Build-A-Team 1.0 Team Analysis & Rate-the-Team

[BringBackKorver]

Yeah I like the scoring on that team Koponen. Defense may not be played very much, but you sure will score a lot and Channing is a little underrated defensively anyway.

[tk76]

I'll try and eventually comment on all of the teams (wanted to do only 1-2 a day

The Nuggets are one of the most interesting teams and maybe my favorite team. Both in the depth of top offensive players and the way they were constructed with so many 2nd round picks. Great job as a GM- at least getting all of those 2nd round picks and making them fit. Also getting Nash was great for your team. But getting Nash sort of threw off the otherwise great youth on your team (but Nash can certainly keep up with them and maximize their talents- so overall a very good thing.)

On the flip side, I think you could have targeted better defensive role players with your later picks. You have a tremendous Dantoni style team that can score and win a lot of games and offensively good synergy. But with the right "tough guy" role players I think you could have been a title team that could adapt to play different styles when needed.

I realize you had to use late picks to fill out your roster- but guys like Ridnour, Buddinger and Hollins are weak defenders. And Hill, Gibson, Clark and Pendegraph are a bit young IMO to be the heart of your defense. This is fine given the overall youth of your roster- but a bit flawed given your star Nash is 36, and puts you more in "win now" mode.

You typically have to get one dimensional players that late- but it would have been better to get quality veteran defenders. For example, I got Mo Evans, Diop and Ivey after pick 350. Other tough defenders like Larry Hughes, McGloire, Charlie Bell, Ratliff, Hayes, Duhon, Dooling, Maxiel, Graham, Humphries, Hayes, Diop and Whiteside were all taken in rounds 9-FA.

Again, overall I'm really impressed with your roster. And none are perfect. I guess its more a style thing. You added Buddinger and Ridnour to play to your strengths- and maybe that was a winning choice.

[ZarcMumoff]

Mine should be out soon (either today or tomorrow). It is taking longer than expected, lol.

[Eellsy27]

Starting 5 (Projected Stats)


Russell Westbrook- 17 ppg- 8 apg- 5rpg- 43 FG%- 24 3PT%


Reggie Williams- 12.0 ppg- 4.0 rpg- 2.0 apg- 47 FG% 35 3PT%


Wilson Chandler- 15.5 ppg- 5.5 rpg- 2 apg- 47 FG%- 29 3PT%


Jason Thompson- 14 ppg- 9 rpg- 1 bpg- 48 FG%


Marc Gasol- 14.5 ppg- 9.5 rpg- 2 apg- 1.5 bpg- 55 FG%

MINUTES
PG- Russell Westbrook(36), Carlos Arroyo(12), Sharon Collins
SG- Reggie Williams(24), Wesley Matthews(12) Wilson Chandler (12), Sylvan Landesberg
SF- Wilson Chandler(22), Corey Maggette(28) Damion James
PF- Jason Thompson(35), Brenden Bass (13), Derrick Caracter
C- Marc Gasol(32), Eric Dampier(16)

Total Minutes
36- Russell Westbrook
35- Jason Thompson
34- Wilson Chandler
32- Marc Gasol
28- Corey Maggette
26- Reggie Williams
16- Eric Dampier
13- Brandon Bass
12- Carlos Arroro
10- Wesley Matthews

Offense:
-Penetration- A+..... Westbrook, Maggette, Chandler and Williams can all get to the rim.-Shooting- C..... Only real theats from downtown is Williams and Matthews.
-Post/Interior Scoring- B..... Thompson, Gasol and Maggette are all solid on the post......
-BB IQ- C+ ...... Still a very young team, Oldest Starter is Gasol at 25.... Plus Maggette is on the team.....
-Athleticism/Transition- A..... Westbrook, Williams, Chandler, Thompson and Maggette can all run the floor well........

Defense:
-Interior- B..... Thompson, Gasol, and Dampier are all solid Defenders who can rebound the Basketball.......
-Perimeter- C...... Could be a problem, Westbrook can hold his own but Williams, Maggette and Chandler are coming from teams where defense wasn't a big thing......
-T/O Creation- C...... Westbrook can get you Steals.............

Finial Grade
B

I really like the Youth on this team, 11 of the 14 guys are 25 or younger and all the starters are 25 or younger, led by are riseing superstar 21 year old Russell Westbrook...... Right now i see this team as playoff team, 6-8 seed.... I think there about 2 years away from being legitimate contenders....... The Future is Looking Bright in Miami.......

Also the Heat are looking to move Maggette and Matthews for a young shooting guard......

[BringBackKorver]

I'll repost mine tomorrow so ellsy can get some responses.

[CinciSixersFan]

New York Knicks



Since the Knicks were the team originally assigned to me and I made every pick I figured they would be my first analysis. Hopefully I can bang out the Suns and B-Cats in the next couple of days. I’m very happy with the way they turned out as the Knicks haven’t seen this kind of talent since the mid-90’s and we’ve made Spike Lee very happy. Chris Bosh leads a terrific mix of mid-career veterans and young players in a team that we believe is a contender in this league/draft. The Knicks drafted in the middle of each round and were able to get very good value in each of our picks. This team is predicated on strong post play, interior and perimeter defense and shooting. There is great versatility, size and length in our 10-man rotation.

