Lakers fantasy Draft:Discussion Thread

[EArl]

Here is the Bracket. Will make the new threads in a bit.

[hermes]

who am i facing in the consolation bracket?

[EArl]

who am i facing in the consolation bracket?

I was drinking a glass of water and spilled it all over the floor reading this.

[EArl]

This has slowed down so much. Can we start assigning coaches to those who don't pick within the time limit. Or skip them and just let them pick when they finally arrive?

Post new GM's word

[EArl]

Holy crap! Okay give me a few mins. Usually I get an e-mail when I'm on the clock and the thread title isn't updated. Give me a few mins.

Sorry guys.

Post new Gm's Word

[EArl]

The finals!
KB89/TylersLakers
Both parties please write an extra GM's word on how you would beat the other team. you have until Tuesday night. 8/13
Here are the respective teams


KB89:

Spoiler:

C - Shaquille O'Neal
PF - Dennis Rodman
SF - Ron Artest
SG - Lou Hudson
PG - Charlie Scott
6th Man - Antawn Jamison
Coach - Rick Carlisle

This team is loaded both on offense and defense. Let's start off with the most vital piece to the team, and that is Shaq. Shaq was an incredibly dominant force in his prime. He would be the vocal point of our offense, and shut down the lane on defense. Dennis Rodman is a perfect player to have on a team loaded with such offensive fire power. He is a rare superstar that knew where he thrived, accepted that, and gave it his all in these areas every game. His defense and rebounding skills are unmatchable, and his knack of getting in opposing players heads was an area of his game that is often over looked. The final member of my starting front court is Ron Artest, an elite defender, a good scorer, and an effective three point shooter. Artest in his prime was a shut down defender, and is absolutely a crucial piece to this team to shut down the opposing team's best perimeter player. Antawn Jamison is a spark plug off the bench, who even won 6th Man of the Year award once, so he's clearly comfortable in that role. He would help create space in the lane for Shaq, since he is an excellent stretch four. This front court has everything I feel; and would hold an advantage over any front court.

For my back court, Lou Hudson is an elite shooter, which was really needed for this team. He was a 6 time Al-Star, averaged 27, 6, and 3 in his prime, and is an overall great guy and an excellent teammate. Charlie Scott has great size for a PG at 6’5”, was a 5 time All-Star, and had career averages of 21, 5, and 4. This backcourt has a good combination of scoring, play making, shooting, and size.

Rick Carlisle has been a winner everywhere he’s gone, and has led teams to thrive at the defensive side of the ball everywhere he’s been. His game plans and coaching led to the Mavericks upsetting the Heat in the Finals. Given this roster, I know he would be able to get it to reach its full potential and help mold this team into the best in the league.

TylersLakers:

Spoiler:

PG: Nick Van Exel

One of the most exciting Laker guards in history. Really helped transition the franchise after Magic Johnson and kept the Lakers exciting. Knows how to get up and down. Best season: 2000-2001 -- 17.7 PPG, 8.5 APG

SG: Trevor Ariza

The glue guy to the 2009 Championship. During the season made highlight plays, athletic, defended, and come playoff time -- you could not leave him open. Best time: 2009 NBA Playoffs -- 23 GS, 11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 47% 3PT, 50% FG

SF: Jamaal Wilkes

Stu Lantz has an absolute hard-on for this man. The man with the "Silk" jump shot. His jersey was retired by the Lakers this season. Best season: 1980-1981 -- 22.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 53% FG

PF: Happy Hairston

Needed a good physical 4 next to Kareem. Managed to snatch him up. One of the best players on the team that won 33 games in a row. Best Season: 1969-1970 -- After coming to the Lakers from Detroit, in his first 55 games with LAL, he averaged -- 20.6 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 49% FG, 80% FT

C: Kareem Abdul Jabbar

In the argument for the greatest player and Laker of all time. The NBA's current all time leading scorer and has the most unstoppable shot in NBA history. Best Season: 1971-1972 -- 34.8 PPG, 16.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 57% FG

Sixth Man: Cliff Robinson

Don't get confused with the gangster Clifford Robinson. This Clifford Robinson was good. Best Season: 1982-1983 -- 18.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG

Head Coach: Mark Jackson

A great PG in his playing days, a master motivator. Inspiration. Ask his current players, they play their ass off for him. Led a young GSW team to the playoffs this season without one of their top players in David Lee.


--------------

Why TylersLakers?

My plan of attack going in once I got Kareem Abul Jabbar was surround him with another Laker jersey that's currently retired (Wilkes) and an exciting guard in the back court (Van Exel). Once those three positions were filled, I wanted roleplayers who could come in and be dogs defensively and do the intangibles (Hairston, Ariza). Kareem proved during the Showtime Days that he could fit in just fine with an up-tempo attack, and Van Exel knows how to push the pace and excite the crowd with Ariza on the wing. When in the half court, there's no better option than Kareem on the block, or a wide open Wilkes jumper. The answer is simple -- two Laker jerseys that are retired, two of the biggest fan favorites, with a member of the biggest win streak of all time mixed in. Add in Clifford Robinson's 17 PPG and 8 RPG career average and it's over.

