Game 1 Draft - Worst Pick

[Matrim55]

That's one of the tough things about this exercise. When you haven't seen a player. You went with all pre 2000 players. Only guy I didn't see was Earl Kelly. It'll be hard (impossible?) for me to evaluate him against another team.

I can give you eye-witness scouting reports of every player going back to Hanson. I can give you my dad's scouting report on Bialosuknia and Kimball, as well as some anecdotal statistical evidence for how they would translate. (Bialosuknia: EXTRAORDINARILY well; Kimball: not so much)

It's up to you whether or not you want/would value that.

Re: Earl, as a senior he averaged 19 ppg on 49% from the floor, 88% from the line. He also averaged 6.5 apg, and 1.5 spg. This was in the mid-1980s Big East, going against Georgetown, Syracuse, St. John's, Villanova and BC when that meant something. He was easily, EASILY the most talented 1-v-1 player we had until Kemba. If you want a modern comparison, try Kyrie Irving.

Earl was also an all-around scumbag who embarrassed himself and the program, but I've got Ricky and Scotty B to keep him on the straight and narrow. Just not gonna let him drive the van.

I love the Ricky pick. He's one of the keys to this draft imo. He can guard Bazz/Kemba which is a huge factor.

When I put Ricky/Lyman/Burrell/Donyell/Travis out there, nobody scores on me. Nobody.

I'm surprised Boatright didn't land on a team in the 7th round. He's got the same value.

Boat went in the middle of round 4, one pick before I landed Knight. As the second-best defensive guard in the draft, oen who can space the floor and create his own shot as well, he was a very good pick at that spot. I'd have considered him, most definitely.

 

[intlzncster]

Boat went in the middle of round 4, one pick before I landed Knight. As the second-best defensive guard in the draft, oen who can space the floor and create his own shot as well, he was a very good pick at that spot. I'd have considered him, most definitely.

Whoops I missed him. It's actually pretty confusing to keep track between 2 drafts. He was actually taken high in both drafts! I had Boat rated highly simply because you need guys who can guard the Kemba/Shabazz/El-Amin guys. Shows you the value of an all around player. I'm still shocked Tony Robertson wasn't drafted in Game 2.

Earl sounds like a beast. Would have liked to have seen him. There are no off the court points in this game so I don't care about his extra curriculars.

 

[intlzncster]

Did Boat honestly not get drafted in game 1? That's horrible if true.

No that was me getting confused switching between 2 tabs of the two drafts. Kind of confusing.

 

[Matrim55]

I'm still shocked Tony Robertson wasn't drafted in Game 2.

Me too. I liked TR a lot, though from your comments on this thread and others I think you overrate him a bit.

Earl sounds like a beast. Would have liked to have seen him. There are no off the court points in this game so I don't care about his extra curriculars.

I figured, which is why I took him. But when you have a few moments, read up on him - it'll give you new perspective on just how much Calhoun had to shovel us out of to get us up to respectability.

Earl made Nate Miles look like a choirboy.

 

[intlzncster]

Me too. I liked TR a lot, though from your comments on this thread and others I think you overrate him a bit.

Yes perhaps. But I do put a high value on all around players for this exercise, hence why I favor him over Rashad (even though Rash has better size).

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Yes perhaps. But I do put a high value on all around players for this exercise, hence why I favor him over Rashad (even though Rash has better size).

I'm also someone who was never really that enthused with Albert Mouring, so that might color the commentary of the two. Might be personal bias.

I'd much rather have my role players be specialists than have a slew of guys who are competent, yet not great, at multiple things

 

[Matrim55]

I'd much rather have my role players be specialists than have a slew of guys who are competent, yet not great, at multiple things

Well put.

 

[Robertelamin]

Tony blew both Mourning and Anderson out of the water athletically. Tony never quite put it all together though...Still I would take Tony over both unless you are just looking for a 3 point shooter and then I would take Anderson.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I'd much rather have my role players be specialists than have a slew of guys who are competent, yet not great, at multiple things

Ding ding ding ding ding.

Rashad is my 4th or 5th best starter, and isn't going to have the ball in his hands most of the time. He's someone who will make you pay when you have to commit extra defenders to stopping my stud ballhandlers or post players.

