KAHN in Minny. He doesn't do anything right so this trade is bound to fail. But, for once, it's a rumour that has Minny coming out on top in my books.
This NBA draft appears to be shaping up to be an interesting one - for a couple of reasons.
1) it's being called a weak draft and there aren't many projected 'stars' in it - but that always changes and guys surprise us all the time. So who will those guys be in this draft?
2) With the potential lockout looming there could be drastic changes to the salary cap and team managment systems - which could see NBA teams cutting high paid veterans to make room for cheap rookies - which could mean that 1st round picks (and even 2nd rounders) are suddenly valuable to a NBA team and potentially fantasy friendly.
So, as my 2011 JBL draft preparation continues - I shift my focus to the young talent about to be picked in the 2011 NBA draft. So exciting...
Kudos to French Lick today for trimming his roster down. He can protect 4 players for next season and has narrowed his list down to 5 players:
- Stephen Curry for $20
- Wilson Chandler for $17
- DeAndre Jordan for $6
- Chris Kaman for $19
- Amir Johnson for $8
If I had to guess which of those players will get dropped - I would guess it would be Amir Johnson. I think the other 4 players offer more value for the money - especially if the Clippers are able to package up Kaman for a SF and give the starting Centre job to Jordan. Maybe Kaman for Prince finally gets done.
Still waiting on about 4-5 JBL teams to reduce their current rosters to 10 players (maximum) by July 1st. I will send out reminders the last week of June.
Looks like the NBA and Players Union met for 5 hours today and plan to meet again tomorrow. Come on Stern - get'er done.
That's all for now JBL lovers...signing off.
JE
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Shaq and the NBA...
Superman. The Big Aristotle. The Diesel. Shaq Fu. The Big Shaqtus. Big Daddy. Shaqovic. Whatever you called him...he has called it quits. For me, it's a very sad day. Not because Shaq was one of my favorite players or anything like that. It's just that he was a big part of my 'youth'. As more of these guys retire - the older I get. It's sad. Farewell Shaq. I will miss you and your quotes. You were one of the good guys in the NBA.
Love him or hate him Shaq is probably one of the top 5 centers of all time in the NBA. Wilt. Bill Russell. Kareem. Hakeem. And Shaq. For his career, he averaged 23ppg and 11reb with 2.3 blks per game. He has 4 titles. He was rookie of the year in 1992/93. He was MVP in 99/00. He won 3 NBA Finals MVP's. 15 All-Star game selections. 2 scoring titles. 14 All-NBA selections. 3 All-Defensive NBA selections. He is 7'1 and weighs over 325 pounds. The man was a monster and one helluva basketball player.
But Johnny - Shaq was just so good because he was so big!! Are we supposed to hold that against him?? Are we supposed to say the only reason that Carl Lewis was so good is because he ran fast. And the only reason Michael Phelps wins all those gold medals is because he's a good swimmer?And the only reason Jennifer Aniston is drooled over is because she's hot?? We can't hold his physique against him!! Shaq was amazing.
And I hear Ricky Rubio is coming to the NBA! Well, it's about time. Has there ever been a more over-rated prospect that we've waited for?? Greg Oden maybe? The kid did shoot 39% and 22% in the Spanish league this season. Wow. Nice. But hey, he's only 20 or something like that so I'm sure he can lead a stocked Timberwolf team to the promised land. Count me in the non-believer camp. I'm not buying this kid.
And hey, the NBA finals are underway. They are definitely in the backseat for me as the Canucks are in the frickin' Stanley Cup finals and are ahead 1-0! Go Canucks. And Go Mavs! As I've mentioned here before, I don't want the superfriends to succeed. I want Dirk to get a ring.
And Jay Triano lost his job as coach of the Raptors. Surprising? Not really I guess. But what did he really have to work with as far as talent goes? I wonder who they'll bring in next? And will they trade Calderon? His name comes up in just about every trade rumour these days.
Another name that keeps popping up in trade rumours is Jonny Flynn. Really? Jonny Flynn? The guy who couldn't even earn playing time on the T-Wolves last season? What's the market for him? Come on man...
And the Pistons sale finally went through. Thank God. Now the coach can finally be fired and the rebuild can begin. Will Joe D survive the cuts though? I think he should be gone too. He should have moved Tayshaun and Rip last season and started the rebuild. I think his lack of vision for the squad costs him his GM job. Maybe Kevin Pritchard will land in Motown. He certainly deserves another GM job.
