The 2011 CB Draft
(Miami Heat) * SOUTH BEACH SAMURAI *PRESS CONFERENCEBahku - General Manager________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION:
Just a couple of words ...
I'm a bit dismayed and befuddled at the lack of respect my team seems to have received so far, simply because it's "young" and possesses four rookies. I think when people see more than one rookie on a fantasy team, they immediately dismiss it as a serious contender, without giving much serious though or consideration to just how talented and promising those rookies are, or how good the
other members of the team are, and how well their style of play and personalities mesh with the younger players.
I didn't just throw this team together with the youngest guys I could find at each position, I added players and made trades to build a formidable force at the NBA level, and a team that was not just aimed at a "Team of the Future" nod, but a playoff team period.
I think I succeeded more than many people feel I did. Before assessing a young team and placing them on a list of numbered choices, one should really know more about what they're judging, and instead of just dismissing those young players, actually take a moment or two to find out just what kind of players those young, athletic guys really are.
I'm also a bit amazed that some people here had my team near the bottom of their standings about halfway through this draft, and then after I made big moves and picks to add guys like Carmelo Anthony, Fracisco Garcia, Evan Turner, JJ Hickson, and Jerryd Bayless, my team's standing on their lists either changed very little, or didn't change at all!
Now, I know people here have their favorites as to who they want to see win this thing, but if I'm not mistaken, it's designed to be as objective as possible, and adding Melo to
any team, should easliy make that team a playoff contender, even disregarding the other talent I added beyond him.
Anyway, for this reason I have taken some extra time to compile added information on these young players, added some video to further acquaint people with the rookies, and hopefully done enough to change people's minds as to how successful this young team could be, and what an explosive force and formidable opponent they would make for even the top seeded, superstar-centered teams that find themselves at the top of the lists.
I ask you to please just keep an open mind, and try to see not just the potential, but the
reality of how good these Samurai truly are and could be in the real world.
Thanks.
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FEARLESS LEADER:
COACH GEORGE KARLLegendary Coach George Karl, who was a player at UNC, then played for the Spurs in the ABA and NBA, is the seventh-winningest coach in NBA history. Coach Karl has amassed 1036 wins in his 23 seasons in the NBA, and an overall record of .596. Of the 21 years that saw him finish the season, his team made the playoffs 20 times, made the Conference Semis 4 times, the Conference Finals 3 times, and once to the NBA Finals.
George earned NBA Coach of the Month honors and head coach of the Western Conference at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. He also coached the U.S. National Team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship, and was the perfect fit for our young team, having previously worked with Carmelo Anthony in Denver. We have the utmost faith and confidence in Coach Karl, and feel he was the final piece to our winning puzzle and number one proponent of our fast-break philosphy of play.
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BY THE NUMBERS:
| Pos. | Starting Five | Height | Weight | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | Efficiency | PPG |
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| C - | Brook Lopez | 7 - 1 | 265 | .492 | .000 | .787 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.5 | +18.44 | 20.4 |
| PF - | J.J. Hickson | 6 - 9 | 242 | .458 | .000 | .673 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | +14.91 | 13.8 |
| SF - | Carmelo Anthony | 6 - 8 | 230 | .455 | .378 | .838 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | +24.75 | 25.6 |
| SG - | Francisco Gracia | 6 - 7 | 195 | .436 | .362 | .855 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.8 | + 9.71 | 9.7 |
| PG - | Devin Harris | 6 - 3 | 190 | .420 | .326 | .828 | 2.4 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | +15.27 | 15.2 |
|
| Start | Averages: | 6 - 8 | 224 | .452 | .355 | .796 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | +16.62 | 16.9 |
|
| C - | Keith Benson | 6 -11 | 230 | .547 | .392 | .643 | 10.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 3.6 | +22.94 | 17.9 |
| PF - | Hakim Warrick | 6 - 9 | 219 | .511 | .000 | .721 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | + 8.70 | 8.4 |
