2010-11 Season Previews: Indiana Pacers

Come on, you KNOW he's pissed the Jazz drafted Hayward.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Today we tackle the Indiana Pacers, who finally seem to have a plan other than being mediocre all the time.


2009-10 Record: 32-50
Additions: Darren Collison (Trade), Paul George (Draft), Lance Stephenson (Draft)
Subtractions: Troy Murphy, Earl Watson, Luther Head

2010-11 Season Previews: New York Knicks

Pictured: Danilo Gallinari

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Lets head on over to New York, because apparently that's where everyone wants to be nowadays.


2009-10 Record: 29-53
Additions: Amar'e Stoudemire (FA), Raymond Felton (FA), Ronny Turiaf (Trade), Kelenna Azubuike (Trade), Timofey Mozgov (FA), Anthony Randolph (Trade), Roger Mason (FA), Andy Rautins (Draft), Landry Fields (Draft), Patrick Ewing Jr. (FA)
Subtractions: Tracy McGrady, Al Harrington, David Lee, Chris Duhon, Eddie House, Sergio Rodriguez, J.R. Giddens, Jonathan Bender, Earl Barron

2010-11 Season Previews: Los Angeles Clippers

You're crazy man. I like you, but you're crazy.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Today we head to Hollywood to take a look at the Clippers, who have so far been the least successful NBA Franchise of all time. Will that change anytime soon?


2009-10 Record: 29-53
Additions: Vinny Del Negro (Coach), Blake Griffin (Injury), Al-Farouq Aminu (Draft), Eric Bledsoe (Draft), Willie Warren (Draft), Ryan Gomes (FA), Randy Foye (FA), Brian Cook (FA)
Subtractions: Kim Hughes (Coach), Drew Gooden, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, Brian Skinner, Steve Novak, Bobby Brown

2010-11 Season Previews: Philadelphia 76ers

You can't handle the Jruth

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Friday we left off with the Warriors and now we head East to the city of Brotherly Love.


2009-10 Record: 27-55
Additions: Rod Thorn (President), Doug Collins (Coach), Evan Turner (Draft), Spencer Hawes (Trade), Andres Nocioni (Trade), Craig Brackins (Trade), Darius Songaila (Trade), Tony Battie (FA)
Subtractions: Eddie Jordan, Samuel Dalembert, Willie Green, Jason Smith, Francisco Elson, Rodney Carney

2010-11 Season Previews: Detroit Pistons

Terrico White dunks may be the most exciting thing Pistons fans see next season.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Yesterday we did the Sixers, now lets move on to Motown.


2009-10 Record: 27-55
Additions: Greg Monroe (Draft), Terrico White (Draft), Tracy McGrady (FA)
Subtractions: Kwame Brown, Chucky Atkins

2010-11 Season Previews: Golden State Warriors

Not sure how I feel about the new Uniforms yet.  Better than the last ones at least.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Yesterday we did the Kings, and now we move a bit down the highway to the other Northern California team, the Golden State Warriors.


2009-10 Record: 26-56
Additions: Guber & Lacob (Owners), Keith Smart (Coach), David Lee (Sign-and-Trade), Charlie Bell (Trade), Dan Gadzuric (Trade), Dorell Wright (FA), Ekpe Udoh (Draft), Jeremy Lin (FA), Lou Amundson (FA)
Subtractions: Chris Cohan, Don Nelson, Corey Maggette, Ronny Turiaf, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph, Devean George, C.J. Watson, Anthony Morrow, Chris Hunter, Anthony Tolliver

2010-11 Season Previews: Washington Wizards

I'm a little teapot, short and stout, here is my handle, here is my spout.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best. Yesterday was the Minnesota Timberwolves, and today we move on to the Washington Wizards, a team coming off a miserable year but with good reason to hope for a bright future.


2009-10 Record: 26-56
Additions: Ted Leonsis (Owner), John Wall (Draft), Kevin Seraphin (Draft), Trevor Booker (Draft), Kirk Hinrich (Trade), Yi Jianlian (Trade), Hilton Armstrong (FA)
Subtractions: Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Fabricio Oberto, Javaris Crittenton, Quinton Ross, James Singleton, Earl Boykins, Shaun Livingston, Cedric Jackson

2010-11 Season Previews: Sacramento Kings

Deface this. I dare you.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  We've now reached my hometown and favorite team, the Sacramento Kings.


2009-10 Record: 25-57
Additions: DeMarcus Cousins (Draft), Hassan Whiteside (Draft), Samuel Dalembert (Trade), Darnell Jackson (Trade), Pooh Jeter (FA), Antoine Wright (FA), Donald Sloan (FA)
Subtractions: Spencer Hawes, Andres Nocioni, Sean May, Ime Udoka, Dominic McGuire, Jon Brockman

2010-11 Season Previews: Minnesota Timberwolves

Oh Ricky, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Ricky, hey Ricky

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best. Yesterday was the New Jersey Nets, and today we move on to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team with the most made fun of GM in all of sports.

