RealGM

ATL - The Thrillville
HC - Doug Collins
PG - Ty Lawson(35) - Devin Harris(13) - Marquis Teague
SG - Eric Gordon(33) - Devin Harris(9) - Alec Burks(6) - Boobie Gibson
SF - Matt Barnes(26) - Alec Burks(13) - Landry Fields(9) - James White
PF - David Lee(30) - Kris Humphries(18) - Jarvis Varnado
C - Larry Sanders(31) - Jermaine O'Neal(12) - David Lee(5) - Fab Melo

The Core Four



- Running an uptempo attack, who is better to facilitate my offense better than Ty Lawson? Lawson may be the quickest player in the NBA, and has and uncanny ability to change speeds, and get accelerate into the rim with reckless abandon. Lawson is also a pure point guard, who is a 5 tool player you can say. He is a plus defender, that is a natural playmaker. The first thing I look for in a point, is someone to set up for his teammates, and as you saw in Denver, Lawson excels at setting his teammates up. He was the best player on a team that won 57 games.. People tend to forget this, and all at the ripe age of 25. Lawson is the ideal point guard and floor general for my uptempo, ball movement, and defensive minded attack.



Wonder why I chose a picture with Gordon during the 2010 FIBA? That is the exact player I expect to play for my Hawks next season. Gordon is a top 5 Shooting Guard in the NBA, and in 2013, he will prove so. People tend to forget that Gordon dropped 22/5 with stellar defense during his time in LA. He was also the centerpiece to the deal that brought CP3 to the Clippers. Gordon is a complete offensive player, that can facilitate, get to the rim, and shoot the lights out. He is a top 20 player in the NBA, and he will regain his form next season. I love how he is an Avery Bradley like defender, matching the gritty-ness that Lawson possesses. Gordon is also a great passer, similar to a James Harden. In an open, uptempo attack, Gordon will become my leading scorer, and late game performer. Gordon hasn't been in a winning situation since his Highschool days. That takes a tole on a player, and it certainly did to Gordon. I expect him in the all-star game next season. Lawson and Gordon are 25 and 24 respectively. Watch out NBA.



The grizzly veteran of the core 4. The 2 time all-star has the most complete offensive game in the NBA. Kinda fits in with the team mold, as Lawson, Gordon, and Lee all have complete, flawless offensive games. I can only dream of the nightmare that a Lee-Lawson PnR will be. Lawson has had Faried has his PnR partner, a guy with a less than skilled offensive game. David Lee may be the best PnR finisher in the NBA. Can pick and pop outside, or fly to the rim. Lee has some of the best footwork in the NBA as well. I don't even have to mention that he is an elite rebounder, that will set up for my transition offense. Another guy that can run the floor, space the floor, and can run PnR, with an underrated post game if need be.


Another ripe 24 your old added to the roster. Sanders adds the nasty to my team. A fiery competitor, and crazed athlete ont the court, Sanders provides everything that would be lacking in my roster. Sanders is an ELITE, not good, ELITE defender. He was instrumental in the Bucks' playoff run as well. His ability to block shots has forced comparisons to one of the best defensive bigs in our generation in Ben Wallace. Not only his blocked shots, but his ability to change shot selection that makes him worthwhile. Also, Sanders runs like a gazzelle, and his defense and great rebounding will provide the transition offense I need. Not even mentioning the little baby hook he got going as well.Triple double machine at Center.

In fact, in the grantland study, Sanders was proven with FACT to be the NBA's best interior defender.

General Mission:

The Toronto Raptors organization feels that we have built a quality team to not only entertain our loyal fan base but also compete at a high level on a daily basis. In place, we have assembled a group of highly motivated professionals on both the basketball court and on the bench who will work hard, compete, and represent the proud city of Toronto. We are confident in the fact that the fans and the city can take pride in supporting a playoff quality team who can contend not only this upcoming season but in the future as well.

Main Rotation/Minutes
Point Guard - Kyle Lowry(32)/Luke Ridnour(16)
Shooting Guard - Arron Afflalo(34)/Gordon Hayward(14)
Small Forward - Luc Mbah Moute(28)/Gordon Hayward(20)
Power Forward - Al Horford(34)/Jason Smith(14)
Center - Brook Lopez(34)/Kevin Seraphin(14)

Head Coach - Rick Adelman

Injury Reserve/Practice Squad/Garbage Time
Point Guard - Ish Smith
Shooting Guard - Terrence Williams
Small Forward/Shooting Guard - Cartier Martin
Power Forward/Center - Chris Wilcox
Power Forward/Center - Shavlik Randolph
Shooting Guard/Small Forward - Sasha Pavlovic


Team Salary:$58,786,402



Starting Lineup Analysis

Kyle Lowry:A team oriented pass-first point guard who looks for his teammates. Physical for his size, and can penetrate and finish effectively. A constant threat for steals, a tough defender/ball hawk, and a top rebounder(4.7 rebs per game) at the point guard position despite his lack of size. Very fast, and can simply blow past many defenders. Has developed and owns a respectable jump shot in his arsenal.

Arron Afflalo:A calm, cool, and smooth player with solid size. Strong fundamentally and a very polished jump-shooter with good three-point range(career 38%). Moves well without the ball and is a very willing/unselfish passer(3.2 assists per game). He is also one of the top perimeter defenders in the game today and can make life tough for opposing wing players(both SGs and SFs). Also has the ability to hit clutch shots.

Luc Mbah a Moute:Has good quickness and agility for a bigger player, along with nice overall length for the post(legit 6'8). A good rebounder for his position as well as a very good and versatile defender who can clog passing lanes and play most forwards straight up on the perimeter or in the post. Moves well without the ball and provides hustle to the team.

Al Horford:Fearless in the paint, both offensively and defensively. As a defender gives up little to his man under the basket and a smart team defender as well(avgs a block and a steal per game). Takes smart, high-percentage shots & has an emerging offensive repertoire both in the post and owning a respectable mid range jumper. Also a good unselfish passer(3 asts per game). Team-first, with leadership ability. A strong, long, hard-working power player.

Brook Lopez:A rare mix of size and skill at center in today's game. Takes smart shots with an array of low-post moves, and is a proven go-to scorer. Due to his length and anticipation, is good at protecting the rim, piles up blocks(2.1 per game this past season), and is a solid man to man defender. Has a nice, smooth, consistent shooting stroke and exhibited a much improved mid range jumper this past season. Shows composure, consistency, and awareness during games.

Bench Players Analysis

Gordon Hayward:A take-charge playmaker at the wing position. Able to play both wing positions due to his length and quickness. Smooth, crafty, and good penetrator who draws a lot of fouls and hits his free throws. Does a great job breaking down his man, and boasts a superb shooting stroke with great range(41.5% from three). Can take it to the rim as well as create for others(3 asts per game) Moves well without the ball and is known for his hustle. Smart and high IQ defender(.8 stls and .5 blks per game) Mature for his age, and has some leadership potential. *6th Man

Luke Ridnour:A gifted ball-handler and passer with natural playmaking instincts. Looks to make plays for others. Makes the flashy pass look routine and takes care of the basketball. Can hit the open three and very good in making his free throws(85%). Solid finisher in the paint and at the rim and can hit the midrange jumper. Not the fastest guy, but quick and crafty when driving into the lane/paint. Gives good solid effort defensively.

Kevin Seraphin:A young and very good low-post scorer. Has great athleticism, quickness, and explosiveness for a big man, plus a powerful frame(275 lbs) with a huge wingspan(7'3). Loves to battle and do the dirty work in the paint. Has a nice repertoire of post moves including an elite hook shot(72% on 166 shots this past season.) A very good man to man/post defender(allows only 0.67 points per possession). Has recently begun to develop a mid range jumpshot. A great young player who can contribute now with potential to improve even more. Shows a good work ethic and an upbeat attitude(recently declined to play for France to stay in the US and work on his game).

Jason Smith:Mobile & coordinated for a 7-footer. A very tough and gritty player who provides hustle, sets good hard screens, and attacks the glass for rebounds. Has shown the ability to block shots effectively. A very good pick&roll and pick&pop player. Boasts an elite mid-range jumper, not elite for a big man, just elite – period. In the left-middle, right-middle, and middle zones, he shoots a blistering 54%. He shoots over 52% coming out of the pick and roll/pop. Has improved his freethrow shooting over time and converted 84.3% of his shots from the charity stripe this past season.

Head Coach

Rick Adelman:The Toronto raptors are fortunate in having future HOF Rick Adelman to help coach and guide this very talented roster. Rick is very experienced in coaching, having been a head coach in the league for 24 years and in the very elite category of being one of only eight coaches to reach 1000 career wins. He has been to two NBA finals and has helped his previous teams win countless playoff series(lead teams to playoffs 16 times in his career). While Adelman is a very proven in leading veterans in the post season(Port/Sac) he is also a great teacher, willing to work with young talent to improve their game(Sac/Minn). Throughout his career Adelman has shown a great ability to adjust and adapt to any type of personnel he is given. He has a very calming presence and demeanor on the floor that can only help this talented roster in the regular and post season. Most players and staff that have worked with Adelman would describe him as a player's coach, able to adjust and mold the gameplan around the player's strengths all the while working to improve them. Rick Adelman has the patience, the demeanor and the teaching skills to get the most out of those around him.

Injury Reserve/Practice Squad

This group of players ranging from hungry neophytes to seasoned vets have proven themselves to be able to contribute at any moments notice and can produce meaningful basketball play when given limited minutes.

Point Guard - Ish Smith-Extremely quick. Excels at pushing the ball and is a deft and slick ball-handler. Super breaking his man down one-on-one, but is also always looking for his teammates as a pass-first point guard.

Shooting Guard - Terrence Williams-Passes and rebounds exceptionally well, and generally looks to set up his teammates (showing the ability to play either point guard or point forward). Can line up at and defend at any perimeter position. Brings great athleticism, leaping ability, skill, and energy to the court.

Small Forward/Shooting Guard - Cartier Martin-Smooth and efficient as a scorer. Shoots the ball with good range, excellent arc, and a quick release. Has long arms, helping him shoot over opponents and grab a solid number of rebounds. A hard worker & positive clubhouse guy.

Power Forward/Center - Chris Wilcox-A supreme athlete for a big-man, with explosive leaping ability and quickness. Plays above the rim consistently. Excels in transition, running the floor and finishing the break well. Usually shoots for a high field-goal percentage.

Power Forward/Center - Shavlik Randolph-Possesses nice height, length, and strength. Shows good fundamentals as a rebounder and low-post scorer. Will block some shots. A high-motor type.

Shooting Guard/Small Forward - Sasha Pavlovic-A solid perimeter scorer with a nice stroke, when on his game. Is an underrated athlete who can fill the lane on the break. Makes an effort defensively. Brings some positional versatility.