And Jerry West is joining the Warriors. I'd love to see them make some moves. They have such great fans. They remind me a lot of Vancouver fans in the mixture of cultures you see in the stands. And that's a loud building I'm told. The Warriors are a fun team to watch because of the fast pace they play. I wonder if they split up the small back court of Monta and Steph? I would think they could get a lot for a scorer like Monta. They need some size, some defense, and a coach that preaches defense. We'll see who they land on.
With the NBA collective agreement expiring in 28 days there is plenty of speculation that the new NBA will feature a hard cap and a lower salary cap. Wouldn't that be something to see half the NBA have to cut players or make major moves to abide by the new system? I love player movement. It makes the JBL more interesting. I just hope they get a deal done. Come on David Stern - work some magic.
Go Canucks!
Love him or hate him Shaq is probably one of the top 5 centers of all time in the NBA. Wilt. Bill Russell. Kareem. Hakeem. And Shaq. For his career, he averaged 23ppg and 11reb with 2.3 blks per game. He has 4 titles. He was rookie of the year in 1992/93. He was MVP in 99/00. He won 3 NBA Finals MVP's. 15 All-Star game selections. 2 scoring titles. 14 All-NBA selections. 3 All-Defensive NBA selections. He is 7'1 and weighs over 325 pounds. The man was a monster and one helluva basketball player.
But Johnny - Shaq was just so good because he was so big!! Are we supposed to hold that against him?? Are we supposed to say the only reason that Carl Lewis was so good is because he ran fast. And the only reason Michael Phelps wins all those gold medals is because he's a good swimmer?And the only reason Jennifer Aniston is drooled over is because she's hot?? We can't hold his physique against him!! Shaq was amazing.
And I hear Ricky Rubio is coming to the NBA! Well, it's about time. Has there ever been a more over-rated prospect that we've waited for?? Greg Oden maybe? The kid did shoot 39% and 22% in the Spanish league this season. Wow. Nice. But hey, he's only 20 or something like that so I'm sure he can lead a stocked Timberwolf team to the promised land. Count me in the non-believer camp. I'm not buying this kid.
And hey, the NBA finals are underway. They are definitely in the backseat for me as the Canucks are in the frickin' Stanley Cup finals and are ahead 1-0! Go Canucks. And Go Mavs! As I've mentioned here before, I don't want the superfriends to succeed. I want Dirk to get a ring.
And Jay Triano lost his job as coach of the Raptors. Surprising? Not really I guess. But what did he really have to work with as far as talent goes? I wonder who they'll bring in next? And will they trade Calderon? His name comes up in just about every trade rumour these days.
Another name that keeps popping up in trade rumours is Jonny Flynn. Really? Jonny Flynn? The guy who couldn't even earn playing time on the T-Wolves last season? What's the market for him? Come on man...
And the Pistons sale finally went through. Thank God. Now the coach can finally be fired and the rebuild can begin. Will Joe D survive the cuts though? I think he should be gone too. He should have moved Tayshaun and Rip last season and started the rebuild. I think his lack of vision for the squad costs him his GM job. Maybe Kevin Pritchard will land in Motown. He certainly deserves another GM job.
And Jerry West is joining the Warriors. I'd love to see them make some moves. They have such great fans. They remind me a lot of Vancouver fans in the mixture of cultures you see in the stands. And that's a loud building I'm told. The Warriors are a fun team to watch because of the fast pace they play. I wonder if they split up the small back court of Monta and Steph? I would think they could get a lot for a scorer like Monta. They need some size, some defense, and a coach that preaches defense. We'll see who they land on.
With the NBA collective agreement expiring in 28 days there is plenty of speculation that the new NBA will feature a hard cap and a lower salary cap. Wouldn't that be something to see half the NBA have to cut players or make major moves to abide by the new system? I love player movement. It makes the JBL more interesting. I just hope they get a deal done. Come on David Stern - work some magic.
Go Canucks!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Canucks and the NBA....
Well, here I am typing away on the night that Canucks are on their way to the Stanley Cup finals!! It's been 17 years since they've been there and I am pumped to watch them on their quest. I hope they get there because we all know how hard it is to win the championship in the NHL. A true grind. A war. A battle. And this Canucks team has battled very hard to get where they are. Great job boys!!
I thought I should chime in on a few other things as well...
