Continuing our live coverage from G-Central, David Stern and Larry O'Brien have taken turns stepping to the stage and announcing draft picks.
Let's take a look at how each team has done, through the 3rd round (2nd and 3rd round picks are bold-faced):
xphoenix87 - Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, John Stockton
Alrightly then...after picking Be Like, Phoenix pairs His Airness with the ground-bound Ultimate Blue Collar force in Moses Malone. Imagine the second shot ops with Mo working underneath. After years of Medical Bill Cartwright and Luc Longley, Jordan has to be salivating over a guy like Moses (who could also pound Jordan into the floor if he tried some of his intimdation tactics). In the 3rd, John Stockton gives this team the purest of point guards, but he still needs a pick and roll buddy. Got to love the backcourt defense on this team.
His first pick put Stephen A.'s blood pressure at 460/290. As nice as Timmy D is, do you take him with Kareem and Wilt on the board? In the second, dehbashi makes Bill Walton's thighs shudder with Nate The Great. Arguably the best defensive center other than Russell, and a decent - but not great offensive player. Defensively, Thurmond and Duncan can wreak havoc with the best of them. In the 3rd the name Clyde Drexler draws derisive cheers as a perimeter offensive player is picked. Clyde is wonderful in the open court, but the jumper is somewhat shaky. Still the shot of offense and flash is welcome. Now, when will we see some scoring?
joshQpublic - Bill Russell, Jerry West, Kevin McHale
Russell was always an admirer of Mr. Clutch, and now gets to play with a guard greater than Cousy or Sam Jones. Nice steal of a pick here. Low-post scoring was addressed with the addition of Lurch himself, The Human Coat-Hanger, Kevin McHale. His variety of low-post moves will be welcome, and again, some serious low-post D in effect. Of course his peak value was great, but his durability is in question. So far, nice balance...
genez13 - Magic Johnson, Shaq, Karl Malone
Somebody knew what they were doing. Genez gets Magic, then is still able to get The Diesel in the second round, and then a younger Mailman to run the floor with Magic. Not even Charlie Rosen can knock this pick. No clutch woes for Karl here. You have to wonder if Shaq can run with Magic over 82 games, but there is plenty of muscle on this crew.
ricko - Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Elvin Hayes
Huh... Ricko passes on Shaq to take Kobe. Kobe is smiling, Shaq promises revenge. I don't think Elvin Hayes is the defensive answer to Shaq. And a locker room with Kobe and Elvin will be...hmm..interesting. This team is set on the wings if Kobe stays at the 3. Or maybe you have a Hayes and Bird tandem at forward. We're still short a Big Man. And some Prosazc.
GR8ONE54 - Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Scottie Pippen
For most of Wilt's career, he played with guys who couldn't match his incredible level. Now it will happen again in fantasy land. BOB COUSY OVER JERRY WEST AND KOBE BRYANT? Feeding The Dip is imporant, but this was a reach pick. Heck, forget reach - a brother could separate a shoulder making this pick. Jerry West makes much more sense here. Not a 38% career shooter at PG. Heck, take John Stockton (who WIlt has always liked for his no frills efficiency. Not to mention that Cooz could get torched on D. In the 3rd GR8 nabbs Scottie Pippen, who can play the point forward and provide stout wing defense. But he isn't a pure shooter, and can be roughed up.
Hoffman - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas
Yet another nasty Twin Towers in the making here. Hakeem will take some of the physical role that Kareem isn't always comfortable doing. Unbelievable offensive agility in the low blocks. Plenty of weakside blocked shots here too, and Hakeem will run the floor. I asked earlier, "Who will Hoff get to feed Kareem?" Ask no more. Isiah at this point is an absolute steal. Able to run, play the halfcourt game, shoot...amazing that Stockton and Cousy went ahead of this guy. Great pick!
