Post by yesisme1 on Jan 2, 2011 19:57:25 GMT -5
This is a general position by position overview of the Pacific. The teams are generally in the order they finished last season.
Portland Trailblazers
Centers : Chris Mihm, Theo Ratlife, Jamaal Magliore: Ratlife is one of the best defensive centers in the league. Mihm is a great scorer and Magliore can score. Not outstanding center play but a solid group.
Power Forwards: Bryant Reeves, Kenyon Martin, Matt Bonner: Martin is a solid scorer, Reeves is able to score some and plays solid defense. Again, not a spectacular PF play but solid.
Small Forwards: Pedrag Stojakovic, Joe Johnson: Pedrage is a very solid scorer and Joe Johnson is one of the best small forwards in the business especially from outside. Small forward is what makes this team tick.
Shooting Guards: Steve Francis, Qyntel Woods, Salim Stoudamire: Francis is a solid scorer at shooting guard with average defense. The other two are low quality players.
Point Guards: Rafer Alston, Milos Vujanic: Rafer Alston plays above average defense other than that point guard is a weak position for this team.
Overall: As long as Johnson keeps doing this thing this team will be solid. If he ever got hurt this would be a lottery bound team.
LA Clippers
Centers: Michael Olowokandi, Lorenzen Wright, Vitaly Potapenko : Olowokandi has been a solid 20 and 10 center, Wright filled in nicely during the playoffs. Clippers are solid at Center.
Power Forwards: Kwame Brown, Eddie Griffin: Both are solid young pf. Griffin is the better defender Brown the better scorer. Above average play at PF.
Small Forward: Quentin Richardson, Corliss Williamson: Williamson is one of the more under rated Clippers who happens to play defense and score well. Q-Rich is the top all around player for the Clippers who plays dense, scores and even gets some assists. Very good play at the Small Forward.
Shooting Guard: Jamal Crawford, Fred Jones, Flip Murray : Jamal Crawford is a great scorer, but lax on defense, Fred Jones is solid at everything but not great, Murray is a solid outside shooter with above average defense. Overall Shooting guard is still probably the weakest position but not bad.
Point Guard: Marko Jaric, Eric Snow: Jaric is one of the better defenders and distributers in the business. Snow makes a good backup as far as a player who plays solid defense and doesn’t make mistakes.
Overall: While the team lacks an elite player it has a deep stock of very good players at every position.
Seattle Sonics
Centers: Vladimir Stepania, Mehmet Okur, Chris Andersen, Vlad is a very solid Center who plays defense can score some and rebound. The other two are bodies that can do some things but not well. Vlad is solid the backups are ok at best.
Power Forwards: Malik Rose, Erazem Lorbek: Rose is average at scoring and defense and a solid rebounder, Lorbek is overall below average. Average or below at the power forward position.
Small Forward: Shawn Marion: Solid Scorer and defender no depth obviously.
Shooting Guards: Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie House, Casey Jacobsen: Stackhouse is a very good all around shooting guard. House and Jacobsen are great outside shooters with suspect defense. Overall the position is very solid.
Point Guards: Kobe Bryant, Speedy Claxton, Bracey Wright: Kobe is the best in the business with no weaknesses, Claxton makes a nice backup who is above average in handling scoring and defense. Overall PG is excellent.
Overall: The guards on this team are great. The frontcourt is thin with a weakness at power forward.
LA Lakers
Centers: Tim Duncan, Shawn Kemp, Wang Zhizhi: Tim Duncan is one of the best in the business and solid at all aspects. Shawn Kemp makes a solid backup.
Power Forwards: Dirk Nowitzki, Rodney White: Dirk is a very good scorer and defender, White is a solid scorer off the bench although lacks defense.
Small Forwards: Antoine Walker, Trenton Hassell: Antoine Walker is a great scorer with above average defense. Trenton Hassell is a nice backup.
Shooting Guards: Ben Gordon, Corey Maggette, Brent Barry: Barry and Gordon are both solid but not great shooting guards with Meggette there is great depth.
Point Guards: Blake Stepp*, Charlie Bell: Stepp can score from outside and is a good ball handler. Bell is a better defender and can shoot from outside but isn’t a great ball handler. Weak at point guard as it stands.
Overall: A very solid team that should fight it out with the top three from last season. Point guard is the weak position although I am sure one of the shooting guards can probably slide down.
Golden State Warriors
Centers: Evan Eschmeyer, Andris Biedrins: Andris is a very solid young center who could eventually develop into a top center. He is a solid defender with above average rebounding and scoring skills. Evans is an average rebounder and scorer and below average defender. Overall the position is above average with a great future outlook.
Power Forwards: Robert Traylor, Matt Freije, Brian Skinner: Traylor is not the scorer he was but is a solid defender and great rebounder. Skinner is a lesser version of the same. The Power forward position for the Warriors will get defense and rebounding.
Small Forwards: Antawn Jamison, Aaron Williams: Jamison is no longer the scorer he was but solid at defense and rebounding as is Williams. This position again will give the Warriors defense and rebounding.