Roster:
C- Chris Kaman, Aaron Gray
PF- Chris Bosh, Tyler Hansbrough, Shelden Williams
SF-Jeff Green, Matt Barnes, Martell Webster
SG- Ray Allen, Larry Hughes, Antoine Wright
PG- Mike Conley, Rodrigue Beaubois, Jose Juan Barea

Rotation, Depth Chart and Minutes:
C-Kaman (32) Bosh (12) Hansbrough (4) Gray/Williams
PF-Bosh (25) Green (15) Hansbrough (8) Williams
SF-Green (20) Barnes (20) Webster (8)
SG-Allen (35) Webster (8) Beaubois (5) Hughes/Wright
PG-Conley, Jr. (30) Beaubois (10) Barea (8)

Grades
Offense: A

Penetration: B, For the starters Mike Conley will look to drive and dish off of penetration but his game is still developing while Jeff Green has the athletic ability to challenge anyone defending him. The Knicks are counting on the explosiveness of Roddy Beaubois off the bench to score and create opportunities for others.

Shooting: B+
Midrange-The only suspect shooter on this entire roster is Matt Barnes and his mid-range has come along quite a bit in the past few years, plus he won’t be shooting all that much
Longrange- Ray Allen’s resume speaks for itself, but Mike Conley and Martell Webster also provide great a nice long ball. Not to mention with the amount of double-teams coming down on Kaman and Bosh, we expect a lot of open looks and an increased 3 pt % for all players on the wing.

Interior Scoring: A+, Kaman and Hansbrough bring the brawn, Bosh and Green the finesse, scoring points inside will not be a problem. These guys also pass the well very well out of the post.

Off-Ball: B+, Mike Conley’s main responsibility will be to get the ball in play by pushing it into the post and to operate the pick and roll. The rest of the starters and key reserves are all at the very least above average passers and Jeff Green.

Athleticism/Transition: B, This is a team build to win in the half-court with their starting 5 and will look to beat you with their ability to pound the ball down low and knock down shots, however Beaubois will be expected to pick things up a bit when he comes in and push the ball, especially when Kaman is out of the lineup making plays with Bosh and Green playing up front and kicking the ball out to our shooters.

Defense: A

Interior: A, Bosh, Kaman, and Jeff Green have the ability to push defenders around inside and block shots. Hansbrough provides a physical force off of the bench and Shelden Williams and Aaron Gray can be used for additional fouls and size.

Perimeter: B+, While Ray Allen has been known for his offense for years he is a tough defender along with Mike Conley and Jeff Green. Matt Barnes will be used to come off the bench and help provide lock-down defense on our opposing team’s best wing player. Beaubois has an incredible nose for the ball and length and should also help as he further develops.
Rebounding: A, Once again size wins out here with Bosh Kaman and Green. Additionally, Barnes and Hansbrough will help in this area off the bench.

Strength of Team:
The Knicks will be playing a slow-down half-court offense with their starting 5 that will allow Kaman and Bosh to dominate the high and low post while allowing Jeff Green and Ray Allen to play off the ball while setting screens for one another and allowing Conley to set it all up for open shots. When they go to the bench the offense has the opportunity to run a bit when Roddy Beaubois comes in providing quickness and Bosh shifts over to Center along with Matt Barnes and Martell Webster who will provide both offense, shooting, and strong defense from the wings. Tyler Hansbrough will also deliver toughness and defense along with Barea in spells. This team will have no problem matching up with any team with their size and versatility.

Weakness of Team:
If this team plays a very athletic, run and gun team, they have the potential to struggle to establish their game. Also, when facing another team with great size, our ability to move the ball around and get open shots.

Future of the Team:
The centerpiece of this team is Chris Bosh who is only 26, and the only starters or rotation players that are over 30 are Ray Allen and Matt Barnes and therefore we expect this team to contend for quite some time. Jeff Green will continue to progress into a potential all-star and we love the upside of Beaubois and believe eventually he will be in the starting lineup and will be a Rondo-type player on both sides of the court. This could create a problem at the PG, but we also believe that Conley and Beaubois can play together in the starting 5 and after Ray Allen retires and then at that point, Kaman could be traded for an athletic wing to round out a starting 5 of Bosh,Green,Beaubois, and Conley for a bit more of an up-tempo style. That’s only one option, this roster gives us plenty of directions that we could go.

Overall Grade-A-
Let me know your thoughts

[Court_visioN]

I'll repost mine tomorrow so ellsy can get some responses.

smart man. i shoulda done that lol

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Golden State Warriors at a glance…
I didn’t really have any type of motto for the Clipper team I built. I was just drafting what I thought were the best players available at the time. This Golden State team had a different goal about it and I kept it pretty much all the way through until I got to the fringe picks that wouldn’t really be seeing any time anyway. I wanted big strong physical players at every position and that is what I got. This team has a bunch of brutes on it that can play hard and fast if needed. Most of the guys can either shoot the ball or score and they are led by Derrick Rose (who I think is the third best point guard in the game and will be the best in five years). I have a franchise player in Rose and with him alone I’m never out of a game.
Golden State Warriors
Derrick Rose/Derek Fisher
Brandon Rush/Dahntay Jones/Garrett Temple
Hedo Turkoglu/Paul George/Lazar Hayward
Al Jefferson/Dante Cunningham
Ronny Turiaf/BJ Mullens/Hilton Armstrong/Jason Collins


I’ll start with my point guards….
Derrick Rose and Derek Fisher are the perfect one two punch at point guard in my opinion. Both are physical defenders and both can lead a team. Fisher is a proven winner and a gamer anytime I need him to be but this is Roses team. Expect Derrick Rose to have a three point shot next season people. He’s worked on it all summer and he’s probably the best defender in the game at his position.
On my team Derrick Rose would play 40 minutes a game at the least with Fisher getting the remaining time. Fisher will see spot minutes at the shooting guard spot as well.

