Bleacher Report - Articles by Brett Roberts

Orlando Magic Season "Officially" Begins Tonight

Brett Roberts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:19:48 -0500

No one expected the Magic to win its first 10 games. The loss of star forward Rashard Lewis for those games to suspension for using an illegal substance in his energy drink smoothies was sure to cost the Magic at least a few victories.

Until replacement starter Ryan Anderson went down, the Magic were rolling along, but without his three-point shooting stretching the floor much the same way Lewis does, Orlando struggled in losses to the Thunder and Cavs in horrible blowout fashion.

It became clear that the Magic need a court-stretching 'four' man and that Brandon Bass will not be their best option at the power forward position, as many postulated he might.

Save the substitution of Hedo Turkoglu and Vince Carter, the Magic will put the same lineup on the court that they did during last year's Finals. Thus, with their true starting lineup intact, tonight marks the real beginning of the season for the Magic.

The Magic will face the struggling Bobcats at the Amway Center, and the Bobcats have yet to win a road game this year (0-4). It figures to be a blowout in the Magic's favor, especially since the Bobcats will be playing without starting shooting guard Raja Bell, who was just traded to the Warriors for Stephen Jackson today.

So tonight the "real" Magic should make magic by no less than 20 points during its season-opener, 10 games in.

Orlando Magic Seek To Build on Dwight Howard's Shoulders, NBA Finals Experience

Brett Roberts — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:16:00 -0400

The Magic made serious waves the night before the draft by trading Courtney Lee, Tony Battie, and their interim point guard, Rafer Alston, for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson.

Naturally, most of the hoopla revolved around Carter, a perennial All-star and 20-plus ppg scorer. In Carter, the Magic hope they have upgraded from Hedo Turkoglu.

Little fuss was made over Ryan Anderson, but from the preseason games, it has become clear he has the tools to be a significant part of the rotation. Whether he will or not remains to be seen, but Anderson has the outside shot and ability to rebound that should allow him to thrive in Orlando's system.

Many Magic fans are upset that the team traded promising star Courtney Lee, but what most don't realize is that Ryan Anderson was the player the Magic wanted in the 2008 draft, but he went the pick before Orlando's first round selection, leaving the Magic to select Lee.

Dwight Howard compared Anderson to former Magic player Pat Garrity, but to most experts, it is clear that Anderson's upside is significantly higher than Garrity's peak play. Perhaps Dwight was just paying homage to Garrity, but Anderson would have to view that as a bit of an insult, since he is already doing things that Garrity never could.

All that aside, the success of the Magic hinges on their four stars: Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. Nelson, Carter, and Lewis are all great three-point threats and look to benefit from the double teams that Howard will command in the post.

The Magic became the first team in NBA Finals history to shoot more than one-third of their shots from behind the arc, and with the way it carried them through the playoffs, it is doubtful this strategy will change.

It's somewhat dangerous to live and die by the three-point shot, but the Magic's defense, anchored by Howard, is strong, and when they fall behind by 10 points or more, they have little problem coming back by getting stops and stroking the three-point shot.

Last year Nelson's season-ending injury in a game against Dallas caused the Magic to have to deal for Alston. He is gone now, and that's probably a good thing, since it is dubious that he could have remained happy as a second string point guard (and yet he will have to do just that playing behind Devin Harris in New Jersey).

The Magic felt they had to add some depth at point guard and signed NBA veteran Jason Williams, aka "White Chocolate." He sat out the '08-'09 season, but seeks to come back strong and back up Jameer Nelson at the point. That leaves Anthony Johnson as the odd man out, but if Jason Williams falters, then AJ could see significant minutes again.

He's a quality backup point guard capable of running the offense but lacks the shooting ability of J-Will and also is a lot less flashy. Flashiness doesn't necessarily make Williams any better, but it does help sell tickets (not that the Magic will have any problem doing that, with a record-high number of season ticket holders this season).

