Self Editor

Forum: hoop
Page 12528
Subject: RIHC 2007-08: Draft Rationales

Posted by: Guru - [330592710] Wed, Oct 17, 2007, 15:16

This thread will be for managers in the RotoGuru Invitational Hoops Challenge to provide the rationale for each pick.

Here are the ground rules:
1. Only managers in this league should post here. If you want to provide feedback (either from other league managers, or from those not in the league), put it in the discussion thread. (Non-conforming discussion in this thread will be deleted.)

2. Try to keep the pick rationales in the same order as the draft. We'll attempt to keep this thread 2 rounds behind the actual draft. With the lag, most comments should not have an impact on the draft in progress. However, if there are aspects of your pick that you feel need to be kept under wraps, feel free to protect that information. In particular, please avoid mentioning the names of any players who are still undrafted at that time of the post.

Please post your (2-round lagged) comments at the time you make your pick. For example, you should post your comments for your round 1 pick when you make your round 3 selection. The best practice is to post your rationale immediately before making your next pick. If you are not ready to post at that time, then create a "placeholder" so that the next person is able to go ahead in sequence. When your post is ready, simply post it in the current draft discussion thread and I can copy it over. Please do NOT post your rationale in this thread if it is out of sequence.

The general format should be:
1.01 Kevin Garnett, F, BOS
Several sentences of rationale.

If your rationale is due and intervening placeholders have not been inserted, please insert them before posting your rationale. For example, create a post that says:
For Guru
1.07 Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dal

As a part of your first round rationale, please comment on your choice of draft order as well.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 09:32

for JL
1.01 Kevin Garnett, PF, Bos

Ideally, I would've picked 3rd in this draft, as I believe that there isn't much that separates Garnett from Kobe and Marion. Garnett's rebounding and blocks ultimately vaulted him ahead of Kobe/Matrix, though, since I was expecting that the most talent at my next pick would lie in the SG/SF types. Knowing that I probably wouldn't be able to get a good Center without reaching at the turn(meaning that my first Center wouldn't come until later in the draft), I decided that Garnett's "big man stats" were needed with the 1st pick.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 09:32

for Jason
1.02 Shawn Marion, PF, Pho

So! I thought I would be in the middle in draft order, so I was surprised because of the first choices - and then I wanted to be rather in the first half then the second. Nowadays I am not sure it was a good idea, but I believe not this will be the main point.

I was in trouble, because Wade is my favourite player, I would have chosen him.... if he is healthy. Garnett was out, I was thinking about Marion, James, and Gasol. Gasol would have been a tactical step, because I thought with picking up him as second pick I would start a competition for the centers, so maybe some player from the top 20 could stay for me to the second and the third choices.

Finally a decided I pick up Marion. He is a fantastic contributor, good at almost all categories. He is a good basis to go to any direction later.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 09:33

for sR
1.03 Lebron James, SF, Cle

Draft position: I counted three superstuds on the top of my list: Bryant, Garnett, James. I expected, it will be an easy choice at the third position.

James is the best small forward. What can I say? The King. The next season's MVP will help my team in every category (yes, in free-throw shooting percentage also).

Species
Dude
ID: 07724916
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 11:54

1.04 Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL
I was mildly surprised that Kobe was available at #4. My board had KG, Kobe, Lebron top 3, and from there it was up to me between Marion and Dirk. Thankfully Jason took that choice away and gave me one of my top 3.

What's not to like, fantasy-wise? 25-28PPG, 6 boards, 5 assists, a steal or two, and a couple threes a game. Add to that a solid FG% for someone who takes so many shots, as well as a fantastic FT% to build on (again, from someone who goes to the line a LOT). About the only negative is the constant drama swirling around him/Jackson/The Lakers/trade rumors, but at times he seems to thrive on that pressure.

Draft Slot Rationale:
If I would have had my choice of any slot, it probably would have been 6th. I like drafting in the middle, as you don't have to reach when you need someone like you often have to do when you draft on the end. Plus, I felt that the first 7 guys on the board were a slight cut above those behind them. Sadly 5, 6 and 7 were all gone by the time I picked, so I settled on the #4 slot, knowing I would get a top stud in round 1 and be as close to the middle as I could.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 13:40

Long before getting the first choice of draft positions I had tried to think what player I really wanted to start my team with. I've been fortunate in the past to have as #1 picks, KG, Lebron and Kobe, and thought that I'd like to go in a different direction this year. I decided I really wanted Arenas and thought that the 5th pick would be a safe spot to grab him.

1.05 Gilbert Arenas PG Wash

Point Guards are my favorite position and although Gilbert is more a shoot first, pass second PG, he has the capability to contribute in so many categories.The last two years he has proven to be an elite fantasy player, and last year finished 3rd in scoring ( 28.5 ), lead the league in 3's (205 ), averaged nearly 2 steals/ game and 4.6 rebounds/game. As a first round PG, I'd like more than the 6 dimes he averaged last year, but with his other solid stats, that will do.

I did have some hesitation as Arenas is coming off season ending knee surgery but all reports are is that he is fine, and he is in his " contract year ", We know how that can motivate. He also has said he is going to win the MVP award this season.

Go Gilbert.

EvilleDestiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 14:29

1.06 Steve Nash PG Pho

I really had a top 7 in mind and it came down to Nash or Dirk and decided to go for the PG. Probably because I came up short at the point last year and wanted to lock in a top end assist man early.

I need one more MVP season.

Draft Position

I really wanted #5 but 5 and 7 were gone and I felt comfortable with any of the top 7 players. When I saw the AAA and AA had Marion drop to 6th and 7th I was really hoping the same would happen to me but I'm happy with what I got. I contemplated going for #1 but I drafted 12th last year and drafting the turn is nice but you get whole different perspective on players drafting in the middle of each round. You don't feel like you have to stretch to far for players when you get another pick in 10-14 selections. When you have 22 picks before your next draft I get tempted to reach too far and selecting a guy that probably won't make it to my next pick but isn't really worth the current selection.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 14:42

1.07 Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dal

I was all set to nab Dwyane Wade with this pick. Of course, he’s still rehabbing, and the best estimates seem to call for his return around December 1. Unfortunately, it’s too early to have any certainty about that. But if he does return by that time, I think he’d still be worth a top 5 selection.

When I elected to pick 7th, I was thinking that the top 6 would be (in no particular order) KG, Marion, Kobe, LeBron. Arenas, and Dirk. After those guys, I think Wade has decent value, and I figured I’d probably get him here. After making that selection, I’ve noticed that Wade has generally been going in the early 2nd round in the other RIHC drafts. So while I think there is value here, it’s probably a few picks too early to get him. On the other hand, he would be unlikely to slide to my scheduled 2nd round pick at 2.06. So I threw out a quick offer to see if anyone picking behind me wanted to swap 1st and 2nd rounders.

But there were no quick takers, and I didn’t want to hold up the draft. I still almost took Wade. Dirk was still available, though, and he was one of my “top 6”. He’d be the safe choice. Maybe even the smart choice.

