really?

I always thought so, at least against PGs... and especially teamed with Jordan. His numbers are decent if unspectacular, but admittedly I didn't even look at him before saying that.

When I've watched them, nothing has really stuck out as awesome or egregious, which is usually how I look rate defenders. Admittedly he's usually guarding AI (nugs homer) most of the time I've seen him, and I know he's had issues with guys of size. Still, on SB's team that won't be much of an issue.

Is he bad? I could have been very wrong in my assumption.

Majerle writeup coming up here if a mod wants to edit it into the draft thread

Now that Mark Jackson has been taken, I felt it was time to show this highlight vid. Some of the most awesome passing I've ever seen, and that one at 2:07 might be my favorite one eva.

Also, now that all these players have been picked, this gives me chills just watching. Moreso than actually watching them play.

yeah but Marbury is an absolute headcase and to ignore that is nuts. Kid walked away from an opportunity to play with KG, a legit all-time great. Think Barkley is gonna be any different?

I'm going Assani (Akbar!) on this so get ready for a KC carpetbomb.

rule clarification:

if somebody has a "freak" injury during his age 24 season, before his 24th birthday, is our 24-year old clone going to have this damage? what about if the "freak" injury happens during his age 24 season, but after his 24th birthday?

Round 4, Pick 138: G/F "Thunder Dan" Majerle


(yeah, the watermark sucks, but this was still easily the best picture I found)

I took Majerle because he stood out to me among all the wing players as the guy who would best fit my team. He's pretty sturdy all around, but in particular I favored him over the other available players for his versatility, ability to shoot, and defensive skills.

He's a capable if not great 3-point shooter, putting up a .382 from the arc for 3 seasons in his prime; ideally, that will go up because the other offensive threats on this team will allow him better looks. He puts up decent rebound and assist numbers as well. Also, apparently the "Thunder Dan" nickname comes from his dunking, so presumably he could get to the hole in his younger days and either finish or find the open man.

A funny thing about his career arc is that, right in his prime (between ages 26 and 27), he went from 6th man, primarily playing the 3 alongside Hornacek, to starting at the 2 after the Barkley trade. (Note: My memory is fuzzy so I'm actually guessing based on minutes played here.) His stats and production shifted as a result:

1991-92 (age 26 at the 3): 82 games, 15 starts, 34.8 mpg, 17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.8 3PA/g @ .382, .551 TS%, .516 eFG%, 17.8 PER, 118 ORtg, 17.0 OWS, 10.6 DWS, 10.5 WSAA

1992-93 (age 27 at the 2): 82 games, 82 starts, 39.0 mpg, 16.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.5 bpg, 5.3 3PA/g @ .381, .573 TS%, .541 eFG%, 15.4 PER, 120 ORtg, 20.6 OWS, 10.5 DWS, 11.5 WSAA

To me, this shows me he can be capable filling either role, which will be important as flexibility/matchups will be big with this team. Sometimes he'll run the 2; sometimes he'll run the 3. The players I get in the next few picks will obviously affect what I can do a great deal.

Defensively, he's pretty good, although I can't personally say with any expertise. But he does have two second-team All-NBA Defensive Team awards and consistent defensive win share numbers. Also got a few steals and blocks along the way. A solid wing defender is a big asset to this team and allows us to match up more effectively.

Oh, and he's durable. We'll miss his 54-game season at 23, and from 24-30 he played in 73, 77, 82, 82, 80, 82, and 82 games. Doesn't miss significant time again until 31, which is a long ways away. Healthy, versatile, and productive.

Honors:

3-Time All-Star: 1992, 1993, 1995
2-Time All-Defensive 2nd team: 1990-91, 1992-93

He's also 82nd all-time in Win Shares and 59th in WSAA, and while I honestly couldn't tell you how relevant that is, it sure sounds sweet for the 138th pick in the draft!

+1. This is the main reason I don't love AI, although when he's on it's amongst the most entertaining moments you'll see in the NBA. Even watching him with Denver, where he's playing a bit more efficiently, I've never seen so much useless penetration. When he does penetrate and distribute, half the time it's just so he can reset and get the ball back.

without a doubt. Since Bynum was taken so early it's close, but I think Horford might be the worst pick of this draft.

Also meant to say long ago I agree with Assani that Pierce was a steal in the second round. Dude is amazing.

I really think my team is perhaps underrated. Years from now the masses will marvel at the Dale Davis pick.

Nath on Dan Majerle
Quite an understatement imo. He was one of those "lockdown" guys back in the day. I honestly thought he had like 5 All D nods, can't beleive it was just two.. Where is tuq when you need him, I bet he can elaborate.

I decidedly I like the Roy pick. I just love watching that kid play.

This is without a doubt the best highlight reel posted so far. Incredible.

OK those passes by Jax were absurddddddd...dude just loved going behind the back.

I love youtube mixvids. Makes players look absurdly good.

This Brent Barry one is especially sick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXg-k_1NGMY

Yeah, I ran into it when I was considering taking him. It's amazing he had such a low turnover rate given the difficulty of those dimes. Did the dude ever look where he was passing?

Are teams would have a pretty sick matchup.

Stockton/Cassell
Mullin/Bird
Oakley/Davis
Z/Divac

not to toot my own horn, but this probably the best post in this 92 page thread.

Yeah this is pretty sick. Stockton a pretty big advantage over Cassell, Bird likewise over Mullin. Oak and Davis are pretty even, small to decent edge for Oak. Z and Divac would have interesting battles.

Yea, might be the closest two teams in terms of the way they were built.

i am tilting so hard right now

Don't worry, Oakley won't foul Bird too hard.

Marbury was 20 at the time, I get him at 24. The next two years in Phoenix he said a lot of great things about Amare and seemed to like playing with him, so it's not like he hates all top flight players. I don't know the whole situation with Minnesota and exactly why he didn't want to play there, but I'm assuming there must have been some personal differences or something. Anyway it's not like great players haven't feuded before, I mean Isiah tried to freeze out Jordan at the all-star game, and look at the Kobe and Shaq drama in LA, Kobe doesn't get docked here even though he basically forced the team to trade Shaq, when he could have had probably at least one more championship. In this hypothetical league it's not like Marbury can demand a trade to another team, we're evaluating based on how the teams would play on the court, not what kind of drama would happen off of it.

I definitely lol'd and it's better than 40 pages of can McHale walk on water arguments.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ah3eg8bBPaM + Jackson highlight reel are good entertainment.

Thank god this man is not the coach of the Knicks...send him to the Bulls somehow.