In addition to adding Carter, Anderson, and Jason Williams, the Magic used their mid-level exception to sign power forward Brandon Bass and small forward Matt Barnes. Bass, aged 24, figures to be a piece of the long term future of the Magic. He didn't get the minutes in Dallas since he was backing up Dirk Nowitzki, but he showed flashes of the player he could be.

He brings toughness and a great mid-range jumper that will take some pressure off Howard. Also, he will allow Rashard Lewis to play more minutes at his natural position (small forward).

Meanwhile, Barnes is a strong defender and can also shoot the three. He figures to fight Pietrus for the small forward slot in the starting lineup. Either way, Barnes or Pietrus will provide defense and three point shooting off the bench, which is arguably the best in the NBA.

Another smart move was resigning Polish center Marcin Gortat. Otis Smith shocked Dallas, and the rest of the NBA, by matching the offer sheet and giving Gortat a $32 M contract over five seasons.

That's a lot of money to pay for a backup that will see a max of 16 minutes a game backing up Howard and seeing spot minutes at the PF slot, but Charles Barkley called Gortat a "top 10 center" in the league and the Magic recognize his worth as a potential trade chip.

He'll probably be around for the duration of this season since his trade value is only half his current contract, but Gortat could be dealt for an upgrade at small forward after this season, or for a couple first round picks.

With the additions mentioned and the continued play of Orlando's three all-stars from last season (Nelson, Howard, Lewis), the Magic will again contend for the NBA title.

Perhaps with a healthy Nelson the Magic could have beat the Lakers in the finals, or at least showed a better performance than getting beat in five games, but there is no reason to doubt that the Magic win the East again.

Sure, Boston and Cleveland have made improvements, too, but the Magic beat both of them in the '09 Playoffs. Many Boston fans will argue that the Celts were missing all-star Kevin Garnett, but the Magic were missing an all-star, too (Jameer)!

It looks to be a great season and Magic fans are salivating at the depth that the Magic assembled this off-season. But the weight of the team rests upon the broad shoulders of Howard, who must continue to improve his free throw shooting so he can be relied on late in games.

If he does that, the Magic will be even more difficult to beat...and we can only hope that is the case.

All these pieces coupled with the continued improvement of the franchise player, Dwight, should equate to another great season.

Let's Make a Steal: Cheap Stat Stuffers for Your NBA Fantasy Squad

Brett Roberts — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:01:01 -0400

This article takes a look at guys that specialize in a stat and can provide your team with a boost in a category. Most of these guys are only viable contributors in one category and can be had late in drafts, often in the last round. People overlook the value of players like these who can keep you competitive in a certain category without having to make a trade for a more esteemed player.

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New Jersey Nets 2009-10 Team Prospectus

Brett Roberts — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:45:56 -0400

Nets veteran Jarvis Hayes is optimistic going into this year, citing team chemistry as the "most underrated aspect" of being a successful team. I would be inclined to agree with him, after watching the most talented team (USA national team) continually struggle against other countries with better team chemistry.

However, with a team like the Nets, it is dubious that team chemistry can overcome the lack of talent they have.

By dealing veteran Vince Carter, the Nets basically announced they have went from rebuilding mode to rebuilding-tank mode. Other than Devin Harris, they have no one capable of making the All-Star team this season. That being said, the Nets still have a bright future if they can keep the parts of a young formative nucleus together.

By dealing Carter, they brought in Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, and Tony Battie. Alston and Battie are decent vets, but the real heist was landing Courtney Lee.

Before fracturing his sinus cavity and having to wear a mask, he was emerging as a true star on the Magic. The first two games of the first round matchup vs Philadelphia, Lee averaged 39 mins, 21 ppg and 18-34 FG. He had a mediocre game three and four, and then came Howard's elbow in practice that sidelined him until he had a protective mask made weeks later.

Lee was beginning to emerge as one of the biggest draft steals the Magic had ever produced.

After the conclusion of the playoffs, he and Dwight Howard joked about becoming the next Penny and Shaq, only half in jest, since Howard has been labeled the next Shaq by many. And then came the trade. Since then, Lee has stated that he will make the Magic rue trading him and punish them every matchup this season.