So be it. Wade may have a tad more upside than Dirk, but Dirk still offers some nice features, including a monster FT% for a PF, and also some 3’s from that slot. If Dirk stays healthy, I don’t think I’m hurting myself much, even if Wade turns out to return a bit earlier than expected. I’m also haunted by some déjà vu, recalling that I took Barry Bonds with the 7th pick in the first round of an RIBC draft several years ago. At that time, the prognosis on Bonds’ knee wasn’t too bad, but as the draft progressed, the news grew more and more ominous, and Bonds never appeared in a game until at least August. It not only screwed up my season – it also screwed up my draft, as I had to scramble to compensate for the developing news.

My only regret is that I think that whoever gets Wade – and it will be some team drafting before my next pick, I’m sure – may be the team to beat. If it is, I’ll wish I had stuck with the original master plan. And if Dirk wasn’t available, I think I’d have gone ahead and taken Wade.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 41831612
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 16:36

1.08 Amare Stoudemire, C, Pho

I came out number 7 after the dice roll and was focused on who might be available there. When no one selected the first draft spot, I was very tempted, but decided on number 8 since it was next to 7 and my focus had been there all along. Unlike last year, I actually did a little prep work in the few days leading to the draft. Therefore, when the opportunity to swap 1st and 2nd round picks arose, first with Species at # 4, then, with Guru at # 7, I really wasn’t overly tempted. I did throw a bone to Species but pulled it back after seeing who had been taken. I would have liked to have swapped with Guru (and grab Dirk) but I didn’t like being behind Guru on the flipside.

After an impressive 82 game season last year, Amare seems to be past his left knee problems. His right knee needed to be scoped but it looks very minor. Amare is still a first option for the Suns and pass happy point guard Steve Nash. They also added another excellent passer to the team this year which should help. His numbers after the All-Star break last season----and therefore after more time post-knee surgery----were tremendous: 21.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 55.4 percent from the field, 77.2 percent from the line with 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. Contributions in so many categories, combined with Center eligibility, made me sing “Amare……oh oh oh oh.” Time to get Extreme!

Mark L
ID: 25155512
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 17:37

for Dilligad:

1.09 Yao Ming, C, HOU

I liked the 9th slot mostly because of the high 2nd round selection. I expected to have to choose between Marion, Duncan and Nash. Yao was my 5th ranked player so getting him at 9 was fantastic. I'm expecting 25+ ppg, 9+ rpg, 2 bpg, with the % @ 52 and 85. I'm also hoping to get 30 more games than last years 48.

Mark L
ID: 25155512
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 17:46

1.10 Chris Paul, PG, NOR

After Yao went with pick #9 (curse you, Dilligad!), I went with Paul because he offers strong across-the-board performance in most categories with tremendous upside (Hollinger's PER forecasts, which I like but do not treat as gospel, have him as the #6 player in the league this season). His only real weak point is shooting %, and that's the easiest area to improve; hope he spent the summer taking 1000 jumpers a day. I'm counting on eight-plus dimes and about two steals a game, and he is an excellent rebounder for a guard, especially a PG. Only real concern is the potential for injury; this will not have been a wise pick if he misses 22 games again. But with this kind of upside that was a risk I was willing to take.

Draft position

10, 11 and 12 were left when I picked. Jumped at 10 because Yao is a player that I love this year and I doubted he'd even slide this far. As it turned out, I was right.

tommyd7878
ID: 38552137
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 18:18

1.11 Pau Gasol,C,MEM

When we found out the draft positions I predicted this would be the position I would draft from. I was targeting some combination of Gasol/Ming - Paul/Kidd combo with my preference in a Gasol - Paul combo. Gasol's #'s last year where impressive and should provide a nice base for FG%, points and blocks while getting a nice amount of assists from a centre position. He is just hitting his prime in terms of age, the only real concern is his health but from accounts he seems to be fine.

Draft position
Choice of 11th or 12th and I just don't like being on the turn.

tommyd7878
ID: 38552137
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 18:49

for CC

1.12 Andre Iguodala,SF PHI

Not a good start to the draft having been given the 12th pick. My preference would have been anything but 12th with a first choice of 7th or 8th. There was a chance that one of the top 3 centers, Stoudemire, Yao or Gasol would still be available but no such luck. Two of the best available talent Wade and Kidd were both serious injury risks. I almost took D. Howard but in the end I just couldn't buy into him suddenly becoming a reasonable FT shooter. I can see Iguodala ranking in the top ten by the end of the season.

tommyd7878
ID: 38552137
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 18:52

For cc
2.01 Josh Smith, SF, ATL

I consistently fail to score well in the Block category and this year I was determined that this would not happen in this league. Smith will lead the NBA in blocks this year and also helps in all categories except FT% but at 70% with only 5 attempts per game it is not a serious concern.

tommyd7878
ID: 38552137
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 18:58

2.02 Jason Kidd, PG, NJ

As stated in my last rationale I had targeted Kidd or Paul as one of my PG picks. Not much bad to say about Kidd, he solidifies the assist category,brings a nice amount of 3 pointers and steals. Of course his rebounding #'s for a guard are incredible. The only downside are his FG% and points for a first round pick. The FG is not as big a deal as he doesn't take a whole lot of shots and hopefully I can make the points up with some other picks.

Mark L
Leader
ID: 03601149
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 20:18

2.03 Dwight Howard, C, ORL

Had a hard time passing on Wade here but the injury issues
scared me off; my main concern was not the first few weeks but
how hard it may be for him to avoid more injuries as the season
wears on and he has to bear so much of the load without
significant help. That may well be pure rationalization on my
part.

Took Howard consistent with my philosophy of looking for guys
on the verge of major breakthroughs. Great rebounding, FG%
and blocks, and will be a solid scorer. The big issue is FT% and
if he has improved even up to 70% I may have snagged a top-ten
player here. The number of good scorers with great FT%ages
that I thought would last till my third pick gave me a little more
confidence that I could compensate for Howard even if he stayed
at last year's level, and that turned out fine with Ray Allen. The
bonus with Howard is that the only way he's going to try to make
it rain is by praying for it.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 20:24

2.04 Dwayne Wade, SG, MIA

If he only misses 10 games this year this is a great pick. In the first two rounds I end up with my #5 and #6. If I can get a good PG and PF with my next two picks I should be in good enough shape to be competitive even with the screw ups that will surely follow.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 22:53

2.05 Allen Iverson, PG/SG, Den

I could have gone many directions here, but it finally boiled down to Iverson and Deron Williams. Since he only played 65 games last year, Iverson’s totals were down a bit (although still impressive). He also had to weather the trade from Philly to a new club. However, I loved Iverson’s averages from last year and pairing his stats with Amare (oh oh oh oh) should be a nice mix. Iverson contributes in so many cats and could be slated for improvement over last year since he’s had a whole pre-season with his mile high club. That’s a scary thought. His PG/SG helps a little too. Points, steals, assists, FT%, and even 3s should be in AIs suitcase when he comes to camp with Extreme Basketball.

