GoDawgs21

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/depth Team Depth Charts TEAM PG SG SF PF C Atlanta Z. Pachulia Boston K. Perkins Charlotte P. Brezec Chicago B. Wallace Cleveland Z. Ilgauskas Dallas E. Dampier Denver M. Camby Detroit C. Webber Golden State A. Harrington Houston Y. Ming Indiana J. O'Neal LA Clippers C. Kaman LA Lakers K. Brown Memphis P. Gasol Miami S. O'Neal Milwaukee A. Bogut Minnesota M. Blount New Jersey J. Collins New York E. Curry NO/Oklahoma City T. Chandler Orlando D. Howard Philadelphia S. Dalembert Phoenix A. Stoudemire Portland J. Przybilla Sacramento B. Miller San Antonio F. Elson Seattle N. Collison Toronto R. Nesterovic Utah M. Okur Washington E. Thomas Listed above are the listed "C" for NBA teams at the end of the season. This why I hate having defining positions. Al Harrington is not a C, he is just your tallest starter. How many on this list are actualy the prototypical C. ALmost all are PF converted to C. So why can't we use 2 PF. Play pg, sg, sf, pf, pf. Our SG and SF have a height match up on most of the league. So all of these big bad centers you are worried are going to school Yi if we play with 2 PF. Lets review the East. Guys that I will give you Yi would struggle against (keep in mind this is in your world were subs and changes arent made liek bringingin Shelden or Lo) J Oneal Shaq Curry Howard Dalembert Now to each his own opinion, but the remaining guys listed I feel Yi can hold his own against just as well as ZaZa our current starter. Perkins Brezec Wallace (only because he doesnt try to score since this was a defensive ?, clearly better reb) Ilgaskuas (shooter, doesnt post up that much and when he does its a fad away where Yi's height and reach wold help more then ZaZa Weber Bogut Collins Nestorovic Thomas So now we are supposed to draft what most are saying is top 5 talent in the draft because 5 guys in his confrence woudl push him around. Never mind just bringing in Shelden or Lo for those times, or god forbid the fact he is a 20 (go for avg) year old rookie that still has time to grow and put on weight

for the post you are typing that says Yi isnt 246. http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/...&draftyear=2007

I love when people try to justify their points with what the THINK is right without doing HW. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3547 Okur: listed above 6'11, 249 at age 28 Yi: listed 7'0, 246 at age 22 or 19 thats a crap shoot So even at age 22 Yi isn't going to put on 3 lbs of muscle in the next 6 years when he is Okur's age? I bet he out weights Okur by opening day in 2008. So where is that 20 lbs you spoke of????????

this is what I love, so if I say I want a lineup of JJ, Marvin, Smith, Yi then thats set in stone, cant change, he fouls out thats it. First if he plays more then 12 minutes in the 1st half I'd be shocked. We are talking about a rookie here lets not get carried away. Secondly if on the nights we do play a big C, could Shell or Lo or somebody not rotate in and out with him. Honestly how many beastly cneters does the east have?????? Howard?? so when we play Orl he cant guard Darko? in 2 to 3 years will Shaq even be playing?

First YI wont be playing 48 minutes. The lineup I am talking about can be used at any point in the game. This isnt soccer, subs come in and out for matchups. Thats my biggest problem with this board. Its as if we get this guy or that guy he si there for 48 min and thats that. Now back to your question. If someone is posting Yi up, I would like to think (have serious doubts) Woody can choose to send a quick double team, or you also have the best help weakside defneder in the NBA right now in Smith. So there are options and help defense opportunities. What help will that big C have on defense. If he goes out to cover Yi then the paint is open for JJ to post up the smaller guards. If they switch, then the C is guarding Smith who can easily go past him. My point is with having the adavantage and making the other team change to your style. This is why Dallas lost to GS. Dallas and Avery Johnson was unwilling until game 4 when it was to late to go to a small lineup. All of GS bigs are PF, not one true C. But Dallas kept using Dampier in the game and he was to slow to play on d. The best lineup was to switch Dirk to play the so called C role but really having 2 PF on the floor. My favorite example is Utah this is what this team would look. Okur is a PF playing C (i get tired of calling it C, its really 2 PF playing but in todays NBA it works) There main lineup is Okur, Boozer, AK, Fisher, Deron Thats PF, PF, combo F, SG, PG How is that diffrent from Yi, Smith, Marvin, JJ, (Speedy, Conley, Law, Critt or any pg) ? While Woody doesnt run the pick and roll as much, but he loves using what the Jazz do with Okur in a pick and pop. I hate Woody and I dont like his system, but that is what we have and YI is the best fit for it.