Strengths/Strategy

Ball Movement-Alot of unselfishness and ball movement within the offense. We have multiple players who can act as ball handlers as well as smart players who are willing and know when to make the extra pass/assist to create easy/quality shots. It also helps to have a coach that preaches this same strategy.

Post Play-A key strength in the offense is having a multiple big men(Lopez/Horford/Seraphin) who can play in the paint/low block/either getting high quality/high percentage shots at the rim or opening up passing lanes for open jumpers or a clear drive to the basket. On the defense our bigs are capable of protecting the rim with weakside help as well as guarding opposing teams post players on the block.

Balanced Scoring/Spacing-Firstly we have several players in both the starting five and bench that can each can provide substantial scoring. Opposing defenses will not be able to key on one or two guys to slow down our offense, they'll have to worry about nearly every player in the rotation. Secondly this team is very balanced on the floor in terms of spacing, due to having players who are able to proficiently score in the paint(through post play or perimeter penetration) and others who specialize in hitting midrange to long jumpers(and a few that can do both.) Because of this the pick and roll/pick and pop will be a key and advantageous staple to the offense.

Versatility-This roster will be able to easily adjust to any challenges they may face on a daily basis. Having several players who can play multiple positions allows us to matchup with any other opposing teams we may face, either defensively or offensively. The versatility of our players and the various skills they have allows us to be very flexible with whoever is out on the court.

Defense-The starting five features players who are top defenders at each position, with the exception of Center. Lowry, Afflalo, Moute, and Horford are all considered great defenders at their respective position. Even Brook Lopez, while not an elite defender, has made great strides in his defensive play becoming much more adept at protecting the rim(2.1 blks per game last season, 3 blks per game in the playoffs) and as a post defender. Even the bench is strong defensively. Ridnour is a solid defender who gives effort, Hayward is very underrated and can guard multiple positions, Smith is tough and gritty interior player, and Seraphin has the length and athleticism to affect the game on defense. Add to that a tough and proven coach in Adelman, and this Toronto Raptors team will be one of the top defenses in the league.

Present/Future

This team is unique in the sense that it has a substantial window of opportunity to contend for a championship for the next several years(3-4 year window) due to the fact that a majority of the main rotation is just starting to or have yet to hit their prime. In the rotation the oldest players are Ridnour at 32, Afflalo who will turn 28 during the 13-14 season, followed by Horford, Lowry, Moute, and Smith who will be 27. This team is coming together at the right time with key players starting to play in their prime for a championship. Even the young guys like Lopez and Hayward have had playoff experience and will be significant players in the hunt for a title.

Going beyond the window of a championship, we have a handful of young players to rebuild around. Obviously the main two cornerstones will be Lopez and Hayward who will be right in their prime when that 3-4 year window of contention closes. Other young prospects that can possibly be added to the core would be Terrence Williams, Kevin Seraphin, and Ish Smith who both have shown flashes of brilliance, solid minutes when given the opportunity, and may develop significantly in the coming years. If all three pan out, you could possibly see a future starting lineup of Ish Smith/Terrence Williams/Gordon Hayward/Kevin Seraphin/Brook Lopez. Due to the young players in place, the future looks as bright as the present.

BK Nets

Coach: Doc Rivers



Has won coach of the year before with Darrell Armstrong as his best player, really knows how to get the most out of an entire roster. Utilizing the entire roster is something we really expect to do as we feel that we don't have a wasted pick among the bunch. Give Rivers the best player in the league, we really feel that he can make the most of it. He preaches defense, ball movement and playing as a team. With LeBron as the leader on the court, everyone will fall in line. Being an ex player and a coach, there really isn't a scenario that Doc hasn't seen. Oh and there's that championship ring...

C- Derrick Favors l Amir Johnson l Brendan Haywood



Entering his fourth season, Derrick is poised to take a big step forward with some extended playing time. A walking double double that can give you two blocks a game. He has excellent hands, active and is extremely athletic. Quite simply, this is the type of big man that LeBron needs. He can run the floor, he can get the dirty points down low. Favors is going to excel with LeBron taking a ton of pressure off.



Amir Johnson keeps getting better every year as his minutes increase. Fresh off a 10/7 season off the bench, Amir knows what it's like to come off the bench and change the tempo of the game. He's one of the better offensive rebounders in the league, he's active on the defensive end and can swat away a few shots. He provides us a nice defensive anchor off the bench.



The only thing that we're expecting from Haywood is some tough man to man defense that can block a shot or two away. Even in a down year, Haywood still grabbed 5 boards a game and scored 4 points a game while notching a block a game. Again he's just this team's goon and can help mentor Derrick and Amir, expecting anything else from him is foolish.

PF- LeBron James l Derrick Williams l Anthony Randolph



The best player in the NBA, North America and the planet Earth. I mean honestly do I really need to sell you on LeBron?



The second overall pick selected in the 2011 draft, Williams seen his numbers improve across the board in FG%, 3PT%, points and rebounds. Really started to come into his own this year in the second half and should improve even more in his third year. He does a good job at getting to the free throw line and he can put up points in bunches. Williams will be able to be mentored by LeBron, this will bold well for him,



Once one of the most intriguing prospects, Anthony Randolph remains a mystery to a lot of teams. At the old age of 23, Randolph has managed to stick around and tantalize those around him. When he gets minutes he produces a nice stat line and some head scratching plays. His per36 numbers are insane, however those don't mean much for my team. I expect some spot minutes at the three and four from him, especially as we wait for Gallo to return back. With Doc Rivers and LeBron on the team, we feel that Randolph can be a real asset off our bench.

SF- Danilo Gallinari l John Salmons l Donte Greene



Since it's being held against me, whenever Gallo gets back we expect him to get back to business. Enjoying his best season to date thus far, Gallo is getting better and more comfortable in the league. He gets to the line at a frequent rate, really keeps his defenders off guard with his drives. While he isn't a knock down elite shooter, Gallo is still no slouch shooting 37% from beyond the arc. He grabs some boards, racks up some assists and can excel as a second option scoring wise. I really feel that both he and LeBron compliment each other perfectly.



Simply a tough, hard nosed player. Salmons brings some serious grit to this team and can do a little bit of everything. Salmons is a player who can post his nightly 10/3/3 type statline while playing some tough defense. Salmons has had every role there is in this league from bench guy to one of the go to scorers on the team, Salmons knows one thing, get on the court and just produce. Salmons will come in and produce night in and night out. Much like Gallo, he isn't an elite knockdown shooter, but shoots a respectable 37% from beyond the arc.

SG- Randy Foye l Jordan Crawford l Corey Maggette



Randy Foye is another player that comes in and does his job perfectly. He will come in and get you about a 11 points, a few boards and a few assists. Shooting 38% from beyond the arc he makes an ideal backcourt guy for LeBron. Does a solid job playing defense, while nothing stellar he is no slouch at playing D. He moves the ball and he can excel in the transition game, something we plan on having a lot of.



Continuing with the theme of this team, Crawford is another guy that can put up double digit points and about three assists and boards. Crawford while not being able to hit many outside shots, attacks the rim relentlessly getting to the line two and a half times. Crawford is a gun slinger and when he's hot, he's hard to stay in front of. Coming off the bench he's a perfect guy to have come in and keep the pace upbeat.

PG- CJ Watson l JJ Barea l Keyon Dooling



Lets be honest here, we're not starting Watson for his point guard abilities. CJ is in there because he can shoot the ball and space the floor for LeBron. CJ knows his role on this team, catch the ball and shoot. LeBron will have the offense flow through him so the need for a real point guard on this team is not needed. CJ has started some games, he's come off the bench and he has excelled as a sixth man.



If there's one thing that our bench wants to do, it's push the pace. Barea does an excellent job at keeping the pressure up on the opposing team and with guys like Johnson, Williams, Salmons and Crawford he has a plethora of options to keep the pace up. Barea is one of the most annoying guys in the NBA and really gets under the nerves of opposing players. Barea is just another guy on this team that can get us 10/3/2 type stat line on a nightly basis.

What we excel at:
-Ball movement.
-Getting to the free throw line.
-Having a plethora of scorers.
-We will swat away our fair of shots.
-We have strong rebounders.
-Having the best player in the league.

Salaries:
LeBron James $17,545,000
Corey Maggette $10,924,138
Danilo Gallinari $9,439,000
John Salmons $8,083,000
Amir Johnson $6,000,000
Derrick Williams $4,809,840
Derrick Favors $4,753,320
Jose Juan Barea $4,493,500
Randy Foye $2,500,000
Brendan Haywood $1,886,312
Anthony Randolph $1,674,641
Jordan Crawford $1,198,680
C.J. Watson $992,680
Keyon Dooling $75,387
Donte Greene $5,387
Total: 75 Million
Red notes expiring.


We have an owner who will spends a billion dollars to win a championship, with LeBron on this team we will spend crazy money.

Rotations:
Favors [30] l Johnson [16]
James [38] l Williams [10]
Gallo [31] l Salmons [12] l Maggette [5]
Foye [30] l Crawford [15] l Maggette [3]
Watson [28] l Barea [20]
IR: Dooling, Randolph, Haywood

For us it's simple, we have LeBron and talented pieces around him. That alone makes me one of the elite teams in this entire competition.

Overall Outlook: GM GoodAzz wanted to build a team that was young with star potential. The idea was to draft 3 young core pieces and then build a team around those pieces to compete both now and in the future. Kyrie Irving, Marc, Gasol, Jeff Green, and Bradley Beal fit exactly was the Pelicans were trying to do. They have built a core that not only has produced at a high level in the NBA to date but has room to grow as a trio and hopefully compete for a championship in the very near future. We have built a team that can adapt to any environment and style. You want to play fast we can play fast, you want to play slow we can play slow, you want to play big we can play big, you want to play small we can play small.

Our finances are great with no player making over 10 million per season on our team. We have very favorable contracts which allows us to bring in a max free agent in the following season to play along with this young core.

Our starting lineup provides a lot of mismatches with 4 extremely good/great 3 point shooters on the floor. That gives 1-2 option (Irving and Green) the lane to penetrate and create for themselves or find the open shooter. We can score with the best of them and we can grind out a victory with tough defense. Overall our team has accomplished what GM Goodazz wish it would. Ability to win now with a very bright future with a young core ahead.

Head Coach: Monty Williams is the ideal coach for this young up and coming team. A young coach (41 years old) who has not only has coaching experience (3 years) but playing experience (9 years in the NBA). He is someone that can relate to the young players while providing his experience through years of coaching and playing. He has coached a young superstar PG in Chris Paul who raves about him as a coach. So he now gets the chance to coach the next up and coming superstar PG with Kyrie Irving. The close generation gap will do wonders for this roster.