I was considering Dwight Howard until thankfully Mark L took him. That would have been a weird start to the draft with 2 bigs.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, 23:01

2.06 Marcus Camby C, Den

Published rankings generally suggest that Chris Bosh is the guy to take here. But it appears that he has both foot (plantar fasciitis ) and knee problems to contend with already, and it’s only October 17th. If I’m going to take a center with durability issues, I might as well go for the king of that category, Marcus Camby.

Actually, Camby was reasonably healthy last year, appearing in 70 games. On that factor alone, I should probably avoid him as overdue. But Camby, when healthy, is a fantasy beast; far from just a shot blocker, he also provides solid rebounds & steals, and doesn’t hurt the FT% cat as much as many other big men. I have him ranked about a round ahead of Bosh based solely on last year’s stats, and that doesn’t even take into account the scarcity value of his blocks.

I guess Tim Duncan should also be in the picture, but I’ve always hated to have to overcome his horrendous FT%. So I almost never really consider him – although at this stage of the draft, maybe I should have given him more serious consideration.

Last year, I punted the block category right from the get-go, and I still managed to win the league. This year, I guess I’m taking a different tack.

EvilleDestiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 09:05

2.07 Al Jefferson, PF/C, Minn

I went against logic with a stretch here. I realize Bosh Duncan and Jefferson all have there downsides. Bosh and Jefferson injury concerns Duncan the fantastic free throw percentage, and I know preseason is no gauge of the regular season but I just had a gut feeling that Jefferson has more upside potential. At worst he should get 18 and 12 which I would be happy with but hoping he just goes nuts.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 09:31

2.08 Tim Duncan C/PF SAS

Wow, TD as the 20th pick, doesn't seem all that long ago he was top 3. Some sites even ranked him lower.

I had hoped Dwight Howard would fall to me, but I'm happy with Timmy. He is a perfect compliment for Arenas, giving me a solid foundation in all cats. TD's strong FG% will make up a little for Arenas' bricks and the opposite for FT%. Duncan, now 31, improved his scoring last year and averaged 20-10 for the 9th time in his career, and also improved to 2.4 blocks per game. Oh, chip in 3.5 assists/game. Solid. He doesn't seem to be getting older, but better. The only negative aspect of his game is FT%.

The Spurs do have a penchant for resting Timmy somewhat, which may shave his stats somewhat, but his remarkable consistency makes up for it.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 09:33

For Species
2.09 Chris Bosh, C/F, Tor
With Kobe on board I knew I wanted a big man here. It didn't have to be someone C eligible, but that's just how it turned out. I was modestly surprised that Bosh was the one, but the uncertainty with his knee, let alone plantar fasciitis, was undoubtedly what pushed him down.

I would have taken Tim Duncan if Dave R didn't. There were safer picks on the board, but I'm playing to WIN this sucker, not to finish high enough to stay next year. Bosh is THE star on an up-and-coming team and gives decent FG% (although not stellar for your star center), strong FT (better than most big men) and is a 20+ PPG scorer with good (but not huge) boards. My only complaint is that he doesn't block more shots -- I'll have to try to complement that later in the draft.

s R
ID: 861898
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:05

2.10 Carlos Boozer, C, Uta

With two picks before mine, I had three centers on my short queue: Bosh, Boozer and Duncan. Duncan and Bosh were taken. Carlos better than Duncan in FT%, but more defence (blocked shots) would be nice. I'm very happy with Boozer in categories: FG%, points and rebounds.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:11

for Jason
2.11 Vince Carter, SG, NJN

After picking up Marion I wanted somebody who complements a bit Marion's "weaker" points. Carter is one of my favorite players, and fortunately after having my pick skipped, JL didn't choose him. Carter is a strong scorer, with almost two 3-pointers per game, and has 5 assists in a game.

I was very satisfied after the first two rounds. And because of my mistake, at this time I knew that my next player would be Jermaine O'Neal..

Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:12

for JL
2.12 Paul Pierce, SG/SF, Bos

I considered taking Rashard Lewis, Carmelo Anthony, or Michael Redd with this pick, but I went with Pierce after struggling with it all day. I believe that Pierce is one of the most talented all-around players in game when he's motivated and healthy. With Garnett pushing him, Pierce could see his assists and FG% improve. I'm not sure what to expect of Lewis now that he's in Orlando. Could be good...could be bad..I just can't get a feel for it...Carmelo is essentially the same player as Pierce, only without the 3's, and Redd's assists and rebounds are just too low for me.

3.01 Joe Johnson, PG/SG Atl

I'm sure that some of you thought this was a bit of a reach, but I love Joe Johnson. He's a bit undervalued due to the number of games he missed last season (due to a freak injury), but he is solid in all categories and I believe that he could make the jump to the upper echelon of fantasy players this season as he becomes the clear leader of a rapidly developing and talented Hawks team.

With Pierce and Johnson, I feel that I've taken two multi-talented players that can hit 3's without dinking my FG%. Also, they're listed at multiple positions, so that gives me a little more flexibility for later in the draft.

Jason
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:12

3.02 Jermaine O'Neal, C, IND

It was the time when started the running for centers. After permanent picking Camby, Jefferson, Duncan, Bosh and Boozer I had to step to reach a good center. Earlier a thought it would be good for me a good player with C eligibility without blocks, because Marion and Carter are not to bad in this area (so I would have preferred Boozer, or Okur). But Okur would have been to early, Boozer was cought by sR, so I changed my mind and decided Jermaine will join my team. I know there is a risky injury factor, but I am hoping he will play this season in almost all the game.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:13

for s R
3.03 Carmelo Anthony, SF, DEN

He was on the top on my list. Another small forward after LeBron, but why not? Anthony is a stud in the very important shooting percentages, and he will be among the league leaders in scoring with solid rebounding and assists. His defense and 3-point shooting could stand improvement, but he should continue to improve his all-around game.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:41

For Species
3.04 Rashard Lewis, SF, Orl

This comment will be a recurring theme for me early on.....Lewis was the best, most well-rounded player available to me here so I took him. He provides excellent scoring, and I expect that to continue or even improve with Howard taking double teams down low compared to battling Ray Allen for shots on the perimeter. He hits over 2 threes a game, gets 6+ rebounds, over 1 steal, maybe .6 of a block and shoots a very solid FG% for a scorer. His shiny 84% FT helps too.

I seriously considered Deron Williams as outstanding value at this juncture, but figured there would be a decent PG available in Round 5. I also seriously considered Gerald Wallace but didn't want to leave this scoring/3 point machine (with excellent rebounds) on the board.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:44

3.05 Caron Butler , SF , Wash

This was an agonizing pick, so much so that I offered to trade down, but no takers. Gave serious consideration to Ray Allen, Deron Williams, and Gerald Wallace, in addition to Butler.

