2016 Scavenger Hunt Draft - ESAL/Gatz wins

[BatumtheGlue]

Meanwhile, Lamar, somewhere in Latvia...

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[LamarMatic7]

LamarMatic: Any Player Lamar made a youtube video about.

Which appears to be everyone except Otis Birdsong.

yeah, I haven't covered those Kansas City teams. Woodson, Birdsong, Ford, Wedman, Lacey, etc. - all are guys who I want to do videos on some day.

[LamarMatic7]

For my 10th man, I will take Reggie Theus from the 85 Kansas City Kings. Theus is one of only two players in league history listed at 6 ft 6 or taller to tally more than 750 assists in an NBA season, the other player is NBA legend Magic Johnson (copied right from Wikipedia, lol). In 84-85 Theus averaged 16.4 ppg, 8.0 apg, and 3.3 rpg on 48% FG. It's always nice to have another creator with size.

Some random thoughts and facts I have about Theus, a guy who fascinates me.

1) He had a feud with Jordan. There was the "there's no rookie who can replace me" comment by Theus after Chicago drafted MJ (Theus had been traded a couple of months before) and he also supposedly dated Juanita before Jordan. For that reason MJ always wanted to destroy Theus. As it is in these cases, I take these urban myths with a grain of salt. Everyone exaggerates about the number of blocks Wilt had, the points Jordan scored, the threes Bird made in someone's face after some trash talk, etc. But here's the catch.. You can back it up with stats.

Jordan averaged 37.3 points per game in his head-to-head battles with Theus. During that time period in his career (84-91) his normal averages were 32.6. But somehow he always made a point to go out strong against Theus's teams and that happened for 21 games!!!

He had games of 52, 49, 49, 48, 43, 43, 42, 41, 40 and 40. Basically half of the time he scored at least 40 against Theus.

**** MJ.... No one has ever been like him.

2) Theus has great career averages (18-3-6) since he never really fell off. Even in his last year (1990-91) in the league he averaged 18-3-5. That is definitely one of the best outputs ever by a player in his last NBA career year. With that in mind, he was 33 during that season. He never had any real injuries. He played in Europe the next two years. And somehow he never scored anything more than an NBA training invite after that season. Just weird....

3) On a similar note, he's one of the 80s guys whose impact is tough to gauge for me. Pretty good scorer, an amazing passer for his size, yet never achieved much success. Theus has never been past the first round and reached it only four times in his 13-year career. Hard to tell whether that was caused by other circumstances or if those numbers are a bit empty since we don't have all the data and footage for that era we do have now for this current one.

4) Go to 0:34 of this fantastic video to see Theus in action. There was some Magic to him.

Watch on YouTube

Just some beautiful plays. 80s basketball at its best.

[LamarMatic7]

I'm sorry that you had to wait, guys. All I can say is that some of your predictions about the state of me were true.

With the ninth pick of the Scavenger Hunt Draft, I select...

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Expansion - Robert Reid 1988-89 - 14.7PPG, 3.7RPG, 1.9APG

some facts about Reid..

1) He was the second best player (16-7-4) on the '81 Rockets that lost in the Finals. He accepted the role of the Sixth Man (12-4-3) for the '86 Rockets that lost in the Finals. That year, once Lucas went off the rails again and got caught for using, Reid was put back in the starting lineup and put together a playoff run of 15-4-7. He pretty much was the 3rd best player on that Hakeem & Sampson team.

If some things went his way (like Sampson's health), we probably remember him better as the Rockets lifer from the 80s with a ring. But, yeah, Reid was the second/third best player on title contenders.

2) There isn't definitive evidence about this (some say it's Reid, others say it's Rick Barry, Paul Pressey) but Robert Reid could have been the first player who was called a "point forward". An all-around player, he could run the offense, play good defense and basically be the Swiss army knife so many championship teams have.

3) More of an odd fact than anything else, Reid was so pissed off at the Rockets FO for trading Moses to the Sixers after their Finals run that he took a year off from basketball. A winner at heart, he couldn't understand such a move. Reid returned to Houston and pro basketball a season later.