From the shooting guard position I have two guys from Indiana in Brandon Rush and Dahntay Jones. Garrett Temple can play as well but won’t be needed unless injury happens.
Brandon Rush is becoming a dead eye shooter from outside and is primed for a big year in his third campaign. Rush is a very good defender at either the guard or forward position and there isn’t a guard in the game that’s going to post up on him because he is so strong.
Dahntay Jones had a breakout year in Denver two years ago and followed it up nicely with an even better year in Indiana last year averaging double figures. Jones was noticed initially for his defense and athleticism but he has now shown to be a good scorer based on his activity alone. Jones gets a lot of his point moving to the hoop (slashing) and he and Rush will get plenty of good looks with Rose running the show. Again Rush and Jones are both two premier defenders and are both big and strong as hell. I’m not expecting either one of them to check Kobe for an entire game but they will at times give him fits as Jones proved during his time in Denver.

At the small forward position I have Hedo Turkoglu, rookie Paul George, and rookie Lazar Hayward. Hayward could actually see time at the guard spot if needed as he was another player like Jones that was drafted solely on his ability to defend. However Turkoglu is the key to everything. If Hedo is on for a season and can come back strong and play like the smart player he can be then I’m set in those regards. Hedo’s size 6’10 makes up for him being a liability on defense. He’s a mismatch on offense against the majority of the players that face him and he can be clutch when the game is on the line. I think Toronto was a bad fit for him and that is why he struggled last year.
Rookie Paul George Is his backup and I have heard nothing but praise out of this kid. He’s another one that Indiana drafted. I’ve watched videos on him and he can really shoot the ball and has some great size for the small forward position. I saw Reggie Lewis and a little Paul Pierce in his game and many think his upside is as great as any rookie in the 2010 class. Defensively he’s not bad either and he’ll serve well as Hedo’s backup or as a starter if Hedo doesn’t work out. Lazar Hayward Is lurking in the backround of the picture as well so I’m not counting him out.

From my 4/5 position I have mainly Al Jefferson and Ronny Turiaf. Both are again extremely physical players that wont back down from any man in the NBA and both are about 6’10 so length isn’t really a problem. If it is I have young upstart BJ Mullens who I think will be good, Hilton Armstrong, and Jason Collins to throw down if they need to. At backup power forward I have Dante Cunningham who played well in Portland as a rookie. He’s aggressive and is a good defender for his size at the power forward spot.
Ronny Turiaf will play either center or power forward depending on matchup situations as I believe he and Jefferson are interchangeable at any time. Turiaf is another fearless big who wont back down from the physical play of Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh should they happen to face off.
Al Jefferson is the star of the group and ultimately as he and Rose go so goes this team. If Jefferson stays healthy he’s a 20/10 candidate and an all star big.

Minutes go as followed

Rose 40+/Fisher 8
Rush 25/Jones 18/Fisher 5
Turkoglu 25/George 18/Rush 5
Jefferson 35/Cunningham 10/Turkoglu 7
Turiaf 31/Mullens 13

I’m giving Mullens a shot at playing time because I really think he’s going to be a good center in years to come. He looked pretty good during summer league and has a shot in OKC this year to start. If Mullens can’t hold it down then I’ll look to Armstrong or Collins. Also Al Jeff better stay in shape and remain healthy because he’s logging big minutes.

This team is built to win now for the next five years with the pieces in place. Over time Fisher and Turkoglu will be replaced but I think they have some good years left in them.

[ZarcMumoff]

Blazers....
Your perimeter, is obviously great. Jrue-Turner-Iggy should be fantastic. But your low post is definitely weak. Who knows if Milsap can be a legit all-star PF? Gortat can give you good defensive minutes, but still won't score a lot. While Favors is still so raw, and will need to have a few years to develop. You have a very young team, and a bright future. Just don't see it as a playoff team this season.

[ZarcMumoff]

First off, this process is incredibly tough. Reading countless scouting reports of players, making sure you are making the right choice for your team. Even making trades. Sometimes you play it safe, sometime you make a ballsy move. I traded back my Top 10 Pick, for additional depth. I could have gotten Carmelo Anthony, but I'm still ahppy with all my moves. I tried to go for a defensive minded, strong starting line up team, similar to the Pistons of 2004. I think what makes this so special is seeing the different types of teams that were developed. I tried the hardest route in my opinion, trying to get well rounded players to play as a team. But enough for now, let's go a little more in depth...