The best thing the Nets have going for them is a backcourt rotation that could stay together and become one of the best in the league within a few seasons.

The aforementioned Devin Harris and Courtney Lee will be the starters, with 11th overall pick Terrence Williams and last year's second round pick, Chris Douglas-Roberts, coming off the bench. Both Williams and Douglas-Roberts had great college careers, but Williams is an unproven rookie and Douglas-Roberts only played spot minutes last season.

However, with the departure of Vince Carter, more minutes have opened up for Chris Douglas-Roberts, and his stealthy defense, solid jump-shot and slashes will be given their opportunity to prosper. Now, I'm not predicting Douglas-Roberts to be an all star ever, but he will be a solid role player in this league.

Outside of their backcourt, the other great thing the Nets have going for them is Brook Lopez.

Lopez played all 82 games last year and produced well. He shot 53% from the field leading to 13 ppg and pulling down 8.1 boards a game. The knock on Lopez has been that he is soft and lacks athleticism, but he makes up for that with his fundamentals and work ethic. He's also a solid defender and blocked 1.8 shots a game last year, too.

With an uptick in minutes per game and a full season under his belt, Lopez has the making of a future all-star, and will pair up well for an inside-outside game with Devin Harris and Courtney Lee for years to come.

All this talk of the future...but what of the present?

The Nets figure to be pretty bad this year. Potential doesn't win games.

Yi Jianlian is looking to have all the makings of a monumental bust, and will likely start at either SF or PF (he's a bit of a tweener). Yi might be the first all star starter to average less than 10 a game with the bolstering of a heavy Chinese vote. He almost did it last season.

Sean Williams has great potential too. He's a great athlete and shot-blocker, but is still struggling to adapt to the game mentally. He could either start or spend the whole season riding the bench in the doghouse. It's really mostly dependent on his mentality.

All this potential talk aside, they have no depth at all, and besides Harris, Lee, and Lopez, they will struggle to find other sources of points. They host a plethora of solid role players in Battie, Alston, Trenton Hassell, Bobby Simmons, and Jarvis Hayes, but these role players cannot save a team without a lot of star power. No one other than Harris is capable of averaging more than twenty points per game, and that lack of offensive firepower is likely to be the main downfall for the Nets this year.

Their depth chart should look something like this, though their starting SF spot is up in the air:

PG- Devin Harris - Rafer Alston
SG- Courtney Lee - Terrence Williams - Chris Douglas Roberts
SF- Bobby Simmons - Jarvis Hayes - Trenton Hassell
PF- Yi Jianlian - Sean Williams - Tony Battie
C- Brook Lopez - Josh Boone

The Nets have a great future. Unfortunately, after trading Vince Carter, they sacrificed their "present" and went into full on rebuilding mode.

They will fight with the Wolves and Kings for the worst record in the league this year , and will be fortunate (or unfortunate if you look at the season as a fight for ping pong balls) to win 30 games.

Los Angeles Clippers Prospectus for 2009-10

Brett Roberts — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:03:56 -0400

Rasual Butler, a new acquisition that cost a mere second round pick, has stated that the Clippers will make the playoffs this year, that last year's dismal record was a mere result of injury devastation.

It's hard to argue with that and the Clippers have four young guns in Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, DeAndre Jordan, and, the crown of the king's scepter, Blake Griffin.

These youngsters will form a great core moving into the future if the Clips can keep them all together, which is dubious, considering they seldom commit the money it requires to keep their talent.

But that is a topic for another article, perhaps.

The Clips looked great on paper going into 2008 and they look even better in 2009.

Baron Davis missed 18 games last season and never got into the groove to play like the B-Diddy we have been used to. Chris Kaman missed 51 games and Marcus Camby, the oft-injured center possibly made of glass, missed 20 games (which is pretty standard for him, of course).

For all the hype about the acquisition of Blake Griffin, there should be an equal amount of excitement that they dumped Zach Randolph.