2009-10 Record: 15-67
Additions: Michael Beasley (Trade), Martell Webster (Trade), Nikola Pekovic (FA), Luke Ridnour (FA), Wesley Johnson (Draft), Sebastian Telfair (Trade), Anthony Tolliver (FA), Kosta Koufos (Trade), Lazar Hayward (Draft)
Subtractions: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Ramon Sessions, Damien Wilkins, Ryan Hollins, Oleksiy Pecherov, Sasha Pavlovic, Brian Cardinal, Nathan Jawai

2010-11 Season Previews: New Jersey Nets

I would pay good money to hear Avery Johnson and Brook Lopez in a shouting match.  Weird voices collide.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best, so that means we're starting with the New Jersey Nets, who set a record for futility last year by losing their first 18 games in a row.

2009-10 Record: 12-70
Additions: Avery Johnson (coach), Mikhail Prokhorov (owner), Billy King (GM), Troy Murphy (trade), Derrick Favors (draft), Damion James (draft), Anthony Morrow (FA), Travis Outlaw (FA), Jordan Farmar (FA), Johan Petro (FA), Quinton Ross (trade), Brian Zoubek (FA), Ben Uzoh (FA)
Subtractions: Kiki Vandeweghe (coach), Rod Thorn (GM), Bobby Simmons, Tony Battie, Trenton Hassell, Keyon Dooling, Yi Jianlian, Jarvis Hayes, Josh Boone, Courtney Lee, Chris Quinn, Chris Douglas-Roberts

The Non All-Star team

That's a Darvin Ham Sandwich

In reading David Kahn's letter to the fans the other day, he mentioned that the team has yet to find that singular star to build around yet, which is true.  Most successful teams have a few stars that they build around for the future, and most championship teams have more than one.  Perhaps the only time in the last 30 years that a team has gone all the way without a single "franchise" player were the Detroit Pistons in 2004, who started Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace, with some great pieces off the bench in Mehmet Okur, and Corliss Williamson.  Of those players, only Rasheed and Ben had been to the All-Star game before (Ben had gone the previous year and also the year during the championship run, while Rasheed went twice at the beginning of the decade).  Neither Rasheed or Ben were considered franchise level talent however, especially not compared to the Lakers team they played in the NBA Finals (and beat handily) who started Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Devean George, Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton.

This is obviously an incredibly rare feat to pull off, and no team really tries to follow this formula (building around a star or stars is MUCH more successful).  But if you had to build a team consisting of players that had never been in the All-Star game before, who would you pick for your starting 5?  To make the exercise even more interesting, these players should not be on their rookie contracts.  Also, players that have been voted into an All-Star game but were not able to play due to injury do not count.

Here is, in my estimation, a depth chart (not in order) of the best players that haven't been selected to an All-Star game by position.

C: Andrew Bogut, Kendrick Perkins, Nene Hilario, Andris Biedrins, Emeka Okafor, Marcin Gortat, Marcus Camby, Andrea Bargnani
PF: Anderson Varejao, Luis Scola, Udonis Haslem, Troy Murphy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Carl Landry, Al Jefferson, Andray Blatche
SF: Josh Smith, Luol Deng, Shane Battier, Lamar Odom, Rudy Gay, Corey Maggette, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson
SG: Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Ben Gordon, Kevin Martin, John Salmons, J.J. Redick, Andre Iguodala, Jason Richardsons
PG: Ramon Sessions, Monta Ellis, Kyle Lowry, Luke Ridnour, Raymond Felton, Lou Williams, Andre Miller, Jose Calderon, Kirk Hinrich

There are others you could mention, but I didn't feel that anyone would pick them over the players on the list.

My starting 5 of those players to try for a title would be Andrew Bogut, LaMarcus Aldridge, Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, and Kirk Hinrich.  Bogut, Aldridge and Odom would give teams like the Lakers, Magic and Celtics trouble with their length, and Martin would be an absolute monster working off the ball.  His defensive efficiencies are nothing to overlook though, so I paired him with a good defender in Hinrich who can also shoot, unlike the other good defenders on that list in Lowry and Felton.  The players I had the hardest time keeping off this lineup were Andre Iguodala and Josh Smith.  If I had opted to put them on the team, I probably would have put Troy Murphy as the Power Forward to provide additional shooting as Smith and Iguodala are both poor shooters.

Who would your Non All-Star team be?

What would a modern NBA Expansion Team look like?

In 2004, the Charlotte Bobcats became the first NBA expansion team in almost 10 years, when the NBA opened its doors to Canada with the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies.  Since then, there has been mixed talk on whether the NBA should ever expand again, or if in fact, it should contract.  

Just for fun, I thought it would be cool to see what an expansion team might look like in today's NBA, a team that would be starting in the NBA for the 2011-12 season.  I've contacted team bloggers to act as their team's General Manager, and decide who they should/should not protect from the Expansion team, which shall henceforth be called the Centralia Hagfish (Copyright Mark Deeks, ShamSports.com).