Depth Chart
Darren Collison (31)/Rafer Alston (17)
Richard Hamilton (31)/Arron Afflalo (17)
Paul Pierce (33)/Mickeal Pietrus (15)
Josh Smith (29)/Udonis Haslem (15)/Ryan Anderson (4)
Brook Lopez (33)/Jeff Foster (10)/Udonis Haslem (5)


Darren Collison PG 6'1 175 - It came down to two PGs...Andre MIller and Jose Calderon. We written up our reason we selected Andre MIller, just about to hit the "Submit" button. But then, I stopped. I decided to go with youth, a quicker PG. I decided to go with Darren Collison. He proved some much last season, proving he can be a starting PG in this league. With Collison we are looking for him to run the Pick and Roll with Brook Lopez. We think it could be a devastating combo, as Collison can get to basket with his sheer quickness or dump it off for Brook. He is going to play good perimeter defense because of his quickness and defensive fundamentals. The Pacers are truly excited to have a combination of Collison and Lopez at probably the two most important positions in basketball.


Richard Hamitlon SG 6'5 195 - The Pacers were targeting two players at SG, John Salmons and Richard Hamilton. It would have been a tough decision, but Salmons was taken just before our pick so the Hamilton pick was a no brainer. He brings veteran leadership, a guy who has won, and a scorer. Running off screens along the baseline is what we will be seeing him doing on offense. Trying to use his great mid range game to the best level we can. Hamilton was the exact type of player we where looking for at SG...off the ball veteran. He fell into our laps, the Pacers scooped him up right away, and he looks to have a major impact in the Indiana Pacers organization.


Paul Pierce SF 6'6 225 - This was a must get. We wanted that perimeter scorer. That true option on the outside, that we could give the ball in the final moments of the game, as time is dwindling off the clock. Once again, our man fell there. We wanted Paul PIerce, a veteran presence, that could score in a variety of ways. He can shoot, drive, etc, he can do it all. He is also a winner, having been to numerous conference finals, and two NBA Finals. Another player, that is a small piece, to the major puzzle


Josh Smith PF 6'9 245 - As we saw teams focusing on getting a strong Center and Power Forward, the Pacers decided we needed one too. Without any great traition Power Forwards left, the Pacers targeted the super athletic Josh Smith. Possibly better suited for SF, but we think as he gets stronger, he'll get better. Not to mention he'll be next to Brook Lopez. He'll be our energy guy. Playing good defense, blocking shots alongside Brook, and running the break with Darren Collison for highlights on SportCenter. He also is young, and is going to be apart of this teams future. We think he can take the next step, but at the same time, will take a much smaller role than always trying to score. Block shots, great D, running the break, and beating the bigger man off the dribble.


Brook Lopez C 7'0 265 - The Indiana Pacers were targeting a lot of players at #23, most notably Carlos Boozer. When it came down to it though, we felt Brook Lopez gave us the best chance to win now while also giving us a future. Only 22 years old, and Brook looks primed for multiple 20/10 seasons. He has a good mid-range game, and a nice post game. He improved greatly from season one to season two in getting to the line, improving by nearly 4 more attempts. On defense, he is very good. Active, strong, uses his length. Love to see that out of him. Brook is a high character player who is liked by his teammates and has a great work ethic. We expect Brook to help carry this team to multiple championships. The Indiana Pacers view him as a complete package, and are excited to have him.

The Men of the Bench


Injure Reserve


Could you give some comments on your starting line up?
-On offense what we wanted to do with our starting line was get a mixture of youth and veterans. We wanted 5 guys who can score 20 on any given night. I think we accomplished that. What we are looking for is a Pick-and-Roll offense. That is why it was imperative to get Darren Collison. He is one of the fastest, quickest guys in the league, and understands the Pick and Roll. Obviously, Brook Lopez will be the focal point of the Pick and Roll. Besides for the Pick and Roll, he can shoot the Pick and Pop, get to the Free Throw line, and he can even score with his back to the basket. Then you have Paul Pierce, who is our captain. The guy can score in a variety of ways. We'll look for him in Isolation situations. He can shoot the three, hit a the mid-range J, drive, get to the foul line. He may not be a true #1 Scorer, but on a team with 4 other players who can score 20; he will be a perfect #1 scorer here. Then we have Rip Hamilton. He'll be running off the ball, screens along the baseline opening him up for his great mid-range game. Finally, you have Josh Smith. Smith will be looked at on the break, alongside Darren Collison. In the half-court set, he'll be able to use his speed, quickness, and athleticism to get past bigger PFs.

On defense, we should be one of the top teams in the league. Collison has great defensive fundamentals, and is quick enough to stay in front of just about everybody. Hamilton is another solid defender, as is Paul Pierce. Smith is a freak of an athlete, and although he may not be the best defensive player, we think he makes the transition this year, using that superb athleticism to help him. Then you have Brook Lopez. Very few can out power him, and very few are quicker than him. The pairing of Smith and Lopez puts together two of the best, young shot blockers in the league.