The draft lottery was held and the Cavaliers struck gold and will pick 1st and 4th in this year's NBA draft. They actually won the #1 pick with the Clippers 1st rounder that they acquired in the Baron Davis for Mo Williams trade. A lot of 'experts' were criticizing the Clips for making that deal...but come on, the chances of the Cavs getting the #1 pick with the Clips choice was so small they had to make the deal. The Clippers were able to unload Baron's contract and pick up a former All-Star PG in Mo Williams. Who would you rather have as 3rd wheel (behind Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon)?? Kyrie Irving or Mo Williams?? I'll take Mo please. I know he's over-rated and we saw that he can't be the #1 option but he's very serviceable when he can just be the #3 or #4 option on the floor. Which is why this trade for the Clippers still made sense. From the Cavs perspective, when you're rebuilding, they had to acquire more #1 picks and if it means taking on a bad contract like Baron's then they had to do that too. Now, they have two top 4 picks (in a weak draft) but can at least speed up the rebuilding phase. They should pick Kyrie Irving 1st overall and then will get another pretty good building block at #4. Win-win in my books.
I recently read that the Lakers were interviewing Mike Dunleavy for their now vacant head coaching position??? I'm sorry, but is there another Mike Dunleavy that I don't know about. There's Mike Jr. who plays for the Pacers and then there's Mike Sr. who was fired from his position in Clipperville because he was the shittiest coach Bill Simmons had ever seen. And for those of you who know me, I respect what Bill has to say. And I saw a few Clips games - Dunleavy's an idiot. So why would the Lakers be even remotely interested? I don't get it. I see they are interviewing Mike Brown, Rick Adelmann, and Brian Shaw as well. If you were Shaw, wouldn't you be pissed?? I always thought he was next in line when Phil retired. I think a lot of people thought that. Now, he's just not good enough?? I have a feeling that all changed once they got swept by Dallas this post-season. My opinion? I'd go with Adelmann.
And speaking of the retired Phil Jackson...now that he's gone - does that mean the LA triangle offense will also be retired? I am presuming the answer to that would be yes. So, if that's the case, can the T-Wolves and Kurt Rambis finally admit it was a HUGE mistake to try and duplicate this offense!!?? Look at why the triangle was so successful...the SG in the scheme was a guy named Jordan and a guy named Kobe!! In Minny, they had a guy named Martell Webster and Corey Brewer - no wonder it didn't work!!
Speaking of Minny - does anyone else feel like Ricky Rubio is going to be a massive bust when he arrives?? I just don't get it - why wouldn't the kid want to come and play in the NBA? Is he really not coming over because it's Minnesota?? Is he pulling a Steve Francis? Or is it because he knows he's really not that good and has just made a name for himself on a couple of key moments in time (playing for his national team). If Rubio was that good why isn't he putting up bigger numbers overseas?? I think the kid is all hype and will turn out to be a bust. I don't think he's the next Steve Nash...I think he's the next Luke Ridnour. Don't get me wrong, I love Luke, but he never got the hype that Rubio is getting and I'll bet Luke's numbers will be very comparable to the spanish kid.
I'm thinking the NBA Finals will be the Mavs vs. the Heat. And for what it's worth, I hope the Mavs win. I want to see Dirk win a title. He was so close in 2006 and I don't want to see 'The Decision' turn out to be a success. If the Heat win then there will be a whole bunch of players getting together with their buddies and joining forces in whatever city can pay them to try and create uber-teams and win titles. The NBA will become like MLB with only a handful of teams capable of winning the title at the start of each season. Go Mavs.
I was watching the Thunder play the Mavs the other day and I realized that they are my Sonics. Curse you David Stern for taking them away!! Also, watching Kendrick Perkins made me realize that he's really waaaaaaay better in the NBA than he is in Fantasy basketball. He's a very important piece and reason of why the Thunder are in the Western Conference Finals - but his value does NOT show up in a boxscore. I'll be knocking him down a few spots when it comes time to draft in October.
Speaking of the JBL draft - Phoenix has entered the equation for a destination in October. Flights from Bellingham to PHX are in the $250 range and there would be no shortage of things to do in the area. Golfing would right near the top of the list for many JBL'ers making the journey. If PHX doesn't pan out we could be looking at Whistler, Seattle, or Portland as potential draft locations as well. Vegas is still an option but currently direct flights are not cheap. We'll see what happens over the summer.