| SF - | Evan Turner | 6 - 7 | 205 | .425 | .318 | .808 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | +10.00 | 7.2 |
| SG - | Evan Turner | 6 - 7 | 205 | .425 | .318 | .808 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | +10.00 | 7.2 |
| PG - | Jerryd Bayless | 6 - 3 | 200 | .422 | .336 | .806 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | +10.08 | 9.2 |
|
| Sub. | Averages: | 6 - 8 | 214 | .476 | .349 | .745 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | +12.93 | 10.7 |
|
| PF - | Tristan Thompson | 6 - 9 | 227 | .546 | .000 | .487 | 7.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | +14.78 | 13.1 |
| SG/SF - | Klay Thompson | 6 - 6 | 205 | .436 | .398 | .838 | 5.2 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.9 | +19.71 | 21.6 |
| SG - | Daniel Gibson | 6 - 2 | 200 | .400 | .403 | .822 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | +10.78 | 11.6 |
| PG - | Jimmer Fredette | 6 - 2 | 195 | .452 | .396 | .894 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | +22.30 | 28.9 |
|
| Alt. | Averages: | 6 - 5 | 207 | .459 | .399 | .760 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | +16.89 | 18.8 |
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MINUTES DISTRIBUTION:
Here's how we break it down time-wise. As you can see, Evan Turner is our first option off the bench at both the 2 and the 3, while Daniel Gibson gives us some extra minutes at the 2-spot. We also have Bayless and Fredette at about the same number of minutes, but have very high expectations of Jimmer, and could very well not only play him ahead of Jerryd, but also give him the starting PG spot if his play at this level so dictates.
Rotation C - Brook Lopez (36), Keith Benson (12)
PF - JJ Hickson (33), Hakim Warrick (9), Tristan Thompson (6)
SF - Carmelo Anthony (38), Evan Turner (10)
SG - Francisco Garcia (24), Evan Turner (18), Daniel Gibson (6)
PG - Devin Harris (34), Jerryd Bayless (6-8), Jimmer Fredette (6-8)
SG/SF - Klay Thompson (Klay is our athletic young alternate, and can play minutes at the three
and the two, to spell any of those five players, or take up the slack if one of them goes down with an injury. Very flexible in that respect, and comfortable at either position, this is an ideal role for Klay, and he could easily be given more minutes should he prove the formidable force we're expecting he'll be).
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STARTING FIVE PROFILES:
C - BROOK LOPEZBrook Lopez has great hands and shows it consistently by catching touch passes from Harris or Turner in traffic and laying the ball gently off the glass. They would be reluctant to pass him the ball if he didn't finish – something he excelled at in college and has done well enough in the NBA to earn their respect. He's fundamentally sound at the rim, never dipping the ball or putting it on the ground unnecessarily when he rolls.
His outstanding length (possessing a tremendous 7-5 wingspan and 9-5 standing reach) helps him a great deal in that regard, as combined with his size and strength, he’s able to fluidly finish around the basket with relative ease. Lopez also has a solid basketball IQ. He reads defenders well – knowing when to slip a screen, when to hold the screen for an extra second, and when to pop. The suddenness with which he jumps out to the top of the key from the block to set screens make him even more effective as his man is often a step behind him and late to help out on Harris or recover back to the block.
Most of Lopez’s offense in fact comes as a finisher — whether off cuts, pick and rolls, offensive rebounds, or running the floor in transition. Brook is a "true" Center at 7'1" 265 lbs, and is our anchor under the basket, as well as our number one post-up option in the paint. He's young, athletic, and talented, and with Melo and Harris, (with whom he has established chemistry in NJ), running the floor, he'll get the rock when and where he needs it to maximize his impact down low, and be out front on the fast-break.
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PF - J.J. HICKSONJ.J. is extremely talented at scoring, as evidenced by the terrific .458 he shoots from the field. He’s a very reliable presence cutting to the rim or running the floor in transition, thanks to his superb length, hands, strength, toughness, aggressiveness, and the way he finishes around the rim. He likes to dunk everything he gets his hands on, being extremely quick getting off his feet, and having no problem going right through contact — drawing a good amount of fouls in the process. He has a great feel for scoring in the post, showing a nice combination of quickness, footwork, strength, and a few very solid moves.