[TylersLakers]

Do I do it here? Here we go.

--------

The one thing that's needed to beat KB's team is that you have to have big men to throw at Shaq and to match the physicality of his front court. Kareem, although wiry was a strong and tough player. He also has incredible length to alter/block Shaquille O'Neals shots around the rim. I also have Happy Hairston and Cliff Robinson to throw at his front court as well. Both of those players averaged 10+ boards in the times that I have chosen them. Hairston was a physical presence during the 33 game win streak, and him and Robinson (along with Kareem) would have enough rebounding and toughness to win games.

On the offensive end, my team is just more balanced and coming down the stretch of a close game, I feel a lot more comfortable with one of the Retired Lakers and his silky smooth jump shot in Jamal Wilkes, another retired jersey and leading NBA scorer in Kareem, as well as the spot up shooting and athleticism of Trevor Ariza during the 2009 playoffs. Add in one of the quickest guards in NBA and Lakers history in Nick Van Exel to drive into the paint and create a shot for himself or his knock down shooters on the outside. Down the stretch of a close game I feel much more comfortable in Van Exel, Wilkes, Ariza and Kareem making shots (and free throws) than O'Neal, Artest, Jamison, etc. And while Shaq is a presence in the paint defensively, Abdul Jabbar's length and basketball IQ would be enough to keep himself out of foul trouble and dominate Shaq on the offensive end with his array of offensive moves. You want to double him? His post passing to Wilkes, Van Exel or Ariza on the outside will win out.

And while Mark Jackson is a younger coach, he has enough respect from his playing days to motivate this good mix of new age and old school talent.

Intangible wise, you know this mix of talent will blend together without imploding like how KB's team potentially does. And in a Lakers home game setting -- Ariza, Van Exel, Wilkes and Kareem were all fan favorites and more long term Lakers than KB's core of talent.

[KB89]

I will get to this by tonight.

[EArl]

I will get to this by tonight.

Will be waiting.

[KB89]

I will get to this by tonight.

Will be waiting.

I didn't forget. Working on it now, and will have it posted before I go to bed.

[KB89]

This should be an easy victory for my team. Not only is my frontcourt significantly better, but so is my backcourt. Nick Van Exel was a hot head, a bit of a team cancer, a chucker, a player who was routinely benched despite being in his prime, and a guy that once traded the team saw an improvement to the tune of 3 straight championships. Nick was a flashy player, and a thrilling one to watch, but a great player he was not. He has a putrid career shooting percentage of 40%, and never once shot over 42% in a season. Despite this, he loved to shoot, often to the detriment of the team. He is not a player who knows his role and could play the role of the 4th best scorer on a team while in his prime. He would wreak havoc on this team by being a malcontent chucker who would ruin team chemistry. Trevor Ariza? He doesn’t even belong on a team based on my rankings. If the prime of your career is a 23 game sample size, that is hardly much of a prime. He is a role player, who since ditching the Lakers and entering his “prime” has been a 40% shooter, and a guy who’s convinced himself he’s a three point specialist despite shooting in the low 30%’s.

Now my backcourt may not have big names for casual NBA fans but they produced excellent results and don’t come with negative qualities like both Van Exel and Ariza do. Charlie Scott’s prime? 33, 5, and 5 with 45% shooting. Van Exel’s? 18, 9, and 3 while shooting 41%. Lou Hudson’s prime? 27, 6, and 4 shooting 48%. Ariza’s? 15, 6, and 4 shooting 39%. All-Star appearances: Scott+Hudson = 11. Van Exel+Ariza = 1. Scott and Hudson were flat out better players, both career and prime wise.

Now onto the frontcourt. There is no answer for stopping prime Shaq. He was as dominant of a player as the league has ever seen. He played his best when it mattered most, and did so against all levels of competitors. He excelled vs. other great bigs, such as Hakeem, Ewing, Duncan, Robinson, Yao, etc. and I have no doubt that he would thrive against Kareem. Rodman was one of the best defenders the league has ever seen, and the best rebounder. He would shut down Hairston, take away second chance opportunities by grabbing all the missed shots from Van Exel and Ariza, and provide many second chance opportunities for my lethal offensive team. He is a rare superstar that knew and accepted his role and excelled at areas of the game that may not be considered “sexy” but were absolutely crucial to the success of the teams he was on. He was eccentric, but he gave it his all when playing, and was routinely a huge piece to every single team he was on (which included 5 championships, 1 other Finals appearance, 3 other Conference Finals appearances, and only missing the Playoffs once). Ron Artest in his prime was the best wing defender the league has seen in quite some time, and would be able to match up with Wilkes. Luckily this team doesn’t possess other wing players Artest would have to help defend, so he could put all his effort into shutting down Wilkes. Jamison would provide an excellent spark off the bench, where he’s thrived before while in the prime of his career. And he’d be an excellent stretch four to pair with Shaq to help create space in the lane. Quite simply, this frontcourt is so dominant on defense that the strength of your team would be marginalized by its defensive capabilities.