Randolph is a black hole on offense and takes a ton of bad shots since he pretty much refuses to pass the ball under any circumstances. He reminds me a lot of Armen Gilliam, another black hole that played in the late-'80s and '90s.

Losing Randoph is equally as vital as gaining Griffin. They, of course, got rid of Randolph to clear the way for Griffin to start at power forward, but it will take a full season to show this addition by subtraction, and how it clearly affected their poor team chemistry last season.

Now on to the franchise corner piece.

I watched a little of the pre-draft workouts and was spellbound by Blake Griffin. Not only does he have a 40-inch plus vertical, but he can move and dribble like a point guard.

He was put through agility drills, dribbling through a series of cones using one hand through the legs while holding a second ball in his other hand. Many point guards would have trouble with the maneuvering he displayed, and coaches have commented on how well he handles the ball for a 6'10" power forward.

A comparison that has been thrown around a little is Shawn Kemp (pre-crack and lard), but I think Griffin's potential is even higher. They both could rip a quarter off the top of the backboard, but Griffin also has a solid midrange jumper.

It's hard to predict how quickly players will adjust to the NBA because each player tends to learn at a different pace, but I think Griffin has the talent to be an immediate impact player, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him average 18 points and 10 rebounds this season.

If he does, he'll be the first No. 1 overall pick at power forward to do so since Derrick Coleman (who also was a first overall selection) did in the 1990-91 campaign.

Much like last season, I think the Clippers entire season hinges on their ability to stay healthy.

If they can keep Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, and Blake Griffin healthy, they will have one of the best three-man big rotations in the league. Couple that with a great point guard in Baron Davis and two solid wingmen in Al Thornton and Eric Gordon, and the Clips can compete for a playoff spot like Rasual Butler said they will.

They're also pursuing Ramon Sessions, a third-year combo guard, who, despite going undrafted, is the most sought-after free agent that is still on the market. He would solidify the backcourt rotation and provide great relief if Baron's health falters.

Their depth chart should look something like this:

PG- Baron Davis, Ramon Sessions (?), Sebastian Telfair, Mardy Collins

SG- Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis

SF- Al Thornton, Craig Smith, Steve Novak (FA)

PF- Blake Griffin, Marcus Camby

C- Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan, Brian Skinner

Looking at that roster, it's hard to argue with Rasual Butler.

The Clippers have a real shot at making the playoffs...provided everyone stays healthy.

Five Stirring Debates: Adam Rizzo Vs Brett Roberts

Brett Roberts — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:53:01 -0500

1) Dwight Howard vs. Amare Stoudemire

Brett:

Dwight Howard is a better rebounder, a better defender, and has more potential. No one not named Dennis Rodman has been a better rebounder and consistently pulled down 20-plus boards.

Dwight is blocking four shots a game this year, and has shown the commitment to becoming the best defender in the league. One can only wonder how much more he would score than Amare if he had Nash passing to him instead of JAMEER NELSON (blah!).

The only thing Amare does better is shoot—and that’s barely relevant for big men in today’s NBA. Look what Shaq did with no jumper. Enough said.

Rizzo:

I know defense wins championships—but when there’s no defense to stop Amare, does it really matter?

In all seriousness, Amare Stoudemire is probably as close as it comes to being unguardable at the center position, without going Shaq Diesel and bulldozing your way to the hoop. Also, watching the highlights from his 49 point performance the other night, it seems Amare has extended his range on his jumper to 20 feet, which would make him an absolutely-lethal offensive option.

He’s a great help defender in the paint with his athleticism. If he can learn to become a good on-ball defender, he could not only be the best big man in the league, but the best player overall.

2) CP3 vs Jason Kidd: Who Will Collect the Most Career Assists?

Brett:

Chris Paul is a great passer, don’t get me wrong—but the sheer number of years that Kidd has played with a high volume of assists is going to make it difficult for any young player today to pass him.

His career assist per game is at 9.3 assists per, for over ONE THOUSAND games—not to mention the 105 playoff games where he picked up another 961 assists.