Monty Williams will preach hard nose play. Defensive minded coach that will allow his good players on offense the freedom to do what they want as long as they get it done of the defensive end. We get stops and get out and run.

Rotation:

C - Marc Gasol (36) / Lavoy Allen (12)
PF - Jeff Green (26) / Lamar Odom (22)
SF - Dorell Wright (28) / Jeff Green (10) / Sam Young (10)
SG - Bradley Beal (30) / Gary Neal (18)
PG - Kyrie Irving (36) / Jamal Tinsley(12)

Bench: Jannero Pargo, Kent Bazemore, Matt Bonner, Daniel Orton

IR: Daniel Orton and Malcolm Thomas,


Roster Breakdown:

Going to keep this short and sweet.

Coach Pop. Just making sure that gets noticed. He has shown the ability to win with different styles and i am the gm, not the coach, so I wont attempt to talk strategy since I believe this roster is flexible and i have hired a coach who will pick the right strategy. Most importantly, Pop is amazing at pacing older players and should have pierce and nash in great shape for the playoffs.

Paul Pierce played some amazing basketball last year. 19 6 and 5 were his averges on the season and is just about where his averages have been over the past 7 years. He had a bad stretch in january, but other than that showed very little decline. He carried the celtics into the playoffs after Rondo went down, and was playng point forward. Very impressive. The guy is still clutch as hell and very good team defender. With him as number one option, my window is short, but i have a guy who has proven that he can step up in that role.

Ben Gordon has been in losing situations the past few years, but is just as clutch as Pierce and always steps up in the playoffs. Its a shame that he hasnt been a winning situation, cause people forget how good this guy is. He always shows up at the Garden, proving that he still has what it takes to shine when the lights are brightest. BG or Pierce will always be in the game, and we will always have a guy who can get off his own shot and take over games.

Steve nash, in a down year, riddled with injuries, in a toxic situation, playing next to the most ball dominant player in the league, still put up 13 and 7 and basically shot 90-50-40. He is in better shape that most of the guys that are fifteen years younger than him and is one year removed from averaging 11 assist a game. Dont fool yourself into thinking that Kobe didnt have something to do with his assist totals dropping. Nashs two biggest concerns are injuries and defense. He has a terrific backup pg in beno and the rest of my starting lineup forms a great defensive unit.

Which brings me to my next point, Asik, Gibson, Thabo are all terrific defensive players, efficient offensive guys, and perfect role players. With those three setting the tone, then zaza and tyler off the bench, this team has a clear identity: defense and toughness.

Its a defensive first team, with the best coach in the league, an aging, but elite first option in Pierce, an aging but elite quarterback in Nash, a terrific 6th man in Ben Gordon. A team filled with unselfish players who are all about winning. The window might be short, but the ceiling is championship. The experience, grit, depth, and balance is all there.


Rotation (playoffs):
Asik: 35mpg zaza: 13mpg
Taj Gibson: 30 mpg. Hansbrough: 18 mpg
Paul Pierce : 35 mpg Thabo : 13 mpg
Thabo : 15 mpg Ben Gordon: 33 mpg
Steve Nash: 35 mpg Beno Udrih: 13 mpg

Rotatom (regular season):
Asik: 32 mpg Zaza: 16 mpg
Taj Gibson: 30 mpg Hansbrough: 18 mpg
Paul Pierce: 32 mpg Thabo: 15 mpg
Thabo: 18 mpg ben gordon; 30 mpg
Steve Nash: 32 mpg Beno Udrih: 16 mpg

Minnesota Timberwolves

Head Coach: Mike D'Antoni

PG: Ricky Rubio (32) / Isaiah Thomas (16) / Tony Wroten Jr (0)
SG: Shannon Brown (17) / Jamal Crawford (28) / Isaiah Thomas (3)
SF: Maurice Harkless (28) / Kenneth Faried (12) / Victor Claver (8)
PF: Ryan Anderson (31)/ Kenneth Faried (17)
C: Amar'e Stoudemire (20) / JaVale McGee (23) / Kyle O'Quinn (5)

BAT: Detroit Pistons

HC: Byron Scott
PG: Jrue Holiday / Will Bynum / J. Stone
SG: Marco Belinelli / Marshon Brooks / L. Barbosa
SF: Trevor Ariza / Mike Dunleavy Jr / J. Evans
PF: Luis Scola / Carl Landry / Charlie V
C: Dwight Howard / Timofey Mozgov / C. Hayes

The Goal:
To win a NBA championship. We started at 11th overall pick and we targeted a long term winning window, with as many great players as possible. Getting Love and Harden (both under long term contracts) puts us in position for many years in the future as well as now to be in contention. Our core will be here for a long long time and we will be poised for a great run for many years including this one.

Head Coach: Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel, being only 39 years old can be my coach for the next 20-30 years. 2011-2012 3rd in Coach Of The Year voting. In 2010-2011 (first year of head coaching) took over a 17-27 Pacers team and went 20-18 the rest of the regular season coming very close in every game in the playoffs vs MVP Derek Rose and the Chicago Bulls. In 2011-2012, a lockout year, having to still install his offense on the fly went 42-24, finishing 7th in Adjusted Offensive Rating and 12th in Adjusted Defensive Rating (both based on pace). Beat the Orlando Magic in the playoffs 4-1, played NBA champions Heat tough, won 2 games. This year, Vogel's Pacers were #1 in DRTG and coached them to the Eastern Conference Championship. In the way there the team went 49-32 in the regular season and won playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, the New York Knicks and went to 7 games with the Heat. Defensive first coach and offensively based on ball movement and player movement. Developed plenty of young talent in Indiana including Paul George, George Hill, Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson and many others. Overall fantastic coach for winning now and winning future.

We were looking to get a top coach in the NBA and we feel like we got the 2nd best coach in the league and one that can coach us for many many more years.

Roster:

Point Guards:

Raymond Felton - Steve Blake - Brian Roberts

~Raymond Felton is a very good point guard. He posses everything we look for in a point guard. He has good shooting ability (36% from three last year), great toughness, ability to get in the paint and finish, pass the ball and most importantly taking care of the basketball. He will be playing with Harden as a starter and in crunch time, but also he will be getting a lot of time with the number two guys when Harden is sitting. With Harden he will be bringing the ball up the court but will be a secondary ball handler but with the second unit he will be the primary ballhandler. Felton is an slightly above average defender and has great experience in this league being a starter in playoff teams. Being only 28, Felton is still young and in his prime. He came with a very cheap contract for a player of his caliber.

~Steve Blake is a very good veteran point guard. He is a point guard that can play on and off the ball. He is very efficient offensively and can find the open guy in drive and dish situations. Mostly, he will be playing off the ball as a secondary ballhandler with either Felton or Harden. We feel he is a perfect in that role due to his great shooting ability (42% from 3 point range last year). He is a very experienced point guard which is something we looked for and Blake started games in the playoffs and has a long, successful career. Steve will be competing for minutes with Brian Roberts, Jeff Taylor and Orlando Johnson.

~Brian Roberts is a hidden gem. The 27 year old point guard is a 4 year player at Dayton, Brian went undrafted and went overseas to hone his skills. He came back to try out for the Hornets last year in summer league, made the team and became a consistent rotation player. As a rookie, Brian played in 78 games and started 5, while playing 17 minutes a game. He was one of the most efficient point guards in the NBA last year (6th in the NBA in assist to turnover ratio). Brian also shot 38.6% from three last year. He is definitely the type of point guard that we look for. He can play on and off the ball and be very efficient with both. Brian will be competing for rotation minutes with Steve Blake, Jeff Taylor, and Orlando Johnson.

Our point guard position is a very versatile group who can not only penetrate and find open players but can shoot from outside. We look for vets and leaders at these position and we feel like we found three of them.

Shooting Guards:

James Harden - Jeff Taylor - Orlando Johnson

~James Harden is one of the best (top 5) players in the world and our #1 option, at only the age of 23. Needless to say he is a true superstar. The 6’5” 225 lbs southpaw Harden is a lethal scorer. He can score in so many different ways both with and without the ball. He can come off screens, spot up and slash to the basket without the ball. With the ball Harden is one of the best playmakers in the NBA. He gets to the line 10.2 times per game (#1 in the NBA). He is a great three point shooter also with a career 37% from three although he takes more than 5.5 per game. This in total ends up in a very efficient 26 points per game for him (5th in the NBA). He isn’t just a playmaker for himself though as he has the 2nd most assists per game for his position with 5.8 assists per game. He will be our primary ball handler due to his great ability. On defense, Harden is a good defender (1.7 steals per game, 106 career DRtg) and a very good rebounder for his size and position (4.9 per game, #4 in the NBA). He has a very high basketball IQ, is low maintenance and is a definite leader. We feel that being on this team with another superstar like Love, a head coach like Vogel and an overall great team, that he will only improve and get even better.

~Jeff Taylor is another young (24) athletic versatile wing player for us. Jeff is a great player who can even start for us in case of injuries, because of his ability to spot up and shoot the three, as well as slash to the basket and finish. Jeff is a very good defender due to his great athletic ability, quick feet and smarts. As a rookie, Jeff played 77 games and started 29, while playing 20 minutes a game. Jeff’s fit on this team will be the backup SG/SF and he will be fighting for minutes with Jonas Jerebko, Steve Blake, Brian Roberts, Orlando Johnson, and DeQuan Jones.

~Orlando Johnson is an athletic, 2nd year player (24 y/o) with very good size (6'5", 225 lbs) with very good length (6'11" wingspan). He has proven in college and in the NBA that he is very capable of shooting the long range shot (38.3% from 3 last year). He is also very adept at getting to the rim and is a good passer. Defensively, he uses his length and athleticism well and is a very good defender. Orlando has now played a year under Vogel and we feel he is ready to continue contributing and being great depth. Orlando will be competing for minutes with Jonas Jerebko, Steve Blake, Brian Roberts, Jeff Taylor and DeQuan Jones.

The SG position for us is a strength. With Harden, Taylor and Johnson we have three young guards, all who can score, pass, and defend. Also, our point guards have versatility to backup this position.

Small Fowards:

Al-Farouq Aminu - Jonas Jerebko - DeQuan Jones

~Al-Farouq Aminu is a very athletic 22 year old whose main role on this team is shutting down the best wing scorer and small 4s on the other team. His length (near 7’3.25” wingspan) and size (6'9") combined with his quickness, give fits to the best NBA players. He is already one of the top defensive wing players and one of the top rebounders (4th in NBA for SFs in rebounding with 7.7). Offensively he is also versatile. He is an extremely good slasher and has good handle to get to the basket. He is also a good passer and moves the ball very well. Although he is not a great shooter, we feel based on his previous success, free throw shooting success and being with a better team and coach, we can develop that part of his game more. For now though, his job will be to continue to slash, move himself and the ball, play defense and continue to crash the boards. Overall, Al is a very good player and an important part of this team.