I fully understand were you're coming from asking who he can guard him down low??? But I keep asking and nobody is answered in one thread how are other teams C going to guard him. I am not saying he is a center. In all my talking about putting a team on the floor I have written: PG JJ Marvin Josh Yi Note it does not say C next to his name. Many teams are going with smaller PF as their cneters now. Duncan is basically SA center. But I see Yi as an Okur type center. That jumper and ability to make the deep shot. With Woody's pick and pop, Yi is a perfect complement.Just because I have him listed there doesnt mean he is a C. He is a PF. But Ind starts Jeff Foster is he a center, no. Alot of teams are using g,g,f,f,f, line ups now. This is my idea for Yi. Back to my point. People keep asking how is Yi going to guard the big centers. Ok how is the likes of Eddie Curry and the other big cneters going to keep up with the speed of Yi. If he is out past the free throw line and they have to respect the jumper that opens up the lane and paint for JJ to post up. If they use a tall PF on him then is that C supposed to guard Smith????? This forces the other coach to change his style.

exodus the clip you are talking about is in Jerry West sig right above. I will be a realist and say it is just highlights so you dont see the total package. I beleive that is what he was referring to was this one game he watched. But that video shows he does have skills.

Quote: http://www.sportsline.com/nba/draft/mock Mock Drafts Tony Mejia Gary Parrish TSX 1 POR Greg Oden, C, Ohio State 2 SEA Kevin Durant, F, Texas 3 ATL Al Horford, F, Florida 4 MEM Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina 5 BOS Yi Jianlian, F/C, Guangdong, China 6 MIL Julian Wright, F, Kansas 7 MIN Corey Brewer, G/F, Florida 8 CHA Spencer Hawes, C, Washington 9 CHI Jeff Green, F, Georgetown 10 SAC Joakim Noah, F, Florida 11 ATL Mike Conley, G, Ohio State 12 PHI Al Thornton, F, Florida State 13 NO Nick Young, G, Southern California 14 LAC Javaris Crittenton, G, Georgia Tech 15 DET Acie Law, G, Texas A&M This is why most of us are not sold on Conley. It's not that he isn't good, but is he worth the 3rd pick when he himself or another PG could be there at 11. One must forget that it was Conley's camp that put out there Por wanted to trade to Atl to get him at 3. There is always hype put out there to inflate a persons draft status. Prior to the tournament there was still a question if he should come out. So all this being said, if we take Yi (my pick) or Hofford at 3, does Conley fall to us at 11 baring trades. Memphis could take him, but but I believe they are looking for a post presence to team with Pau. Bos ? with the three young PG they have would they? Mil is the best candidate between 3 and 11 Min has Foye Cha has Knight and Felton Chi has hinrich Sac possible to replace Bibby There is a very good chance he could fall to 11. This would make Hawksquawk land such a happy place for the most part. Can that ever happen, no bitching and moaning, but actual happiness on this board. I put this up yesterday. For all the Conley lovers, its not the we hate him, but he isn't woth the 3rd pick. If you look later in that thread all of the mocks prelottery selection have him going 10th or below. It wasn't until we got the 3rd pick and people said will Atl needs a PG did he skyrocket. All the talk about Por wanting to trade to get him was from Mike Conley Sr's camp to try adn raise hsi value. I have a sneaky feeling he will be there at 11.

KB I feel more then anyone else I tend to agree with you point of view more times then not. It isn't the sky is falling, its more of a long term whats best for the team. That and your ideas seem to agree with mine, but I don't get this. Hofford to me is exactly what Shelden is. A 6'10 big body to play defense. Shelden was hurt and a rookie last year. In looking at Shelden's workout predraft he is almost identical to Hofford. I like Hofford as a player, but I can't get excited about passing on Yi, for something we have.

I really don't understand this love affair with Ridnour. He plays no defense, and was benched by the Sonics last year for poor decision making. So if the Sonics benched him for 15 games in favor of Earl Watson, why the hell is he worth the 11th pick in the draft???