His drop-step is already an excellent weapon for him, and his turn-around jump-shot is quickly becoming an effective part of his arsenal. He establishes good, deep position inside, knows how to utilize shot-fakes, and has some nice spin-moves he executes with great quickness. Another quick guy down the floor, he is perfect for the fast-break offense we depend on, and great at keeping the retreating defense on it's heels. He has adapted well to Melo's style of play, and both players benefit from each other's quickness and mobility.
As one of the world's leading trainers Joe Abunassar said recently of Hickson: “He's powerful and explosive with great size. Skilled both facing and on the block. Reminds me of a young Al Harrington the way he can take bigger players out on the floor and face up and out-quick them, then bury smaller players with his strength in the post. He has also been working really hard on his conditioning and body and has trimmed up quite a bit.“
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SF - CARMELO ANTHONYAn elite offensive talent who will go down as one of the best offensive players of his generation, Carmelo Anthony possesses excellent size and strength for a small forward, to the point that he can legitimately play the four for stretches, (though we probably won't need him there, barring injury). Melo shows a very quick and powerful first step and great leaping ability. He's not an incredibly high leaper, but gets off the floor quickly and has a great second bounce.
An extremely versatile scorer, he'll take his man off the dribble and knock down the mid-to-long-range jump shot against slower defenders or go to work in the post against smaller ones. He may not always have the best shot selection, but he's easily one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. While his defensive skills need work, he rebounds the ball at a very good rate for his position. While at Syracuse University, he had one of the best freshman seasons in NCAA history, and led them to the NCAA Championship in 2003.
He was a steal for Denver at the third overall selection, and has been one of the elite offensive players in the NBA from his rookie season on. He's a four-time NBA All-Star with many, many more to come, and while he needs to dedicate himself more defensively, he will no doubt continue to work on his conditioning and improve his commitment to playing winning basketball to solidify his legacy as one of the greats. He's our Captain and our emotional and physical leader both on and off the court, and has set the bar high for the rest of this young but talented team.
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SG - FRANCISCO GARCIAFrancisco Garcia is an extremely versatile player - silky smooth and extremely confident. He has a passion and unique flair to his game and is extremely fun to watch, while he loves to put the ball on the floor, (usually without getting called for an offensive foul). A "lights-out" shooter, either stationary or off the dribble, he has great range on his shot and an ultra quick release, arguably one of the best pure shooters at his age. He can score from anywhere on the court, moves very well off the ball while coming off screens, and is an excellent free throw shooter.
A very intelligent player, Francisco understands the game and acts as a floor general on the court when needed. Very vocal on both sides of the court, he's a natural leader, a fearless competitor, and not afraid to hit the floor to come up with loose balls. He rarely backs down from a challenge, plays with an incredible amount of heart, and dribbles extremely well with both hands, taking the ball either left or right. He also drives in and out of traffic like a player of much later years, and will often bring the ball up the floor as a second option to set up the offense.
He has excellent "court vision", is very unselfish with the ball, and has point guard skills in a 6-8 body. Garcia possesses a very good wingspan and uses it well, blocking a lot of shots with his superb timing, and getting in the passing lanes for steals. He's also the consumate team player with a huge heart, very coachable and versatile, and not afraid to take the big shot when called upon.
He's a bit of a risk-taker at times who will make some plays as a result, and loves to gamble in the passing lanes. He'll get his fair share of deflections by sheer virtue of his length, and displays a decent rebounding ability at his position. He sometimes gets beat off the dribble by quicker players, but has the length to compensate for his lack of foot speed. He was the perfect chess piece to our team at the two-spot, and has the kind of personality that ensures a cohesive unit with the rest of our starting five.
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PG - DEVIN HARRISDevin Harris is a scoring point-guard who blossomed into one of the league’s more prolific offensive options after moving from Dallas to New Jersey. He has ideal physical tools for the point guard position, including very good size at 6-3, 190 lbs, a 6-7 ½ wingspan, and outstanding athleticism. One of the quickest end-to-end players in the NBA, Harris possesses a fantastic first step and an extra gear that allows him to get almost anywhere he wants on the floor.He gets to the free throw line like a machine and is excellent at creating his own shot.