Shooting Guards: Penny Hardaway, Bobby Simmons: Penny is older but can still score and plays defense well. Simmons is pretty raw.
Point Guards: Jason Hart, Raymond Felton: Felton is going to be a very solid point guard. He can score and handles the ball really well. He needs to improve his defense. Hart is a good defender and solid ball handler but not the scorer Felton is. Overall average play from point guard right now.
Overall: This team will be much improved, but it may not have enough scoring options and is weak at point guard compared to other Western teams.
Phoenix Suns
Center: Kelvin Cato not a scorer but a solid defender and rebounder.
Power Forwards: Dwight Howard, Wayne Simien, Mike Dunleavy: Dwight Howard is still raw, but is going to be one of the best in the business. Wayne Simien is a cheaper version of How ard but with a lot of potential. Above average at the position, but tons of potential.
Small Forwards: Danny Granger, Derek Anderson, Matt Barnes, Ryan Gomes, Bryon Russell, Luke Jackson: Obviously very deep and I am sure some will be moved either to other positions or teams. Anderson and Granger are the best of the bunch and play great defense and offense. This position is above average.
Shooting Guards: Gilbert Arenas, Kareem Rush: Arenas is raw, but may develop into one of the best in the business. Kareem has a lot of holes in his game.
Point Guard: Chris Duhon: Is young and very solid but with no backup a very thin spot.
Overall: This team is still very raw, but has parts in place that could make it extremely strong in the future.
Sacramento Kings
Centers: Curtis Borchardt, David Harrison*: Both are young and solid defenders and rebounders. Neither are great scorers.
Power Forwards: Josh Smith, Amir Johnson: Again both are young. Smith could develop into one of the best forwards in the league. Johnson is young, but with a ton of talent.
Small Forwards: Tayshaun Prince, Yaroslav Korolev: Tayshaun is average at defense and scoring. He has potential but at 25 needs to improve soon.
Shooting Guards: Keith Bogans*, Mickael Pietrus: Bogans is a solid but not great shooting guard. This position is a weak one for the Kings. Pietrus is raw, but has potential. His defense is suspect.
Point Guards: Nate Robinson, Will Bynum, Derek Fisher, Ronnie Price: Robinson and Bynum are both solid young pg who are raw but with a ton of potential.
Overall: A team that is raw like the Suns without quite as much potential, but more talent that is ready now
Overall this is probably the strongest division in the league. There are four teams in this division which are among the top in the league. It should be a very exciting division to watch this season.
Portland Trailblazers
Centers : Chris Mihm, Theo Ratlife, Jamaal Magliore: Ratlife is one of the best defensive centers in the league. Mihm is a great scorer and Magliore can score. Not outstanding center play but a solid group.
Power Forwards: Bryant Reeves, Kenyon Martin, Matt Bonner: Martin is a solid scorer, Reeves is able to score some and plays solid defense. Again, not a spectacular PF play but solid.
Small Forwards: Pedrag Stojakovic, Joe Johnson: Pedrage is a very solid scorer and Joe Johnson is one of the best small forwards in the business especially from outside. Small forward is what makes this team tick.
Shooting Guards: Steve Francis, Qyntel Woods, Salim Stoudamire: Francis is a solid scorer at shooting guard with average defense. The other two are low quality players.
Point Guards: Rafer Alston, Milos Vujanic: Rafer Alston plays above average defense other than that point guard is a weak position for this team.
Overall: As long as Johnson keeps doing this thing this team will be solid. If he ever got hurt this would be a lottery bound team.
LA Clippers
Centers: Michael Olowokandi, Lorenzen Wright, Vitaly Potapenko : Olowokandi has been a solid 20 and 10 center, Wright filled in nicely during the playoffs. Clippers are solid at Center.
Power Forwards: Kwame Brown, Eddie Griffin: Both are solid young pf. Griffin is the better defender Brown the better scorer. Above average play at PF.
Small Forward: Quentin Richardson, Corliss Williamson: Williamson is one of the more under rated Clippers who happens to play defense and score well. Q-Rich is the top all around player for the Clippers who plays dense, scores and even gets some assists. Very good play at the Small Forward.
Shooting Guard: Jamal Crawford, Fred Jones, Flip Murray : Jamal Crawford is a great scorer, but lax on defense, Fred Jones is solid at everything but not great, Murray is a solid outside shooter with above average defense. Overall Shooting guard is still probably the weakest position but not bad.
Point Guard: Marko Jaric, Eric Snow: Jaric is one of the better defenders and distributers in the business. Snow makes a good backup as far as a player who plays solid defense and doesn’t make mistakes.
Overall: While the team lacks an elite player it has a deep stock of very good players at every position.
Seattle Sonics
Centers: Vladimir Stepania, Mehmet Okur, Chris Andersen, Vlad is a very solid Center who plays defense can score some and rebound. The other two are bodies that can do some things but not well. Vlad is solid the backups are ok at best.
