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Subject: RIHC 2010-11: Draft Recap
Posted by: Guru
- [330592710] Sun, Oct 24, 2010, 12:48
Now that the RIHC draft has finished, I invite each of the participants to share any reactions that they have. Feel free to say as much or as little as you wish. As a guide, you might consider the following questions:
1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
2) What surprised you?
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
Outsiders who were not participating in the draft are also welcome to share their general reactions.
Draft listing and grid |
| 1 | Mike D
ID: 549362418
Sun, Oct 24, 2010, 19:37
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1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
Best player available combined with an eye toward rarer categories. It was a little odd picking at number 4, but then I realized that it's similar to picking around number 9, only on the other end. :-)
2) What surprised you?
NO TRADES were made. Unless I just forget them. Wow.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
It never really did. But, I didn't expect to take so many veteran players. Also, I didn't expect to have my own runs on smaller guys and then bigger guys.
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
Nothing I can think of.
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
No idea on who the best pick might be. Maybe a late rounder Augustin (9th round, #100). Maybe Jason Kidd at #28 in the 3rd round.
Worst? Not sure yet. Nothing jumps out as a real reach. Kaman in the 5th (#52) was a tad early but not considering I didn't pick again until #69. Bogut in the 6th (#69) is risky but that didn't seem too early given what he is capable of if he stays healthy.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
I felt a lot of good players fell for a lot of reasons. Because of that, I thought there were a lot of "good deals" going to other managers.
Guru taking Al Jefferson at #27, and Jarrett Jack at #123. Youngroman taking Joe Johnson at #36. Those are ones I can recall.
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
Brandon Jennings (#23), Roy Hibbert (#26).
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
Either Guru's team or Gescom's team. Lotsa good players on each. They both seem to have good balance, upside, and value.
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| 2 | skinneej
Leader
ID: 040625911
Mon, Oct 25, 2010, 09:51
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1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
Based on picking 5th, I had players and positions targeted through the first 6. Went pretty much as expected and got a few players that fell to me unexpectedly.
2) What surprised you?
Not much. I expected every manager in this league to be pretty astute especially as we neared the end of the draft looking for the nuggets. I didn't see a whole lot of reaching in this draft, and I'm sure we were all working off each other's short lists most of the time.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
I tried not to reach for positions especially through the first 8, so I ended up with a heavy forward and light center squad. Centers usually get taken a few spots higher than their general ranking, but I don't really see any spots I would have changed my pick. The last 5-6 rounds I was on the road, so it impacted my research ability. I packed my queue with a mix of sleepers and potential breakout players, so let's hope a few pan out.
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
Nothing to change.
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
Best picks were getting Love (44), Rose (53) and Martin (68) all falling to me in rounds 4-6. All three I had ranked in my top 40, so I feel I got steals. Martin is really the only question mark due to injury concerns, but he was too good to pass on.
Could have opted to go with a center eligible player in rnds 6 and 8, with Scola and Frye on my shorts lists, but went with Martin and Beasley instead. Gooden and G. Hill maybe were not on as many radars in rnds 10-11, so perhaps I took them a round or two early, but I felt they were good fits for my team at the times. Picks 11-15 were mostly sleepers so not sure if I should have gone for better value late.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
Other than Lebron at #2? I tried to think of players that sat at the top of my list for more than a round (other than Rose and K. Martin) and not many came to mind. Mostly they went quickly in turn, but a guy like Ariza (79) could be a great value and everybody's favorite sleeper Belinelli lasted to round 11.
The really interesting part of this draft was watching guys that were perennial top 20 picks falling way down due to age, injury or other issues. Check out this list...KG (60), Arenas (73), Jesus Shuttlesworth (76), Vin-sanity (83), Yao (85), Brand (89) and Marion (148). 3-4 years ago this team would have won the league going away!
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
Jennings and Hibbert were mentioned already, but yeah I think they went at least a full round higher than I expected. Also guys like Collison and Felton in round four went a tad early, but they are both pgs primed for success this year so not really a reach.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
Even though the last half of my draft was not as strong as it could have been, I'd be hard pressed to trade it for another team as I'd like to see how it develops. Guru and Mike D's teams are strong and pretty well balanced as expected, as are several other teams.