Finally decided that Butler was the best fit for my team at this time. Butler meshes well as part of the big 3 from Washington, along with Arenas and Jamison, and last year compiled career highs in scoring ( 19.1 ), rebounds ( 7.4 ), assists ( 3.7 ), and steals ( 2.1 ). Butler shoots well, 46% from the floor and 86% from the line. Unfortunately he doesn't offer much help in 3's or blocks.

I think this year Caron will further blossom to an elite fantasy player, and continue to improve his all around game.

EvilleDestiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 13:56

3.06 Gerald Wallace, SF/PF, Cha

Another tough decision. I had Lewis and Butler on my short list. Of course they went right ahead of me, so I narrowed it to Deron and Gerald. I almost took Deron but the rate at which Wallace is improving if healthy he could be an elite stud. His all around stat abilities plus I think Felton & JRich take some pressure off and allow him to play more of a Shawn Marion role.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 14:03

3.07 Deron Williams, PG, Utah

I had planned to get a PG here, with Billups or Deron Williams the likely targets. With 2 picks to go, and both of those teams already taking a PG in round 1, I figured that I’d have a choice – and I do. Baron Davis is also there, but his poor shooting %s and his lack of durability prompt me to rank him behind the other two.

Based purely on projected stats from several sources, Billups comes out ahead. He is significantly better in 3s and FT%, while Deron has the edge in assists. The other cats are pretty close – clearly within the range of statistical uncertainty.

Billups is 31, and probably on the downslope, although he should have many more productive years. Williams is 23 and still developing. So while I have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Billups, there could be significant upside in Williams.

Then I noticed that Ray Allen was still available. I always seem to rank him higher than the published cheat sheets, partly (I suspect) because of the way I value the shooting percentages (and particularly Allen’s 90% FT shooting). There is a lot of uncertainty over Allen this year, on a new team with 2 other scorers, so it remains to be seen how his game might adapt to the changes. Based on last year’s stats, I have him ranked in the top ten on a per-game basis, although he missed a lot of time due to ankle problems. In spite of all that uncertainty, I’d be getting a pretty hefty discount, which is very tempting. But I think a top level PG fills a bigger need than the stats that Allen would provide.

Given his likely advantage in assists and the overall upside potential, I think I’ll land Deron here. Billups has been a fixture on my team for the past two years, and he served me well both times. But it’s time to move on.

I note with interest that Williams was an early-to-mid second round pick in the three RIHC qualifying league drafts. I thought that was a bit aggressive, but at pick 3.07, I take some comfort that my optimism is at least shared or exceeded by some others.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 41831612
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 14:46

3.08 Chauncey Billups, PG, Det

I was strongly considering guys that went just ahead of me like Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams. After Guru took Williams, I had to closely scrutinize two guys I wanted to squeeze into this spot---- Billups, and Ray Allen. Ultimately I decided to move Iverson to SG and draft Billups as my new, shiny PG. I’m looking for the standard Billups line of 17.0 points, 1.6 3-pointers, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals which is what he averaged last year. I felt he was an excellent value here and gives me backcourt depth at this spot. I hated to pass up on Ray Ray, but moving AI to SG softens the blow. Gotta like position flexibility.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 15:10

3.09 Baron Davis, PG, GSW

A PF or PG is a must with this pick. With Darron Williams and Chauncey Billups gone the top PG left is Baron Davis. Okafor is the only PF that I'd consider here and he doesn't carry the injury problems that Davis has. On the other hand when Davis is playing, his 20+ points, 8+ assists and 2+ steals can't be matched by anyone left. I'm going to bet on Davis playing 70+ games.

Mark L
ID: 25155512
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 15:39

3.10 Ray Allen, SG, BOS

Was extremely happy to see Allen available here. He should have a boatload of open looks at triples with Pierce and KG on the floor. His outrageously high FT% is insurance against Dwight Howard's preseason improvement proving to be illusory. And even with the other two studs, I would be surprised if Ray doesn't average 22 ppg. He's getting a little on the old side, but he'll have that shooting eye until his last day in the league.

Bonus: Ray is my daughter's all-time favorite player.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 20:26

3.11 Michael Redd, SG, MIL

Well I had made a que with Carmelo Anthony, Ray Allen and Caron Butler ahead of Redd. Unfortunately they were all gone. I still agonized over this pick between Redd, McGrady and Josh Howard who both went in the next two picks. I really needed scoring after picking Kidd with my second round pick and Redd fills the need nicely. Along with nice FT%, three's and a steal a game he should fit nicely with my team.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 20:26

For cc
3.12 Tracy McGrady, SG, Hou
McGrady at pick 36 is a no brainer. He is only 28 so I expect that he will only miss a handful of games because of his back problems. This would leave me with 70 to 75 games of 25pts, 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks.

4.01 Josh Howard, SF, Dal
The decision was between Howard and Deng. They will probably put up very similar numbers except for 3pts where Howard will contribute 1.1 per game. The only matter of concern is whether Mark Cuban will try and bid for Kobe. How would Howard perform with the Lakers? I have to imagine he would perform as least as well as with the Mavericks.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 20:34

4.02 Emeka Okafor
This might be a bit of a stretch but after the Redd pick I thought I would go big again. Okafor brings a lot of blocks as well as double double points and rebounds. He is still improving and hopefully can get a few more points with the new higher scoring Bobcats. I probably would have taken Josh Howard here but coldwater coyotes put a stop to that. Along with Gasol I now have a solid base for blocks and rebounds.

Mark L
Leader
ID: 03601149
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 21:34

4.03 Luol Deng, SF, CHI

After the Ray Allen pick I went back my philosophy of players
poised to make big jumps in productivity. Deng had a semi-
breakout year last year, especially scoring and rebounding, and
similar improvement this year at age 22 would make him well
worth this pick. His FG% is off the charts for a guy who takes
this many midrange shots and he's only slightly below average
at the line. I was a little concerned about being weak in the
triples category going with Deng here since he and Howard give
me two total non-contributors, but I believed that there will be
three-point specialists available later, and Allen gives me a
strong base in that category.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 22:46

4.04 Manu Ginobili, SG, SAN

The 6 guys selected since my last pick wiped out my queue. I was praying Okafor or McGrady would slip. I couldn't really get charged up about anyone so settled on Manu who will contribute in all catagories with 17 pts, 3.5 assists, almost 5 boards a steal and a half and a couple 3s. I still need a rebounder. Maybe next pick.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 23:19

4.05 Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, Chi

I would have taken Luol Deng here if Mark L hadn’t nabbed him (a la the Howard pick earlier, to a lesser extent). I narrowed my choice to Kevin Martin, Hinrich, Zach Randolph, and LaMarcus Aldridge. I felt Hinrich offered the most across the board and for a fourth rounder I’m still looking for the most bang for the buck. I now have another PG/SG (like AI) and even more position flexibility. Plus we have two G spots (er, so to speak) to fill. I like the fact that Hinrich skipped USA ball and hit the weights. His production per minute this pre-season has been outstanding. He will be on the court all the time because of his tremendous defense. 3s, assists, steals, FT%, and decent scoring are a lot to get in this spot or any other spot. I’m liking the way my backcourt has shaped up. Plus, I finally drafted a player that I’ve actually owned before. I don’t ever recall owning Amare, AI, or Billups in a Hoops league. (cue Twilight Zone music)

Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, 23:24

4.06 Kevin Martin, SG, Sac
So far, I have a PG, a PF, and a C. That provides good balance, so I don’t feel as though I have any particular needs that have to be targeted. So I’m going to look for the best player available.