Dennis Scott

Why would Yi start over Smith???? Would Yi not be his back up getting 10-12 minutes of that time, then if we go to a quick line up he would back up at C getting 15-16 minutes. We aren't saying he will start over Smith, but if a team like Ind can use Jeff Foster at C, and JO at PF, why for stretches of the game can we not have all on the floor, PG (Law, Critt, SPeedy, whatever), JJ, Marvin, Smith, Yi. Our most succesful lineup last year was when on the floor we had, JJ, Chill, Marvin, Smith, then ZaZa, we would run and run. Why Woody didnt do it more, for a stretch of 7-8 minutes is beyond me. This is the argument I love he is a PF we dont need more. Basketball is a game of subs, its not soccer. With 96 minutes at F and with say 18 that Z doesnt use at C there are plenty of minutes to go around.

Ok I put this on the other thread, but you keep asking how is he going to cover them? I ask how is Eddy Curry going ot cover Yi. So Eddy Curry is going to be out at the 3 point line guarding Yi????? That I want to see. Can you count how fast JJ will post up in the lane? SO now you have the other teams C out at the top of the key, or even better if they put a PF on Yi, then who does a guy like Eddie cover, Josh or Marvin???? So if Orl keeps Darko. Is Dwight going to go out and cover Yi at the 3 point line? If so then Darko is the only guy holding down the paint against Smith and Marvin. This is the same reason Utah is so damn effective. You think Memhet Okur can play that much better d against a guy like Howard???? No, but the pay off is at the other end. Just like the games against us if the big man is out hitting the shots from deep it draw the other teams bigs out of the paint. It opens up easy lanes for guys like Deron and AK. Woody LOVES the pick and pop. How effective will Yi be at that??? He is 7 foot and can fade away. So now the guy getting screened has to come out and contest that shot, giving up the weakside. The more I think about our offense the more I like Yi.

Quote: As I posted early my thoughts on how we can have a versatile team that can be fast, big, or matchup with anything thrown at us. Yi can run it appears, and I can just drool over the thought of a team of JJ, Marvin, SMith, and Yi on the floor at once. Talk about spreading the floor if Marvin and Yi's jumpers are dropping. Who comes out to guard the 7footer shooting 3's???? Not the other team's center. So their PF is on Yi. Who plays Marvin and Josh??? Either can blow past the other teams C at will. I really get a lil chub just thinking about that. I feel that Marvin is going to have his semibreakout year and hit that shot consistantly liek he did after the wrist injury. Couple that with one more year of growing up out of Smith. Oh and lets not forget wtih the last month of the season off, no olympics, and no other commitments JJ is going to be the freashest he has ever been. (Ran into D3 at a party awhile back and that's the only thing he kept saying over and over, watch JJ's year. A fresh JJ with something to prove yikes). This is exactly what I was talking about in the other post, just imagine the match-up problems for other teams. Everyone is looking at this as how is Yi going to defend someone like Shaq or other big men, but the real question is with JJ, Marvin, Smith, and Yi how are other teams going to defend us? My point is not saying they are unstopable, but it is clear a big man center can not cover any of those guys so which coach changes their style???? The best defense Yi can play is offense. If a big guy cant guard him then a big man wont be in the game for him to have to guard. I know that was rambling, but think it out it makes sense.

just to add on .... and both this one and the previos are from this week post workout http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2007 Conley at 11 again. I believe far to many people on here think we are attacking Conley when we mention other players being drafted at 3. We just feel he isn't worth that high of a pick. It is interesting to see some of the mocks done back in Feb. pretourney and this Conley love fest. He is going 12th in the one. http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2007

Thanks, but I think Sekou already reads these boards, or at least some with inflated ego's like to think he refrences them

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/draft/mock Mock Drafts Tony Mejia Gary Parrish TSX 1 POR Greg Oden, C, Ohio State 2 SEA Kevin Durant, F, Texas 3 ATL Al Horford, F, Florida 4 MEM Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina 5 BOS Yi Jianlian, F/C, Guangdong, China 6 MIL Julian Wright, F, Kansas 7 MIN Corey Brewer, G/F, Florida 8 CHA Spencer Hawes, C, Washington 9 CHI Jeff Green, F, Georgetown 10 SAC Joakim Noah, F, Florida 11 ATL Mike Conley, G, Ohio State 12 PHI Al Thornton, F, Florida State 13 NO Nick Young, G, Southern California 14 LAC Javaris Crittenton, G, Georgia Tech 15 DET Acie Law, G, Texas A&M This is why most of us are not sold on Conley. It's not that he isn't good, but is he worth the 3rd pick when he himself or another PG could be there at 11. One must forget that it was Conley's camp that put out there Por wanted to trade to Atl to get him at 3. There is always hype put out there to inflate a persons draft status. Prior to the tournament there was still a question if he should come out. So all this being said, if we take Yi (my pick) or Hofford at 3, does Conley fall to us at 11 baring trades. Memphis could take him, but but I believe they are looking for a post presence to team with Pau. Bos ? with the three young PG they have would they? Mil is the best candidate between 3 and 11 Min has Foye Cha has Knight and Felton Chi has hinrich Sac possible to replace Bibby There is a very good chance he could fall to 11. This would make Hawksquawk land such a happy place for the most part. Can that ever happen, no bitching and moaning, but actual happiness on this board.