A big-time scorer and major talent who has shown that he can carry a team as a primary option, even if he has some noticeable holes to his game that he must continue to address. He gets a huge amount of his offense (45%) in pick and roll situations, with considerable other chunks coming off isolations and in transition, where he truly excels. Quickness and explosiveness make him incredibly difficult to stay in front of, and he does a great job using that to get to the basket and finish in traffic. He can create shots going in either direction, gets to the free throw line at an outstanding rate and converts almost 83% of his attempts once there.
He finishes extremely well around the rim, racks up tons of assists at the point guard spot, and is a very unselfish player who does a good job driving and dishing and making post-entry passes, particularly off the pick and roll. Devin has all the physical tools to be an outstanding defender, including good size, long arms, and excellent lateral quickness. He has shown in the past that he can lock down his man when called upon in a more limited role, but has gone away from that as his offensive responsibilities have increased.
He has great length and anticipation skills getting in the passing lanes, comes up with plenty of steals every game, and is reverting back to being a better defender as the competition level around him on this athleic Samurai team has increased. He's our floor general and primary ball distributor, and we have complete confidence in his ability to deliver the package securely and efficiently, but he has an instinctive knowledge of when to defer to Melo on the perimeter when the energy and flow so dictates.
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BENCH PLAYER PROFILES:
C - KEITH BENSON22-year-old Keith Benson, the current
and former Summit League Player-Of-The-Year, (who set the league record for career blocks), lists KG and Kareem as the players he tries to emulate, and when you watch him play, it's clear to see why. He possesses some extremely interesting tools offensively, including a hook shot with his off-hand, the ability to use the glass, and a knack for finishing short-range looks.
With almost half of his touches coming in the post, Benson has very nice footwork and a phenomenal touch, (though he does need to add a little weight to help himself establish position on the block in the NBA). Away from the rim, he has great potential as a pick-and-pop option, and his touch strongly indicates that with time and practice, he could emerge as a consistent threat to score from midrange. Defensively, Benson makes a tremendous impact with his length and shot-blocking instincts.
While he needs to add some bulk to help him hold his ground when getting backed down in the post, (and this is a primary goal in preparation for this season with the Samurai), he does an awesome job of staying on his feet and contesting shots when his man makes a move to the basket. An extremely efficient scorer, Benson has good hands and is an excellent finisher, possesses good coordination, and the confidence to make his presence felt in the paint. He can step out to around 15 feet and knock down a mid-range jump-shot, and converts a solid 65% of his free throw attempts, a place he spends quite a bit of time, as he has a knack for creating fouls both under the basket and from outside.
He shoots field-goals at .547 and the tres at .392, (impressive for a big man), and shows solid footwork with his back to the basket, being able to create his own shots. He does not turn the ball over very often, has an above-average feel for the game, and clearly has the skill-set to compete at any level. With a near 7-4 wingspan, 9-1 1/2 standing reach, and massive hands, Keith Benson is everything the NBA dreams of in a big man prospect, and everything the Samurai were looking for in a back-up "true" Center.
A world class athlete, lightning quick on his feet and an unbelievable leaper, Hakim Warrick is one of the most exciting dunkers in all of basketball. He plays way above the rim, gets off the floor in the blink of an eye, (which helps him throw down monster alley-oops and ferocious put backs), and runs the floor extremely well, very often beating his opponent up the floor. His offensive game has finally caught up to his superb athleticism, and his catch-and-shoot jumper has become consistent enough to be used as set-up weapon for his drives.
Teams tend to back off him at times still, so this weapon has become a very useful tool, and should continue to improve. Hakim handles the ball extremely well low to the ground, and uses shot-fakes to take a dribble or two before taking off for the basket, though he clearly prefers to go left. Despite his lack of upper-body strength, (which we're working on aggressively), he is a great finisher at the basket, (thanks to his high-flying leaping ability), and is learning to draw fouls extremely well.