Martin is the first returning player from last year’s championship team, and one of the key ingredients. He was taken in round 11, but ended up performing like a 2nd rounder. Nothing about his statistical profile sticks out as phenomenal, but he provides solid numbers in many cats, including the rare combination of above average contributions in both treys and FG%.

I’d happily settle for a repeat of last year, but at age 24, his production could still be on the upswing. I really didn’t expect him to be available in the middle of round 4.

E'ville Destiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 06:47

4.07 Antwan Jamison, SF/PF, Was
I think this was really because I passed on Jamison last year and regreted it. Also I wanted a forward that could contribute some 3's as a bonus.

Dave R
ID: 43971910
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 10:22

4.08 Mike Miller, SF, MEM

I almost grabbed JRich here but since Species let the cat out of the bag to me that he wanted him, I felt obligated to pass. I he was taken. had really wanted Hinrich, but he was taken by Mike D or K. Martin, taken by Guru.

Actually Miller may be a better fit for my team as his %'s are somewhat better and his all around game is solid.

Miller had a career year last year, averaging 18.5 ppg, 5.2 RB's and 4.5 assists. And 200 3's. Toss in a steal a game and solid %'s and I think he is a sound pick at this juncture.

Species
ID: 43971910
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 10:30

4.09 Jason Richardson, SF, CHA

The debate here was whether to take a PG, reach for my next big man (Chandler) or go with the 'best player available'. I decided that Richardson's overall value was the choice here. This added a 4th 20+PPG scorer, and I loved Richardson's boards from another guard slot (which, as the draft continues to evolve, will be quite necessary). A hefty dose of threes can never hurt, as I now have three 150 made three players on my roster. I felt I could absorb J-Rich's poor %'s.

s R
ID: 861898
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 11:21

4.10 Raymond Felton, PG/SG, Cha

After two years of sharing the point guard duties, Felton has the job all to himself. He averaged 14.0 points, 1.3 3-pointers, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals, and this season he will log more minutes, so he has the potential to become a star.

Jason
ID: 5086298
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 14:32

4.11 Mehmet Okur, C, Uta

I would have like to have two centers as far as it possible, because it always causes problems for me. Maybe Okur was picked too early (maybe not), but he was suitable for me because of his threes, relatively good FT%, which are not typical from centers. I stand well at blocks, so I could afford the low level of blocks from Okur.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:30

for JL
4.12 Tyson Chandler C NOR
There really isn't much to this rationale. Quality centers were running pretty thin at this point. Chandler and Aldridge were the only viable options in my opinion. Do I go with the relatively unproven potential of "The Marcus" or the somewhat proven player in Chandler? Chandler is only 24 years old and he was great last season, nearly leading the league in FG% and rebounds, and posting very solid blocks. LaMarcus had one great month. He could easily top Chandler this season, but I feel like I have to go with the more proven player on this one.

5.01 Jason Terry PG DAL
"It's time for some assists....oh wait, too late...Andre Miller and TJ Ford are really the only options left...Miller doesn't make any three's...and Ford shoots 19% from the field. Terry only gets 5 assists per game, but his percentages are fantastic and he hits plenty of threes. So much for assists..."

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:31

for Jason
5.02 Maurice Williams PG MIL
This was the fifth round and I hadn't a PG. I decided to choose a very strong one. Last year, I could pick up Williams in the ninth round, and maybe he helped me to win. I am grateful to him for this, I like his play because of threes, good %, rebounds and assists, and steals. He is a good contributor, fills in the stats.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:31

for s R
5.03 Andre Miller PG PHI
I had planned to get a PG with this pick and Miller was the evident choice. He is a quality point guard and will quietly be among the league leaders in assists. Andre doesn't score much and will not get 3-pointers, but his percentages are excellent and that's important for me.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:32

for Species
5.04 Mike Bibby PG SAC

Interestingly, as I looked over the other RIHC drafts, I outlined a rough strategy of what positions to take through 5 picks, and taking a PG in round 5 really made sense, barring something wacky happening earlier in the draft. As a matter of fact, Bibby was the one I targeted early.

BUT, with a couple of picks to go, I actually wanted Andre Miller here and was mildly shocked when s R took him in front of me with guys like Bibby and Parker available. With my stable of strong scorers it made me covet Miller's higher projected assists, rebounds and FG%. Oh well.

So I settled for Bibby, who I envision having a comeback season this year. New Coach Reggie Theus, IMO, is going to play the kind of game the Kings are capable of (i.e. a strong scoring/running team) as opposed to trying to shove a square peg (defense, slow tempo) into a round hole (having a team of gunners). I expect Bibby's assist total to go up from most projections, and maybe even his steals. I've also added another strong three point shooter and should cement a pretty strong result in this category. I didn't like his FG% but you can't have everything.....it's kind of like dating a girl who is smart, pretty, has a nice stomach, a great ass but small boobs.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 16:02

5.05 Tony Parker , PG, SAS

I wanted to add another PG to my team with thhis pick and really hoped to grab A. Miller or Bibby, but both were taken immediately before my turn. Actually 4 PG's were grabbed right before me.

I'm not a huge Parker fan as a PG but he does bring some solid aspects to his game. I'm hoping for 6 assists, 19-20 points 3-4 rebounds, and better than a steal per game.

Parker should, based on past performance, shoot better than 50% from the floor, but on the other hand below 70% from the line, which is poor for a PG. He also doesn't offer much in the way of 3's.

E'ville Destiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 16:41

5.06 LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, Por
I ended a run of 5 point guards. I could have used one but I had my eyes on Aldridge since last round and I was suprised that he fell to me. With what I have seen this preseason I think he should average 17-18 plus a decent shot blocker and rebounder and he hasn't needed a lot minutes to get that. Also his FT% has been excellent this preseason with lots of attempts which helps offset any weaker big men I pickup.

I know he's sometimes considered an over-hyped sleeper but I'm sold his potential especially with the depleted Portland front line.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 17:13

5.07 Samuel Dalembert, C, Phi

With two picks to go before mine, my short list included Barbosa or Gordon at guard, and Dalembert or Aldridge at center. While I have both of the guards ranked a bit higher than either center, I think guard stats are more easily attainable in the later rounds. I’d rather not get too far behind the 8-ball in filling out my center spots – especially with Cotton Camby holding down one of them.