~Jonas Jerebko is another young (26), defensive, athletic, and versatile player that will play for us like Aminu. At 6’10” and 230lbs, Jonas has the size to matchup with any SF and could play PF when teams play small for us also. Jonas is a good slasher and very good midrange shooter. He can also space out to the three point line and make them in. He moves the ball well and fits what we like to do. On defense, he has the versatility to play on SGs. SFs, and PFs very well. He is a very good rebounder (7.5 RPG per 36 minutes). Jonas is another option we can throw at great offensive players and fits our roster very well. He will be competing for minutes with DeQuan Jones, Jeff Taylor, and Orlando Johnson.

~DeQuan Jones is yet another young (22), athletic and defensive based player. Unlike Jonas and Aminu, he is more of a SG and SF then a SF and PF. Offensively, DeQuan has great upside due to his athleticism and a good shooting form. He will be a slasher on this team, the role we have all of our SFs play. Defensively, DeQuan uses his athleticism and physique very well. He is strong and quick to keep up with defenders and has quick hands and hops to get steals and blocks. We hope DeQuan can develop into a complete player, but we are content with him being a very good defender, slasher, and athlete and potentially developing into something more in the future. He will be competing for minutes with Jonas Jerebko, Jeff Taylor, and Orlando Johnson.

The SF position for us is a glue player position. We look for slashers, who are athletic move the ball on offense. On defense, they must be very good and rebound very well. We found that with Aminu, Jerebko and Jones, plus Jeff Taylor and Orlando Johnson playing minutes here also.

Power Fowards:

Kevin Love - Jared Sullinger - Mike Scott

~Kevin Love is another true superstar, at only the age of 24. Kevin can score in many different ways. He can post up, finish inside, and shoot from anywhere from the three point line and in (midrange). In addition to this though, Kevin is a tremendous passer and is a fastbreak starter with his outlet passing. Kevin is one of the best rebounders in the league. In 2011-12 he averaged 13.2 RPG (2nd most in the NBA) and the year before that 15.2 RPG (#1 in the NBA). On defense, Kevin is adequate defender and will be tremendously helped by our system, by our defensive talent and our coach like he has never been before. Playing with Harden will also make him even more dangerous on offense. We think the sky's the limit here with Love.

~Jared Sullinger is our 21 year old defensive and rebounding PF/C. His primary focus on offense will be finishing inside, shooting from midrange and offensive rebounding. He is a good passer and plays very smart. On defense he plays tough man defense and good help defense. He is a very good rebounder (14.2 RPG per 48 minutes, 19th most in the NBA) on offense and on defense. Jared has extremely high potential to be a great all around player. He has an improving post game and has the right length (7'1" wingspan) and size (6'9", 270lbs) to be a dominant PF in this league. He will be competing for minutes with Mike Scott.

~Mike Scott is another young (24) defensive, rebounding big man. On offense Mike is a very good midrange shooter and can finish inside. He is a very good rebounder both on offense and defense in college and his time in the NBA. Mike is also a good man defender and in the post. He averages 17.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG in per 36 average. When he got more than 10 minutes last season:

vs Pacers - 12 minutes, 5PPG, 5RPG
vs Celtics - 23 minutes, 19PPG, 3RPG
vs Spurs - 36 minutes, 22PPG, 6RPG
vs 76ers - 18 minutes, 17PPG, 8RPG
vs Raptors - 27 minutes, 12PPG, 12RPG
vs Knicks - 36 minutes, 23PPG, 14RPG

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... mike-scott

We feel he has great potential and can be a contributor immediately. He will be competing for minutes with Jared Sullinger.

The PF position for us is definitely one of strength and a lot of value. Love is a star player that can do it all. Sullinger is a very good rebounder, defender and can make an open midrange jumper and finish inside. Mike Scott is another rebounder, defender who is very adept in the midrange game. This is a postion where we require defense, rebounding and ability to spread the court a bit and this is another position of strength for us.

Centers:

Ekpe Udoh - Nene Hilario - Cole Aldrich

~Ekpe Udoh is a very high potential big man (only 26) who is experienced and ready to produce now. He has great length (7’4.5” wingspan) and good size (6'10", 245lbs). His main role on defense is defending the best big man on the other squad and boxing them out, two things he is exceptional at. He is one of the best shotblockers in the league (12th in the league in BPG per 48). He is also a very good man to man defender, pick and roll defender and post up defender. Rebounding wise, he is not great, but boxes out and grabs offensive rebounds. With Kevin Love, Aminu, Harden being some of the best at their positions and in the NBA at rebounding, his necessity there is minimized. Offensively we will not ask much from him other than pick and roll and finishing open layups and dunks, and the occasional mid range jumper which he is very capable of making. We have plenty of offense in our starting unit for him not to be a necessary option to create, but he is a good passer and capable of moving the ball around. Ekpe is ready for a bigger role and putting Ekpe in the starting lineup helps our team become whole and more dangerous.

~Nene is a great offensive big man, but he has a lot of defensive ability also. He has very good size (6'11", 260lbs) and is very good at man to man, pick and roll and post up defense. Like Ekpe, rebounding wise, he is not great, but he also boxes out and grabs offensive rebounds. We also have very good rebounders on the bench with Sullinger, Jonas Jerebko and Jeff Taylor all good rebounders.. Offensively, Nene shines. A very quick player he can get to the rim off the dribble and draw contact and finish. He can also, catch and finish, post up, and shoot the mid range shot. He is a very good passer and makes very good plays with the ball. He can pick and roll, pick and pop and do many different things. We feel that Nene is a starter for sure, but putting him on the bench helps this team become more dangerous. He becomes our 6th man and gives the bench firepower.

~Cole Aldrich is a big (6'11" height, 245lbs, 7'4.75" wingspan) true center. Although, considered a bust to this point Cole has a good deal of potential to remove that bearing on himself. He is a tough center who can block shots and rebound. He is a space eater on defense and offense and gets to good positions on the floor. We feel at only 25 that Cole still has a lot of potential and that we are the right team, with the right coach to help him fulfill that potential. As of now, Cole will be called upon in spot minutes and in situations where we need a body out there as an enforcer (or to intentionally foul someone like Dwight).

The center position for us is another position of strength. We look for our centers to be very good in pick and roll, post up, and man to man defense, as well as box out and rebound. We have great players who because of the talent around them and scheme, their weaknesses are marginalized and their strengths are substantiated. Udoh helps the starting defense become great with his shotblocking and help defense and Nene helps the bench get firepower with his ability to shoot, get to the rim and play pick and roll. Cole is our big man enforcer. A tough, long center who mixes it up. We feel we have filled our criteria for this position also.

Rotation:
PG - Raymond Felton (20) - Steve Blake (18) - Brian Roberts (10)
SG - James Harden (36) - Raymond Felton (12) - Jeff Taylor - Orlando Johnson
SF - Al-Farouq Aminu(33) - Jonas Jerebko (15) - DeQuan Jones
PF - Kevin Love (33) - Jared Sullinger (15) - Mike Scott
C - Ekpe Udoh (22) - Nene Hilario (26) - Cole Aldrich

Conclusion:
This team is elite for now and many years in the future (average age of team 25.2 years old, average age of starters 24.6). We have two superstar players in Love and Harden who are both exceptional players and great fits with each other. In addition, we mixed in players who are perfect fits and have very high potential, to do the things needed to be a great team. This is one of the best, if not the best passing teams, build on coach Vogel's ball and player movement philosophy. We have also acquired a lot of defensive talent that fits Frank Vogel's philosophy. We have great length, size and athleticism to be one of the best, if not the best defenses. We feel we are complete with great offense, defense and rebounding. Every position is a perfect compliment to the next and every player is a perfect fit. With a great coach and player developer in Vogel who has developed talent offensively as well as defensively. We can and will be making championship runs now and many years in the future. We have also got a very healthy cap. We have completed our goal completely. We are very excited about what the future brings here in Golden State Warriors.



End Result:
The Champions. Regular season and playoff champions. Goal complete.

Introducing the LA Clippers, this team has been constructed around a superstar PG who can make everyone on his team better and act as a leader along with a PF/C big man who is nearly unstoppable as a scorer and great on the boards. With Chris Paul and Al Jefferson, the Clippers have a combination in place that assault teams from the inside out. Chris Paul is a perennial MVP candidate and the best PG in the game. He's strong on both ends of the court and can orchestrate an offense to improve every player on the court. He's a leader and a clutch performer whose game has almost no flaws. Whatever you need, he'll give you and any time he's on the court, the entire team becomes a weapon on the offensive end. Paul can push the pace whenever teams slack, but he can also work through Al Jefferson in the post so that our half court offense is effective without asking too much of him. Al Jefferson is one of the few great post players left in this game but he's also developed an effective midrange and face up game. His versatility allows him to play both PF and C roles effectively. Defensively he has improved and has a strength advantage over nearly all PF's. He's an offensive force as well as a force on the glass. Give him Chris Paul, and he could easily jump to a 20 ppg pace while continuing to average close to 10 boards a game.The pick and roll will be a staple of the offense for these two and by placing Al at PF, he'll be able to power through most defenders without much threat of doubles (because Paul is too big a threat against an unbalanced D).

The rest of the team was put together with a few things in mind; specifically we looked for spacing, size, flexibility and defense. Redick and MWP are both willing to take open looks from three and can hit at a solid clip but both players are also effective putting the ball on the floor. Redick, in fact, averaged nearly 4 apg last season, a clear indicator that he can work teams in more than one way. Redick's ability to shoot is well known, but it's off ball movement and passing ability that turns him into a great third option. When Redick's role increased in Orlando, he provided 15 ppg and 4.4 apg. He's going to have a huge impact on games simply taking advantage of the fact that everyone's focused elsewhere. Metta World Peace meanwhile enters as another threat to fire away or put the ball on the ground. He'll give the starting line-up a toughness factor and solid defensive presence on the wing. Admittedly though, his role will be reduced thanks to the presence of versatile wings on the bench who have specializations (more on that later). What's important to know about MWP is that he plays a well rounded game and provides a level of intimidation on the wings that few players can comparably create.

Chris Kaman comes in to give this team a massive front court with great experience. Despite a tough season with injuries last year, Kaman has shown throughout his career that he is a reliable source of both efficient scoring and defensive presence (shot blocking for sure). Even this past season, Kaman's numbers were impressive considering his minutes breakdown. On a per 36 basis, Kaman is still a very strong Center who should not be underestimated. The front court combination of Al Jefferson and Chris Kaman will be formidable because of it's size and scoring ability. What's more, both Kaman and Al are capable of averaging 2 apg on a season, meaning teams will be made to pay for doubles or falling asleep on their man. In fact, with the exception of MWP, the entire starting line-up is constructed with above average passers for their position. Having Chris Paul as the maestro passing to four strong players who can pass and score (all averaged double digits last season) creates an absolute offensive force.