I love this debate........... Granted Woody is a complete waste of space, but minutes aren't set in stone. It's not like every game X player has exatly this minutes. But with 3 qualty players 96 minutes is plenty. Start the game with Josh and Marvin, bring in Yi mid 1st qtr (he is a rookie, he will struggle, and how many rookies start right away) then mix and match to create the best match-up advantages for your team. Ride the guy that is hot, that is what is nice about this. If Marvin is rolling give him 37 min one night and Yi might get 26, and Josh 33. That's 96 right there. Say Yi is matched up on a smaller guy and hitting the fad away, he mgiht get 30, then 33 for Marvin and 33 for Josh. Chill can get a few minutes there. Everyone acts like there is one spot at Sf and one at PF and that spot is taking up by the same player for the whole game. Phoenix does a good job getting minutes for those guys. My other point everyone acts like no team can win with all this frontcourt talent. So my question is how did the 1986 Celtics manage to get minutes for Mchale, Parrish, Walton, Bird. Damn I wonder how that team turend out. In no way am I comparing talent wise our guys to that, but it proves you can find minutes, thats not a problem, finding talent is. What is wrong with these splits Smith 38, Marvin 38, Yi 20 34, 40, 22 32, 35, 29 40, 32, 24 ????? Doest that not work, and that is just PF and SF minutes, will Yi not get maybe 5 min a game at C????? This also gives our guys adequate rest. It's along season, with maybe 4 or 5 min less a game will some of the injuries go away???

That is my point, it was widely rumored predraft that BK tried to move down into Por spot, but they knew we wanted to move so they had all the leverage. So they dealt with Utah. Another poster even brought this up last week, when he said screw Por since they f'd us in 2005. So like Ford said predraft if we couldn't move down then take Marvin and try and make the pieces fit. Hate him or not BK doesn't take scraps for valuable talent. Just like post on here offering Chill for Haywood. WTF???? Just because they aren't putting up huge numbers now doesn't mean you take below market value for them. Having quality depth is key. God forbid if Smith or Marvin gets hurt I would like to have Chill there as insurance instead of Haywood playing 15 min a game at C. You can never have too much talent. So why trade a sirlion for ground chuck. It isn't a filet, but it beats the meat at taco bell.

I really never thought I would type this. Hold on, let me triple check, I AGREE WITH WALTER. ugh, that was worse then a kick in the nuts. I was never on the Conley wagon, as I felt the value of a PG at 11 was better then the value of a big man there, but I was leaning more toward Hofford. However, in the last week I have become convinced with Yi. As I posted early my thoughts on how we can have a versatile team that can be fast, big, or matchup with anything thrown at us. Yi can run it appears, and I can just drool over the thought of a team of JJ, Marvin, SMith, and Yi on the floor at once. Talk about spreading the floor if Marvin and Yi's jumpers are dropping. Who comes out to guard the 7footer shooting 3's???? Not the other team's center. So their PF is on Yi. Who plays Marvin and Josh??? Either can blow past the other teams C at will. I really get a lil chub just thinking about that. I feel that Marvin is going to have his semibreakout year and hit that shot consistantly liek he did after the wrist injury. Couple that with one more year of growing up out of Smith. Oh and lets not forget wtih the last month of the season off, no olympics, and no other commitments JJ is going to be the freashest he has ever been. (Ran into D3 at a party awhile back and that's the only thing he kept saying over and over, watch JJ's year. A fresh JJ with something to prove yikes).