Pick #55 might be a slight stretch for either center, but not much - , and it’s always nice when you can land a center without reaching.(or cringing). Aldridge is younger (22), and probably has more upside. Dalembert (26) is currently sitting with a stress fracture in his left foot, but Aldridge has a hip pointer and a sore knee. Neither seems like a good bet to play all 82. Aldridge would have been my first choice, but he disappeared right in front of me – which I’ve gotten used to over the years in this league.

So Dalembert it is. Excellent blocks and rebounds, a non-punitive FT%, modest scoring, and not much else.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 25924115
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 18:21

5.08 Zach Randolph, PF, NYK

I would have taken Aldridge here if Footwedge hadn’t taken him 2 picks before. I have Zach Randolph next on my board and he fits the current needs of my team. Only 5 guys in the entire NBA averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds last year, and Randolph was one of them. I think NY will struggle this season, and he will need to get used to his new teammates and the big city. But anything close to 20/10 will be a nice boost for my team. Another guy I don’t recall ever owning. Weird.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 18:29

5.09 Kevin Durant, SF,SEA

I was hoping to get Kirilenko, Odom or West with this pick but could not pass on Durant. I doubt if he'll be notable the first month or two of the season but will improve greatly as time goes on. I'm looking 16 pts, 2.5 assists, 7.5 rbs, a block and a couple 3s. This kid is the real deal

Mark L
Leader
ID: 03601149
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 19:26

5.10 Andrei Kirilenko, SF, UTA

Was looking for frontcourt help with this pick and targeted
Aldridge, AK47, and Durant; would have been happy with any of
them. Kirilenko was my #2 pick in AAA last year and was
probably the biggest disappointment imaginable with those low
single-digit averages. Obviously fell this far because of injury
concerns and the trade demand, but as long as he's healthy (I
don't expect more than 70 games) he'll play whether it's in Utah
or elsewhere. He further solidifies my positioning in blocks and
steals, will help rebounding; shoots well from the floor and will
not kill my FT% given the other guys I have. I don't need him to
score.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 19:45

5.11 Leandro Barbosa, PG,Phoenix

After two of my first 4 picks being guys who are not big scorers I needed a little help in that category. There is some concern that Barbosa is not the 6th man off the bench but I don't think Grant Hill will hurt his time too much. He scored around 18 a game last year and I expect that to stay the same. He has good %'s,2.4 three's,4 assists and over a steal a game. I was hoping Andre Miller might slip to me and I also considered Artest but the more I look at the pick the more I like it.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 20:11

for coldwater coyotes:
5.12 Jameer Nelson, PG, Orl
Having the 12th (or first pick) means that there would be 23 more picks made before I could take another player. Nelson is more of a 7th rounder than a 5th/6th rounder but he was the last available PG on my buy list and there was no chance he would be available at pick 7.12.
With Lewis arriving at Orlando and with D. Howard continuing to improve, Nelson's role will be less of a shooter and more of a passer. Assists could be up to 7 per game and FG% will improve.

6.01 Ricky Davis, SG, Minn
I still did not have a C so by taking the "best available" in Davis I gambled that by the time my next pick came along there would not have been another complete run on centers and the likes of Kaman, Harrington, Miller, Ilgauskas would still be available.
Davis produces great fantasy numbers but there is a risk that he will be traded and become a bench player.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 21:36

6.02 Lamar Odom

Really thought about taking Artest here but his suspension and just overall nuttiness kept me from picking him. So of course I go for a guy who is injured and will likely miss the whole preseason. Oh well Lamar says he will be ready for the start of the season. He brings nice numbers in rebounds and assists with some good position flexibility and a three and steal a game. If Kobe gets traded he might have to step up more but I'm not really sure if that would be a good thing as I think he plays well as the sidekick.

Mark L at the BC
ID: 549341817
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 21:47

6.03 David West, PF, NOR

Surprised to see a potential 20/10 guy with good percentages available here so I took him, even though I really had a bigger need for assists. Also liked the idea of having the leading scorer on Paul's team, given that I think Paul is going to take a significant step up.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 22:27

6.04 Ron Artest, SF, SAC

From the horse's mouth "I have short-changed myself. It's time I really focus on basketball." How can I not draft him with the 64th pick. What a steal.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 08:17

6.05 Rasheed Wallace, PF, Det

Narrowed this to Sheed and Brandon Roy. I think either is an excellent value at pick 65. Roy’s foot/heel scares me a little, though I’m watching him play right now and he looks good. Sheed hopefully will have center eligibility early this season. Regardless, he has a unique ability to average more than 1 block, 3-pointer, and steal a game, which getting a little over 7 boards a game. His scoring isn’t as strong anymore, but should be in the low teens.

I’m convinced I’m subliminally picking guys I’ve never owned (except Hinrich---how did he get on this squad?).

Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 08:30

for Guru
6.06 Ben Gordon, SG, Chi
I considered taking Gordon in round 5, so I’m surprised and pleased to find him still available now. I also considered Brandon Roy, but decided that I wanted Gordon’s three point shooting.

I’ve been a big Gordon fan since his days at UConn, where I was able to follow him closely. He’ll help in all the scoring stats, his 45% FG shooting is decent for a 3-point shooter, and he help out some in assists as well.

E'ville Destiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 09:13

6.07 T.J. Ford, PG, Tor
Several thoughts went into this pick not the leaast of which was need. I passed on the last PG run and really felt the decent ones were going fast. With Roy and Foye still available I decided based on the best assist man. Roy nakes me nervous with the injury problem and Foye has a lot of variables with the large crowd in Minnesota. So I took what I thought was the conservative route, with Ford you pretty much know what you're going to get. Excellent assists poor FG% and nothing else outstanding.

Also making my decision difficault was the desire to get Rudy Gay. I came real close to pulling the trigger on Gay, but after Aldridge feel to me last round I decided to tempt fate again and hope for him to fall.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 10:37

6.08 Andris Biedrins , C , GSW

I may regret grabbing my second center here. There may have been comparable value later.

It all depends on Biedrins. Will he replicate the first half season form from last year where he averaged over 10 points, nearly 10 Rebounds and almost 2 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the floor. Or will it be a somewhat reduced perfomance, due either to the big GSW/ Pacer trade or simply getting worn down over the long haul.

At 21 years old Biedrins should hopefully improve this year and I am counting on it. Anything close to his first half season stats last year would be fine.

His awful FT% ( a career best 52% last year ) isn;t much of a concern, simply because he doesn't get the line all that much, only 2 times per game last year.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:13

for Species
6.09 Corey Maggette, SF, LAC

Round 6 was probably my worst round, queue-wise. With 6 picks to go, my queue consisted of (in order) Andris Biedrins, David West, TJ Ford, Rasheed Wallace, Maggette and Danny Granger. I needed Biedrins' REB and BLK but Dave stole him (just like he has in EVERY even round up to this point, except for when I guilted him out of taking Richardson in Round 4! lol) right in front of me. I loved David West but he was gone. Then I had TJ Ford as one of the higher assist men available....POOF! Rasheed for some blocks, REB and 3's? Nope!