Power Forwards: Malik Rose, Erazem Lorbek: Rose is average at scoring and defense and a solid rebounder, Lorbek is overall below average. Average or below at the power forward position.
Small Forward: Shawn Marion: Solid Scorer and defender no depth obviously.
Shooting Guards: Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie House, Casey Jacobsen: Stackhouse is a very good all around shooting guard. House and Jacobsen are great outside shooters with suspect defense. Overall the position is very solid.
Point Guards: Kobe Bryant, Speedy Claxton, Bracey Wright: Kobe is the best in the business with no weaknesses, Claxton makes a nice backup who is above average in handling scoring and defense. Overall PG is excellent.
Overall: The guards on this team are great. The frontcourt is thin with a weakness at power forward.
LA Lakers
Centers: Tim Duncan, Shawn Kemp, Wang Zhizhi: Tim Duncan is one of the best in the business and solid at all aspects. Shawn Kemp makes a solid backup.
Power Forwards: Dirk Nowitzki, Rodney White: Dirk is a very good scorer and defender, White is a solid scorer off the bench although lacks defense.
Small Forwards: Antoine Walker, Trenton Hassell: Antoine Walker is a great scorer with above average defense. Trenton Hassell is a nice backup.
Shooting Guards: Ben Gordon, Corey Maggette, Brent Barry: Barry and Gordon are both solid but not great shooting guards with Meggette there is great depth.
Point Guards: Blake Stepp*, Charlie Bell: Stepp can score from outside and is a good ball handler. Bell is a better defender and can shoot from outside but isn’t a great ball handler. Weak at point guard as it stands.
Overall: A very solid team that should fight it out with the top three from last season. Point guard is the weak position although I am sure one of the shooting guards can probably slide down.
Golden State Warriors
Centers: Evan Eschmeyer, Andris Biedrins: Andris is a very solid young center who could eventually develop into a top center. He is a solid defender with above average rebounding and scoring skills. Evans is an average rebounder and scorer and below average defender. Overall the position is above average with a great future outlook.
Power Forwards: Robert Traylor, Matt Freije, Brian Skinner: Traylor is not the scorer he was but is a solid defender and great rebounder. Skinner is a lesser version of the same. The Power forward position for the Warriors will get defense and rebounding.
Small Forwards: Antawn Jamison, Aaron Williams: Jamison is no longer the scorer he was but solid at defense and rebounding as is Williams. This position again will give the Warriors defense and rebounding.
Shooting Guards: Penny Hardaway, Bobby Simmons: Penny is older but can still score and plays defense well. Simmons is pretty raw.
Point Guards: Jason Hart, Raymond Felton: Felton is going to be a very solid point guard. He can score and handles the ball really well. He needs to improve his defense. Hart is a good defender and solid ball handler but not the scorer Felton is. Overall average play from point guard right now.
Overall: This team will be much improved, but it may not have enough scoring options and is weak at point guard compared to other Western teams.
Phoenix Suns
Center: Kelvin Cato not a scorer but a solid defender and rebounder.
Power Forwards: Dwight Howard, Wayne Simien, Mike Dunleavy: Dwight Howard is still raw, but is going to be one of the best in the business. Wayne Simien is a cheaper version of How ard but with a lot of potential. Above average at the position, but tons of potential.
Small Forwards: Danny Granger, Derek Anderson, Matt Barnes, Ryan Gomes, Bryon Russell, Luke Jackson: Obviously very deep and I am sure some will be moved either to other positions or teams. Anderson and Granger are the best of the bunch and play great defense and offense. This position is above average.
Shooting Guards: Gilbert Arenas, Kareem Rush: Arenas is raw, but may develop into one of the best in the business. Kareem has a lot of holes in his game.
Point Guard: Chris Duhon: Is young and very solid but with no backup a very thin spot.
Overall: This team is still very raw, but has parts in place that could make it extremely strong in the future.
Sacramento Kings
Centers: Curtis Borchardt, David Harrison*: Both are young and solid defenders and rebounders. Neither are great scorers.
Power Forwards: Josh Smith, Amir Johnson: Again both are young. Smith could develop into one of the best forwards in the league. Johnson is young, but with a ton of talent.
Small Forwards: Tayshaun Prince, Yaroslav Korolev: Tayshaun is average at defense and scoring. He has potential but at 25 needs to improve soon.
Shooting Guards: Keith Bogans*, Mickael Pietrus: Bogans is a solid but not great shooting guard. This position is a weak one for the Kings. Pietrus is raw, but has potential. His defense is suspect.
Point Guards: Nate Robinson, Will Bynum, Derek Fisher, Ronnie Price: Robinson and Bynum are both solid young pg who are raw but with a ton of potential.
Overall: A team that is raw like the Suns without quite as much potential, but more talent that is ready now
Overall this is probably the strongest division in the league. There are four teams in this division which are among the top in the league. It should be a very exciting division to watch this season.