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| 3 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Mon, Oct 25, 2010, 12:42
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1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
This year I decided not to approach the draft quite as analytically as I have in the past. Rather than taking projections from several sites and applying my own ranking formula, I simply looked at the rankings produced by three sites, and made no attempt to quantitatively rank my team compared to others as the draft developed.
I had no particular agenda with regard to specific rounds for certain positions or categories, other than that I wanted to avoid an obvious tanking in any specific category early on. I did, however, try to make sure that certain positions or categories didn’t disappear before I had a chance to participate.
I also tried to avoid (or at least defer on) players with a significant injury history. Al Jefferson may be an exception there – although I think he was good value in round 3.
2) What surprised you?
Nothing much. The draft moved slower than usual, but we still got done in time. Here and there a pick seemed a bit surprising, but not shockingly so.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
As usual, I found that centers (or at least those with block potential) were being taken earlier than most “cheat sheets” had them ranked. Getting Al Jefferson in round 3 was convenient. I might have stretched a bit for Robin Lopez in round 9, but it was pretty much forced on me unless I wanted to abandon blocks. Even so, I suspect it will be my weakest category.
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
Probably nothing.
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
I’m hopeful that Mike Conley in round 8 will be good value. Also Dorell Wright (10), and Jarrett Jack(11). I think that guys taken in the back half of the draft are often the ones who can make a team a contender.
I don’t yet know who the worst pick is. Ask me in about a month. But I have no buyer's remorse yet.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
I wish I could remember. There were a few “Oh sh~t” moments along the way, although I’ve come to expect those, so they don’t really stand out.
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
Brandon Jennings, as others have mentioned. I suspect he would still have been available 2 rounds later.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
Probably Mike D, because he always seems to be near the top. His team is pretty long in the tooth, however – but if guys like Kidd, Ray Allen, Andre Miller, and Shawn Marion stay healthy and productive, they were probably good value picks. He’s also got some health risks in Bogut and Kaman. But no guts, no glory.
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| 4 | Valkyrie
Dude
ID: 47042413
Mon, Oct 25, 2010, 17:14
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1)Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
I tried to meld two strategies , a firm belief that the young (non-rookie) selfish players make the best fantasy investment and since I was starting with LaBron to try not to leave any gaping holes in my roster. Unfortunately I have had virtually no experience with top picks having been at the tail end of all basketball drafts for 2-3 years now. As it turned out my implementation was so out of line that I was virtually unaffected by everyone else’s draft for rounds 2-3 and 4-5. As usual the quality of the competition repeatedly snatched my later targets but in general I was happy with picks 6-15 when I more or less reverted to more conventional form..
2) What surprised you?
In retrospect my biggest surprise was the vast difference in drafting near the top of the list or at the back. I did think the draft was a bit slower than I had expected from this group.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
After pick 4-5 I more or less reverted to form and made more conventional picks albeit with a slight bias for youth – Randolph, Bynum, Batum. Late I picked a lot of players returning from injuries with a big Duke/ACC bias- Maggette, Dunleavy, Oden and Howard .
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
If I had a mulligan I would adopt a more conventional strategy and redo picks 2-5. The strategy I adopted may have been very interesting for a late middle draft slot but was not suited to a top of the list draft slot. I feel at best that I gave up my 3-5% advantage and may have wasted my opportunity to have LeBron. Where I should have been solid I was risky but then again perhaps that is the difference between on court value and fantasy value?
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
My worst picks were 2-5 although Jennings, Hibbert and Felton were only poor because they were a round or maybe even 2 early. Jamison appears to be the worst pick if his loss of PT proves to be true however this possible loss didn’t really make the news until after I had picked. Otherwise Jamison was more or less the start of my reversion to conventional picks and I am not convinced that he won't continue to post solid numbers on a bad team.
I think my best pick based on value at the time of pick was Bynum at 95. My best return overall might be one of my Duke injury returnees. None of the 3 youngsters I picked 2,3 and 4 can be my best pick even if they perform as I hope since I reached so far to get them. They all have a lot more downside as disaster picks than upside as great picks.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
I liked Martin at 68, Scala at 70 and Beasley at 101.