He’s been going strong for 14 years and every year has been solid. Even now, at almost 35 years of age, he is still putting up 8.8 assists per game. He’s closing in on 10,000 career assists. Even if Chris Paul maintains his 10 apg, he is going to have to do it for twelve seasons to eclipse Kidd.

Rizzo:

Chris Paul will definitely finish with more career assists than Jason Kidd, barring any tragic injury. In only his fourth year in the league, Chris Paul has a career average of 9.5 assists per game, already better than Kidd’s average of 9.3, and it continues to grow as he is constantly averaging over 10 assists a game.

If Paul’s career matches the longevity of Kidd’s, he will have no trouble compiling more assists than Kidd. Also, the game is played at a much faster pace now than it was even five years ago, so that will allow Paul more opportunities to lend out a few helpers throughout his career.

3) Boston Celtics' Big Three (KG, Allen, Pierce) vs Chicago Bulls' Pippen, Jordan, and Rodman

Brett:

Few argue that Jordan is the best player in NBA history. He scored almost at will, and was as clutch as Jerry West. If he didn’t waste a couple years playing baseball, he would have won more championships than anyone besides Bill Russell.

But he didn’t do it alone. Pippen was also rated one of the greatest 50 players to play the game—and just like Jordan, he played suffocating defense. It’s easy to look at all their dazzling moves and offensive stats and conclude they were great—but when you look at the defense they played, it takes them to the stratosphere.

Add to these two legends Dennis Rodman, and you have a trio that did it all. Rodman was 6′8" and grabbed over 15 rebounds a game six times in his 12 full seasons played. In his season with the Bulls, he corralled 16.8 a game. And like Jordan and Pippen, he also played sick defense.

The Bulls won the most games in NBA history that year for a reason. Their trio was unstoppable. I don’t think the Celts have a chance of eclipsing the Bulls 70-12 record, much less put two more seasons together after that with 68 and 62 wins. That’s an average of 66 wins a season for three straight. The Celts can’t touch that.

Rizzo: Boston Celtics

There really isn’t much a debate here, but I’ll try to make one. The Celtics’ Big Three may not have the most dynamic player to ever step on to a basketball court, but they have three players that bring totally different games to the table.

Ray Allen is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He has hit over 2,100 thee-point shots in his career and still counting. He’s a very cerebral player and has a knack for hitting clutch shots game in and game out.

Paul Pierce is one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. He’s got range outside the three-point arc, can post up and back down smaller defenders, and take just about anyone off the dribble.

Add to that his ability to finish with contact—at the rim or on his jumper‚ and Pierce is a defender’s nightmare. His defensive game has stepped up tremendously, now that he doesn’t have to carry the offensive workload game in and game out.

Kevin Garnett is perhaps the most unique player in NBA history. He was one of the first kids to ever jump from high school straight to the pros, and he made an impact early and often.

He’s a seven-footer that has about as automatic an 18-foot jumper as anyone in the league. He can take any big man off the dribble and slip his way to the rim. He also has a quasi "Dream Shake" on the blocks that is unguardable.

His defense is top-notch across the league, as his Defensive Player of the Year award would tell you. He hits the glass hard and is a defensive deterrent on and off the ball.

Also, the energy Garnett infuses into the rest of his team is contagious, and usually gets his teammates to play better on a nightly basis.

4) Best Defender of the Last 15 Years

Brett:

Many remember the scene of Dikembe Mutombo clutching the ball above his head in celebration as he lay on the floor in Seattle. The Nuggets, an eighth-seed, had just brought down the top-seeded Sonics.

And they did it because of Deke.

During their run that year, Mutombo averaged 5.8 blocks a game and 12 rebounds. He solidified himself at that moment as one of the greatest NBA defenders ever, perhaps only bettered by Bill Russell himself.

Mutombo then went on to average over three blocks per game for the next seven seasons, and won the Defensive Player of the Year four times in a span of six seasons. The only player to do that since has been Ben Wallace, who could be in the discussion, too.