 

[tzznandrew]

Ding ding ding ding ding.

Rashad is my 4th or 5th best starter, and isn't going to have the ball in his hands most of the time. He's someone who will make you pay when you have to commit extra defenders to stopping my stud ballhandlers or post players.

I didn't mind the Anderson pick. But I'll say this--AJP, Doron Sheffer, and Rashad Anderson are going to be sieves on defense. Doron will pick some pockets, sure, but he's slow footed. But, you did make the right first pick in Okafor. He'll clean up some of those messes. But, I can certainly imagine foul trouble down low, or the danger of it, forcing you to bring in Kromah, who is a plus defensive player, but a weak offensive player (in the scheme of UConn's history).

 

[intlzncster]

I'd much rather have my role players be specialists than have a slew of guys who are competent, yet not great, at multiple things

And yet, I'd rather have TR start over Mouring or Anderson because I think he's a better basketball player and importantly a better defender. I think he would have been perfect for your particular team.

 

[intlzncster]

Ding ding ding ding ding.

Rashad is my 4th or 5th best starter, and isn't going to have the ball in his hands most of the time. He's someone who will make you pay when you have to commit extra defenders to stopping my stud ballhandlers or post players.

If anyone is starting Anderson, I'm sending a stud up against him and scoring 40 with impunity. On your team, I'd probably start Kromah over him. Not talent wise necessarily, but what the team needs.

 

[tzznandrew]

And yet, I'd rather have TR start over Mouring or Anderson because I think he's a better basketball player and importantly a better defender. I think he would have been perfect for your particular team.

This is the best argument. TRob brings more than offense.

But I'll say, I think it depends on the team. Some teams may already have enough defense where a clutch player like Anderson coming off the bench is just fine. Remember, we won a NC with that. You just better have solid defense at your other two guard positions, otherwise your center--I don't care whom it is--will be in foul trouble.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

And yet, I'd rather have TR start over Mouring or Anderson because I think he's a better basketball player and importantly a better defender. I think he would have been perfect for your particular team.

You would rather have him because you're massively overrating him. But tell me who's coming close to stopping my team offensively during the times I sit Tate and run Smith Mouring Ray Daniels together or run a small/fast Tate Smith Mouring Ray Daniels? The second lineup is something I could particularly do damage with in my first matchup.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

If anyone is starting Anderson, I'm sending a stud up against him and scoring 40 with impunity. On your team, I'd probably start Kromah over him. Not talent wise necessarily, but what the team needs.

So, you get to choose who matches up on who and the other guy doesn't?

Sh.it, I'll just wait for you to tell me how Moore would hold Ray 3-23 or something asinine.

 

[tzznandrew]

You would rather have him because you're massively overrating him. But tell me who's coming close to stopping my team offensively during the times I sit Tate and run Smith Mouring Ray Daniels together or run a small/fast Tate Smith Mouring Ray Daniels? The second lineup is something I could particularly do damage with in my first matchup.

Everyone, because who effectively runs the offense? Chris Smith is a 2G.

And who are you stopping with those teams?

 

[tzznandrew]

So, you get to choose who matches up on who and the other guy doesn't?

Sh.it, I'll just wait for you to tell me how Moore would hold Ray 3-23 or something asinine.

Ricky would slow him down. Certainly not that, though. When voting, you take the defense into consideration. If he's an average defender (Chris Smith) you give them their season averages, when he's a plus defender (Moore, Boat, Taliek--in that order) you minus a few points, when they're a negative defender (Marcus Williams, Rashad Anderson, Ray Allen), you add a few.

 

[intlzncster]

So, you get to choose who matches up on who and the other guy doesn't?

Sh.it, I'll just wait for you to tell me how Moore would hold Ray 3-23 or something asinine.

He'll have to matchup against somebody. And most lineups are stacked. That's why it's best to have defenders at every position imo. UCONN won every one of it's Championships on the strength of world class D.

Ricky would slow down a lot of our great players. Not stop them. Kemba and Shabazz never had to play a defender like Ricky. They'd get their 20+ but inefficiently.