My team has too much offensive fire power for your team to contain, has the upper hand at just about every position match up wise, would be the best defensive team ever put together, and is built around a player who was possibly the most dominant force the league has ever seen. Lastly, to quote my competitor Tyler "Defense and rebounding wins championships and playoff series". To which I couldn't agree more.

[Wavy Q]

now that the needless GM words are done

KB89 yo, no bandwagoners allowed.

[EArl]

This should be an easy victory for my team. Not only is my frontcourt significantly better, but so is my backcourt. Nick Van Exel was a hot head, a bit of a team cancer, a chucker, a player who was routinely benched despite being in his prime, and a guy that once traded the team saw an improvement to the tune of 3 straight championships. Nick was a flashy player, and a thrilling one to watch, but a great player he was not. He has a putrid career shooting percentage of 40%, and never once shot over 42% in a season. Despite this, he loved to shoot, often to the detriment of the team. He is not a player who knows his role and could play the role of the 4th best scorer on a team while in his prime. He would wreak havoc on this team by being a malcontent chucker who would ruin team chemistry. Trevor Ariza? He doesn’t even belong on a team based on my rankings. If the prime of your career is a 23 game sample size, that is hardly much of a prime. He is a role player, who since ditching the Lakers and entering his “prime” has been a 40% shooter, and a guy who’s convinced himself he’s a three point specialist despite shooting in the low 30%’s.

Now my backcourt may not have big names for casual NBA fans but they produced excellent results and don’t come with negative qualities like both Van Exel and Ariza do. Charlie Scott’s prime? 33, 5, and 5 with 45% shooting. Van Exel’s? 18, 9, and 3 while shooting 41%. Lou Hudson’s prime? 27, 6, and 4 shooting 48%. Ariza’s? 15, 6, and 4 shooting 39%. All-Star appearances: Scott+Hudson = 11. Van Exel+Ariza = 1. Scott and Hudson were flat out better players, both career and prime wise.

Now onto the frontcourt. There is no answer for stopping prime Shaq. He was as dominant of a player as the league has ever seen. He played his best when it mattered most, and did so against all levels of competitors. He excelled vs. other great bigs, such as Hakeem, Ewing, Duncan, Robinson, Yao, etc. and I have no doubt that he would thrive against Kareem. Rodman was one of the best defenders the league has ever seen, and the best rebounder. He would shut down Hairston, take away second chance opportunities by grabbing all the missed shots from Van Exel and Ariza, and provide many second chance opportunities for my lethal offensive team. He is a rare superstar that knew and accepted his role and excelled at areas of the game that may not be considered “sexy” but were absolutely crucial to the success of the teams he was on. He was eccentric, but he gave it his all when playing, and was routinely a huge piece to every single team he was on (which included 5 championships, 1 other Finals appearance, 3 other Conference Finals appearances, and only missing the Playoffs once). Ron Artest in his prime was the best wing defender the league has seen in quite some time, and would be able to match up with Wilkes. Luckily this team doesn’t possess other wing players Artest would have to help defend, so he could put all his effort into shutting down Wilkes. Jamison would provide an excellent spark off the bench, where he’s thrived before while in the prime of his career. And he’d be an excellent stretch four to pair with Shaq to help create space in the lane. Quite simply, this frontcourt is so dominant on defense that the strength of your team would be marginalized by its defensive capabilities.

My team has too much offensive fire power for your team to contain, has the upper hand at just about every position match up wise, would be the best defensive team ever put together, and is built around a player who was possibly the most dominant force the league has ever seen. Lastly, to quote my competitor Tyler "Defense and rebounding wins championships and playoff series". To which I couldn't agree more.

You really think people are going to read all that?
hermes was right. I should have DQ'd you

[KB89]

Quite simply, this frontcourt is so dominant on defense that the strength of your team would be marginalized by its defensive capabilities.

My team has too much offensive fire power for your team to contain, has the upper hand at just about every position match up wise, would be the best defensive team ever put together, and is built around a player who was possibly the most dominant force the league has ever seen. Lastly, to quote my competitor Tyler "Defense and rebounding wins championships and playoff series". To which I couldn't agree more.

You really think people are going to read all that?
hermes was right. I should have DQ'd you

Well here's the tl;dr version which I summed up at the end.