He's very effective at facing up from the high post and using his quickness to get to the basket, having recently cut down on his turnovers substantially. He also has a somewhat limited, but quite effective post game, using unorthodox moves and athletic ability to free himself up for shots near the basket. As far as defense goes, Warrick challenges shots well when on the ball, and can be a pesky man defender when guarding on the perimeter.
While his defensive game still needs work, he can also play the three-spot at times, and is much more effective there at the defensive end. He was a team-mate of Carmelo's at Syracuse, and therefor brings some pre-established chemistry to the Samurai. He has a great 15-foot jump-shot, runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, and with his 38-inch vertical and 7-2 wingspan, he's become a formidable force for us off the bench.
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SF/SG - EVAN TURNERThe best part of Evan’s game is in his ability to attack the basket. He can get there in a number of ways, whether it’s beating his man off the dribble, or curling tightly off a screen. With that said, his go-to move has to be his spin move. He’s gotten better and better at this to a point where it is extremely difficult to defend. With the combination of his size and speed, coupled with his high basketball IQ and ability to change speeds, a move like this is very effective in the NBA.
This great knack for slashing to the basket has translated to a sweet .808 free throw percentage – and there is still room to grow. He’s improved with using his upper body strength to draw contact, but he still resorts to floaters and tweener shots at times, when he could get all the way to the rim. This isn't too concerning for us though, as the tear-drop is necessary for his game. His primary range is at about 15-17 feet right now, although he also shoots a respectable .318 from outside the circle, making him an even tougher match-up.
On the defensive end, he continues to show great promise, and is very keen to what’s happening on that end of the floor. He appears to be into every defensive possession, whether it’s in zone or man-to-man, and his length and work ethic make him a bit of pest for opposing wings. Furthermore, he’s a physical defender which makes him even more of an asset since he can defend bigger players. Evan is a crucial part of our rotation, and brings a great presence and energy onto the floor and into the locker-room. A Samurai from the word "go", and an ideal team-mate to the rest of our squad.
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PG - JERRYD BAYLESSOffensively, Jerryd Bayless can do it all and has basically everything you look for in a scoring guard. He’s an outstanding shooter first and foremost, showing terrific shooting mechanics, superb elevation creating separation from his defender, and all the confidence in the world to fire away in any situation imaginable. He can come off a screen, catch and shoot, or pull-up off the dribble equally well. He has great balance and core strength setting up for his jumper, and thus gets terrific results with it.
He hits tough shots going left or right, or fading away, even with an opponent in his face, and never gets flustered regardless of the situation. More than just a shooter, though, Bayless is also a terrific shot "creator", with an aggressive slashing mentality and a real killer instinct making his way to the basket. He’s explosive enough with his first step or wicked crossover to just beat players off the dribble going left or right, but also possesses excellent ability to change gears, stop and go, and mix in hesitation moves to keep his defender off-balance.
He gets to the free throw line at a terrific rate, taking contact at the rim, and has just enough size and strength to consistently finish those moves at the hoop. He often just prefers to find a glimmer of daylight in which he can get his shot off from mid-range, which has become a very high percentage shot for him. Defensively, Jerryd shows a lot of potential, not just with his tools, but with the commitment he’s displayed to competing on that end of the floor. He has excellent lateral quickness, and an acute awareness in finding his man in transition.
He has the strength to get through screens defending the pick and roll, and doesn't take the easy route of taking too wide an angle to avoid contact. JB is an integral part of our bench unit, bringing athleticism, aggressiveness, and a sweet shot to the court whenever he's called upon. And if we need him to start due to illness, injury, or match-ups, he has all the confidence he needs to do the job ... and we have all the confidence he can.
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ALTERNATES PROFILES:
PF - TRISTAN THOMPSONTristan Thompson was the 12th ranked member in the class of 2012 and, like many of his fellow top-ranked freshman, showed many tantalizing flashes of potential. He registered 10 double-doubles and emerged as one of the top big men in the Big 12. From a positional standpoint, Thompson projects as a power forward. While he may lack ideal size at around 6-8, he compensates with a long 7-2 wingspan and a solid 235-pound frame, and has a strong lower-body and core which allows him to hold his own in the post. While his offensive game is a mixe****, Thompson actually projects quite favorably as a defender.