What about the bench?
-Even though we traded back in the 1st Round to get more depth, we used those extra picks to move up for Pierce and Smith. So getting a JR Smith, Ben Gordon, etc, off the bench wasn't going to happen. Our first order of business was getting a true PF, and adding depth to the Front court. Udonis Haslem was exactly what we were looking for. A tough 6'9 245 PF who can come off the bench, and play great defense. Not to mention having one of the best mid-range games in the league. At the 2 and 3 positions, we wanted 3 Point shooting and defense. We got exactly that. We were targeting Raja Bell, but he was taken. So we went with a younger Raja Bell...Arron Afflalo. Great shooter and very good defender. Then, we were ecstatic to see Mickael Pietrus fall to us, once again adding a very good 3 Point shooter, and a very good defender. At the center spot, we just wanted someone to come in, and play good defense. Once again, our man fell to us. Jeff Foster. He may not be the great defender he once was, but is still a good defender who can come in, and give us 10 minutes of solid basketball. We needed a back up PG, and couldn't believe we got him that late. Rafer Alston was what we were looking for. Veteran, good defense, and good 3 Point shooting. Anderson is a versatile SF/PF who can play some spark minutes off the bench, while nailing 3s. As does Mo Peterson.

What is the strength of the Indiana Pacers?
-Balanced offense. PIerce, Hamilton, Lopez, Smith have all averaged at least 17 points a game. While Collison averaged 18 points and 8 assists over the last 3 months of the season. We have Hamilton, Pierce, Haslem, and Lopez who have great mid-range games. Although our 3 Point Shooting won't be tops in the league we have Pierce, Pietrus, Afflalo, Alston and Anderson (Not to mention Peterson and House) who can knock down a three. We will be Top 5 in the league in FTA. Collison, Pierce, and even Smith will be able to drive. Pretty much, our offense will be incredibly hard to stop. We may not put up 110, but we'll put up 100 while holding you to 90.

How about the future?
-Very Bright! Lopez, Collison, Smith are all under 25 years of age. That is a great foundation to start off with. Not only will we win now, we will be winning in the future. We thought that was important going into this. That is why we got Lopez instead of Boozer. That is why we got Collison instead of Miller. We are not only excited for now...but for the next 5-7 years.

Final Thoughts
The Pacers wanted to build the best team we could build. I think we did that, but that remains to be seen. We wanted a mixture of Vets and Younger guys so that we could win now, but at the same time be set for the future. We didn't want any projects as our future, we wanted guys that have proved it thus far. In other words, a complete team. We wanted everyone to see we can win now, but yet still have a great future. Our goal is the playoffs. A Top seed in the East, and we want to make it to the finals. Lofty goals? Sure, but goals we think this team should meet. In other words, the Pacers feel we are a 50 win team. A top seed in the East, and have a legit shot at winning the NBA Finals. We will play good defense, 5 guys who can score 20 plus, our bench is strong with great role players, our team will be tops in the league in getting to the FT Line, we will be above-average with our Three Point shooing. We honestly think we have no weak spots. I feel the Pacers are the strongest team in the league, and are ready to win an NBA Title.

We'll see you at the Conseco Fieldhouse!

[ZarcMumoff]

Give your opinions on my team!

[76ciology]

Give your opinions on my team!

Ok then..

Like most of the teams that fall in the mid to late pick of the 1st round, I can see how you're trying to pattern your team with the 2003-2004 Pistons squad where you got solid defenders/scorers all througout your PG to C position and building a competitive squad without having a superstar to revolve your team around.

Your Backcourt:
Darren Collison pick was the "make or break" part of your team. I mean, if you missed the chance in picking him, I don't think that you'd have as much competitive team as you have right now. I thought that he was such an underrated player in the league.

Richard Hamilton is a 18ppg player. But he's already 32 and his efficiency at the SG position has become a thing in the past.

Your frontcourt:
I still believe that Paul Pierce has still got some gas in his tank. He's still one of the game's best scorers because of his size, instinct, skillset and shooting ability.

IMO, you have one of the best frontcourts in the league with Josh Smith and Brook Lopez not because of their ranking at the PF/C positions but more of how they are able to compliment one another. I think that Brook compliments Josh Smith in offense and Smith compliements Lopez on defense.

Offensively, I like the offensive power of your perimeter scorers. Like you said, you have guys who can score 17ppg.

Defensively, you had Josh Smith anchoring your defense which is always a good thing. And then you definitely have solid defenders at every positions.

To sum it up, I like your team and I thought that you have one of the better teams out there. And I think you had a good job building this team for I know how hard is it to build one in this kind of mold (New Orleans Hornets).

It's just that as good as your team is, I just think that your team is not "yet" there when it comes to winning the championship. Mainly because I don't think that you have a dominant offense nor defense. Unless, Darren Collison becomes the real CP3 or can match Chauncey Billups back then and Rip Hamilton can rejuvenate himself from the same form he was 5 years ago. You also lack a post player that could able to dominate the game, something very evident in most championship teams. On the defensive end of the floor, I always think that the center position is the barometer of a team's defense. Brook's Lopez is not that good of a defender at the C position (poor rebounder and poor def ratings), althought ultimately, I think Josh Smith can compliment him in that aspect. Sort of how he compliments Al Horford's lack of size with the Hawks, in the real world.

Then on your team's future, I think that Brook, Josh Smith and Collison has already reached their ceiling. Then you have Pierce and Rip already on their 30s.