In hindsight I probably should have nabbed Granger because I needed a big man/PF type, but in between SoCal activities I did not have a great deal of time to run my spreadsheet to see where I stood - so I was partially flying by the seat of my pants and working off of my projections sheet as a guide.

That being said, I think Maggette is a very strong pick here. I believe he will be called upon to be the leader on offense on a team with injuries and some aging pieces. He brings a very well rounded game and is another 5-6 REB per game guy from a non power position. Between Kobe, Lewis, Richardson and now Maggette, I have 4 SF/SF guys who all average in excess of 5 RPG, which to me is a great way to spread the responsibility around and not count on big time big men for all of my boards. I also loved his sweet 85% FT percentage.

Besides Granger I also seriously considered Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay, who not-so-coincidentally went in the next 3 picks.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:14

for s R
6.10 Danny Granger, PF, Ind

Granger has all the right tools: he can score, steal, block, and hit 3's and free throws, additionally PF eligible. He is the guy for my team.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:14

for Jason
6.11 Rudy Gay, SF, Mem
I am sure Gay will have a breakout year. He will improve at FG%, and FT%, I am waiting for a lot of threes, steals, and blocks from him. I guess he will finish this year in the top 30 in the league. The previous round was the last one when I would dare enough to risk not choose him. I was very happy when I saw he was still available.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:14

for JL
6.12 Brandon Roy PG POR
I'm shocked that Roy was still available this late. I'm aware of his injury situation, but it's worth the risk at this point. He is very good across the board and he should only get better as the Blazers continue to develop. I wasn't able to grab a traditional high-assist PG, but Roy, Terry, Joe Johnson, Pierce, and Garnett might just be solid enough in that area to make up for it.

7.01 Andrea Bargnani SF TOR
Bargnani had a nice finish to last season. Sure he can't rebound, but he hits 3's, shoots 83% FT, and can block some shots. I like his potential over the proven mediocrity of the other big men at this point.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:15

for Jason
7.02 Randy Foye, PG, MIN
Minnesota without Garnett is another world for the players who are in the team. I wanted in the first line Ricky Davis, but he was already out. Last year Foye stayed only a promise, but later some games were fantastic from him. I know that his injury is a risky factor, but I hope he will be healthy. In this case I will have a top PG again.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:15

for s R
7.03 Chris Kaman, C, LAC
Kaman took a step backward in last season, but he is poised to bounce back. He has the tools to be an above-average pivot and the ability to be a top center. With Elton Brand sidelined, his numbers will rise.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:16

for Species
7.04 Monta Ellis, SF, GSW

With all of the solid PG's gone, I am going to have to make up my assists little by little, kind of like my rebounds. I felt Ellis to be a strong value here, as again I add a 16+ppg scorer to Team Species. Strangely Ellis did not hit a lot of 3's last year, but that could be due to deferring to Boom Dizzle and J-Rich. With J-Rich gone maybe he will get more looks - but on my team I don't need them as much. What I do need are his 1.7-ish steals and 4 assists per game....which should go up with even more playing time this year. I think I would be in heaven if he matched his 47.5% FG%.

I looked at a center here (Bogut, Ilgauskas, B. Miller) but didn't think they carried enough value at his point of the draft, and especially compared to the value of Ellis. Here's hoping that neck injury is okay.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 14:16

for Dave R
7.05 Stephon Marbury, PG, NYK

My short list at this juncture included Roy, Bargnani, Granger and Foye. All snared before I could blink. I also considered Rondo, who I think has tremendous upside.

I settled for the " self- proclaimed " best point guard in the NBA. We all know better. What I do know is that Marbury is a marvelously gifted player, but one whose head and mouth sometimes get him in trouble.

Stephon had a nice second half of the season before missing some games with a toe injury, averaging 16 points and 6 assists. He apparently is excited to have Randolph join the team, playing along side of Curry, and his assists totals seemingly should increase.

Francis is gone, so Marbury and Crawford should man the guard spots and you would think his assist totals will improve. Marbury always has been a capable scorer, sometimes to the detriment of his playmaking.

I feel 18 points, 7-8 assists per game is attainable along with a steal and 1.5 treys per game, more than making this a quality pick in round 7. Time will tell.

E'ville Destiny
Leader
ID: 29017810
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 15:54

7.06 Al Harrington, PF/C, GSW
Opting for best available this time. I think Big Al will produce good numbers whether he starts of plays 6th man. I doubt his numbers will be affected either way. Plus I like his increased rebounding this year and the treys from a big are always an added bonus.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 17:28

7.07 Rajon Rondo, PG , Bos

After making my last pick, I threw together a not-so-short list of possible candidates for round #7. Five are gone: Ford, Granger, Roy, Foye, Ellis. But two remain – Rajon Rondo, and David Lee. I almost wish just one had survived, which would have simplified the decision.

From a team standpoint, I’m very light on forwards, with 3 guards and 2 centers in my first five picks. Only one of my three guards is a point guard, though, so I’m also a bit light in assists. Thus, there is no obvious team need to drive the decision.

Rondo takes over as PG of a team with plenty pf scoring options. He’s not a good shooter himself, but shouldn’t be taking that many shots, so his lower-than-average percentages won’t hurt as much as if he were a gunner. Aside from assists, one of my team weaknesses so far is in steals, and Rondo should excel there as well.

I think there will be more viable forward alternatives in the next few rounds, while the list of available point guards is thinning. It’s a close call – but I’m going with the guy who gets to dish to KG, Pierce, and Allen.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 18:57

7.08 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Cle

I had to look well into the future to set a queue since I would be away most of the day. I had 4 players in it, Z being at the top. I believe I also had Bogut and Rudy Gay. Not sure. But projecting 15 picks ahead for someone you might want is tough. I figured Z would give me decent points, rebounds, blocks, and he’s an excellet free throw shooter for a big guy. He’ll fit nicely as my second center.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 19:09

7.09 David Lee, F, NYK

I absolutely had to get some rebounds with this pick and the picks are getting slim for someone that does something in addition to getting boards. Of course if Guru hadn't taken Rondo.. I had to choose between Lee and Millsap. Thought I had a better chance of getting Millsap with my next pick.

I'm looking for 11+ boards and about 12 points plus some great percentages at 58 and 78.

Mark L
Leader
ID: 03601149
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 20:18

7.10 Andrew Bogut, C, MIL

Wanted to go G here and pick up some badly needed assists, and
targeted Ford, Rondo, Ellis, Marbury and Roy. Uh-oh. Had to
revisit the board and went for a hometown boy who should be OK
scoring, add 7-8 rebounds to my strength and shoot a good
percentage from the floor. At this point, you don't get someone
without question marks, but with the squad I have assembled,
Bogut's weak points -- his lousy FT% and his inability to block
shots despite his height and position -- are tolerable on this team.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 20:36

7.11, Richard Hamilton,SG,DET

Not a sexy pick at all but Hamilton is consistent. I still have a need for more points and Hamilton has averaged close to 20 the past 3 years. Good %'s and decent assists,steals but again nothing special. I almost drafted Diaw here as I think he will bounce back but again I wanted the scoring from Hamilton.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 20:50

For cc

7.12 Boris Diaw,C,PHO
8.01 Brad Miller,C,SAC

Drafting in 12th place meant that I missed out on Ming, Stoudemire and Gasol. These were the only centers that I would have picked in the first three rounds. So I decided to wait on centers to the middle rounds. I had hoped that Harrington would fall to me but I am reasonably happy with Diaw and Miller.

