The time has finally come for me to showcase to you the “junkie” part in this blog's title. So far everything I have written about has been relevant, meaningful, and for the most part, respectable topics. Topics that will help you contribute intelligently during your 10:15 AM break at work to safeguard you from sounding like a bafoon when someone mentions how bad the Wizards are(they fired Flip Saunders today), or when the office bandwagon fan Larry in accounting(who happens to be from Galax, Virginia) starts yapping about “his team” Lob City.
This blog has helped you become knowledgeable on subjects that some normal person might say, “matters." This post, is not that at all, if you come to this site to learn just enough not to get made fun of, stop and turn around. This post will have the adverse affect on your popularity, because just like knowing how many planets there are(is it 8 or 9?), knowing that Jerryd Bayless deserves more run in Toronto will not aid you in your conquest of women.
Now that you have decided to continue reading and not stalk the receptionist Ashley's Facebook page you may be asking yourself: How do I make this team(you can’t)? What are the qualifications? And also, why is this important(it isn’t)? Of those three questions only one was reasonable, so let me answer that. Players on this team are guys in the league who if the situation were right could become a household name, not a multi-year All-Star or a Hall-Of-Famer, but a very good player in their own right. Things that keep this player from being on your fantasy team include:
- Lack of playing time.
- Coach’s system does not fit player's game.
- Teammates don’t complement player's game.
- Log jam at his position.
- Better player in front.
- Needs to develop slightly more.
So, without further ado, I give you the All Right Situation Team(and a bench player):
PG: Jerryd Bayless, Toronto Raptors
2011-2012 Stats: 8 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1 RPG, 15 MPG, 66% FT, 41% FG, 57% 3P
That’s right, you knew Bayless was going to get mentioned again. The fact that he does not deserve more run in Toronto though(Jose Calderon averages over 8 assists per game), does not mean he should not get minutes somewhere else. Since being drafted out of Arizona in 2008 Bayless has gotten consistent minutes only twice for more than a 10 game stretch. In the 2009-2010 season during a 25 game stretch Bayless played 24.7 MPG, averaged 12.4 points and dished out 3.64 assists per game. In 2010-2011 while splitting time between the Raptors and the Hornets Jerryd had a 12 game stretch where he averaged 23.5 MPG, 13.3 PPG, 4.41 APG, and 3.5 RPG. Not bad numbers for a 23 year old still learning the game. As I mentioned earlier, Calderon’s numbers are good, but don’t tell me for a second Bayless can’t start in this league, ask Kobe if he would like to have scoring help from the point.
SG: Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets
2011-2012 Stats: 14.9 MPG, 7.7 PPG, 2 RBG, .6 APG, .9 SPG, 51% FG, 57% 3PT
Yes, I know Brewer is more of a small forward, but just go with it. Unlike Bayless, you might actually know Corey Brewer. he was the high flying, defensive stopper for Florida when they won back to back NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007. Well, he is pretty much the same player as he was back then, still skinny as a rail(6’9, 188) and still gets his hands on everything. Unlike Bayless though, I am not sure if Brewer should start in the league. He is not a very good shooter from deep and in the right situation could get taken advantage of when guarding a bigger 3(say...Lebron). But...bump those minutes up to 22, get him on the court with a second unit that gets up and down the floor and you have yourself a defensive savant who will average double figures and 2 steals without having one play designed for him.
SF: Austin Daye, Detroit Pistons
2011-2012 Stats: 12.2 MPG, 3.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1 APG, 25% FG, 83% FT
As you can tell from Daye’s numbers this season, his current situation, isn’t right. Daye has all of the God given ability anyone would want or need to succeed in the NBA. The pedigree(his father played in the league), the size(6’11), the ball handling, and the shooting touch. For whatever reason though ever since Austin left Gonzaga after his sophomore year he has not found his rhythm or playing time. Aside from unbiasedly assessing Daye’s talent, I am a huge fan, I love his game, his skill level, and the smoothness with which he plays. I can say however that maybe he is not quick enough to guard 3’s, and not strong enough to guard 4’s, Daye also may not be able to create his own shot(a key in the league) from the wing. For goodness sakes though, he is is 6’11, can shoot the lights out, and don’t these NBA teams have weight rooms? Get his butt in the gym, force feed him a protein shake(or 1,000), become a pick and pop quicker than average power forward(Tim Thomas style) and get your minutes up!!!!! There is a place for Austin Daye in this league, and it is not limited to one or two teams. Oh, he is also only 23 years old. #freeAustinDaye
PF: Kenneth Faried
2011-2012: 2 games played, 3.5 PPG, 4 RPG
Faried marks the 2nd Nugget to make the cut. In no way should you read that as, “I believe George Karl is poorly coaching his team”, he’s not, I just feel the Nuggets might be hoarding, that’s all. Oh Knicks fans, you only think your team made a good choice when selecting Iman Shumpert in the 1st round(he wasn’t getting drafted elsewhere, by anyone) when in fact you could have actually drafted someone that could help your team. Insert the more talented, more athletic version of Charles Oakley: Kenneth Faried. I got a chance to see Faried play twice this summer(the NBA locked out, remember?), he was the strongest and most athletic player on the court both times(games included John Wall, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Eric Gordon, Damarcus Cousins). If the minutes are right, there is no doubt that Faried will average double digit rebounds, multiple blocks, and occasional awkward conversations between you and your girlfriend about how you never knew you could love another man so much based solely on his effort.
C: Anthony Randolph, Minnesota Timberwolves
2011-2012 Stats: 12.5 MPG, 6.2 PPG, .6 BPG, 2.5 RPG, 51% FG, 80% FT
Lets get everything out in the open, this team could be named The All Anthony Randolph Team, because lets face it, if he were getting minutes he would be putting up great numbers. Anthony Randolph is a 6’11 left handed athlete who simple does not get his due. Every since Randolph was selected 14th overall by Golden State in 2008 he has done nothing but sit(a lot), get hurt(some), and put up huge numbers when he gets 20 minutes or more. In his 3 1/2 year career when Randolph receives 20 or more minutes he has scored in double figures every time but 6. Get Anthony Randolph minutes!!!!! There is nothing left to say, it is a direct correlation.
Bench: Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles Clippers, Guard
2011-2012 Stats: Injured
As a Kentucky fan I have seen a lot of Eric Bledsoe, I watched he and John Wall guide Kentucky to the Elite 8 in 2010, and I watched him as much as TNT and ESPN would let me last year with the Clippers(not much) this past season. Eric Bledsoe has not played this entire season, but I am not sure it would matter much. The Clippers have such a log jam at the point guard position(CP3, Chauncey Billups, Mo WIlliams) that they start Billups at the shooting guard spot. Thus, it goes without saying, there is not a lot of minutes for Eric. That does not mean Del Negro shouldn’t make minutes. Eric Bledsoe like most rookies had good moments last season and bad moments. Eric is also still learning to play the point after spending the year at Kentucky as a wing. But, one thing you should never forget about Eric Bledsoe is this: Go to 1:40 mark
No comments:
Post a Comment