Right now, the team can definitely make it to the ECF or even the Finals (lofty goals). Then on the future, I think it's a play-off team.

Overall grade: 8.5/10

[ZarcMumoff]

I can take that rating...I see your points. I'm not looking for Hamilton to score 18-20 points like he has in the past...more like 13-16. Play solid defense, and shoot his mid-range game. Really the 4th option on my offense. Lopez may not be dominating yet, especially down on the block, but I do think he is going to improve on that more this year. 3rd year in the league so still has time to refine the finer points of his game. All in all, I understand your points, and I can say I agree with the 8.5...for the most part anyway.

Now the Clippers...
Aaron Brooks/Jason Terry/Roger Mason jr/Andy Rautins
Tracy Mcgrady/Rudy Fernandez
Rasual Butler/Demarre Carroll/Darington Hobson
Andrea Bargnani/Greg Monroe
Tim Duncan/Jermaine Oneal/Kyle Fesenko

Your guard position has excellent depth, and you really have two spark plugs coming off the bench in Terry and Fernandez. Terry/Brooks back court would be very fun to watch on offense, but would get raped on D. The front court of Duncan/Bargnani is very good as well...they really do complement each other well. O'Neal was a good pick up...coming off the bench for 20-25 minutes is what role he should be playing now. It still comes back to that player that has "it"...Brooks can score, but can he be that leading scorer for a NBA Finals Contender? I think if you could even get a guy like Corey Maggette, your team is sooo much better. Still, this should be a playoff team. Nice job. 7.5/10.

[76ciology]

TK76,

Building around a superstar PG is a tough task to do. But I guess, you don't really have a choice since you were lucky enough to steal CP3 at that stage of the 1st round. Yes, CP3 was a steal.

You did a very good job at the draft.

BACKCOURT.
I thought that SJax was another nice acquisition. His addition to your team definitely make your team one of the top backcourts in the league. For you have a superstar PG then a 20ppg SG who is also a very good defender.

FRONTCOURT.
It's in your frontcourt that I think I have some issues. First off, you got two tweeners at the SF/PF position. Well, I understand that move since your opting more on a run and gun type of offense, with CP3 leading the pack, but I think that your going to have problems int he defensive end with that frontcourt.

DEFENSE.
Defensively, my suggestion is to have a SF/PF/C line-ups of Odom-Emeka-Biedrins. I think that would give a lot of size on the defensive end of the floor.

OFFENSE.
Offensively, you can start the pick and pop with Odom-CP3, then have SJax for kick out and Emeka/Biedrins for drop pass options. Yup, it's a tough task but I think CP3 can make it happen. IMO, your offense is a mix of the Suns with Nash/Diaw (injured amare) season that made it to the WCF that season (if my memory serves me right). If ever you can pull a trade that can land you a pick and roll PF or a SF who can anchor your interior defense, then I think you can go distance with this team.

Overall, I still think you did a good job and have one of the better teams in the league. You constantly picked the BPA over team needs, that also lead to flaws of your team's redundancy at the C position (two defenders no scorers) and having multiple tweeners (Odom and Young). I'd also suggest you trade for a guy like Bargnani for Emeka/Biedrins . Bargnani and SJax can space out the floor, if ever you opt for a pick and roll with Odom-CP3.

I can see your team making the ECF and maybe the finals, specially considering that the talent you have to surround a superstar PG like CP3. I also can see your team improve more on trades, because you got a lot of talent/value on your team that I think are expendable.

On your team's future, you got a 25 year old superstar PG and a 24 year old C that is very serviceable in Biedrins. Surround him with a couple lotto pick and your easily back in the map.

The talent level is there. It's more on your team's direction, which is the issue.

RATING.
8.5/10 (but I can REALLY see your team improving with trades)

[BringBackKorver]

Magic....going to bed, I expect to wake up to a bunch of trash talk and terrible ratings. Don't disappoint.

Rotation:

Lawson (34) / Evans (14) / Mills
Tyreke (24) / Heyward (14) / Batum (10) / Elliot Williams
Gallinari (29) / Batum (19) / Pondexter
Griffin (32) / Jerebko (16) / Richards
Hibbert (30) / Thabeet (18) / Pittman

Totals:

Lawson 34, Evans 38, Gallo 29, Griffin 32, Hibbert 30, Batum 29, Heyward 14, Jerebko 16, Thabeet 18

Salary Cap Numbers:

Currrent = 30.18 million, 33.96 (2011)
League Minimum = 43.533 million
NBA Salary Cap = 57.7 million

Our main strength is youth. This team is built for the future. We should pose matchup threats on offense with our size and athleticism, while using the same qualities to harass the defense. Batum as a 6th man is fantastic, as he provides a defensive stopper at 2 positions as well as the ability to hit the three and run with the team. The team is built around Tyreke, spreading the floor allowing him to get to the paint at will. Griffin and Hibbert should combine to provide a quality inside presence that can score when we need to slow it down.

Our 2nd unit is full of hardworking defensive players who will scrap with the best of them and keep the other team from going on extended runs while our starters are out of the game.