4) He seemingly was expected to score for the expansion Hornets thus recording clear career-highs in FGAs (20.3) and PPG (20.2) per 36 at Charlotte. As was the case with Sikma, I got to draft a veteran version of Reid as he's 33 at this point. However, he still was more than capable at this point and is another calming and professional presence on my McGrady and Free bench unit.

5) If I don't nab a back-up point guard, expect Reid to run the show so Free can play the more suitable 2-guard role. On defense Reid can guard the best opposing wing putting everyone in their best place.

6) You know it... Reid's yet another capable passer on my team (had three seasons of more than 4 assists per game as a forward). I'm 9 for 9.

Team Chris Mullin's Fade

PG: Gary Payton 1999-00 - 24.2PPG, 6.5RPG, 8.9APG, 1.9SPG, 177 3s (league leader), All-Defense 1st, All-NBA 1st.
SG: Grant Hill 1994-95 - 19.9PPG, 6.4RPG, 5.0APG, 1.8SPG, 0.9BPG, All-Star, ROY.
SF: Chris Mullin 1989-90 - 25.1PPG, 5.9RPG, 4.1APG, 1.6SPG, .372 3P%, All-NBA 3rd.
PF: George McGinnis 1976-77 - 21.4PPG, 11.5RPG, 3.8APG, 2.1SPG, All-NBA 2nd.
C: Hakeem Olajuwon 1989-90 - 24.3PPG, 14.0RPG, 2.9APG, 2.1SPG, 4.6BPG, All-Defense 1st, All-NBA 2nd.

Bench:

PG: World B. Free 1979-80 - 30.2PPG, 3.5RPG, 4.2APG, All-Star.
G/F: Tracy McGrady 2003-04 - 28.0PPG, 6.0RPG, 5.5APG, 174 3s (.339 3P%), All-NBA 2nd (role depends on match-up).
G/F: Robert Reid 1988-89 - 14.7PPG, 3.7RPG, 1.9APG
C: Jack Sikma 1987-88 - 16.5PPG, 8.6RPG, 3.4APG, .922 FT.

[LamarMatic7]

Mason has always been the player I would have hate to meet in a dark alley. He always looked so intimidating

I've been reading Seven Seconds or Less these days and figured that I could share this Anthony Mason/Hornets story from it.

He [Alvin Gentry] tells the story of B.J. Armstrong coming to Charlotte and being greeted by Anthony Mason, a noted thug on the court. Gentry really rolls on this one.

“So, Anthony Mason tells B.J., ‘Yo man, we all get together and pray after the game.’

“B.J. says, ‘Well, thats cool, but it’s not my style. I got my own beliefs and stuff.’

“But, see, this isn’t good enough for Anthony. ‘Nah, man we do it after games. As a team.’ And B.J. still says, ‘Sorry, man.’

“So, Anthony’s getting more and more angry, and he says, ‘So, you ain’t going to pray with us?’ And B.J. says ‘Sorry, but…’

“So now, Mason cuts him off. ‘Well, f you, mother-effer [edited for clarity] if you ain’t going to pray with us.’”

[yosemiteben]

With my Hoosier pick, I'll take Brad Miller, 2003-04. That year he was an All Star and averaged 14.1 points, 10.3 boards, 4.3 assists, and right around a steal and a block per game. Solid on the boards, elite passing big man, and knows his role.

PG: Fat Lever
SG: Reggie Miller | Bruce Bowen
SF: Peja Stojakovic | Anthony Mason
PF: LeBron James | Blake Griffin
C: Mark Eaton | Brad Miller

Upon further reflection, I'm considering bringing Reggie off the bench and starting Bowen. The jury is still out on that.

[LamarMatic7]

With my Hoosier pick, I'll take Brad Miller, 2003-04. That year he was an All Star and averaged 14.1 points, 10.3 boards, 4.3 assists, and right around a steal and a block per game. Solid on the boards, elite passing big man, and knows his role.