The ECF between the Heat and Bulls is almost over. Heat are now up 3-1. Boozer has been disappointing and the Bulls are being exposed at SG. I guess the combo of Bogans, Brewer and Korver just wasn't good enought. No shit sherlock. Guess what their #1 offseason priority will be? I wonder if they will have any interest in a guy like Jason Richardson now that Orlando has said they will likely let him walk away this summer. Could the Bulls even afford him?
Well, that's all from me for tonight. Go Canucks!!
I thought I should chime in on a few other things as well...
The draft lottery was held and the Cavaliers struck gold and will pick 1st and 4th in this year's NBA draft. They actually won the #1 pick with the Clippers 1st rounder that they acquired in the Baron Davis for Mo Williams trade. A lot of 'experts' were criticizing the Clips for making that deal...but come on, the chances of the Cavs getting the #1 pick with the Clips choice was so small they had to make the deal. The Clippers were able to unload Baron's contract and pick up a former All-Star PG in Mo Williams. Who would you rather have as 3rd wheel (behind Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon)?? Kyrie Irving or Mo Williams?? I'll take Mo please. I know he's over-rated and we saw that he can't be the #1 option but he's very serviceable when he can just be the #3 or #4 option on the floor. Which is why this trade for the Clippers still made sense. From the Cavs perspective, when you're rebuilding, they had to acquire more #1 picks and if it means taking on a bad contract like Baron's then they had to do that too. Now, they have two top 4 picks (in a weak draft) but can at least speed up the rebuilding phase. They should pick Kyrie Irving 1st overall and then will get another pretty good building block at #4. Win-win in my books.
I recently read that the Lakers were interviewing Mike Dunleavy for their now vacant head coaching position??? I'm sorry, but is there another Mike Dunleavy that I don't know about. There's Mike Jr. who plays for the Pacers and then there's Mike Sr. who was fired from his position in Clipperville because he was the shittiest coach Bill Simmons had ever seen. And for those of you who know me, I respect what Bill has to say. And I saw a few Clips games - Dunleavy's an idiot. So why would the Lakers be even remotely interested? I don't get it. I see they are interviewing Mike Brown, Rick Adelmann, and Brian Shaw as well. If you were Shaw, wouldn't you be pissed?? I always thought he was next in line when Phil retired. I think a lot of people thought that. Now, he's just not good enough?? I have a feeling that all changed once they got swept by Dallas this post-season. My opinion? I'd go with Adelmann.
And speaking of the retired Phil Jackson...now that he's gone - does that mean the LA triangle offense will also be retired? I am presuming the answer to that would be yes. So, if that's the case, can the T-Wolves and Kurt Rambis finally admit it was a HUGE mistake to try and duplicate this offense!!?? Look at why the triangle was so successful...the SG in the scheme was a guy named Jordan and a guy named Kobe!! In Minny, they had a guy named Martell Webster and Corey Brewer - no wonder it didn't work!!
Speaking of Minny - does anyone else feel like Ricky Rubio is going to be a massive bust when he arrives?? I just don't get it - why wouldn't the kid want to come and play in the NBA? Is he really not coming over because it's Minnesota?? Is he pulling a Steve Francis? Or is it because he knows he's really not that good and has just made a name for himself on a couple of key moments in time (playing for his national team). If Rubio was that good why isn't he putting up bigger numbers overseas?? I think the kid is all hype and will turn out to be a bust. I don't think he's the next Steve Nash...I think he's the next Luke Ridnour. Don't get me wrong, I love Luke, but he never got the hype that Rubio is getting and I'll bet Luke's numbers will be very comparable to the spanish kid.
I'm thinking the NBA Finals will be the Mavs vs. the Heat. And for what it's worth, I hope the Mavs win. I want to see Dirk win a title. He was so close in 2006 and I don't want to see 'The Decision' turn out to be a success. If the Heat win then there will be a whole bunch of players getting together with their buddies and joining forces in whatever city can pay them to try and create uber-teams and win titles. The NBA will become like MLB with only a handful of teams capable of winning the title at the start of each season. Go Mavs.
I was watching the Thunder play the Mavs the other day and I realized that they are my Sonics. Curse you David Stern for taking them away!! Also, watching Kendrick Perkins made me realize that he's really waaaaaaay better in the NBA than he is in Fantasy basketball. He's a very important piece and reason of why the Thunder are in the Western Conference Finals - but his value does NOT show up in a boxscore. I'll be knocking him down a few spots when it comes time to draft in October.