AK47Spiderman - Oscar Robinson, Julius Erving, John Havlicek
This doughnut is almost complete. The Big O gets teamed with The Doctor, and believe me, if this is the ABA Erving, LOOK OUT. Able to play the 3 or the 4, the greatest finisher in league history will love playing with O - and vice versa. Hondo will split time between the 2 and 3 slots. But where O where are the big men!?Pettit is a pretty good value at power forward, and can play center if need be. But this team may have some half court problems against the bigger teams.
Best Value Picks - Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem
Nice breakdown. I had my sights on Isiah Thomas with my fourth pick, but obviously he didn't last.
No, Elvin Hayes is not the answer at center. He's my 4, Kobe's my 2 guard. I think we can score enough, so hopefully there's a defensive center lurking that I can ####.
Oh and AK...not to brag, but I've forgotten more sports history (NFL even more than the NBA) than you probably know. Pettit was an all-time great. No doubt. But against the class of big men you have here, you'd better make sure you can find a center who can play with this crew. One more run on big men, and you may have some troubles...
Train-I took Nash in the fourth round for one reason. I needed a point guard, and the one I really wanted Isiah, was gone later in the third. I was drafting by position. I considered both Elgin and LeBron earlier, but went with Bird and Kobe, respectively, instead.
What about teaming up All Slob Forward Vince "Syracuse Fats" Coleman, with DL not so stud Center Jeff Ruland, and for my serious got-game-great-name pick, World B. Free?
Seriously I go Doc, Oscar, and Wilt...
Last edited by edhardiman on July 16th at 1:13 PM.
how in the hell are you gonna argue a 6 time nba champion in cousy he was steve nash befor there was asteve nash he was a jason kidd befor there was a jason kidd .. youre really gonna sit there and try to argue my cousy pick .. youre serious ?? wow .. guess you just started watchin the nba in the last 5 years .. this is a nba legends draft not an nba best players in the last 10 years draft
GR8, I'll argue the "6-time chamption", because said champion will tell you that he didn't win JACK until Bill Russell showed up. I'll argue it because while Cousy was great - Jerry West was better (no, I didn't just start watching the league - I saw West play as a young man)...The Big O was better, Frazier was better, Isiah was better, and Stockton was better. All of them could play make like Cousy and ALL of them were better shooters. Most of them were better defenders. Cousy will set up some baskets, but he'll also get torched against the elite.
Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of the Lebron pick, but it's growing on me. He can play 3 positions, and can you name me anyone else with 3 seasons of 27-7-6? Every small forward I wanted was gone, and anyway, aren't we always talking about LeBron being well on his way to being one of the all-time greats?
obv i didnt select cousy for his defense .. wilt and scottie on the wing will over come his defensive set backs but you cant argue couseys impact on the league .. i stand behind my pick .. only player i would agree with that could have gone ahead of him is zeke and was a toss up between zeke and cousy in the end being this isa legends league i went with cousy weither you think russel was responsable for his 6 rings or not 6 rings is still 6 rings and not easily ignored
I think I'll be doing this again, so I'll make sure to save you a spot next time rev :).
The way the winner is decided is that both "GMs" will post an argument about why their team should win, and anybody who wants to can vote on who they think the winner would be.
Russell, West... and McHale? McHale is a plodder compared tp Russell and West. I would have taken a big man who can run the floor with West/Russell. Looking at who wasn't taken yet, I might have gone with someone like Garnett who although isnt really a center can fill the position nicely. Maybe Dirk Nowitzki too or someone like these guys. If its about building a TEAM, then there should be some thought into chemistry on the floor. I love the Magic, Shaq and Malone. Thats nasty. Love to see Bron and Barkley on that team. lol. Thats gotta be nearly over a half ton of brawn for the starting line. lol
G.H. Brooks (aka "Dr. Midnight" to his loyal fan base) is a 2-time Next Great Sportswriter (NGS) Finalist. One would think that bringing game like that would net me *something* - a cool icon to mark my site, some love from Fox Sports, cash, but noooo... :-)
I'm broadcasting live from New York City after a hiatus from the blogging scene, takes on life, sports, and whatever passing thoughts are shooting through my head. The good and bad ..passionate, logical, and on point.
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