The Magic will expect to have a tough first year, but we have the salary flexibility to wait for some players to develop while they mesh as a team. The average age of the team is under 22 years old, and we are even 13 million under the NBA minimum team salary (which means we're willing to absorb expiring contracts to help you get under the tax at a cost). We also expect the NBA salary cap to rise to 60 million next year, which should leave us with the flexibility to add nearly 2 maximum players to the 2011 roster.

We fully expect Blake Griffin to compete for (if not win) Rookie of the Year, while we anticipate Tyreke to continue his stellar play from a year ago. Lawson has shown in limited time that he has the ability to run a team full time, and with Tyreke's ability to run an offense they should not have a problem. Roy Hibbert has shown he can be a defensive anchor on our team while Griffin provides most of the offensive fireworks down low. We believe Hasheem Thabeet will continue to develop into a full time starting center, and while did not show much statistically last year, he's actually ahead of where we thought he'd be when he was taken two years ago in the draft. We may even see him start to push Hibbert to compete for the starting position.

We know the challenges of building a team around 2nd year players, but all these young men are eager to prove their names in the NBA. Financially we're ready to compete next year, and will be pursuing the best available players to come join our impending dynasty.

What does our future look like?

Our guys will go out and try to compete for a playoff spot this year to surprise all the pundits, but the biggest positive of this season will undoubtedly be the experience our players gain. We hope for our rotational contributors to continue to improve, while we have some promising young men on the end of the rotation that will have their opportunities to show us what they can do.

Make no mistake about it, this team is built on a 2-3 year plan. Our young guys are great pieces to build around as well as fantastic complimentary pieces for any premier players who may want to come play with our own premier young player, Tyreke Evans. The 2011 Orlando Magic will be legitimate title contenders under one of the best coaches in the NBA, Stan Van Gundy.

Short version:

Offense: Let Tyreke and Lawson do their thing and distribute to the great shooters around them in Gallo, Batum, and Hayward. Griffin and Hibbert can score in the post, though we don't expect to play a slow paced game.

Defense: All young hardworking defenders, most of which have shown the ability to create problems with their length / athleticism. Force turnovers, get in the open court, and use our deep, youthful bench to keep the style of play up. Potentially 3 all-nba quality defenders in the next few years (Batum, Jerebko, and Thabeet).

Strengths: Youth, athleticism, excitement, dedication
Weaknesses: Youth, inexperience, maybe a lack of a true passer (though I think Tyreke + Lawson can hold their own together).

Future: The Orlando Magic are the future.

[NBD23]

NBD23, Do you have Bynum/Oden/Pryz?

If so, and interest in a blockbuster deal where I send Odom + Biedrins for Bynum or Oden + second player?

I like my injury riddled guys. Let's hope they can stay healthy. I do like Biedrins but I was never a big Odom fan.

[NBD23]

Here is my Lakers squad at a glance.

-Depth Chart
Starters:
PG - Jose Calderon
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Shane Battier
PF - Rashard Lewis
C - Greg Oden

Bench:
D.J. Augusitin
Thabo Sefolosha
DeMar Derozan
Darrell Arthur
Joel Pryzbilla
Joey Dorsey
Matt Carroll
Jason Smith

-How many minutes each player will play

Jose Calderon 32 min / D.J. Augustin 16 min
Kobe Bryant 40 min / Thabo Sefolosha 7 min / Matt Carroll 1 min
Shane Battier 30 min / DeMar DeRozan 12 min / Thab Sefolosha 6 min
Rashard Lewis 35 min / Darrell Arthur 13min
Greg Oden 35 min / Joel Pryzbilla 13 min

-Strength of team
The biggest strength on this team is their shooting. Every spot except for the center can shoot the rock. Another asset the Lakers have is their defense accross the board. This is a very experienced starting 5 outside of Oden. Kobe, Shane and Oden can all play D among the starters while everyone outside of DeRozan can play defense on the second unit. The second unit also gives a different look as it is much more athletic then the first unit.

-Weakness of team
The biggest weakness is the durability of its centers. Also, outside of Sefolosha and Carroll there is no shooting off the bench.

-What type of offense (Run 'N' Gun, PNR, Drive and Kick, etc)
This team, especially the starters were built to be a triangle offense. Jose can shoot the ball and really does seem to be a prototypical triangle point guard. Shane and Rashard can shoot the 3 or any other spot up shot. Then you have Oden inside to provide some muscle. He has a decent back to the basket game and will always be there for garbage buckets.

-Future of team (Where will they beat 5 years from now?)
This team was built to win now. No starter outside of Oden is younger then 30. With that being said this team should be able to compete for the next 3-4 years while Kobe is still himself.

Thoughts and ratings?