His performance against #2 draft pick Derrick Williams, in which Williams shot 4/14 from the field in just 29 minutes, is indicative of what Thompson can offer. His lateral quickness allows him to stay in front of most collegiate post players, inside and outside, and he's able to guard small forwards in the right match-ups.He capably bodied up bigger and more athletic post players throughout his freshman campaign, and has developed into a solid post defender, minimizing his fouling inside. One of the top freshmen in the country, the former McDonald's All-American put together some great single-game performances, including a 17-point, 15-rebound effort against Michigan State, and a 20-point performance against Illinois.
Tristan possesses some impressive physical tools, and while he's a bit undersized for a power forward in the NBA, (and he has the athleticism to play either forward spot), that impressive wingspan and solid frame makes up for it. The majority of his offense revolves around the imposing quickness, length, and leaping ability he possesses for his position, and he gets to the line at a high rate. He's also a very good finisher, efficient at scoring tip-ins, fast-break feeds, and simple catch-and-finish opportunities.
He's adept at drawing contact and crashing the glass, capable of making quick, decisive straight-line drives to the rim by exploiting his long strides and nice first step, and a good ball-handler with both hands. There's also a great deal to like about Thompson defensively as well ... a bit maligned for his effort level at times early-on in college, he's now a consistently active defender who can adjust shots around the rim and make an impact in the passing lanes out on the perimeter. A great addition to our bench, Tristan provides us with energy and hustle whenever he's on the court, and we couldn't ask for a guy who works any harder than he does.
Klay Thompson is a vital member of our Samurai squad, and is an effective sub at either the small forward or shooting guard position. A versatile offensive weapon who can score in a variety of ways, 10.8% of his possessions come from pick-and-rolls, 22% from spot-ups, 23.5% from isolations, and 11.9% coming off screens. One of the top shooters in the 2011 draft class, Klay had a terrific three year career at Washington State. Emerging as an elite spot-up threat as a freshman, the California native was the top wing scorer on the west coast as a junior.
Averaging 21.6 points per-game last season, Thompson earned All-Pac-10 First Team honors while solidifying himself as a first-round pick despite his team's inability to reach the NCAA Tournament. Thompson is at his most comfortable spotting up or coming around screens, showing excellent shooting mechanics with consistent balance and a high and quick release. He eliminated most of his bad tendencies over the course of his college career, and doesn't take many ill-advised shots anymore, being pretty efficient overall. He's absolutely deadly with his jumper when left open, and should see many of them uncontested as he transitions to having much less defensive attention in the NBA.
His biggest assets in his dribble-drive game are his decisiveness and off-ball motion, as he frequently gets a half step on his man before he even puts the ball on the floor, (due to the positions he catches the ball in). This, combined with his quick decision-making and good recognition of driving-lanes, make him very dangerous with straight-line drives from the wing, which is enough to keep NBA defenses honest. We look for even more improvement from Klay this year, but is already our ultimate swing-man and spark off the pine.
In terms of physical attributes, Daniel Gibson passes the test for a modern day point guard or combo guard, and he plays both positions for us at times. He has decent size at 6-2, aided by his above average wingspan and excellent athleticism. He's a shifty athlete, possessing very good quickness and overall foot-speed, along with a nice first step, which allows him to move fluidly on the court and get by his man in half-court sets. His lateral quickness is excellent, which allows him to play good defense out on the perimeter. Offensively, Boobie is a deadly threat on the catch and shoot, with range out to the 3-point line.
He's excellent moving off the ball and possesses great shooting mechanics and an extremely quick release, (which makes him an excellent option to bring off screens and knock down shots in half-court sets, or off the drive-and-kick). He elevates high off the floor and gets his shot off instantaneously, even with a hand in his face. His physical attributes make him more than just a spot-up shooter, and give him the ability to get his man to over-commit to his shot, and then blow by him for an easier mid-range shot or lay-up at the rim.