Speaking of the JBL draft - Phoenix has entered the equation for a destination in October. Flights from Bellingham to PHX are in the $250 range and there would be no shortage of things to do in the area. Golfing would right near the top of the list for many JBL'ers making the journey. If PHX doesn't pan out we could be looking at Whistler, Seattle, or Portland as potential draft locations as well. Vegas is still an option but currently direct flights are not cheap. We'll see what happens over the summer.
The ECF between the Heat and Bulls is almost over. Heat are now up 3-1. Boozer has been disappointing and the Bulls are being exposed at SG. I guess the combo of Bogans, Brewer and Korver just wasn't good enought. No shit sherlock. Guess what their #1 offseason priority will be? I wonder if they will have any interest in a guy like Jason Richardson now that Orlando has said they will likely let him walk away this summer. Could the Bulls even afford him?
Well, that's all from me for tonight. Go Canucks!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
2011/12 Power Rankings!!
Well, for starters, I'd just like to say that this is my 200th JBL Chronicles post. Who would have thought I would have made that number? And just think - I might write as many articles as Bill Simmons in a year and I get paid about 1/10th of what he makes! Go figure. His stuff is better anyways...
And now, without further ado, it' time to announce the 2011/12 off season rankings heading into the 21st JBL season. Yes, it's still 6 months away but there's no time like the present to get a pecking order going. So, I'm basing these rankings on a few things (as I mentioned in my previous posts). It's about a team's JBL history; the last 5 years record; the last 3 years trend; last season's performance; who the team could protect; and of course a team's willingness and ability to sign quality FA's and make good trades.
So...with that in mind...here we go...
#13 - Belgrade Zombies
Firstly, let me say it again, this team needs a name change. Secondly, this is about the only real spot I can rank them right now. Marko's coming off a last place finish in his 2nd JBL season. His rookie campaign wasn't much better as he finished 11th. Belgrade has no keepers and no history to convince me to rank him higher. So, he'll have to earn his way out of the basement position. My biggest hope for 11/12 for Marko is a return to his trash-talking, article-writing, FA signing, and trade making ways that he showed us in his rookie season.
#12 - Manhattan Beach Ballers
Bobby Hucul is coming off an 11th place finish after a VERY long hiatus away from the JBL. To say he came back 'guns-a-blazin' wouldn't exactly be an accurate description. The Ballers finished 11th and really didn't do much about it. He didn't spend his FA dollars. He didn't make many trades. He only has 1 keeper for next season - although it could be a stud like Amare - but the MBB hasn't shown me enough willingness or 'activity' to be considered a JBL contender yet. I think it's safe to say that you can't draft a team in October and 'let it ride' to victory 7 months later. You have to make moves and upgrade along the way. Until the MBB shows me he can do that...the #12 hole is where he'll start the year ranked.
#11 - Maui Ribs
Trev will be back for his 21st JBL season. He's coming off a bit of a high since he finally beat the Golden squad. However, I think we all know the Golden squad of 10/11 was not a typical year for them. Over the last 5 years the Maui squad has finished 9-9-12-2-12. Take out that 2nd place finish and things aren't all that peachy in Trev-town. Trev was better this past season at picking up some FA's and making a couple of trades but the real key to a good season in Maui will be the JBL Auction. If Trev can avoid the 'night before' draft strategy talk at 2am in Las Vegas (like last season) then he could set himself up for a better season. However, until I see that pre-season prep being done - the Maui Ribs slot in at #11.
#10 - Juan de Fuca Yo Mamas
Hard to believe but it's been 10 years since Juan won the JBL title. This once always contending franchise has faltered over the last 3 seasons (10-7-9) but was better in 2007 (4th) and 2006 (2nd). So, what's happened? Could it be the 3-headed monster syndrome of having too many cooks in the kitchen? Is it poor trades? Is it poor drafting? What is it that has made the Yo Mamas an afterthought in the world of JBL contenders to start a season? The past couple of years I have always maintained that Juan would be there but they just haven't lived up to the hype. So, I'm not buying into this season (yet). I'm not a fan of their keeper options despite them having 2 slots. So, for now, I'm going on the most recent 3 year trend of this team (10th, 7th, 9th) and slotting them in the #10 hole for now. Maybe this low ranking will encourage them to have a great draft and get back into JBL contention.
