I'm still here.
My team is performing poorly - emphasis on POORLY. I knew we were in for a rocky start since one of my keepers was Gasol, and I expect him to be instrumental to my team.
I took a few gambles, and so far, the only one that has paid off is Hakim Warrick - who was my 14th rounder.
Among the gambles that have NOT paid off: Ray Felton in round 4, who had an INCREDIBLE second half of last year and a great pre-season. He's playing the 2-guard in Charlotte, when I had him slated at the point. Obviously, when he gains 2-guard status, that changes things a bit, and opens up some trade possibilities for me. Of course, the point guard I *WANT* is Nash, but there's no way Skander is giving him up.
My round 5 pick hasn't paid off: Chris Webber. In round 5, I'm looking at a guy who is 20-10-4 year after year. That's an easy pick. But he's fallen out-of-favor in Philly.
My round 6 pick hasn't paid off: I stretched to get Randy Foye in Minnesota. I had this pick scheduled from the start of the draft, as Skander and Caleb will tell you. I didn't see any way that he'd be shut out of time in Minnesota with Rashard McCants out, and Garnett LIKES this kid. Not to mention, I like what I've seen of him, and when I like a guard - especially one who can play point - I'm seldom far off the mark. And given that Garnett likes this kid, as the season goes on, he *WILL* get time. This is a guy I'm still high on, and don't see myself letting go of.
I grabbed Kenyon Martin - who I figured to go off in Denver. This guy is a great defender, and George Karl loves great defenders. So what about last year's problems? My take was that that was a speed-bump in the rocky road that is dealing with George Karl. Martin wasn't healthy - Karl wasn't going to risk his health more with Nene out for the year by giving him minutes and watching him degrade. 19 points in two games is a bit low, but the 20 rebounds in the two games he played was exactly what I was looking for.
I grabbed Andrea Bargnani as well. Here's another guy who showed he could really score in pre-season. A power forward who could hit threes - that would give my team an unusual ability, and given that my big rebounders - Duncan and Gasol - can also play center, I'll be fine in rebounding if I chose to play Bargnani and try to steal 3's.
Essentially, I still like my team. In fact, I felt much better about this team that I did about last year's team. This team reminded me of my team two years ago - where I took a lot of players who could have monster years, or could tank. That year, Gerald Wallace was better than folks realized (although I traded him in a deal that, if I had to go back and do it over again, even though the deal was a steal for me, I'd not do the deal) although not what I had hoped, Quentin Richardson blew up, Drew Gooden blew up, Rashard Lewis blew up, and Rafer Alston blew up. We didn't start having trouble until I traded Gerald Wallace and his blocks and steals plus my roster flexibility for Rip Hamilton and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. I had an incredible run through the year. That's the potential I saw in this team - although, we'd be running through with different categories.
It hasn't worked. It may not. But I still like this team INFINITELY more than I liked last year's team. It's a more fun team to watch...well...except for Bargnani, Peterson (Toronto games are just painful), and Foye.