Defensively, Gibson puts pride into this part of his game, and was known as one of the top perimeter defenders in the Big 12. He gets low to the ground and has excellent lateral quickness and the smarts to know how to stay in front of his man. He's also an accomplished ball-thief, with good length and excellent hands to get in the passing lanes and ignite the fast break. In terms of intangibles, he's a coach’s son and is never one to cause problems off the court ... he's quiet, has an excellent attitude towards the game, and a solid work ethic with great court demeanor.
He brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to our young team, and also has the athleticism and speed to be a perfect fit with our run-and-gun style of play. Daniel is the epitome of what the Samurai stand for: Youth, intelligence, quickness, and an unselfish attitude toward the game.
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PG - JIMMER FREDETTEThe long list of positives with Jimmer Fredette starts with his shooting ability, where he seems to show unlimited range, and is a threat to take and make a shot as soon as he crosses half-court. The type of shot doesn't matter to Jimmer, who can knock down threes off of the dribble, coming off of screens, or in catch-and-shoot situations. Within our Samurai fast-break offense, he has the freedom to shoot whenever he wants, and that is such a threat to the opponent's defense, because he can knock down both open and closely contested shots consistently.
His ability to knock down contested shots while off-balance is extremely beneficial as well, his amazing shooting ability and freedom to pull up at any moment, keeps the defense off-balance, and this allows him to get shots up over longer, more athletic defenders. Clips of Fredette attempting long pull-up threes have given him the reputation as a bit of a "selfish gunner ', but this is hardly the case. Yes, BYU's offense revolved around him, but he always seemed to be a willing passer, able to hit the open man if the defense started to focus too much on him.
In addition, he's a strong enough ball handler with either hand to get himself to spots on the court where he is a threat, forcing help. When that help comes, he's able to get the ball to the open man. Jimmer's skill level is incredibly high, as evidenced not only by his production, but also by the way he gets baskets. He creates a huge chunk of his offense on his own, be it in isolation situations, in transition, or in pick-and-roll sets, (in that order). He's an excellent ball handler who is capable of dribbling with either hand and is very adept at splitting screens, (he's also as shifty as they come, given his ability to play at different speeds).
Fredette possesses excellent quickness, outstanding footwork and incredible creativity with the ball in his hands. He creates space to operate about as well as any guard in the league, and he is a more complete scorer than most at the same young age. His best asset is clearly his shooting ability, which borders on outrageous when it comes to the difficulty of shots he is capable of making. His range extends well beyond the 3-point line, and unlike most shooters, he's just as effective making off-the-dribble jumpers as he is with his feet set. He elevates high off the ground, squaring his shoulders instantaneously and balancing himself perfectly in mid-air, much like shooting great, (and one of my personal favorites), Ray Allen.
He has supreme confidence in his shooting ability, taking jumpers that would be viewed as absolutely horrendous if attempted by anyone else. For him these are "good looks", though, as evidenced by the rate he converted these off-balance, contested 25-to-30-foot attempts in college, shooting 44% from beyond the arc for his last two seasons, even though he was arguably the most closely guarded player in college basketball at the time. Fredette shows little emotion throughout the game, except when occasionally working the officials or expressing mild disappointment in missing an impossible shot by clapping his hands together.
He's never rattled, even in the most pressure-packed moments of an intense game, showing a cool and calm demeanor at all times. He is much more than just an outside shooter, though, he also gets to the free throw line at a very nice rate, and is generally effective scoring inside the arc. His pull-up jumper translates well to the mid-range area, and he has a very strong frame and outstanding touch, which he uses to finish around the basket, often utilizing the glass in impressive fashion.
He's also very capable of pulling up on a dime from unbelievable distances with his lightning quick release, and nails a high percentage of long-range shots. Most pundits already expect Jimmer to be this year's Rookie of the Year, and we expect great things from him as well, including the possibility of giving him the starting point-guard spot, should his play and NBA fit so dictate. This kid is the Samurai's "Ace-In-The-Hole", and we can't wait to watch this kid work his magic on the court!