#9 - Yuma Thurmans
Year 2 of Pat's return to the JBL look eerily similar to his first year back. Back to back 8th place finishes earn Pat the #9 hole to start the 2011 off season. I love what Pat brings to the Auction room but after that he kind of fades of into the background. Yuma was very quiet during the 2010/11 season as he was away adventuring all over the world apparently and didn't have internet access. Where did he go? Siberia? Anyways, not much to speak of in terms of FA signings or trades from Yuma this past year. Yuma has 3 keeper spots for next season and I think those will help him build his team for next season. However, until Chubby shows me more than back to back 8th place finishes - I'm slotting him in at #9 on the power rankings.
#8 - Brussels Muscles
This time last year Brussels came in as the 3rd ranked off season team. This year, after a 7th place finish he comes in at #8. The Muscles last 3 years are OK (7-10-6) so it appears like he's a middling team. Going back another couple of seasons we find a 3rd and a 4th. So what will we see in 2011? Brussels has 3 keeper spots available and some good talent coming back so the potential is there. But last season, with Tyreke and Durant on board, we saw Brussels struggle on draft night and early in the season and he made some major changes. He actually finished the 2nd half of the JBL season strong to move up to 7th. So, as with most JBL teams, the draft will be key for Brussels success in 2011. For now, based on the history, the Muscles come in at #8.
#7 - Idaho Udapimps
But Johnny, how can the 3rd place team from last season come in at #7? Well, I'll tell you. Because the year before last, Idaho finished 12th. If there is anything consistent about Idaho - it's his inconsistency. The last 5 years look like this - 3-12-4-6-10. He can be really good. And he can be really bad. So, what will we see in 2011? He has 4 keeper spots available but doesn't have much cheap talent. He could spend big bucks and keep Lebron and Howard, but for those prices you may as well just draft those guys at Auction. So, we'll have to see how Idaho does this season. For now, I'm willing to put him smack dab in the middle of the pack because I'm not sure how he's going to far this season. But to be fair, I'm not sure he knows yet either.
#6 - Golden Showers
The 7 time JBL champ comes in at #6 to start the 2011 off season. We all know about the worst season in franchise history this past year but based on Golden's overall track record I think we all expect a bounce back season. Do I really have to remind everyone? Prior to last seasons debacle Golden had back-to-back 2nd place finishes. Golden will likely be starting the year with Kevin Love in the fold and plans to have a much better draft night this October. So for now, the Golden squad will have to climb his way to the top.
#5 - French Lick Celtics
The French squad comes in at #5 in the power rankings. This is based strongly on his 5 year history (4-5-8-5-5). See all those 5th place finishes? French is loaded with strong keepers for next season and could finally break through to the top 3 in 2011. With a good draft in October French could get out of the gate a lot better and maybe lead the pack for a change. It always seems he's coming from the rear. Which, in some sports and activities, is the best thing to do. But I digress. French is a dangerous fantasy team because he cares. He puts the time in and makes moves in attempt to improve his team. Gotta love the big man Hildy.
#4 - Bangkok Fighters
The greatest 2nd place team of all time is back yet again to try and knock off his arch-rival Seoul Brothers. But Johnny, a #4 ranking? What gives? Well, despite a wicked 2010/11 season, let's not forget our overall Bangkok history. Yes, the past 2 years have gone well (2nd and 3rd) but prior to that we're looking at 7th, 8th, and a 7th. Has Rick figured out how to be successful in the JBL (notice I didn't say 'win')?? Maybe he has but I still think there are 3 JBL teams better positioned so far to claim the JBL crown. Rick will bring back 4 players and should be ready to compete, again, for a chance to claim his 1st JBL title.
#3 - Arctic Circle Jerks
The Jerks are primed for a big year in 2011. He will have 3 very undervalued keepers and has a 5 year track record of 5-6-5-11-3. I think the Jerks, going into the Auction, will have the best starting group of players of any JBL team and will have to build on them during the draft. If he performs well at Auction and loosens up on his willingness to make trades he could be poised to win it all in 2011. I'm looking for a big season in Arctic this year.
#2 - Chilliwack Offs
The Offs are another ready to pounce in 2011. Benny has this team positioned very well for next season. He will have 3 wicked keepers and has the pedigree with 3 JBL titles to his name. His last 5 years are probably a bit disappointing (6-4-3-9-8) but I think with his new found Excel spreadsheet and the kid Blake Griffin leading the way that this team could be a real threat to win it all. Benny is always willing to make the trades and sign FA's so he always give himself a chance to be competitive and win it all. Look out for the mighty Offs in 2011.