PG: Fat Lever
SG: Reggie Miller | Bruce Bowen
SF: Peja Stojakovic | Anthony Mason
PF: LeBron James | Blake Griffin
C: Mark Eaton | Brad Miller

Upon further reflection, I'm considering bringing Reggie off the bench and starting Bowen. The jury is still out on that.

Watch on YouTube

[fatlever]

Team fat selects Andrew bogut for white stiff. 2014-15. 2nd team all defense.

[EwingSweatsALot]

So can we get Diop and Ian before it's bed time

[EwingSweatsALot]

Team fat selects Andrew bogut for white stiff. 2014-15. 2nd team all defense.

Nice pick. I thought about picking him last pick but already had four big men. Kicking myself even more that I didn't since I spent my first 30 minutes at work contemplating how to reorganize some guys on my team.

Gives you a great defensive presence and another good passer.

[Diop]

I want a savvy veteran backup guard and am picking Nick Van Exel 2002/03 with the invisible cat.

I was never really a fan of Van Exel until this year when he really performed off the bench for the Mavs, giving them a spark off the bench in the playoffs. I loved watching him against the San Antonio after Dirk got injured and he got the start. They had no hope really, but man did they fight and adding the craziness of don Nelsons coaching, (including hack a Bowen) it really was a memorable series.

[LamarMatic7]

I want a savvy veteran backup guard and am picking Nick Van Exel 2002/03 with the invisible cat.

I was never really a fan of Van Exel until this year when he really performed off the bench for the Mavs, giving them a spark off the bench in the playoffs. I loved watching him against the San Antonio after Dirk got injured and he got the start. They had no hope really, but man did they fight and adding the craziness of don Nelsons coaching, (including hack a Bowen) it really was a memorable series.

he had a bump from 12.5PPG in the regular season to 19.5 in the playoffs. probably one of the biggest increases in NBA history. especially among guys who played three rounds that particular year.

[-Ian-]

For the Closer category, I select Jeff Hornacek, 1999-00.

For the Big White Stiff category, I select Rudy Gobert, 2015-16.

[EwingSweatsALot]

For the Closer category, I select Jeff Hornacek, 1999-00.

For the Big White Stiff category, I select Rudy Gobert, 2015-16.

Rudy isn't white....

[Diop]

I forgot to mention the player who broke Dallas' back in game 6 was Steve Kerr and his clutch shooting. Dallas played small and triple teamed Duncan and It looked like a winning tactic until Kerr came in and smashed 3 threes in about 2 minutes.

Showed its not just a coincidence that he one 5 championships, he proved the value of a reliable shooting role player. If I wanted to bet everything on a player hitting an open 3, I think I would want it to be Kerr. Just so consistent

[LamarMatic7]

For the Closer category, I select Jeff Hornacek, 1999-00.

For the Big White Stiff category, I select Rudy Gobert, 2015-16.

Not that I want to keep you from drafting Rudy Gobert, but does he apply for the white stiff category? We don't have the possibility of basketball-reference here making a ruling as if it was something factual like height but I'd say this is a questionable selection.

He is the son of Rudy Bourgarel, a former professional basketball player from Guadeloupe who played for the French national team in the 1980s.

He's definitely biracial.

[LamarMatic7]

I forgot to mention the player who broke Dallas' back in game 6 was Steve Kerr and his clutch shooting. Dallas played small and triple teamed Duncan and It looked like a winning tactic until Kerr came in and smashed 3 threes in about 2 minutes.

Showed its not just a coincidence that he one 5 championships, he proved the value of a reliable shooting role player. If I wanted to bet everything on a player hitting an open 3, I think I would want it to be Kerr. Just so consistent

Steve Kerr who had barely played in the playoffs, was on his way out of the league and probably wasn't considered at all as a factor in the series.

[Diop]

You took my Horny!

[Diop]

Yeah I'd say he's more caramel than vanilla

[BatumtheGlue]

I almost picked Ben Wallace for my White Stiff category