This squad doesn't only boast a strong Starting line-up though. The bench was designed to provide flexibility first and foremost. Our back PG is a former allstar who has been to the playoffs consistently throughout his career. Mo Williams arrived in Utah and brought yet another team to the playoffs as the starting PG. He's a quality PG in his own right and can shoot the ball really well. As a presence off the bench, he can lead in CP3's stead and give a scoring boost to the bench.

At both wing positions the bench boasts a plethora of options with specializations to mix and match against any opposition. Brandon Rush might be the most intriguing of these pieces. He's a long, tough defender who scores efficiently and can knock down the three. He really looked like he was making strides to becoming a force before an injury cut him out last season, that said he has the youth to recover and the work ethic to be a great piece. Coming off the bench, he can come along slowly and could potentially play himself into a starting role. He's well rounded, playing strong D and providing both scoring and rebounding from the wing.

Deshawn Stevenson comes in as a veteran presence and a lock down defender. The team can bring him in to slow down a hot shooter or shut down the sixth man on an opposing offense. He also hits three's at a strong clip (see the spacing theme?). Rip Hamilton is another player who can knock down threes and provide solid D in limited minutes. His role will likely be more of an emergency piece but if any player goes down, he can be trusted to give effective minutes. He's a great off ball mover and could be an excellent mentor to to the younger SG's on this team. These two vets will provide leadership and guidance from their bench roles.

Carlos Delfino meanwhile enters as our primary SF option (though Rush could see minutes there as well) off the bench. He is fresh off his best statistical season (check the per 36 stats, he's ready for a bigger role). Delfino can give a bit of everything on offense and is a historically strong rebounder and passer (almost 4 boards and 3 apg on a career averaging just over 20 mpg is impressive). Having a true SF that guarantees offensive impact off the bench is a huge positive for this team.

As for big men off the bench, Bismack Biyombo is a massive player with big athleticism and potential. As it stands he's already a very strong man defender and a pure shot blocker. His rebounding has improved and his offense came in spite of weak distributors at the PG position. He's still got huge room for growth 20 years old but he's already poised to come off the bench and give 20-25 mpg of strong play. His motor is uncanny as it is and with further development he could become a huge piece.

Meanwhile Jared Jeffries has become well known for his ability to defend multiple positions effectively and work hard everywhere. Knicks fans grew to love his work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body for the team. He's perfect to provide 10 to 15 minutes of pure effort and has given more than that before effectively.

Quincy Acy will be entering his sophomore year as a player with real potential. In his limited time, Acy was a solid all around piece with room for plenty of development. He's only 22 and fresh off his first season in the NBA. He can grow into a rotation piece for sure. Similarly Doron Lamb is clearly a work in progress, but his college play speaks for itself and even in his limited minutes as a rookie he hit three's at a strong clip. At the end of the bench for now, he can continue his development in a relatively pressure free situation while being surrounded by veteran players that can help mold him into an important piece.

Coach Lionel Hollins has the task of integrating these pieces and is already a proven success as a coach. He put together a strong resume with a great defensive minded team in Memphis where he drew out hard work and team oriented play from everyone on his squad, including getting the most out of Zach Randolph who'd been passed around before finding his role under Hollins. As a coach, he led the Grizzlies to their most successful season in franchise history and it's made more impressive by the fact that this team really surprised most people. The Grizzlies steadily improved under his leadership and were a true force this past season, reaching the WCF. I'm confident that he can match-up with any coach in a 7 game series and make strong decisions that put his team in a position to win. Not only that he's a coach you can count on to get the most out of his players and this roster will give him weapons as well as hard nosed defenders, exactly the make-up you would want for Lionel Hollins.

This team isn't just constructed to make the playoffs, they were made to contend. With CP3 leading the way and Al Jefferson being a half court force whenever the game slows down, there are enough weapons and defenders between them to keep opponents at bay and provide supplementary scoring. Ball movement will be beautiful and I expect three point shooting to be among tops in the league. This team has depth to compete with anyone and how about this caveat, all but three players (two in limited roles for us mind you) were on playoff teams this past season. There is a ton of playoff experience here and championship experience is there too. There's a head coach who has proven to be one of the best in the league and an MVP caliber franchise superstar. The Clippers are clear contenders.

Blazers

Looking for nothing.

PG: Greivis Vasquez/J. Terry/G. Temple
SG: Lance Stephenson/E. Moore/CJ Miles
SF: Rudy Gay/R. Brewer/K. Joseph
PF: Thad Young/J. Maxiell/T. Shengelia
C: Greg Monroe/G. Stiemsma/K. Brown
Coach: Erik Spoelstra

12-Man Roster Minutes:
PG/SG Vasquez: (PG) 32
SG/SF Stephenson: (SG) 32
SF/PF Gay: (SF) 34
SF/PF Young: (PF) 34
PF/C Monroe: (C) 34
PG/SG J. Terry: (PG) 16
PG/SG E. Moore: (SG) 16
SG/SF Brewer/Miles: (SF) 14
PF/C Maxiell: (PF) 14
C Stiemsma: (C) 14
PF/C Brown: (PF/C) 0

Coach: 2X champion. Defensive minded. Good at half-court sets, yet has teams that thrive after causing turnovers (my players cause many turnovers, are young, and HIGHLY athletic). Perfect coach for my team.

Starters:

Vasquez: Perfect PG for my team. Pass first PG (9apg, 2nd in NBA) that does not need the ball to dominate (Perfect fit for my two best players, Monroe and Gay). Plays well without the ball, 34% 3-PT shooter. At 6'6, he can guard opposing teams SG as well, depending on whether PG or SG is weaker offensive player.

Stephenson: Premier, elite lockdown perimeter defender. We all saw the job he did on Wade/LeBron. Will guard opposing teams' best backcourt player (aside from LeBron, whom he and Thad will guard). 33% 3-Pt shooter on offense, slasher and moves without the ball, perfect for best passing big man in the NBA (Monroe), Vasquez, and Gay.

Gay: One of the best SF and go-to scorers in the NBA. Averaged 20 ppg, and shot 34% from 3-PT range this season with the Rapotrs. One of the better rebounding SF as well. Not a lockdown defender but still gets 2 spg.

Young: Premier, elite lockdown defender in the NBA and averaged 2 spg, and 8 rpg as well. Will guard the best SF and PF from opposing teams. Averaged 15 ppg on 53% shooting (very selective with his shooting) and does not need the ball in his hands, slasher and moves without the ball, perfect for best passing big man in the NBA (Monroe), Vasquez, and Gay.

Monroe: One of the best up and coming Centers in the NBA. Averaged 16 ppg and 10 rpg. The best passing post player in the NBA with high basketball IQ (and at 4 apg, does not turn the ball over), perfect for the amount of players that play so well off the ball. The ideal center for my team. Not a shotblocking Center, but one of the better one-on-one defenders in the post; not important since I have 2 of the top defenders in the NBA, one on the perimeter.


Rotation players:

J. Terry: Championship experience, leader of the team. Scoring punch off the bench: 6th MOTY 2009; 3rd in 2008; 2nd in 2010; 2nd in 2011; 3rd in 2012. Can play PG or SG. Can create his own shot, 39% 3-PT shooter. One of the best floor generals in the game. Perfect fit off the bench and playing next to Moore. Average defender.

E. Moore: Although young, averaged 11 ppg and 5 apg while shooting 38% from 3-PT range when starting. One of the better passing SG, particularly when running PnR and rarely turns the ball over, perfect fit next to Terry. Is smart and plays sound defense. Has a 6'10 wingpsan, and can guard PG or SG. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/E-Twaun-Moore-5289/

CJ Miles: Will come off the bench when scoring and shooting are needed at the SG and SF position. Good spot up shooter, putting up 15 ppg and shooting 37% from 3-PT range, a significant improvement from past years. Not a lockdown, but is a defensive plyaer that keeps his man in front of him.

R. Brewer: Will come off the bench as one of the premier lockdown defenders in the NBA at the SG and SF position. Will play depending on if defense is needed at SG or SF. Lots of playoff experience.

Maxiell: In there to be a brute on defense. Although not very tall, one of the better positioning post defenders in the NBA at the PF position. Very tough to move, pushes his man off the block, boxes out, and will not get pushed around. Has a 7'3 wingspan, and gets 1+ bpg in limited minutes. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jason-Maxiell-419/

G. Stiemsma: Brought over to provide shot blocking on this team. Has averaged 2 BPG in only 14 minutes of play. When the rotation players come in, Stiemsma is there to alter shots.

The rest:
G. Temple: Although mainly a SG, can pass and be a play maker. Will, and has, play PG.

K. Joseph: Young. Is from 'Cuse.

T. Shengelia: SF/PF tweener. Takes the ball to the hole well, but one of the better, young perimeter shooters at this position. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tor ... elia-5533/

K. Brown: Experienced post player. Has found his role on NBA teams. Will only be used as a big body if needed.

Overall rundown:

- Top ten position player at PG, SF, and C
- No superstar, but extreme balance and strength at all positions in my starting lineup. Pass first PG to pair with my potential all-star, best passing big man in the NBA, my go-to scorer at the SF, lockdown perimeter defender, and my lock down post defender.
- Team is not injury prone.
- Incredible team chemistry and fit.
- Team is young and athletic, yet experienced.
- Top defenders at every position except PG, either starter or bench player).
- Fun team to watch.

Likely outcome: consistent playoff team. Only chance of winning a title is if other, lower seeded teams knock off the top tier teams in the heavily favored Western Conference. Can compete with all other teams. Projected record: 44-38.

gorillalane@gmail.com

The Los Angles Lakers

Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau

PG: Brandon Jennings (36*)| Reggie Jackson(12*)
SG: Andre Iguodala (*34) | Terrence Ross (14)
SF: Kyle Korver (30)| Shawn Marion (*18)
PF: Serge Ibaka (*28)| Trevor Booker (20)
C: Roy Hibbert (30) |Serge Ibaka (3)| Ryan Hollins(10)|Josh Harrellson(5)

*= time could be split at other positions based on match up.
Reserve:

Luke Babbit
Deandre Liggins
Kurt Thomas
Jodie Meeks


To be continued....

