Hoopin` it up

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:00:00 -0400

On Monday, Aug. 11, I was invited to participate in an expert draft for NBA.com that will be featured in their upcoming Fantasy Basketball draft guide.

Starting rosters featured one PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, F/C, C and utility. Five bench players were also selected.

Here is the team I drafted out of the No. 5 spot:

Round 1, Pick 5: PF Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks -- At pick five, it came down to Nowitzki and Celtics PF Kevin Garnett. Nowitzki was the selection because of his ability to drain the three and Garnett`s declining rebounding and scoring numbers in his first season with Boston.

Round 2, Pick 8: PG Baron Davis, Clippers -- I`m tempting fate with Davis, who played 82 games last season for the first time since the 2001-02 season. There`s no denying Davis` numbers, though, and I don`t think the move south to Los Angeles will have much of an impact on his stats.

Round 3, Pick 5: SF Rudy Gay, Grizzlies -- I was surprised to get Gay here as he was a roto-monster last year, averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a block, steal and three per game. I see no reason why he can`t repeat those numbers in 2008-09.

Round 4, Pick 8: PG Chauncey Billups, Pistons -- With Davis already in the fold, I really didn`t need a PG, but Billups was too good of a value to pass up.

Round 5, Pick 5: C Rasheed Wallace, Pistons -- Another great across the board weapon who averaged 12.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and a steal, block, assist and three per game last season.

Round 6, Pick 8: SG Jason Terry, Mavericks -- I needed a SG, and Terry was the best of the available crop.

Round 7, Pick 5: C Mehmet Okur, Jazz -- Okur was a beast after the All-Star Game last season, averaging 17.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 threes in 27 games. With Nowitzki and Wallace at PF and C, respectively, I`m hoping Okur can average close to double-digit rebounds per game.

Round 8, Pick 8: SF Shane Battier, Rockets -- Still a value pick after the Rockets addition of Ron Artest. Battier`s numbers will take a hit, but he should still average a steal, block and three per game.

Round 9, Pick 5: PF Marvin Williams, Hawks -- Williams has improved his scoring and rebounding numbers every season in the league. An improvement on last year`s 14.8 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game would make him a valuable ninth-round selection.

Round 10, Pick 8: PF Antonio McDyess, Pistons -- I needed some rebounds. And McDyess averaged 8.5 per game last season.

Round 11, Pick 5: SF Tayshaun Prince, Pistons -- How can you go wrong with 80 percent of the Pistons starting lineup? Prince has decent value as a bench player.

Round 12, Pick 8: PG Delonte West, Cavaliers -- The draft was held prior to the Cavaliers acquiring PG Mo Williams. Liked West a lot better then.

Round 13, Pick 5: PF Paul Millsap, Jazz -- Averaged 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and nearly a steal and block in 21 minutes per game last season.

Round 14, Pick 8: SG Nick Young, Wizards -- Should be good for some instant offense off the Washington bench.

One month later, I still like this team.

With my top seven selections, I`d be shocked if this team didn`t finish with 11 or 12 points in three pointers made -- definitely the strength.

The team is missing a 10 rebound-per-game guy -- that is without a doubt the weakness. Looking back, Garnett at No. 5 may have been a better selection.

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Hoopin` it up