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

PK I’ll respond to your team first….. I’m hoping to get everyone as well because opinions are good to read negative or positive in my opinion.
PACERS team
Your guards…
Collison is one of my favorite point guards in the game and I like Alston as a backup as well. Neither player is going to blow you away with anything great that they do but Collison especially is going to be a nice surprise next year. He put up great numbers as a rookie in Paul’s absence and giving a full time chance in Indy I think we can expect realistically 18/9 from this guy. Reminds me quite a bit of Mookie Blaylock.
Hamilton and Afflalo are a good enough combo that you will once again be good enough to hold your own in the game. I am not a Hamilton fan at all though but I do like Afflalo especially the defense he plays.
Paul Pierce’s best days are behind him but once again I’d still take him on my team any day. Pietrus has a high motor defensively and can wreak havoc at times when he plays.
We know what Josh Smith can do but in my opinion Josh Smith is a small forward and always has been. I know Josh Smith gets a lot of blocks during the game but what happens to this guy when he loses his athletic abilities? I’m glad the Sixers didn’t sign despite how crappy Brand has played. I’ve also never seen Josh Smith dominate another quality big man in a game. Not saying he’s not a great player but I’ve just never seen him own an Amare Stoudemire (who plays the same position as Smith). Udonis Haslem on the other hand is a nice backup to have if Smith gets into that kind of trouble but that slows things way down.
You center is pretty good as well. I think Lopez is on the verge of being an all star and maybe the only legitimate threat to Dwight Howard in the east for the next few years. Defensively I don’t think he’s that good but his offense more than makes up for it. People have criticized my teams at certain positions because they would get hurt on the defensive end but if they are lighting it up on the offensive end then it shouldn’t matter as long as other spots on the team are defending well. The same can be said for your Lopez/Smith combo in the frontcourt. Lopez isn’t exactly as great of a rebounder as he should be for his position (around 8 a game last year). Again that’s not bad but as dominant as he is offensively you would like him to have the complete package. Jeff Foster is a capable backup and a good rebounder as well.
Overall I think the team is pretty good playing as one unit. I don’t see a guy that can just take over a game and I don’t see a dominant scorer. What I do see is starters at each position that can play extremely well and play with others. You don’t have any primadonna’s or heroes on that team and I like that.
Now the same can be said for my Nets team and I can argue it all day but your bench doesn’t have a 6th man. That is unless you start Afflalo (which I think you should). However Hamilton has made it clear that he wants to start and not come off the bench. Who would the sixth man be? Who’s your sparkplug that is going to jack up the second unit and keep things flowing? Maybe Alston ? Afflalo? My guess is it would have to be Aaron Afflalo but he’s a defensive stopper. He reminds me a bit of Raja Bell and I think he can be about as good but can he improve his scoring? I think so but I still don’t see him as that energy off the bench a championship caliber team needs. I have Rudy Fernandez and Jason Terry on my Clippers team, I have Derek Fisher, and Dahntay Jones on my Warriors team along with Paul George (who I have high hopes for), and I have Shannon Brown on my Nets team along with potentially Jamal Tinsley or Charlie Bell although many would argue that. I see Shannon Brown as a player that can average double figures off the bench in the near future. He almost did it last year on a stacked Laker team. Maybe Afflalo can be that guy or maybe Alston, Afflalo, and Pietrus as a trio can do it. At any rate this is a long review on your team and you are a playoff team in the east based on what I’ve seen rated thus far. I don’t think the New York team or the Orlando team have a shot at beating you and those are the only other teams I’ve read about in the east besides TK’s Bulls who I think are pretty good. So far it’s between you and TK in the east but I’ll follow that up when all the other teams come out. I’m also still going to try and sell my New Jersey Nets to you critics. I had a tough time putting them together.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

For Bring Back Korver…
It’s a nice young team dude but not a playoff team and I’m sorry to say that. I like Ty Lawson as a backup in the NBA like he is with Denver but as a starter I don’t see him being much better and I think despite him having a high motor it wont help him unless he’s got a dominant big man that he’s playing with.
Tyreke Evans is a great young player but how do him and Lawson play together? Evans has the ball in his hands at all times and Lawson isn’t really an off the ball player either. In your situation I’d probably start Batum in the backcourt with Evans and let Lawson come off the bench. I love the Batum pick by the way. One of my favorite young players in the game.
Gallinari and Griffin again are extremely young and who knows down the line with them but right now they are too young to lead the team to the finals. I think both are going to be stars in the game and with Evans as well you might have a big time playoff team five years from now.
Hibbert is a nice center but dude seriously can’t rebound and should be able to for his insane size.
Obviously you know that the first year or two would be tough for you team but there are so many good young pieces that it would be hard to not imagine them making a playoff run in the near future. Also the way you did the cap would suggest that you would be able to sign a Dwight Howard in a couple of years and then become a finals team.
I built my teams to win now because that’s how I am. Didn’t pay too much attention to dollars or anything like that with this and it looks like you were more on the GM side of things from a business standpoint. To myself it was more fantasy thread than anything. I like that team in two years as a playoff team. I like that team in five years as a finals team if they could land a top notch free agent.

[BringBackKorver]

Well I didn't say my team would be in the playoffs this year, but I said they'd try to compete for a spot, which is a given for every team. As for Lawson and Tyreke playing together, I don't see a big issue with it. The role Lawson was put in with the Nuggets last year was to be a bench scorer for the 2nd team. He also was most efficient when he used <10 seconds of the shot clock, and had a more efficient passing rating than Kobe and our beloved Jrue. In college he showed he could play without the ball, and I believe it's just based on the role you put him in. On this team it would be as the secondary ball handler behind Tyreke, so it shouldn't be an issue.

I guess we'll see what happens in the near future with regards to my team competing. I'm mostly basing it on a free agent spending spree, so I guess it depends on if Melo & Horford's teams can retain them.