Capone is taking Kelvin Cato.
Quote:
Re: pick
Kelvin Cato if Clark doesn't pick him.
So I'm up...
Round #10/ Pick 385
via Nath Manute Bol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSBLUjgVllU
(that youtube demonstrates possibly the best individual defensive performance I've ever witnessed online)
Manute Bol is the son of a Dinka tribal chief, who gave him the name "Manute," which means "special blessing." And Manute is the special blessing for my team. (Yay corny) Manute Bol also holds the distinction as the only player in NBA history to block more shots than he has made, blocking 2,000 shots without also scoring at least 4,000 points. Finally, Manute will be such a positive in the lockerroom, since he has a strong sense of humor (including many pranks with Charles Barkley) as well as displaying a strong charitable side. (He donated most of what he made in the NBA to Sudanese-help funds) So, with this pick I'm getting a strong lockerroom presence, a 1-dimensional player who should help me in limited minutes, and get a guy who doesn't mind sitting on the pine. I'm going to do what I've done with Manute Bol that I've done with everyone else: List accomplishments, show stats, and explain his role.
Team BobboFitos
PG - Terrell Brandon (5'11), Micheal Williams (6'2)
SG - Andrew Toney (6'3), Danny Ainge (6'4)
SF - Eddie Jones (6'6), Bryon Russell (6'7)
PF - Derrick Coleman (6'10), Nene (6'11)
C - Shaquille O'Neal (7'1), Manute Bol (7'6)
Manute Bol was a 7'6/200 lbs. C from Sudan originally, but played for the University of Bridgeport. (Go CT/lol @ height per weight ratio) Manute played for 10 years, with the Bullets, Warriors, Sixers and Heat. Manute Bol made the All-Defensive 2nd team his first year in the league as a 23 yr old.
Manute's first year was, as mentioned above, his best defensively. I don't get this, but I get everything beyond it. That year he played all but 2 games, had an unheralded 10.6 BLK% (no one is even close to his career 10.2 BLK% career mark, for the record - Shawn Bradley is #2 @ 7.83%) and a 99 DRtg. Manute's main strength (as mentioned below) will be his weakside help defense, especially paired with 1 of my other 3 bigmen, who are all VERY strong and capable of taking the more difficult post defensive position. (Nene, DC, and Shaq define "wide-bodied"). Manute never played starters minutes (peaked @ 26.1 a game his rookie season, career played 18.7 mpg) and I expect him to get no more than 10 mpg for purely defensive purposes. Finally, Manute posted a career 9.4 PER, his first few seasons all around the double digit mark (11.2, 10.9, 10.9, 9.8) and his ORtg matching his futility. (Career 87, I don't think I've ever seen anyone else with negative offensive win shares)
Manute actually was able to stay healthy for a while (rheumatism apparently ended his career, which basically involves swelling and arthritis) and played 80, 82, 77, 80, 75, 82, and 71 games - through the age of 29. After that, he played 58, 14, and 5 games, which signaled the end of his career. Since I don't expect Manute to play more than double digit minutes per year, I expect him to maintain those game totals with me. Also, he never suffered a major injury, RATHER, it was the medical condition which resulted in pain only years into his career, so I don't feel he's injury prone. (But his career is medium length, not long)
Defensively, Manute is a tall but lean center. As noted above, he will be playing in sets when I need a stop, and when my guards cant stop penetration so I can put in the best shot blocker of all time to set things straight. Manute will NOT steal/force TOs; he WILL foul alot (but this is moot since he has limited minutes); but he WILL stop penetration. Just for a tangible stat, per 36 mins Manute gets 6.4 blocks a game. As a 24 and 26 yr old, he blocked 7 per 36... Which is often better than most teams average per 48. Lastly, his teams defended well even though they weren't good (or even average) teams - but his 103 career DRtg suggested his mere presence helped limit opponent points while he was in the game.
Offensively, Manute is a net negative. He was not a strong offensive rebounder even though he was the tallest on the court (not even 2 ORbp36), he had a terrible TS% (.441 as a bigman is a joke, his BEST was as a 24 yr old peaking at .482) and he never drew fouls. (.6 per game, where he shot poorly - a Shaqlike 56.1%). That said, he did have a niche as a big man who COULD shoot 3s. Strangely, I envision giving Manute crunch time minutes in the final play when I have my 3ball lineup out there. He shot 21% from 3-land, but the fact that he's so tall and I can always get a shot off from him means I have some flexibility. One nice keynote is Manute had such a low usage (7.9% career) that he never really turned the ball over (.7 per game) so when he's in, he won't ever give me boards, but atleast he wont give my opponents more possessions.
Going back to my overall philosophy (balance) I think Manute at this spot rounds off my team by providing a defense-first bigman off the bench who in rare moments can hit a 3ball. I'm not expecting Manute to play major minutes or do anything other then block shots, so I see him succeeding in that role. Thus rounds out my team!
Some final notes, for a defense-first team, in spurts I can put out:
C - Manute Bol
PF - Shaq or Nene
SF - Bryon Russell
SG - Eddie Jones
PG - Danny Ainge
Good luck scoring on that bunch! And, for a late "need a 3pter" I can put out:
C - Manute Bol (21% 3s)
PF - Bryon Russell (37% on 3s)
SF - Eddie Jones (37% on 3s)
SG - Danny Ainge (38% on 3s)
PG - Terrell Brandon (36% on 3s)
flyingmoose you are on the clock!