 

[intlzncster]

You would rather have him because you're massively overrating him. But tell me who's coming close to stopping my team offensively during the times I sit Tate and run Smith Mouring Ray Daniels together or run a small/fast Tate Smith Mouring Ray Daniels? The second lineup is something I could particularly do damage with in my first matchup.

Again, D is more important than O imo. It's what won UCONN it's championships first and foremost. Yeah, we had great offensive players too, but UCONN's D has been it's hallmark. Hence, why I favor two way players.

Two of the keys to the whole draft were Ricky and Boatright imo because of this.

 

[tzznandrew]

He'll have to matchup against somebody. And most lineups are stacked. That's why it's best to have defenders at every position imo. UCONN won every one of it's Championships on the strength of world class D.

Ricky would slow down a lot of our great players. Not stop them. Kemba and Shabazz never had to play a defender like Ricky. They'd get their 20+ but inefficiently.

That really had to be a consideration. I figured a plus defender in each spot (even if that had to be the bench) would be important. Where I have a potentially weak defender in the lineup, I have a plus defender on the bench I could play instead.

Defense--tough, man to man, half court defense--won titles at UConn. The press, while fun, maxed out at the E8.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Everyone, because who effectively runs the offense? Chris Smith is a 2G.

And who are you stopping with those teams?

Smith led the team in assists 2 years he was at UConn, Smith can clearly run that offense for periods during the game.

Boone averaged 4 blocks and 11.3 rebounds per 40 during his sophomore year, Oriakhi 2 blocks and 12 boards per 40, with 7 man teams these guys are going to be playing closer to that 40 minute mark than they did at most times. Smith was also a plus perimeter defender.

High time I go over and kick your ass in that other thread though. Your team is a joke.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Ricky would slow him down. Certainly not that, though. When voting, you take the defense into consideration. If he's an average defender (Chris Smith) you give them their season averages, when he's a plus defender (Moore, Boat, Taliek--in that order) you minus a few points, when they're a negative defender (Marcus Williams, Rashad Anderson, Ray Allen), you add a few.

Sorry, but no. Ray was basically Lebron in college.

 

[tzznandrew]

Smith led the team in assists 2 years he was at UConn, Smith can clearly run that offense for periods during the game.

Boone averaged 4 blocks and 11.3 rebounds per 40 during his sophomore year, Oriakhi 2 blocks and 12 boards per 40, with 7 man teams these guys are going to be playing closer to that 40 minute mark than they did at most times. Smith was also a plus perimeter defender.

High time I go over and kick your ass in that other thread though. Your team is a joke.

Per 40...not necessarily the best stat because there are reasons most players don't play 40. Perhaps that stat's the reason Pat Lenehan was drafted though.

Sorry. When my team is the only team that starts a Consensus First Team AA and Second Team AA (Kemba and Rudy), when I have two of the best 4 statistical seasons on my team (Wes, Tony Hanson, Donyell, Kemba in some order), when I start the 3rd, 6th, and 8th leading scorers in UConn history, when every member of the starting line up was at least third team all conference, and all but Sellers were first team all conference, when I have a plus defender at every position (Kemba-Taliek-Rudy-Niels-Sellers), when my starting back-court each won a title as the lead guard, and played significant minutes on a Final Four team and an E8 team, when my 1-4 were all drafted into the NBA...I think I got this.

 

[tzznandrew]

Sorry, but no. Ray was basically Lebron in college.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-03-23/sports/1996083084_1_allen-mississippi-state-bulldogs

For all your "Ricky couldn't do anything to Ray" (and I don't have Ricky, but I do have plus defenders at 1 and 2), Ray played terrible here.

So much for LeBron.

I love Ray, but don't sound silly...LeBron would have made one Final Four in 3 years.

 

[tzznandrew]

Smith led the team in assists 2 years he was at UConn, Smith can clearly run that offense for periods during the game.

Smith's best season he averaged 3.7 apg. On a team that played at a torrid pace. To put that into perspective, the much slower 2004 team had two players average more assists than that: Taliek and Ben Gordon. And Ben averaged more than that despite playing next to Taliek when Taliek put up more assists per game in a season than any UConn player not named Marcus Williams.

Good luck in the half court. There's a reason Tate and Smith never led a team beyond the E8--and only got there once.