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
With my picks I don’t deserve to have an opinion on who anyone else picked too early.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
As odd as my team is Rotowire’s league projection has my team ranked #1, followed by Gescom, Mike D, S R, and guru (which is not very far from the original draft order). Personally I don’t put much stock in projections and don’t believe the team I am fielding justifies my taking a position on anyone else’s team.
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| 5 | Gescom
Dude
ID: 520461315
Tue, Oct 26, 2010, 14:33
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1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
Strategy was:
Round 1-4: Pick best available
Round 5-8: Pick best available with an attention to position
Round 9-12: Pick players strenghtening identified weaknesses
Round 12-15: Pick sleepers
Overall: Try to have a good balance of veterans, proven young guns and one or two promising rookies.
I started a tad earlier than scheduled to worry about positions. My first 3 picks were backcourt picks so I went big in round 4 and 5 which wasn't really scheduled.
Rest happened more or less as scheduled. I found hard to get qualitative sleepers in the last 2-3 rounds. I took Gallinari at round 15 last year in AAA. I felt the Gallinaris were all gone by round 12-13 in RHIC. I guess this has to do with the incredible level of competition there is in this league.
One last thing: I miserably failed in the veteran - young guns balance. I essentially have veterans which scares me to death.
2) What surprised you?
Not much, may be the draft being slightly slower than I expected.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
Towards the last rounds, I kept continuing strenghtening weak categories vs picking sleepers as per above.
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
Take my favorite sleepers EARLIER ! I'm mad that I couldn't land Kleiza for instance.
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect.
Best - Monta Ellis at 3.06. No way I was hoping it would be there at 3.06. I was having him gone end of 2 latest.
Worst - Time will tell. Not too sure about Lamarcus Aldridge at 5.06.
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
Bogut, Rose - They both went way after what I think their production will put them
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
As everyone else, Jennings and Hibbert went at least 2 full rounds higher than I expected.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
I like Mike D and Jason teams.
Mike D is just solid everywhere. Lot of young blood for Jason which can turn into a fiesta or a nightmare. Time will tell.
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| 6 | Goldcoach
ID: 439131016
Thu, Oct 28, 2010, 21:03
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1) Did you have a specific strategy going in? Did it go as expected?
Drafting "at the turn" I pretty much had decided to go Big & Small each time until obvious needs demanded otherwise. I managed to hold to this routine pretty well, even though many of my picks were made from my queue. Setting a queue for two picks at the turn is tough. I usually reserve the last pick for a bona-fide sleeper.
2) What surprised you?
I was surprised to see so many long-toothed vets come my way. Maybe they were being avoided, just maybe they'll have one good year left.
3) How did your approach change as things unfolded?
Last Pick---I changed my mind based on preseason play and took Chase Budinger for his Three Point Potential (I always seem to fall short in that category)
4) If you had to do it over, what would you do differently?
If I knew Devin Harris was still going to be there at the end of five, I would have passed on Nash and taken Ellis. I was just beginning to hope he might make it back to me when Gescom killed that. I think he got a steal there.
5) Your best and worst pick, in retrospect. Worst pick, 10.02 - Anthony Morrow, I had so many vets already that I talked myself into youth, I'm second guessing and thinking I should have taken Andre Miller there. Best pick, 6.02-Troy Murphy or 8.02-Yao Ming (with an eye to later in the season).
6) The 2 or 3 picks by other managers that you thought were especially good steals.
Ellis at 3.06, Blake Griffin at 6.03, and contrary to previously expressed opinions Roy Hibbert at 3.02...I was targeting him at 3.11 in lieu of Duncan (who I thought would be gone by then, and Eric Gordon at 7.03
7) 2 or 3 players that were selected higher than you had expected.
Everybody's favorite, Brandon Jennings at 2.11, and I though Gerald Wallace at 2.12/3.01 was a slight stretch (they don't call him Crash for nothing) although he clearly would not have been available on the return at 4.12 so its probably not that much of a stretch. I also think that Andrea Bargnani at 3.07 was a mild reach.
8) If you had to trade your own team for one other owner's team in the league, whose would you want it to be?
I would look at Mike D's team, with center his weakest position or (flip a coin here) Gescom or Florian. I'm looking at having to start 2 Centers and rotate in the three bench spots to get up to the 84 game max (not the 82 the players play) Its one of the things that make this format so demanding, and these guys seem to have the deepest bench.
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