writersblock wrote:I see a lot of potential with this team. Without looking at the numbers in detail, my first thought is that this team is very strong in guard stats. You'll be getting the scoring, 3s, and even steals from your guards and your wings. Your depth is also very guard-stat-heavy.
I think your biggest question is your big man stats: How good will Kanter and Olynyk be? KAnter is supposed to have the keys to Utah's front court, but with no Al Jeff looking over his shoulder, how will he do? Olynyk is an even bigger question mark. I doubt Olynyk does as well as people expect, at least before the all-star break. You don't have many back-ups who can fill in either, which means you'll be relying a lot on guys like Blair to fill your C spot. That's not good.
I do really like your "sleeper" picks. Butler, Moultrie, and Tucker have bright futures this year, I think, and your success this year relies as much on them as it does on your top guys like Rose.
I'm not a big fan of your last picks. Gordon has a tough road to climb to get minutes in Charlotte, and I bet he's begging for a trade by January. I think Miles is awful, but in 20 mins a game, besides hurting your %s, he'll give you 10ppg and a 3, so you can't complain. I just wonder if he loses minutes, as waiters emerges as a key part of that rotation. Waiters only played 28 min/game. If he improves his game this year, he's going to need closer to 35, cutting into Miles' minutes. I think Blair is an ok pick, he has steadily lost minutes over the last 3 years, ending at 14/game in 12-13. That's the exact opposite you would expect from a young guy like him. Even in those minutes, he does next to nothing. FG% and modest (very modest) points. Not what you need from a big man.
You might say: Knocking a team for its last picks is a bit unfair, like missing the forest for the trees, but the problem is that in this league, the bottom of your roster is just as important as the top. You can't float with also-rans on your bench, and I worry that might be your biggest weakness (apart from your weakness in big man stats).
Even so, I'd say your team is definitely top 8, and should easily make the playoffs.
hamncheese wrote:I agree with what Brian said. I like it as a playoff team but it's very tight among bottom playoff teams and bubble teams, as I don't see it as a top 4. But what looks like a top 4 to me on paper never seems to work once the season is played. Definite strength in the "small ball" categories. Should be one of the top teams in 3's and ft%. Should put up points, assists, and steals. The bigs such as Ilyasova, Anderson, and Olynyk are the types that add to a small ball team. Blocks is a pretty much a punt for your team.
I too don't like the Gordon pick, simply because I even Gordon wants to play well in contract year, I don't think Charlotte really cares or intends to bring him back. He simply may not get enough playing time as they to focus on their young players.
I like the Redick, Tucker, and Butler picks at where you got them.
Blair is on a new team and with Dalembert as the starting center, there is the potential for playing time. As the manager who drafted Dalembert, I am aware of the dangers of Dally, which could be a good thing for Brandan Wright and Blair owners. CJ Miles has potential... on another team. So best hope is a trade. He's always had potential but has been hurt a lot, and it doesn't look like there is much room for him in Cleveland.
nice, thanks. Anybody else?
I'm somehow a bit more optimistic about Gordon.
Though I think I might have drafted Kanter about 10 picks earlier than where he should go, because he may end up with top 80-85 value.
And I do agree with the risks involving Olynyk.
I do actually like my Blair pick, because when he got 20 minutes in SA, he was top 130-140. So if he does get consistently 20 mpg in Dallas, I don't see how he can't be top 150 again and with that kind of playing time he gives a pretty good boost to FG%, 1 spg and 5.5 rpg, which are just amazing for the 265th pick. But of course, if he ends up playing 12 mpg, all the things I wrote are in vain.
About Miles, yeah sure he might end up getting 14-15 minutes instead of 20 from last year, but this is his contract year as well.
My expectations about Moultrie are cautiously optimistic as well considering he is a post200 pick.
So 3 out of my last 4 picks are playing for a contract, if 1 of them turns up to be top 140, then I'm in pretty good shape.
