All-Time NBA Draft Review - st0rmb11 - st0rmb11's Blog

st0rmb11's Blog

All-Time NBA Draft Review - st0rmb11

Posted on December 26, 2011 at 06:25 PM.

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st0rmb11
c - moses malone, bill laimbeer, manute bol
pf - nate thurmond, chris webber
sf - kevin durant, bob dandridge
sg - dwyane wade, paul westphal, dell curry
pg - chris paul, deron williams

I'll try my best to be objective, but I have to say...I think people are sleeping on my team.

Offense - I have the 2nd best shooting guard of the last decade (and, in my opinion, the best ALL-AROUND offensive shooting guard since Jordan). I have the best point guard of the past decade, in Chris Paul. I have the second best point guard of the last decade, in Deron Williams. Deron can also shoot as well as Paul, and can post up. I have the best (statistical) offensive rebounder ever. I have one of the best scorers in league since he entered, in Durant. Chris Webber was one of the best all-around big men to ever play (face up game, post game, tremendous passer, could run the floor). I can bring in a knock down 3 point shooter (Curry). Bob Dandridge & Paul Westphal were instant offense, and the two of them (as well as Durant, Paul, Deron, & Wade) were tremendous in the clutch, so I could cover up Webber's clutch deficiencies. Nate Thurmond & Manute Bol are really my only 2 week offensive players (Thurmond averaged 15 points per game, but only shot 42%), and Manute Bol, while he had his moments from the three point line, I won't pretend he was a threat. Laimbeer can step out and pop jumpers, or bang inside. I could run pick & pops with him all day. I can sub guys in at every position and never lose any offense. and one thing I do like is that I (personally) feel that my offense doesn't rely on several guys playing one on one. Durant can use screens, Wade can cut through off of picks, handle the ball, & post up, Webber can pass from the post, Paul & Deron can run pick & rolls with Webber all day, and also move the ball around to Dandridge, Durant, Curry, Wade, & Westphal spotting up or cutting. I could let Laimbeer or Moses grab boards, and run you off of the court with any combination of Paul, Wade, Westphal, Webber, Durant, Deron, and then have Curry spot up in the corner, or have Laimbeer trail the play for a top of the key shot. and if we miss, Moses can rack up 4 to 8 offensive boards per game. I think my best offensive lineup would be Moses, Webber, Durant, Wade, & Paul, with Dandridge, Westphal, Laimbeer, & Deron coming off the bench. 10/10

Defense - Moses was never a strong defender. Durant is an average on ball defender, though he has gotten good at weak side blocks. Chris Webber was average. Same for Deron, though he can be physical with smaller guards. Wade, Paul, & Dandridge are/were great on ball & off ball defenders. As I mentioned when I drafted him, Nate Thurmond was considered by Kareem & Wilt to be the hardest defender to play against. If he could handle those guys, I think he could handle Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing...maybe not Shaq. Laimbeer was a banger, a great defensive rebounder, and would knock anyone on their *** if they drove in. Manute Bol will throw away countless shots IF people get by my perimeter guys. Paul Westphal was wide open at all times, reeking havoc and jumping passing lanes. Best defensive line up - Bol, Thurmond, Dandridge, Wade, & Paul. I can bring Westphal, Deron, & Laimbeer in, for a solid 8 man defensive rotation. Also, I'm covered on the most important aspect of defense - rebounding. Still, too many of my stars are average at best defenders. 9/10

Chemistry - Durant is as humble as anyone ever. I think he'll be fine if he only gets 10 shots per game. As far as I know, Paul, Wade, Deron, Dandridge, Westphal, & Dell Curry never have had any issues with grasping a team concept. Manute Bol was loved by anyone who ever met him. Laimbeer was hated by his opponents, but teammates loved him because he always had their back in any situation. Thurmond had no ego, as far as I know. He was a quiet guy. Moses wouldn't be an issue. He wanted to do one thing - rebound. He wouldn't care if I ran the ball through him, he'd create his own shots. Chris Webber had his issues over money and with Don Nelson, but from what I've heard, his teammates loved him. and hell, if he has an issue with coming off of the bench, I'll start him (Thurmond won't mind). It'll hurt my D a little, but it'll only make my offense that much better. I have to say, 10/10 here

Durability - Wade has never played a full season, and has had 2 years of under 60 games. Kevin Durant, for the most part, has stayed healthy. CP3 has never played a full season, and has only reached 80 games twice. Moses Malone rarely missed any games. Deron Williams has had 2 of his last 3 seasons with under 70 games, but before that, he had only missed 4 games in 3 seasons. Nate Thurmond missed several games throughout his career. Chris Webber was always missing a lot of games. Dandridge didn't miss many games. Dell Curry played all the time once he became a regular. Manute Bol never missed games until his last 2 seasons, but he rarely missed games during his first 7 seasons. Westphal had injuries ruin the end of his career, but prior to his 9th season, he played 82 games almost every season. Bill Laimbeer played all the time, playing 79 or more every year for his first 13 seasons. Still, three of my best players seem/seemed to miss too many games every season (Wade, Paul, Thurmond, & Webber). Durant, Dandridge, Moses, Laimbeer, Bol, Curry, & Westphal are/were constantly over 80 games, but..too many guys that got hurt towards the end of their careers. 7/10

Depth - I don't lose anything if I make a substitution at point guard. I lose a little scoring and rebounding if I take out Durant for Dandridge, but I gain a lock down defender. If I take out Wade, I lose a little bit of scoring and on ball defense, but..man, Paul Westphal could still get 20+ points per game if I started him, and was a great passer and raised hell on defense by running around and jumping passing lanes. If I take out Moses, I lose offensive rebounding, but Laimbeer was his equal as a defensive rebounder, and gives me more offensive possibilities. I don't lose much by taking out Thurmond & putting in Webber. Webber gives me a whole new offensive game plan/weapon (as a passer and scorer), and he could rebound almost as well as Thurmond. I do lose defense. Curry could come in at shooting guard, and I gain a shooter, but I lose a lot of defense. Bol comes in at center, and I lose scoring, but gain interior defense. I'm trying hard to remain objective, but I really think I have as deep a roster as anyone in this thing. My bench is close to as good as my starters (Starters - Moses, Thurmond, Durant, Wade, Paul)(Bench - Laimbeer, Webber, Dandridge, Westphal, Deron). I love my bench, honestly. I would lose interior defense, but likely gain perimeter defense. I don't lose any defensive rebounding, and with this line up, I could still score, even without Moses' offensive boards. Webber & Laimbeer could run so many pick & rolls/pick & pops with Deron & Westphal. 10/10

Total - 46/50 (go ahead, tell me how biased I am..I really tried not to be, though)

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