Head Coach: Kevin McHale

BAT 9.0 CHICAGO BULLS

STARTING FIVE


PG : DAMIAN LILLARD (6'3" 195lb) - 19.0ppg, 6.5apg, 3.1rpg, 43%fg, 37%3pt, 84%ft, 22yo
PG/SG : SHAUN LIVINGSTON (6'7" 190lb) - 6.3ppg, 3.3apg, 3/1 a/to ratio, 48%fg, 87%ft, 27yo
SF/PF : JOSH SMITH (6'9" 230lb) - 17.5ppg, 8.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.2spg, 1.8bpg, 47%fg, 27yo
PF/SF : ANDREI KIRILENKO (6'10" 235lb) - 12.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0bpg, 51%fg, 75%ft, 32yo
C : ANDREW BYNUM (7'0" 285lb) - 18.7ppg, 11.8rpg, 1.9bpg, 56%fg. 69%ft, 25yo

The most talented team in the entire 9.0 BAT, the Chicago Bulls are a handful for any team.

OFFENSE: Powered by a trifecta of dominant players in Damian Lillard at PG, Josh Smith and SF/PF and one of the two most dominant C's in the game when healthy in Andrew Bynum, this starting rotation will look to leverage their athleticism, their size and their strong passing ability 1 thru 5 to attack the basket, get into the lane and draw fouls. With players adapt in playing the pick and roll and who can create shots for themselves, this starting five will be difficult to defend against even if you know what's coming. Andrew Bynum is arguably the best post player in the league (when healthy). Josh Smith can create shots for himself and work the pick and roll to attack the basket. Damian Lillard has proven to be one of the best big shot players in the league last season when he ran away with the ROY award. Kirilenko is a master at moving without the ball and getting himself into open spots for a dunk, a put back or an offensive board. Sharing the ball will not be a problem as Lillard, Livingston, Smith and Kirilenko are all superb passers at finding the open man. And before anyone starts with the cliche'd ("but you aint gots a 3 point shooter"), despite being the focal point of opposing defense, Lillard still was able to hit 3's at a fine clip and many in the 30 foot range (go look at the vids) and in big game situations. I also have several 3 point shooters that I can bring off the bench quickly if needed.

DEFENSE: Josh Smith (former NBA All Defensive 2nd Team)and Andrei Kirilenko (former NBA All Defensive 1st & 2nd Team) form one of the most defensively dominant forward duo's in the league able to chase down players on the perimeter as well as hold their ground in the paint, they are also two of the top shotblockers in the league. Their goal will be to hound opposing players and funnel them into Bynum in the paint where a monstrous brick wall will meet them. Bynum not only was considered the best offensive C in the league but also among the most physically intimidating post defenders (considered by many to be dominant on both ends of the floor in 2012). The starting guards job will be to be aggressive defensively, trap ball handlers and guard opposing shooters close up. Gambling is possible thanks to the great defense they have behind them. Lillards natural aggressiveness and intensity will work very well in this style of defense as will Livingstons overall height and length which will make it hard for opposing guards to get open looks.

ANSWERING THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: Obviously the biggest question is Andrew Bynum. When Healthy Bynum is one of the two best centers in the NBA and arguably a top 10-15 player. Absolutely...Bynum missed all of last year rehabilitating from knee problems and there should be concerns. And obviously, his reputation took a huge shot by his oddball behavior at times. But the reality still is that he has had a full year to recover and, at just 25 years of age, there should be at least 3-4 more peak years left before the inevitable decline...and that really is all I need. Is he healthy? Now as much as it was obviously in bad taste, his performance in Spain a month back on the flamenco floor (click here to see it), would indicate that his knees are fine (you can't be doing what he is doing if his knees are no good). Again...realize, this is the same exact "character" that averaged 18/12/2 for the Lakers in 2011-2012. Can he be a distraction? Sure...but I have a deep veteran laden team with great lockerroom guys so the distractions should be minimized. Also, let's be honest, I have a MUCH better team than the Sixers team Bynum would have had so the incentive should be there for him to play. And we're not talking character, we're talking about Bynum being able to play and sure looks like he's fine (regardless of how tasteless it was or how much you may not like the guy).

And just in case anyone forgot what Bynum can do? Here's some reminders...go to the 5:00 mark on video one for some real nice segments on how Bynum was bitching some of the top defensive C's in the game.



CAN DAMIAN LILLARD LEAD A TEAM: So one of the other big questions is can a team "lead" by a rookie PG possibly succeed so quickly...especially when there appears to be an abundance of ego's to go around on this team? For those that have not watched Damian Lillard play, I suggest you do so. Sure Lillard won the ROY running away but you don't really get to appreciate how mature, how dominant and how much of a leader he can be unless you watch him play. For those that have not and/or that aren't familiar with his game here are some clips to give you and idea about his game. Hiding it all to save bandwith. Take the time to watch them...and YOU be the judge.




But if you still have trouble believing that he's good enough to lead this team now, here's the opinions of some of the best players and head coaches in the game on Lillard, his leadership, his maturity, his game...


SHAUN LIVINGSTON STARTING? WTF?: Livingston is in the starting lineup to provide more ball movement and allow Lillard to play off the ball a little where he is a dynamic all around offensive talent. He WILL BE the 1st one substituted and will not likely play more than 20 minutes a game. Yes, absolutely, it's been done before...the Knicks did it with a 40 year old Kidd and then with a 37 year old Prigioni...for the same reasons...to help ball movement.

RESERVES PRIMARY


PG/SG : MONTE ELLIS (6'3" 195lb) - 21.4ppg, 5.9apg, 3.4rpg, 1.5spg, 43%fg, 81%ft, 27yo
SG/SF : EVAN FORNIER (6'7" 210lb) - 11.3mpg, 5.3ppg, 1.2apg, 49%fg, 41%3pt, 77%ft, 20yo
SF/SG : KEITH BOGANS (6'5" 225lb) - 40%3pt (from corner), 33yo
PF/C/SF : BORIS DIAW (6'8" 250lb) - 5.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.4apg, 54%fg, 39%3pt, 72%ft, 31yo
C/PF : CHRIS ANDERSEN (6'10" 230lb) - 6.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1bpg, 81%fg, 34yo

OFFENSE: Monte Ellis CLEARLY is this teams 6th man and should be CLEAR CUT favorite to win the 6MOY award for this BAT. He is one of the most dynamic finishers around the basket in the NBA with the ball in his hands and attacking the basket and THAT is exactly what he'll be asked and expected to do. Unlike the miserable role he served with the Bucks this past season (more stand still jump shooter off of Jennings drives), we will revert Monta back to what he does best and did best in the great years he had with the Warriors where he was consistently among the most efficient scoring guards in the NBA (54% from the field in 2009-2010). As an underrated passer (his 5.8apg last season was BY FAR the most for any none PG primary not named Lebron James) Ellis will have the freedom to run (literally) the 2nd unit. He'll have 2 3 point shooters with him (in Fournier and Bogans) and one of the most dynamic backup big man finishers in the Birdman. Boris Diaw is a dynamic do all player that can pass and shoot...and one of the better bigs in the league at moving without the ball. Depending on matchups, Terrence Jones will also get some time with the 2nd unit and provide a ultra athletic and physical specimen of a player that can shoot from deep and finish at the rim.

DEFENSE: Little known fact...Monta Ellis is perennially among the league leaders in steals per game. He's a terrific ball hawk and uses his lightning quick reflexes to attack the passing lanes better than most other guards in the league. Keith Bogans and Boris Diaw provide two savvy, physical and flexible defenders that can guard multiple positions and players. Chris Andersen is also among the better defensive backups and is able to aggressively challenge shots at the rim and guard both PF and C's. Even Evan Fournier has shown a great aptitude for understanding defensive rotations and using positioning to leverage his lack of strength and elite athleticism. As the likely 11th man, Terrence Jones has also shown in games where he has received healthy minutes that he can be a dynamic defensive player with the strength to guard post players and the athleticism to challenge and keep up with wings. Jones also plays with a terrific intensity and physicality that should make him a terrific pairing with the Birdman to help rev up the intensity for this team (just like Andersen helped do for the Heat this past season).

MONTE ELLIS, THE EFFICIENCY DILEMMA & FRONT RUNNER 6MOY: This is something that I've wrote about several times in the past but I'm sure it will come up once again. Despite popular (misguided) belief, Ellis has shown that he can be among the MOST efficient scorers in the NBA. For a volume shooter, it may be hard to believe (but it's true, go check) that Ellis has averaged 48% (16.5ppg), 53% (20.2ppg) and 3 seasons of 45% (19.0ppg, 25.5ppg and 24.5ppg, respectively) shooting from the field with the Warriors. For a 6'3" volume shooting backcourt player that is terrific. How did he manage it? By attacking the basket and taking his shots at the rim. That's what he does best. That's what he'll go back to doing with this team. No more standing around looking to hoist jumpers...that's the job of Fournier, Bogans, Diaw and Terrence Jones. Use the guy right and he should be right back up in the 45-48% range from the field.

INTANGIBLES - BOGANS, DIAW AND ANDERSEN STYLE: It's hardly a secret that you need talent to win in the NBA nowadays but what separates teams with talent that don't go far and teams with talent that do go far are guys like Keith Bogans, Boris Diaw and Chris Andersen. Each of these players brings an extra special blend of maturity, physicality, energy, intelligence and grit that not only impact how they play but also how the team dynamic plays out, how the team vibe and energy picks up. Chris Andersen has shown what his presence can do this past season in ramping up the energy and intensity level of the Miami Heat. Boris Diaw has been a key part of some of the greatest "team basketball" ever played with the Spurs. Keith Bogans brings down the hammer by showing guys that you don't need talent to be able to dive for every loose ball, fight through every pick, stand up and don't back down to anyone else and to defend and play hard every minute you are on the floor. The intangibles that these guys bring go far and beyond what their stats would indicate and what many of the other "Tom, Dick and Harry" bench players that other teams in this BAT have at their disposal.

SO HOW ABOUT THAT EVAN FOURNIER, AYE?: Evan Fournier was a little known name for the general public leading up to the 2012 draft. Was not surprising to hear several "who?" quips arise from the masses on draft day. Getting little playing time early in George Karl's wing deep roster, Fournier eventually showed glimpses that he could turn out into a terrific young shooting guard (with shooting being the key). At 6'7", Fournier had the height to be able to get clear looks at the basket over many defenders, but it was his terrific shooting stroke from both 2 and 3 point range that got everyone's attention. Showing a terrific mix of savviness, confidence and feel, Fournier showed the ability to create shots for himself for almost anywhere on the floor (shooting nearly 50% from the field and 41% from 3 point range). Expectations are that Fournier could eventually move into the starting rotation at some point this season and displace the veteran Shaun Livingston.