#1 - Seoul Brothers
Hey, JBL owners, come on guys, let's make it tough for Philly Woo in 2011. Did you really expect anyone else to be #1 going into next season? The guy has won 3 straight titles! He's won 5 overall (in 16 years). I wouldn't care if Phil didn't have any keepers for next season - he would have the #1 spot. His last 5 years look like this - 1-1-1-10-6 - so there is a chance he could falter but I'm not counting on it. Besides, Woo has 3 potential keepers (Hayes, Allen, KG) who all do good things. Woo is always prepared on draft day and always finds good bargains. He watches the waiver wire closely and is willing to make trades. Let's face it, he puts a LOT of time into the JBL every year (every day) so of course his teams' are going to be competitive but that should be a motivator for the rest of us to work harder.
So, there you have it fellas...the 1st edition of the 2011 off season power rankings. How will they change once the NBA draft occurs? And what about Free Agency? Will we see some changes in the Rankings? Is Idaho ranked too low? Is Bangkok ranked too low? Can Seoul become the 1st team ever to win 4 straight titles? Can Belgrade prove he's not as bad as the stats show? Can Yuma or MBB come out of nowhere to shock the JBL standings? We'll have to see how the JBL teams' build their squads in October. For now, enjoy the NHL playoffs...
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Not My Cup of Tea....
Yes, I am close to releasing my 1st edition of the offseason power rankings. I've just about got them sorted out - based on an owner's overall history, past 5 years, past 3 years, last season, owner activity in FA's and trades, and potential keepers. So, I'm close. For the 3 of you loyal readers - it's coming.
But for tonight, while I sit at home and watch Game #1 of the Canucks vs. Predators, I thought I'd take an opportunity to go over some NBA players that I just don't like to have on my fantasy team. Most of these guys could be really good in a couple of categories but they end up killing you in others. My long list over the last 20 years even includes the likes of Allen Iverson, Ron Artest, Gilbert Arenas and others. These are the guys who you have to plan around to make up for their deficiencies. For example, if you were going to have a crummy shooter like Iverson on your team you better make sure you have someone with great FG% to make up for his crappy FG%...
Anyways, here are some of my favorite (or is it least favorite) of these guys from last year.
Stephen Jackson - sorry, I'm just not a fan. I like his ability to score close to 20ppg but his %'s suck. Last year he shot 41% and 33% while taking a tonne of 3-pointers. Those numbers can't be good for your overall %'s. He used to be great for 120+ steals but managed just 80 last year. He's getting older and is becoming a more of an injury risk. So, S-Jax, you can ply your trade somewhere else in the JBL next season.
Corey Maggette - I've never been a fan of this ball hog. Even when he was in Golden State and was allowed to jack up shots all the time. Last year in Milwaukee, in 67 games, he managed 21 steals! Wow, nice work Corey. Sorry, but he doesn't do enough to help your fantasy team when he isn't scoring 20+ points per game. Last year, in Scott Skiles system, where no one knows how many minutes they are going to play on nightly basis, Maggette became an afterthought. No thanks Corey, I'll pass.
Charlie Villenueva - why on earth did Joe Dumars sign this guy to a big contract? And if you signed him for all that money, why wouldn't you play him? Charlie V has become nothing more than 5th forward on your fantasy team who is probably better left to be picked up as a FA rather than drafted on Auction night. He does nothing particularly well and is really average across the board. As long as you know what you're getting with Chuck - an average player who will be great one night and disappear the next then you'll never be disappointed. For me, I'll let someone else take Charlie V.
Ben Gordon - gee, I hate to pick on Joe D's FA signings but Ben Gordon, since his departure form the Bulls, has become a complete fantasy afterthought. Now, that could change if he ever starts at SG in Detroit. However, last year, in 82 games, his Tendex was 9.1. That's ridiculous for anyone who understands how Tendex works. At least Gordon can help you in 3PT% but he doesn't do much else. He wasn't much better in Chicago, but at least he was 20ppg plus that good 3PT%. Now, in Motown, he averages 11ppg and does little else. I'd consider him if he was going to start, but in his current role as 6th man in Detroit, I'll pass.
