Brian Hill's Clipboard
Head Coach: David Blatt
C: Shaquille O'Neal / John Amaechi
PF: Drew Gooden / Jeff Turner
SF: Hedo Turkoglu / Anthony Parker
SG: Gerald Wilkins / Steve Kerr
PG: Derek Harper / B.J. Armstrong
David Blatt:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_BlattShaquille O'Neal:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lsh01.htmlDerek Harper:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ede01.htmlHedo Turkoglu:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ohe01.htmlGerald Wilkins:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ige01.htmlDrew Gooden:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... edr01.htmlB.J. Armstrong:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... tbj01.htmlSteve Kerr:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... rst01.htmlAnthony Parker:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ean01.htmlJeff Turner:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... eje01.htmlJohn Amaechi:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... cjo01.htmlDavid Blatt played point guard for 4 years at Princeton. For years he was known as the best coach in the world not to be in the NBA. Blatt's won mutliple domestic titles in multiple countries. He's a Euroleague champion and Euroleague Coach of the Year. He coached Russia to gold in EuroBasket 2007 with basically only Andrei Kirilenko, Viktor Khryapa, and Jon Holden being his only good players. The man maximizes his talent, and I'm giving him by far his most talented team he's ever dealt with.
Blatt broke into European coaching as an assistant for another legendary coach in Pini Gershon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pini_Gershon (Euroleague coach of the year in 2005 and 2008).
Blatt is a master of mixing up his halfcourt offenses, and you have to know how to handle the pick-and-roll in Europe. At the same time, on the few occasions he's been given speedy players, Blatt devises ways to free them up in transition. I also have a guy that players fully respect. He's been able to reform and discipline past troublemakers. The team I have is going to out-size and out-muscle any other team in this draft.
I don't need to hype Shaq up. He's the best player in the draft. You either double team him and he kicks out to the 3-point shooters, or you take a risk guarding him with one guy and watch Shaq go for 40+ in his sleep.
Derek Harper has played in 1199 games. There are few guys in this draft that played as many. He had a good 12-year stretch where he was putting up above average efficiency as a point guard. At 6'4", he's big enough to guard any point guard while being quick enough to keep up with any of them. Knows how to throw a pass into the post. Racked up a lot of steals. Can handle both halfcourt and transition offense. He averaged 35.4 3PT% for his entire career. Good 3-point option.
Hedo Turkoglu we know was one of the most clutch players in the NBA from 2007 too 2009. Turk had to 5-to-6 year prime that had defenses not know how to deal with as 6'10" point forward. Based on all of the alley oops and great feeds to Dwight, Turk won't have trouble getting passes into Shaq. Turk was a 38.2 3PT% shooter his entire career and about 41% in his career. Shaq won't be shy to kick out to him.
Gerald Wilkins was a legit 6'6" SG who helped keep the Knicks interesting in the late-'80s and early '90s. He wasn't as great as his brother, but he defended better than 'Nique could. Gerald was known as the 'Jordan Stopper' for a reason. Gerald didn't really start shooting 3s until late in his career, but was still in the upper-30s. Wilkins knew had to get his defender off-balances and make a beeline for the bucket before the help could react.
Drew Gooden at 6'10" we all remember how great he was in 2003. When we give him the right coach that can keep him in check (which Blatt is), Drew performs. Whether it be in Orlando, Cleveland, San Antonio, or Washington. Drew is an outstanding rebounding partner next to Shaq and Gooden is a more than solid defender when he gave a damn. He would care on this team.
B.J. Armstrong was an All-Star in '94. He was the 6'2" floor general that helped the Bulls win those first 3 championships. He was one of the best 3-point shooter for quite a few years and is a career 42.5% 3-point shooter. The man could flat out shoot.
Speaking of awesome shooters, Steve Kerr is one of the greatest of all-time from 3-point range. He's hit numerous clutch triples. Career 45.4% from behind the 3-point line. 5-time NBA champion. 3 times in Chicago, 2 times with the Spurs.
Anthony Parker is a Euroleague champion. He was recruited to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv by Blatt himself. These two have a great player-coach bond together and I'm thrilled I got Parker in the draft. It doesn't hurt either that Anthony Parker was damn good in Toronto when he came back from Europe. A 6'6" wing who can defend and drain 3-balls at a 43-44% clip. Can't ask for much more.
Jeff Turner's best years were in Orlando. Didn't really attempt many 3s until late in his career, but could be groomed into another 3-point threat in the spread-4 world that we live in now. Already partnered up with Shaq in O-Town so they already have the chemistry. Jeff was an adequate rebounder. Plus, he's a lucky lefty.
When Shaq isn't playing close to 40 minutes, John can fill in for the remaining time. Could knock down a jumper and had a huge variety of post moves. A big reason why that Heart N' Hustle team was fun to watch.