RESERVES SECONDARY


PG/SG : TOMAS SATORANSKY (6'7" 210lb) - 10.5ppg, 4.8apg, 3.8rpg, 44%fg, 34%3pt, 79%ft, 21yo
SF/SG : TRACY MCGRADY (6'8" 225lb) - 34yo
SF/PF : TERRENCE JONES (6'9" 251lb) - 14.5mpg, 5.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.0bpg, 46%fg, 77%ft, 21yo
PF/SF : RASHARD LEWIS (6'10" 230lb) - 5.2ppg, 2.2rpg, 39%3pt, 33yo
C : JOHAN PETRO (7'0" 247lb) - 16.8mpg, 4.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 52%fg, 27yo

TERRENCE JONES VERSATILITY & UPSIDE: Of the remaining players on this team, Terrence Jones is the most likely one to get minutes as his great strength and athleticism, along with his inside-out game should allow the team to create some interesting matchup problems on both sides of the floor. Jones was squeezed for minutes on the Rockets roster that was chuck full of forwards that it made them seem like the PF version of David Kahn's PG heavy Wolves teams a few years back. Once Jones got on the floor however, it was clear that he was the most talented of all the young rookie forwards that Kevin McHale's team stockpiled. Rocket fans have been gushing about Jones versatility and upside for some time now...and with good reason. Jones posses one of the most impressive physical packages among any forward in the league right now. At 6'9" and 250lbs, Jones has the physical strength to handle power forwards and the great athleticism and length (thanks to a monstrous 7'3" wingspan) to go out the best athletic wings in the game. Offensively Jones is not only a highlight reel finisher at the basket but is also an skilled ball handler (one of the rare skills that made him such a highly touted player coming out of HS) and can stop and pop on midrange shots from 15-18 feet out. Here's some clips of Jones in action (what has gotten Rocket fans majorly excited):



TOMAS SATORANSKY MVP OF THE SPANISH ACB LEAGUE?: No he wasn't the MVP but he was among the top vote getters for MVP in what is widely considered to be the best professional basketball league outside the NBA. How's that for being a pretty darn good young prospect? Standing at 6'7" and possessing high IQ, terrific court vision and the ability to dunk the ball (is a regular in the European dunk contests) probably doesn't hurt either. Satoransky is a star overseas right now at 21 years of age. He MAY come over for the upcoming 2013-2014 season or he may stay one more year in Spain. There is however no doubt that he does want to play in the NBA (he's said that that's his no.1 goal) so at worst the Bulls will have to wait one more year for him. But the upside is just outrageous. With Satoransky, Lillard, Fournier and Jones, the Bulls not only has a team talented enough and veteran savvy enough right now to compete but also has a potential terrific package of TRULY talented young players to build on for the next decade OR as terrific trade chips in the upcoming seasons.

EMERGENCY VETS: In case there is a need, I also have 3 proven veteran players (2 of whom were former All-Star talents) at the end of my bench that I can go to in a crunch. Lewis has been one of the best 3 point shooting big men in NBA history and, although, nearing the end of his career, still has proven to be quite capable at hitting the 3 point shot ( shot nearly 40% from 3 for the Heat this past season). Tracy McGrady obviously isn't the same player he was, but he still is a skilled ball handler and passer and has enough left in the tank to be able to step in if needed at multiple positions. Johan Petro is a big, mobile 7 footer that adds depth to this team up front.

HEAD COACH STEVE CLIFFORD





Steve Clifford may be a relative unknown to the layman, but he is actually one of the most decorated assistant coaches in the NBA (up until being hired as the new head coach of the soon to be Charlotte Hornets). Clifford has the unique qualification of being an assistant coach for 5+ years each with both of the Van Gundy brothers (Stan and Jeff). Clifford was a member of Jeff Van Gundy's coaching staff that included Tom Thibodeau. After JVG left coaching, Steve Clifford became the top assistant coach under Stan Van Gundy in Orlando. Having been an assistant under both JVG's great defensive systems and SVG's dynamic offensive systems, we expect Steve Clifford to be able to utilize components of both great systems with the Bulls. A team built on the defensive fundamentals instilled by JVG on all his assistant coaches mixed with the offensive versatility of SVG's system.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Oh there is no need to mince words here, the expectations for the here and now is for this superbly talented and veteran heavy team to win championships. Not just one championship, but, thanks to the fact that the core of this team, it's stars, are all still just hitting their prime, many championships.

Other teams can say what they want, but at the end of the day, this team is superior...talent wise, depth wise, skill wise, veteran wise, youth wise...pick a way and this team has it. To quote King Leonidas' character from the movie 300, when the Persians demanded they surrender their weapons..."Come and get them!" Same thing here, if any team expects to win a championship, they'll need to come through this team here.

Here's what the expectation of this BAT 9.0 CHICAGO BULLS team...with Chris Andersen expected to go back-to-back...

Yup

Philadelphia 76ers

GM philosophy: There are two extremes in building teams, one could build an old, win-now team like the Celtics, which has just a one year window to win a championship. On the other hand a GM could establish a young core with lots of potential, which will not contend now, but "should" be very good in the future. The problem with the Celtic like strategy is obvious, it forced a rebuild that can be very difficult to recover from. A young team built for the long term seems good for games like 2k where potential is always realized, and injurys can be set to off, but in reality an up and coming player coming off a good season or playoff series could turn out like Tyreke Evans, failing to continue the growth most expected. The point of this is that my team was built win-now, with proven players, with around a 4 year window at a championship or two, and then as the landscape of the league changes, moves on free agency can easily be made to keep this team competitive. Most importantly though, I believe my team has the best starting lineup in the league.

George Hill- PG: A good defender at the pg position, who can hit 3's consistently, plays off the ball well, and is coming into his prime after a great playoffs. After Steph Curry he would be the ideal point guard next to Wade.

D-Wade-SG: How many SG's averaged over 20 a game this season shooting over 52%? The answer is one, just Wade. He had a rough playoffs, but anyone in the playoffs is going to play through injurys, and it is realistic they may struggle a bit. Wade is not done, and has 4 more years of elite play in him. We just need him healthy for the playoffs, which will not be hard, as this team was designed to manage his minutes and preserve him and Bogut for the playoffs.

Danny Green-SF: He killed it in the playoffs which is where most people noticed him. The thing is he killed it the whole season, shooting 43% from three, and shooting over 5 a game. With Green and Hill strrtching the floor and Wade as te first option, this is a dangerous team offensively, that fits well. Green will be playing lots of SG as well when Wade is resting. He saw lot of time covering lebron in te playoffs and did as well as anyone can, so he can definitely hold his own defensively.

Zach Randolph-PF: Z-Bo killed it this season, and while he had a rough series vs the spurs, he led all power forwards this season in rebounding. He makes this front court formidable, and has much better backcourt than the grizzlies to give him space inside.

Andrew Bogut-C: Boguts health is a question mark but the teams strategy is to preserve him for the playoffs. The impact he makes when healthy is astounding, anchoring defenses, controlling the boards, and working the postgame. He is our playoff starter, but Splitter will start during the season. Bogut will play only 15 minutes a game on average with a cap of 20 minutes until the playoffs. This should make it likely he will be available come playoffs, and since he finished the season healthy I am optimistic.

Tiago Splitter: as mentioned he will start at C during the season, which he is more than capable of doing. He has proven he can play starting minutes for the spurs to rest Duncan, the way I will rest Bogut (but I will rest Bogut even more so than Duncan)

Aaron Brooks: solid backup pg, needs the right situation, surprised he fell so far.

Mike Miller: feel very confident he can at backup SF minutes when Green slides to the 2, as he was able to make an impact for the heat on the big stage.

Wesley Johnson: talented bench player, will thrive playing about 8 minutes a game at SG.

Moultrie: As a Sixers fan, I know this guy will be a solid starting PF soon, and is a shame Doug didn't play him much, but he excelled in the time he got. I know it is tough to judge becAuse he wasn't given ample opportunity but he will show next season what a steal he was and I happy to have him to play backup Pf. Also kwane got drafted before him, c'mon!

Coach: Rick Carlisle- I'm a big Carlisle fan, in the way he makes adjustments and manages minutes. He is the perfect coach for this team and brings a title to the table.

This team has a downright scary starting lineup, and a decent bench. The big question mark is the health come playoff time. I have chosen the coach and backups strategicay to manage wade and espeilly Boguts health for the playoffs, and it will be a priority of the coaching staff to do so. I wish I could see this t constructed for real, id be a fan.

HEAD COACH- Mark Jackson



Jackson was the 18th pick of the 1987 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He won the NBA's rookie of the year award in his first season in NY, the lowest overall draft pick to win the award since 1958. Jackson played for a number of teams throughout his 17 year career and was the starting PG for the 2000 Eastern Conference Champion Indiana Pacers. He is currently ranked 13th on the NBA all-time games list (1,296), 26th on the all-time minutes played list (39,121), 77th on the all-time three-point field goals made list (734), 65th on the all-time three-point field goal attempts list (2,213), 3rd on the all-time assists list (10,323) and 23rd on the all-time steals list (1,608).

Jackson was hired to be the Warrior head coach in 2011. In just his second season as a coach he led the young Warriors to the Western Conference semifinals where he lost to the eventual champion Spurs team in a competitive six game series. Jackson has experience coaching a young team which made him an ideal choice for our young Celtics. He stays calm and confidant under pressure, a skill he learned in his playing days, and those qualities translate to his players on the floor. He is a tremendous motivator. We can think of no better coach to mentor and tutor our young PG, Kemba Walker. Jackson stresses defense and surrounds himself with an excellant support staff and assistant coaches that help him implement his system. The Celtics are extremely pleased to have Mark Jackson lead our team for years to come.

STARTING FIVE

Point Guard- Kemba Walker (23 years old/6'1)



Kemba Walker was the ninth pick in the 2011 NBA draft after he led his Connecticut Huskies to the 2011 NCAA National Title. He was the second leading scorer in the nation as a junior during his magical run to the title where he was named Most Outstanding Player. He also won the Bob Cousy Award as the nations top point guard.

Walker's game is marked by "electricity" and explosiveness. Plays with an undefinable burst, seemingly moving in warp speed while everyone else is standing still- yet he remains for the most part under control, with the ball on a string. Working in his favor is a freakish blend of raw speed, breathtaking quickness, ultra-aggression and sneaky power. Scores from anywhere on the court. Can't be contained by a single defender off the dribble, be it in the half court or most notably in transition. Splits double teams and traps in a blink. Changes direction at FULL speed. He is a master at creating space, using jab steps, cross overs and pump fakes to shed defenders. Highly creative with the rock in his hands and finishing at the rim. Able to complete plays through contact with a full head of steam. Also able to re-adjust angles and avoid shot blockers by hanging and improvising in mid-air. Constantly in attack mode, frequently living at the charity stripe. Scoop shots and floaters are not foreign to his arsenal either. He's always been extremely comfortable shooting step back J's off the dribble, but displayed a new wrinkle coming off screens as the season progressed. Solid elevation and high release. Tremendous two-footed leaper in space. Despite his gift for the putting the ball in the bucket, he's very much a facilitator, creating open shots for others by commanding a second/third defender. Prolific rebounder for his size, completely unafraid to mix it up with bigger bodies. Excellent lateral quickness with fluid hips. Beats the offensive player to the spot. Opportunistic defensively- if you're careless with the ball, he'll take it back the other way for a deuce. His motor never runs low. A true winner with a warrior's spirit.