Nick Young - Mr. Young is a very good basketball player and does deserve a place on your fantasy roster. But you know what, I want more from the guys who play in Golden. Young can score and shoots decent but does little else to help your fantasy squad. Did you know in 65 games last season he had 75 assists. Really? 75 assists for a shooting guard?? Channing Frye, Anthony Tolliver, and Manny Harris had more assists. He's not going to help you in FG%, ATO, steals, blocks or rebounds so he's really just there to score and shoot 3's. Would I draft him - yes. Would I "target" him as a player I really wanted for my team - absolutely not. If he ends up in Golden next season it's because he's going for cheap.
Aaron Brooks - I add him to this list because he burned me this past season. Now, he's in PHX behind Nash and he seems to have forgotten how to shoot. So, he's banned!
So there you have it - a short list of players that I just don't have any time for when it comes to planning my JBL draft. No matter where I am for this year's Auction - I promise to spend all of my allotted $260 bucks. I will be better prepared this season - just in case I start drinking at 10am again prior to the draft. Golden revival coming in 2011/12.
But for tonight, while I sit at home and watch Game #1 of the Canucks vs. Predators, I thought I'd take an opportunity to go over some NBA players that I just don't like to have on my fantasy team. Most of these guys could be really good in a couple of categories but they end up killing you in others. My long list over the last 20 years even includes the likes of Allen Iverson, Ron Artest, Gilbert Arenas and others. These are the guys who you have to plan around to make up for their deficiencies. For example, if you were going to have a crummy shooter like Iverson on your team you better make sure you have someone with great FG% to make up for his crappy FG%...
Anyways, here are some of my favorite (or is it least favorite) of these guys from last year.
Stephen Jackson - sorry, I'm just not a fan. I like his ability to score close to 20ppg but his %'s suck. Last year he shot 41% and 33% while taking a tonne of 3-pointers. Those numbers can't be good for your overall %'s. He used to be great for 120+ steals but managed just 80 last year. He's getting older and is becoming a more of an injury risk. So, S-Jax, you can ply your trade somewhere else in the JBL next season.
Corey Maggette - I've never been a fan of this ball hog. Even when he was in Golden State and was allowed to jack up shots all the time. Last year in Milwaukee, in 67 games, he managed 21 steals! Wow, nice work Corey. Sorry, but he doesn't do enough to help your fantasy team when he isn't scoring 20+ points per game. Last year, in Scott Skiles system, where no one knows how many minutes they are going to play on nightly basis, Maggette became an afterthought. No thanks Corey, I'll pass.
Charlie Villenueva - why on earth did Joe Dumars sign this guy to a big contract? And if you signed him for all that money, why wouldn't you play him? Charlie V has become nothing more than 5th forward on your fantasy team who is probably better left to be picked up as a FA rather than drafted on Auction night. He does nothing particularly well and is really average across the board. As long as you know what you're getting with Chuck - an average player who will be great one night and disappear the next then you'll never be disappointed. For me, I'll let someone else take Charlie V.
Ben Gordon - gee, I hate to pick on Joe D's FA signings but Ben Gordon, since his departure form the Bulls, has become a complete fantasy afterthought. Now, that could change if he ever starts at SG in Detroit. However, last year, in 82 games, his Tendex was 9.1. That's ridiculous for anyone who understands how Tendex works. At least Gordon can help you in 3PT% but he doesn't do much else. He wasn't much better in Chicago, but at least he was 20ppg plus that good 3PT%. Now, in Motown, he averages 11ppg and does little else. I'd consider him if he was going to start, but in his current role as 6th man in Detroit, I'll pass.
Nick Young - Mr. Young is a very good basketball player and does deserve a place on your fantasy roster. But you know what, I want more from the guys who play in Golden. Young can score and shoots decent but does little else to help your fantasy squad. Did you know in 65 games last season he had 75 assists. Really? 75 assists for a shooting guard?? Channing Frye, Anthony Tolliver, and Manny Harris had more assists. He's not going to help you in FG%, ATO, steals, blocks or rebounds so he's really just there to score and shoot 3's. Would I draft him - yes. Would I "target" him as a player I really wanted for my team - absolutely not. If he ends up in Golden next season it's because he's going for cheap.
Aaron Brooks - I add him to this list because he burned me this past season. Now, he's in PHX behind Nash and he seems to have forgotten how to shoot. So, he's banned!
So there you have it - a short list of players that I just don't have any time for when it comes to planning my JBL draft. No matter where I am for this year's Auction - I promise to spend all of my allotted $260 bucks. I will be better prepared this season - just in case I start drinking at 10am again prior to the draft. Golden revival coming in 2011/12.
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