Both are coming off disappointing seasons but I expect that this year they will perform close to their 2005/6 years. Diaw reported to camp in much better shape and Miller has recovered from injuries and has put up some good preseason scores.

tommyd
ID: 326243012
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 21:41

8.02 Richard Jefferson,SF,NJN

Hoping for his averages from the past few years. Apparently he is healthy and brings good #'s in a few cat's. Once again I was looking for scoring which I think Jefferson provides.

Mark L
Leader
ID: 03601149
Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 22:11

8.03 Raja Bell, SG, PHO

Not much to say here. I was desperate for treys and Raja makes a
lot of them.

MikeV
SuperDude
ID: 25924115
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 00:48

8.04 Paul Millsap, F, UTA

I really like Paul Millsap if he can only get enough playing time. Not only will he give me 8 boards but he averages over a steal and a block a game. I don't hope for bad things to happen to Okur, Boozer or Kirilenko, maybe just a season long series of minor injuries.

Mike D
Leader
ID: 41831612
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 09:56

8.05 Shane Battier, SF, Hou

It took awhile to catch up on the last 20 something picks. After I did, I was a little disappointed in the scraps that were left. This was a nice spot to reach for a rookie, but with Battier sitting there I played it safer. I need a SF, I could use some more 3s, and the addition of steals, some blocks, and hopefully decent percentages make up for a lack of big scoring. He should start at SF in Houston and have plenty of looks. I also strongly considered Delonte West and rookie Al Horford.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 11:11

8.06 Josh Childress, SF, Atl

My preference was to get someone here who could fill one of my three remaining forward slots. There appeared to be a variety of decent options here, but as I researched each one in depth, Childress emerged as the only one without significant concerns. Frankly, as you get to this stage of the draft, it’s common to find as many (or more) reasons to avoid a player as there are to take him. As I was putting together a short queue for this pick, I finally settled as Bynum as by second choice. Fortunately, Childress survived. Interestingly, Bynum went one pick later.

Childress is still quite young (24), but entering his fourth NBA season. He provides contributions in almost all categories, but excels on none of them – aside perhaps from FG%. He’s one of those players who is better known in fantasy hoops circles than by NBA fans in general. In that respect, he reminds me a bit of Doug Christie some years ago, whose fantasy value always seemed to exceed his on-court value. On a per-game basis, I have him ranked #65 last season. Unfortunately, he missed 27 games due to foot injuries, but that should be a non-factor this year, as he’s logged 30+ minutes already in 3 of the first four preseason games this month. He probably won’t start again this year, but he always seems to get his minutes.

Something comparable to last year (other than the injury) makes him a very good value here. Slight improvement across the board could make him a top-50 fantasy player.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 12:41

For E'Ville Destiny

8.07 Andrew Bynum C LAL

Taking a flyer on a breakout year. If he gets the minutes he can produce good numbers and I don't have a true center yet I'm loaded with PF/C hybrids so I hoping he can add a little punch to blocks also.

Dave R
SuperDude
ID: 3010361110
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 12:43

8.08 Steven Jackson SG/SF GSW

In keeping with my middle round strategy of " best head case available " welcome to team SANFORDORS, Steven Jackson. Already slated to miss the first seven games of the season, here's to hoping Jackson will take his newly proclaimed co-captaincy of the Warriors seriously and funnel his energies in a productive way on the court instead of off it.

JRich is gone so the 3 spot will belong to Jackson. He is a nice source of points, steals and 3's. He is an excellent FT shooter and knocked down 44.6% of his shots from the floor after coming to GS last year. Their uptempo game fits him perfectly. If he stay on the court this year, 17 points, 1.5 steals and 3's seems about right, along with 4 rebounds and assists per game. And if Baron goes down ( historically possible ) Jackson could fill in at PG as he did last year.

Species
Dude
ID: 07724916
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 13:42

8.09 Ben Wallace, C, CHI

As the draft has unfolded, my opportunities for blocks and big men in general has continuously been thwarted by either my preferred picks being snatched up in front of me (Biedrins) or what I perceived to be materially greater overall/across the board valued players being available (i.e. Richardson, Maggette). But eventually you have to ignore overall value and begin to fill positions with category specialists and hope that your strengths early on will outweigh the weaknesses of these specialists.

Ben Wallace has fallen far from grace in terms of fantasy production to the point where his mangificent counting stats in REB, STL and BLK aren't enough given his lack of scoring and horrible FT%. But for MY team, being absolutely loaded with as many as seven 17+ppg scorers, he made sense. I needed another C and I really needed to crap or get off the pot in terms of blocks....so I have rolled the dice on Big Ben and we'll see if I crap out (lol).

Thankfully he only takes maybe 4 free throws a game. Based upon some projections, I did an average of him and Kobe, and Ben's bricks reduce Kobe's stellar FT% down to 75%.....so in my projected stats I've eliminated Ben's FT% from calculation and dropped Kobe to 75%, and I'm still okay FT% wise. Since his only other wart is scoring, and I feel I have 4 20+ppg and 3 17+ppg scorers already in play, I can afford to plug Ben's counting stats, which is what I really needed at this point.

s R
ID: 861898
Mon, Oct 22, 2007, 14:24

8.10 Marvin Williams, SG/SF, Atl

My first so called "sleeper" pick. He missed the early part of last year because his injured hand and now it seems he is motivated for a breakout season. I like his versatility, he just needs playing time...

Guru
ID: 330592710
Tue, Oct 23, 2007, 20:07

for Jason
8.11 Tyrus Thomas, PF, CHI
Last year I expected a big production from Thomas, but behind P. Brown he got only limited time on the court. He is a very productive player, if he could be a starter (as I hope) he will contribute a lot of rebounds, steals and blocks. Maybe it seems he was a too early selection too, but I wanted to be sure that he will be my player. I think the future will confirm me.

Guru
ID: 330592710
Tue, Oct 23, 2007, 20:08

for JL
8.12 Eddy Curry, C, NYK

I wasn't available during this pick, and I had to make a quick 31-man queue after someone invited me to the LSU/Auburn game at the last second on Saturday...so I wasn't able to put much thought into the queue. I think this pick shows it. I'm not excited about Curry at all.

100

Guru
ID: 330592710
Tue, Oct 23, 2007, 20:09

Rationales for round 9-15

Forum: hoopPage 12528Subject: RIHC 2007-08: Draft Rationales

Forum: hoop
Page 12528
Subject: RIHC 2007-08: Draft Rationales