Kemba averaged 17.7 points per game to go along with 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in just his second season in the league. He also raised his shooting percentage from both the floor and the three point line in his second season. Kemba is an 80% free throw shooter. He played nearly 35 minutes per game and started all 82 games showing his durability. Kemba is one of the best young players in the league with tremendous upside. He will only continue to get better as he continues to learn the position. He will be greatly helped by the coaching of Jackson. The Celtics are extremely happy to have Walker running the show for a long time.

Shooting Guard- DeMar DeRozan (23 years old/6'7)



DeMar DeRozan was the ninth overall draft pick of the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft after an incredibly successful freshman year at USC. He is third all time at USC in scoring as a freshman and was named Pac 10 Tournament MVP for the champion Trojans.

DeMar is a jaw dropping athletic specimen with a large wingspan. He possesses the prototypical frame for an NBA wing. Incredible leaper and explosive finisher. Vertical is 40 inches plus. His head is even with the rim on many of his dunks. Has all but mastered the art of the mid-range game, and shoots the ball exceptionally well from inside 20 feet. At his best with one dribble and then elevating, preferably to his left. Moves well without the ball, always looking for creases in the defense, he uses screens well and comes off ready to fire. Puts his unique package of leaping ability and strength to good use on the glass. Finishes strong around the basket, but shows finesse and variety with floaters and spin moves. He puts in a strong effort on the defensive end and he has above average lateral quickness.

DeRozan averaged 18.1 points per game along with 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a steal per game last season. He is also an 83% free throw shooter. Like Walker, DeMar started all 82 games last year averaging nearly 37 minutes per game. DeMar and Walker will combine to form one of the quickest, most athletic and exciting backcourts in the league. The Celtics are excited to watch DeMar continue to grow.

SMALL FORWARD- Corey Brewer (27 years old/6'9)



Corey Brewer was the seventh overall draft pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He left Florida after an incredibily successful college career where he won back to back national championships. Brewer was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He also recorded the first triple double in the universitys history that season in a game in which he also drew six charges. Brewer also won an NBA title with the Mavericks in 2011.

A premiere perimeter defender, capable of being a lock down defender. Physically has everything you need to stand out defensively: long arms, footwork, quickness, anticipation, and height plus a willingness to exert as much effort on defense as on offense. He is a tough minded player with a strong work ethic. Not a bad passer for his size who unselfishly looks for open teammates. Brewer is a decent rebounder who uses his leaping ability and long arms to make an impact on the glass. When driving to the basket, he converts difficult baskets due to his body control and leaping ability. Brewer is an excellent finisher in transition where his athleticism allows him to finish with ease. Approaches the game with a blue collar attitude and does all the dirty work with a smile on his face.

Brewer averaged 12.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game last season in just over 24 minutes per game. Brewer is a perfect fit for the Celtics. His athleticism will fit right in with Walker, DeRozan and Griffin. Brewer will provide something that we desperately needed, perimeter defense. He is long and athletic and will be able to run the break along and fit in perfectly with our up tempo game. Boston is very happy to have Brewer's unselfish game and championship pedigree playing and growing with our franchise for years to come.


POWER FORWARD- Blake Griffin (24 years old/6'10)



Blake Griffin was the first overall draft choice in the 2009 NBA draft. He had a very accomplished college career at Oklahoma winning numerous accolades including the Naismith College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy and the John Wooden Award. Griffin missed his first season in the NBA due to injury, but came back the following year and was named to the All Star team, won the dunk contest and was named 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Griffin is a freak of nature, off the charts athletic specimen type. The perfect storm of strength, athleticism and work ethic. It's rare to find elite level talent that also possesses the character and drive to outwork everyone. Griffin has immense potential due to his superior athletic ability and his willingness to put the work in to improve. A special talent and a special kid who never takes a play off. Knows only one speed and gives his all on every possession. A dominant rebounder who will be one of the top rebounders in the league for years to come. He has an incredibly strong and athletic body. Plays the game with amazing toughness, he's a wrecking ball who loves contact in the paint. Runs the floor well. Excellent speed and agility in the open floor. His explosiveness puts him in rare company. Griffin has the ability to face the basket and use the dribble to get to the rim. Very comfortable handling the ball for a post player who can dribble the ball up the floor, in order to break the press and get through traffic, he is also an excellent passer who has good vision and spots double teams quickly finding the unguarded teammate for openshots. Blake has great hands (big and soft) allowing him to palm the ball with ease and control the ball on dunks and rebounds. His post skills are showing nice development with an effective drop step as well as a jump hook. Defensively he gives a high effort level and does a solid job of staying out of foul trouble. Has good length and size at 6-9 ½ to 6-10 with a good wingspan. High character guy. Humble. Not interested in the superstar limelight or partying, he is extremely focused.

Griffin averaged career lows this past season of 18.0 points and 8.3 rebounds. He also averaged 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Blake is another high flyer who will fit in perfectly with Walker and DeRozan. He will be a force in transition and will be our post presence in the half court. We love the fact that he is still only 24 years old. He is extremely accomplished already and will team with Kemba and DeMar to form an extremely high flying, exciting, athletic trio of scorers who will grow together and should form the nucleus for many years of playoff runs in Boston.

CENTER- Spencer Hawes (25 years old/7'1)



Spencer Hawes was the tenth overall draft pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Hawes is very long and has very good hands. He runs the floor very well for his size. His ball-handling, is fantastic, especially in the open court, as he played a lot of guard before he reached his full height. Hawes is very smooth on the court, and has a great, soft touch around the basket. He possesses good shooting form, and has range out to three point distance. He is very fundamentally sound, with excellent footwork in the post. He is a decent shot-blocker and positions himself well on defense. Hawes is also a very good passer.

Hawes averaged 11 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game in only 27 minutes per game. He shot 46% from the floor, 36% from three and 78% from the foul line. Hawes is a very good offensive player whose shooting skills will help our team immensely. He will draw a big man away from the basket opening lanes for all of our high flying slashers. When the defense collapses into the paint, Hawes can be a weapon for us knocking down shots. He can also help us by blocking shots and igniting our break. The Celtics are very happy to welcome Spencer to Boston.

BENCH

PG- Darren Collison (25 years old/6'0)



Darren Collison was the 21st overall draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft after a very successful college career that saw him win All Pac 10 honors three times. In his senior year he won the Naismith Award as the nations top player 6'0 and under. He also was a part of UCLA's all time winningest class, an amazing feat for the historic school, when he graduated with 123 wins in his four years.

Collison is a smooth, heady point who is one of the quickest guards in basketball. Has extremely efficient numbers both shooting from all places on the court as well as decision making, running the team. Has a high basketball I.Q. displaying excellent passing ability. Collison has proven to be a true leader at the point guard. Uses his lightning speed to blow by defenders to get to the basket. Excellent on the ball defender, his quick hands and long arms really cause trouble for opponents. Has a great handle with the ball, and rarely makes bad decisions, and has shown that he can run a team. Has developed a solid runner that he utilizes to cut off drives before getting in too deep against long athletic post players.

Collison averaged 12.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season in both a starting and reserve role. He also shot 47% from the field, 35% from three and an impressive 88% from the foul line. Collison is the perfect backup point guard who can come in and give Kemba Walker a breather without letting our team miss a beat. He will give the team valuable minutes off the bench and allows us to keep our up tempo game going throughout the game. Collison is a starting caliber point guard who we are very excited to have come off our bench.


SG/SF- Vince Carter (36 years old/6'6)



Vince Carter was the fifth overall draft pick in the 1998 NBA draft. He came out of North Carolina where he helped lead the Tar Heels to back to back final four appearances and immediately made his mark in the NBA. Carter averaged 18/6/3 in his first season en route to being named the NBA rookie of the year. His career only went forward from there. He was an explosive athlete who became one of the top scorers in the league. He won the 2000 slam dunk championship and became known by the nicknames "Vinsanity" and "Air Canada". Carter has won an olympic gold medal among his many accomplishments. He is an eight time all star and two time all NBA player. He is 27th on the all time scoring list and 11th all time in three point field goals made.

Mark Cuban- “Vince is a warrior, all these things I’ve heard in the past about him being soft and not playing hard, f--- that. That dude comes out to deliver every f---ing night. He’s just a first-class guy who busts his ass every f---ing game. You never look at Vince and say he’s taking a play off. He’s taking charges. ... You guys talk about doing it for Dirk; doing it for Vince is just as important. He just wants to compete and win, period, end of story. All the s--- I heard from the past, I don’t know where that came from. I’m proud that he’s on the Mavericks. The guy lays it out every time. I can’t put it any other way. He’s one of those guys I want to retire here.”

Carter averaged 13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 41% shooting from beyond the arc and 82% shooting from the free throw line. He obviously isn't the same athlete he once was, but he has transitioned his game and will be a shooter, defensive player and most importantly a leader on the floor for us. We envision VC teaching DeRozan how to be more then just a great athlete. Carter will be a mentor on the floor and in the locker room. The Celtics are very excited to watch Carter run and gun with our youngsters and help them win his first championship.


SF- Shane Battier (34 years old/6'8)



Shane Battier was the sixth overall selection in the 2001 NBA draft. He came into the league as a very accomplished player. He was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Michigan in 1997 and was a member of the 2001 National Championship team at Duke. He swept the national player of the year awards as a senior.

Battier has often been called "the ultimate glue guy" for playing sound, fundamental, team-oriented basketball, making his teammates more effective without flash or padding his own stats, and for making the most of his skills with discipline and hustle rather than raw athleticism. He's also known for his extensive preparation in studying the opposing team and the player he is assigned to guard: "I try to prepare for my opponent as thoroughly as possible. I want to know every angle on the man I am guarding to give me an edge. I read many, many pages and go over strengths and weaknesses many times before a game. 'Proper preparation prevents poor performance.' That is a motto I like."

Shane averaged 6.6 points and 2.3 rebounds and shot 43% from downtown, good for third best in the league among players who attempted at least 300 threes. He is also an 84% free throw shooter. We love the intangibles, leadership, defense and shooting that Shane can bring to our team. The Celtics are very happy to welcome Shane Battier.

Patrick Patterson



Kendrick Perkins



Byron Mullens



Gerald Green

San Antonio Spurs

Vashington Vizards