Thread: NBA Yearly Match-up Tournament: 3/6 Jay Williams Region
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Old 04-15-2008, 01:33 PM   #21 (permalink)
Najee
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Re: NBA Yearly Match-up Tournament: 3/6 Jay Williams Region
Quote:
Originally Posted by RollWithEm View Post
Again you're probably right subjectively, but putting him on the team over one of those other guys would actually lower their seed. They'd still be a 6, but they might have a tougher draw.
Call me crazy, but I don't see how adding Michael Cooper makes the Class of '78 team a worse team than having bit players like Jerome Whitehead and Gerald Henderson or a fraud player like Freeman Williams. Whitehead's and Henderson's career averages in points are lower than and the same, respectively, as Cooper's (and their other averages and common percentages are the same). Their offensive PERs are roughly the same and they surely are not better defenders than Cooper (I believe you use some version of a defensive PER). Williams' numbers were artificially inflated because of his second and third seasons with the San Diego Clippers.

If I had to have one of those guys on my team instead of Cooper, I would have chosen the Class of '78 team to lose to the Class of '97 -- that's how much valuable Cooper is on defense and with his versatility. Having seen all four guys play, I really can't see what Williams, Whitehead and Henderson can offer that is more valuable than what Cooper can offer. IRL, the Class of '78 would be worse with Whitehead, Williams and/or Henderson instead of Cooper -- this is one of those cases where stats don't translate into reality.

Only in a bizarro world would someone actually pick Henderson, Whitehead or Williams over one of the best sixth men and perimeter defenders in NBA history. Once again, players should be chosen for the totality of their careers, not over some "for five peak games" logic where oddball choices can be made.

And I can't see how this team could have a tougher draw as a No. 6 seed than the Class of '97 team. The Class of 2001 team actually would be an easier draw, and this team (with Cooper) can beat the Class of '95 squad.

P.S. I believe you asked me why I would have John Long on my team. As a scoring big guard with a good midrange shot, he adds more firepower than the aforementioned three (he scored as many points in his career as Whitehead and Henderson combined). Long would be more valuable coming off the bench.
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Last edited by Najee : 04-16-2008 at 05:29 AM.
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