The center position affects the game so much because it is the heart and soul of the defense. Rebounding and shot blocking anchor the guards and provide the basis for team defense—and no one did it better than Mutombo, who averaged over 10 rebounds for eleven straight seasons.

Defense and rebounding is what wins games, and Mutombo has been in the playoffs twelve times in his career. He is an eight-time All Star, and he wasn’t selected by the coaches for his offensive game. It takes a special player to be an All Star for their defense, and Mutombo was one of those players.

Rizzo:

Tru Warier, Zo, Deke—those are all good nicknames (I guess), but they don't describe their game at all. When you get a nickname like "The Glove," you know you’ve earned it.

Gary Payton is third all-time in steals, behind only the likes of John Stockton and Michael Jordan. Having a big man in the paint to block shots is nice, but how many times does he actually deter a shot a game? Maybe 10 times? Gary Payton was harassing the point guard every play of the game and, for the most part, disrupting their offense.

And if he wasn’t swiping the rock away from you, he was getting to you mentally with his trash chatter.

Not only could he demoralize you on defense, but he also averaged 20 points a game in seven different seasons. Payton was always there to break you down physically and mentally, and will go down as perhaps the best defender of all time.

5) Rookie of the Year

Brett:

OJ Mayo. Throw out a five-for-20 shooting night, and Mayo is shooting a blistering 47 percent from the floor—and he’s shooting plenty, 16 shots a game. That’s what it takes to win Rookie of the Year in the NBA—scoring.

In his first six games, he is averaging 17 points a game, and who knows if he can up that a notch and be the one of the few rookies to average twenty a game.

He’s also nailing down the threes at a 39-percent clip and grabbing five rebounds a game.

But that’s not what will win him the award; it’s his scoring. Mayo will lead all rookies in scoring while losing a lot of games in Memphis, but in the end his high points per game will notch him the trophy.

Rizzo:

Derrick Rose is averaging 4.5 assists on a jump-shooting team that isn’t hitting many jumpers so far. More impressive is his scoring numbers, as he is averaging 17.8 points a game on 48.8-percent shooting. He’s been working his jumper into his arsenal the last couple games and gets to the rim at will.

Rose is long, tall, and athletic—and is an almost impossible to guard for many point guards in the league. With Larry Hughes already missing some time and Kirk Hinrich now on the shelf for three months, there will be endless of opportunities for Rose to work his magic.

Is Darko Milicic Reaching the End of the Line?

Brett Roberts — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:12:04 -0400

It's now been four seasons since the Class of LeBron came out of the gates. Dwyane Wade has won a championship. LeBron James has put up insane stat lines of 30, seven, and seven. Carmelo Anthony, LeBron, Wade, and Bosh have all played on the Olympic team and brought home gold.

And then there is Darko Milicic. He was selected ahead of Bosh, ahead of Wade, and ahead of 'Melo. And yet so little is said about him. He's fallen into the realm of obscurity, only furthered by the fact he is playing for the irrelevant Grizzlies, who promise to be one of the two worst teams this season (alongside the Wolves).

His first two seasons in the league amounted to almost enough games played to equal one season, and he scored about the same as one Kobe Bryant single-game outburst. There hasn't been a bust any bigger since Michael Jordan drafted Kwame Brown No. 1 overall.

Milicic has his last chance this year to prove his worth. His only competition for minutes is Pau Gasol's younger brother, Marc Gasol, and a 7'2" Iranian center named Hamed Haddadi. Both of them looked good in the Olympics, though, so Darko has his work cut out for him.

His numbers last year were solid, though unimpressive. He managed seven points and six rebounds per game, to go along with a decent 1.6 blocks per contest. But is this really the kind of production that should be expected from someone drafted ahead of three all-star Olympians?

Perhaps this is as good as it gets for Darko—a solid role player that can come in and pull down a few boards, score a couple times, and block a shot. It's just not what you would hope for from a No. 2 overall pick.