I couldn't agree more. The funniest Fordism was prior to the 2005 draft. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2005/c...chad&id=2091921 (There's talk that the Hawks want Deron Williams and are flirting with him at No. 2. He's a great point guard, but he's the wrong Williams at No. 2. If the Hawks really want Deron, they should swap with the Blazers or Hornets, both of whom would love to get their hands on Marvin. Otherwise you take Marvin and trade the other guys on the team that play the same position.) http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/col...chad&id=2311939 (Atlanta Hawks How: Held the No. 2 pick in the draft The skinny: Amazingly, when draft day rolled around, it looked like the Hawks weren't seriously considering Paul with the No. 2 pick. Sources close to the Hawks told Insider around draft time they were deciding between Marvin Williams and Illinois point guard Deron Williams. That's odd, because of all the players in the draft, Paul best fit the Hawks' biggest hole. The team desperately needed (and still needs) a floor leader who can push the ball up the floor. The verdict: With a track record that now includes letting Chris Paul slip through his fingers, it's hard to see how Atlanta GM Billy Knight will keep his job much longer. Marvin Williams might turn out to be the best player in the draft someday, but Knight probably won't be around to take the credit. Williams' skills duplicate almost all the strengths of the other players on the roster. Don't forget, if Knight had decided to draft for need, chances are he would've drafted Deron Williams over Paul. Had the team drafted Paul and added Joe Johnson, it would have one of the best backcourts in the NBA and a much better record than it does now.) Ford really just hates BK it's so obvious. So let me get this straight prior to draft night Ford says we should take Marvin, and would be taking the wrong Williams with Deron. So we take Marvin then a year later we were fools for doing what he said. Gee hindsight is amazing. This is what I am absolutley loving about this draft. Now before I say this I will say I think Durant is going to be a great player someday. This draft just like 2005 is basically what after the top 2??? That year everyone said Bogut and Marvin were 1 and 2. Not one predraft ranking said diffrently. Even Ford in one mock said, "While they have F's you can't pass on the talent of Williams." This is identical to this year, it's Oden and Durant. The real draft is supposed to start at 3. This is when I start to laugh. After Durants workout last week were he couldn't do one rep at 185, it got me smiling. If Durant doesn't come out and dominate next year and puts up say 10/6 or 13/7, but lets say Hofford puts up 16/8. Will people say gees they f'd up. I knew Hofford was better because he was stronger, and we found out Durant was weak, and he is getting pushed around out there. Well yes right now every predraft analysis says Hofford is the most NBA ready player. Just like 2005 Paul was a 4 year player and it was well known he was the most likely to shoot out of the gate. So will Durant get flakc like Marvin if he doesn't produce right away???? When drafting Marvin everyone knew it may be 2 to 3 years. This year will be the defining year in evaluation. So we knew Paul was NBA at draft and Mrvin was 2 or 3 years away. SO why was it even worth comparing the first to years when the outcome should have been obvious? I hate to say it, but I almost want to see Durant struggle a bit in year one, and see which guys jump out and say "I told you so" I will laugh my azz off. Because right now it isn't even a question, Durant should go second, but wait one year and let hindsight kick in.

this is why i was beginning to like this team if it pans out this way. We can play that lineup against a team like Det or Mia that is slower pace, but then we have the option to have a quick lineup for teams like Chi or Was with Speedy JJ Chill Marvin Smith That team can run all day long.

They may not all be Shaq on that big team, but please tell me we wouldn't have and advantage on any team in the east w/ that big lineup. The guards posting up smaller guards, and both bigs being able to draw their defenders out of the paint because they have to respect a 11 or 12 foot jumper, clearing up JJ in the post. But that big lineup of would create some serious matchup problems in the East. 6'4 Law or Critt (avg) 6'7 JJ 6'9 Smith 6'10 Shelden 7'0 Yi While it may not be ideal on defense, but have Shelden cover the other teams big and put his weight on him. Yi with his length could present problems for any PF trying to drive. Josh Smith on any SF in the east??????

Ok since last year our projected starting 5 played all of 4 games together; I was sitting here watching the Yi video and had a startling thought. Bare with me, lets ASSUME that everyone is healthy. I know this is a big if with Speedy, but our other guys don't show a history of injuries. Assuming we go Yi or Hoffordm then Law or Critt in the draft. Starting 5: Speedy JJ Marvin Smith ZaZa Bench: Law (critt), Lue, (assume AJ's contract is moved) Salim Chill Shelden Yi (Hofford), Solomon I really want to see one bench in the east that can even compete with that when subs are made. If we meet a running team, Speedy JJ Chill Marvin Josh Meet a big team Law (Critt) JJ Josh Shelden Yi (Hofford) These picks give us a lot of options. ASSUMING we are healthy this is a very deep and versatile team. The playoffs aren't far off.

still waiting for a trade that Bk got totally ripped off on like you implied..............