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AND ONWARD:
My Vison For The Samurai:
My vision for this team is simple:
To utilize it's weapons to their fullest extent. This is a young, fast, athletic team, a team that was built to run and shoot, and that's what we'll do. I have no illusions about our weakness in the defense department, but when a team can run the fast-break, the pick-and-roll, and move their feet as quickly as we can, our opponents will be out of breath by the end of the first half, making their attacks on the offensive end much less effective, and in turn our defensive strategies much
more so.
We will also keep our opponents on their heels when trying to run their own defenses, and render them ineffective as well. Tommy Heisnsohn is a huge proponent of the "up-tempo" game, and it's for the same reasons. During Tommy's nine seasons as coach of the Boston Celtics, he had a win/loss record of .619, was ranked first (team) for five seasons, made the playoffs six seasons, won the championship twice, and was named Coach of the Year in 72-73 ... not bad.
Tommy's primary focus was
not defense, it was the run game, and you can see that it was extremely successful. Why? because when you've got your opponents on their heels, and don't give them the time to get into their defensive sets, even the
best defensive clubs are going to struggle. Good defense is only effective when it has the time to be put in motion, and when a team is as fast, athletic, and explosive as we are, the ball is going to be through the net before our opponents even get back down the floor.
How does that help our defense? It gives us extra time to focus on the defensive end, (being young we need that extra focus), and it tires out our older, slower opponents, and hence undermines the effectiveness of their offensive plays. Tired legs have much more trouble putting the ball in the basket, and that's something we'll use to our advantage. With youth, speed, and athleticism in our corner, fatigue becomes our ally, and whatever the level of our opponents' defense, it crumbles in the wake of our fast-break attack.
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WHAT'S DONE IS DONE:
Drafting Strategy:
After coming up with the 19th pick in the lottery, it was clear that my shot at a true "superstar" was going to be pretty nil, and trying to build a playoff team around a player that
didn't have such a status, is a long shot, to say the least. My thinking at the time was that, if nothing else, I was going to build a team that I felt I would truly enjoy watching ... a team that was exciting, youthful, athletic, explosive, and a team that would run.
If a real GM were starting a new franchise in a big city, (and I understand we were expected to approach it from a similar direction), and knew they weren't going to have an established star at the core, I think they would go about it the same way. It might take a while to get it to a high, championship-contending level, but then again, when you have an exciting team that's fun to watch, you're going to attract not only fans, but other players, "star" players, who may like the idea of a team with a bright future that can be built around them.
When most people hear the word "young" connected to NBA teams, they automatically dismiss those teams as true contenders, but it's been proven in the past, (in more sports than just basketball), than young teams, when put together thoughtfully, can be serious contenders in the playoffs, (see the 1970-1971 Championship Milwaukee Bucks, the 76-77 Portland Trail Blazers, even this years' Grizzlies and Thunder).
So my drafting strategy was focused primarily around building a young, highly competitive team that would be enjoyable to watch, and that would keep opponents' defenses on their heels with an up-tempo, explosive style. I think I succeeded with my goal. Now, if I had known I was going to be acquiring Melo somewhere down the road, I may have changed my strategy a bit from early-on, but not by much ... I still would have drafted young, promising players, and built a team whose primary focus was to run.
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WRAP IT UP:Best Move: Adding Carmelo, (needed some "star" power, and a big scoring threat).
Biggest Regret: Not being around more to be involved in the regular give-and-take.
** I really hope you've come through this process to like and appreciate this fine, athletic team much more than you did. Whatever the outcome, I am proud of what I've put together here, and honestly feel that they can compete at the playoff level. The offense of this team is so fast and explosive that opponent defenses cause us little worry. I am off now to work, but will check in as often as I can to answer your questions. Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my team ... it is greatly apprecaited, and a TP for all comments and questions, no matter the tone. **GO SAMURAI!!
Topic: CB Draft 2011 Southeast Divison Press Conferences (Read 28103 times)