First off, the rules.  I'll be trying to focus on the basic rules the NBA used when the Bobcats came into the league:

• The Hagfish must select a minimum of 14 players who are under contract or are restricted free agents for the 2011-12 season.
• The Hagfish may select no more than one player from each team.
• The Hagfish can only select players that are unprotected by their team.
• Each of the 30 NBA teams may protect a maximum of 8 players on its roster who are under contract or are restricted free agents at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season.
• Each of the 30 NBA teams must designate at least one player on its roster to be eligible for selection by the Hagfish, even if the team does not have 8 players under contract or as restricted free agents for the 2011-12 season.
• All players under contract selected by the Hagfish will be immediately placed on the Hagfish roster.
• Any eligible restricted free agent selected by the Hagfish shall immediately become an unrestricted free agent.
• Unrestricted Free Agents are not eligible to be protected or selected.
• The Hagfish can engage in pre-Expansion Draft trades involving draft picks and players in which Centralia agrees to select or not select certain unprotected players in return.  (Note: This is the hardest part of this exercise to simulate.  For example, in the Bobcats expansion draft, they were given the 4th pick, and traded that to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2nd pick, on the condition that the Bobcats would select Predrag Drobnjak)
• The Hagfish can select players in the Expansion draft without regards to the Salary Cap.
• When the Hagfish select a restricted free agent, they can use the same exceptions (Bird, Early Bird, Non-Bird) that their previous team would've been able to use.  They don't, however, have the right to match offers as the player(s) have become unrestricted free agents due to their selection in the expansion draft.
• If a team over the salary cap loses a player that was under contract for the 2011-12 season, they will get a trade exception.
• The Hagfish will not participate in the NBA lottery and will be given the 4th pick in the first and second rounds of the 2011 NBA Draft.
• A team will not be permitted to re-acquire a player it lost in the Expansion draft for one year, unless the player is waived and not claimed by any other team.

So now that we know the rules, lets take a look at who the Hagfish can and can't pick after the jump.

Examining the flaws of the NBA's Award Process through the All-Defensive Team

Sorry I haven't posted a lot lately.  School has started up again, and with work as well, I don't have as much time as I did in the summer.  Also its been pretty quiet on the NBA front other than the World Championships (Congrats to the USA!).  But with training camps just around the corner its time for me to pick up the writing once more.

The NBA award process is a tricky business.  Every year ballots are sent to members of the media to vote for each award and the final tally makes the award.  This isn't an ideal system to me, as many members of the media have biases, and also tend to vote for players who are the better story, or more well-known.  Nowhere is this more evident to me than in the All-Defensive Teams.  These teams are often just re-makes of the All-NBA teams, with maybe a couple smaller names thrown in.  A lot of players are voted into this team based on past reputation (For example, Jason Kidd named to the 2nd team in 2007).  How else do you explain Shane Battier as only having won 2 All-Defensive awards, both 2nd team?

Let's use last year's All-Defensive Teams as an example, with their points total (2 points for a 1st team vote, 1 for a 2nd team vote):

1st Team:
Dwight Howard (57)
LeBron James (45)
Gerald Wallace (30)
Kobe Bryant (34)
Rajon Rondo (50)

2nd Team:
Tim Duncan (21)
Anderson Varejao (15)
Josh Smith (20)
Thabo Sefolosha (14)
Dwyane Wade (20)

Its not surprising to me at all that the two players who haven't been on All-Star teams also had the least votes.  There also were a slew of votes for players that shouldn't have even been considered. Jason Kidd led the players who didn't get voted in with a point total of 14, despite being too slow to stay in front of anyone for the past few years.  Manu Ginobili got a vote (1st team no less) despite San Antonio's defense being .9 pp100 worse with him on the court.  Joe Johnson also got a 1st team vote, with Atlanta's defense being almost 4 pp100 worse with him on the court.  This is even worse because Joe's teammate Al Horford, one of the best post defenders in the league, only got a single second place vote.  There are a few more headscratchers as well.

This is unfortunate for the NBA in my opinion, because plenty of players who do play spectacular defense often go unnoticed for the bigger names.  You'll notice that of the small names on the list of All-Defensive players this year, both were on teams with increased media exposure: Varejao with LeBron and Sefolosha with the media darling Thunder.  But other players who deserved more votes like Horford, Arron Afflalo, Nick Collison, Andre Iguodala and many others miss out on that attention.  There's no doubt that some of the big names do deserve the award. After all, many great players are great because they're good on both ends of the court.  But I always hate to see when a player beats out a player more deserving simply because of the name on the jersey.

It is because of this award mainly, but also for other reasons, that I think the NBA needs to overhaul its award process.  Don't let the media vote for the awards based on player performance. Let the Players be the ones to vote.  Not only would this make the vote fairer in my opinion (players know who the toughest guys they play against are) but it would make the award more meaningful, since its voted on by their peers.  The media can still be involved in some of the other awards like Executive and Coach of the Year, and perhaps even 6th man and Most Improved Player.  But MVP, All-NBA, Rookie of the Year, All-Defensive, and Defensive Player of the Year should be voted on by the players.

What do you think?