Round 1 (Midwest) - OH, IN advance
March 4, 2008 by Evil E
You know LeBron wasn’t gonna go out like a sucka in the 1st round!
With the NCAA Basketball Tournament right around the corner, I decided to create an NBA State Tournament to see which states are producing the best players.
Serious bragging rights are at stake!
Do certain states excel at producing certain positions? Which states have the most talent per capita? Most importantly, who’s going to win it all?
Help me decide by voting for each matchup, and we’ll crown an NBA State Champion right around the time of the NCAA Championship game.
NBA State Tournament Rules:- To qualify, players must have played in at least one NBA game this season (Sorry Brand & Oden) and be on a current NBA roster. |
#1 Seed
Midwest Region
Tennessee (7 players) +
Iowa (7 players) +
Missouri (4 players) +
Arkansas (3 players) +
Kentucky (2 players)
Combined Pop. = 22,099,451
PG: Derek Fisher (AR), Kirk Hinrich (IA)
You could argue that Jordan Farmar is outplaying D-Fish right now, but when it comes to crunch time in the Playoffs, you know the proven vet is going to be on the floor. The former University of Arkansas at Little Rock star will need some help tho. Kirk Hinrich is currently losing minutes to Larry Hughes in Chicago, so he can thank me for giving him the nod over Hughes on this squad. Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on him for more than 24 minutes per game.
SG: Joe Johnson (AR), Ronnie Brewer (AR)
Joe Johnson will lead this team offensively, and you figure the ball will be in his hands quite often. He’s capable of playing some PG, so if you don’t like Hinrich, you can keep him on the bench and give J.J. all the backup minutes. That would also open up more minutes for Ronnie Brewer, who has proven to be a very valuable player for his defense and athleticism. Arkansas only has 3 active players in the NBA, but they’re all pretty solid guards.
SF: Kyle Korver (IA), Ricky Davis (IA), Corey Brewer (TN)
I’m giving Korver the nod as my starting small forward. He can knock down threes with the best of them, and should benefit by playing with another guy who can do the same (Johnson). Ricky Davis gives you a nice scorer off the bench, but he seems to have taken a step back this season. Corey Brewer is a nice guy to have at the end of the bench. He can defend and handle the rock on the fast break, but make sure you have some shooters on the floor with him.
PF: Shawn Marion (TN), Thaddeus Young (TN), Brandan Wright (TN)
It looks like Tennessee has figured out how to create long, lean, and super athletic forwards. I placed 3 rookies from TN on this team, so Shawn Marion will have to show them the ropes. He’s more effective at power forward, but you could easily slide him over to SF and play a big lineup. Thaddeus Young was named the Tennessee Player of the Year in 2006 and graduated high school with a 4.3 GPA! Thad has a lot of potential, but Brandan Wright may have even more. The kid can run the floor and has a 7-5 wingspan, but he also has a nice baby hook and doesn’t play out of control.
C: David Lee (MO), Nick Collison (IA)
I talked enough about these guys in my All-White USA team piece, but I like a Lee-Collison duo. They’re a little undersized for center, but they’re clearly the best options for this team. Lee would be great running the floor with some of these young guys, and Collison gives them a much needed physical (semi-physical?) presence.
Just missed the cut: Larry Hughes (MO), Raef LaFrentz (IA).
I’ve never been a big Larry Hughes fan. What’s funny to me is that his flaws were readily apparent just by looking at his college stats. At the University of St. Louis, he shot just 29% on threes and 69% from the line while posting an atrocious .63 assist/ turnover ratio. Why you would ever draft someone with those stats and then try to turn him into a point guard is beyond me. Raefer Madness used to be the MAN, but his best days are behind him. I came close to giving him a spot, but went with the youngins instead.
Everyone else: Derek Anderson (KY), Ryan Bowen (IO), Greg Buckner (KY), Adam Haluska (IA), David Harrison (TN), Trenton Hassell (TN), Tyronn Lue (MO), Kareem Rush (MO), Lorenzen Wright (TN).
Team analysis:
This is a very unique squad. Arkansas has produced some quality guards, Tennessee has produced some long athletic forwards, and Iowa has produced some skilled white dudes. I wouldn’t be surprised if you disagree with my starting team, because there are many different lineups that you can throw out there. You could play a power frontline of Marion, Lee, and Collison or a run like crazy frontline of C. Brewer, Marion, and Wright. You can also move Joe Johnson over to point to have Ronnie Brewer’s defense and Korver’s shooting on the floor at the same time (which is what Utah probably wishes at times). This squad has some long, quick, and athletic defenders, so I would love to see R. Brewer, C. Brewer, Marion, and company utilize a full court press to try and create turnovers. Can Lee and Collison hold their own against bigger centers? Is Joe Johnson good enough to lead a team (any team) to a 7 game series win?
#4 Seed
Midwest Region
Ohio (10 players) +
Indiana (7 players) +
Combined Pop. = 17,812,206
PG: Mike Conley (IN), Earl Boykins (OH)
Conley (with some help from Greg Oden) led his high school team to 3 straight state championships before starring at Ohio St. He has yet to prove much on the NBA level, but this team doesn’t have many exciting options at point. Of course, with so many offensive weapons to play with, Conley won’t have to do too much. I’m rolling with Earl Boykins over Eric Snow as my backup PG. Boykins is rusty from sitting out most of the season, but I’ve seen this guy be more effective than Gilbert Arenas before and he’s a super sparkplug off the bench.
SG: Kevin Martin (OH), Antonio Daniels (OH)
Kev-Mart is one of the top scorers in this league. What I find most impressive is how he’s blossomed in Sacramento without a legit low post scorer commanding attention. What about the rest of his game tho? Can he still help this team win when he’s not scoring? A few months ago I would have named Daniels the starting PG for this squad, but he hasn’t done much lately. He’s still a nice combo guard to bring off the bench.
SF: Michael Redd (OH), James Posey (OH), Jared Jeffries (IN)
Make sure Kev-Mart and Redd are on opposite teams in practice, because I want to see these guys go at each other. Redd’s got that sweet lefty shot and has rounded out his game as he’s gotten older. James Posey has been a valuable 6th man for Boston and will play a key role for this squad as well. Jeffries is a lockdown defender who can guard multiple positions, so he’s a useful guy to have at the end of the bench.
PF: LeBron James (OH), Bonzi Wells (IN), Josh McRoberts (IN)
You didn’t think I forgot about him, did you? As long as he’s on the floor, LeBron can play any position. I slid him over to power forward because this team team is really thin up front. He’s never played with scorers as potent at Martin and Redd, so he won’t have to feel pressure to create at all times now. Bonzi is undersized as well, but he loves to play with his back to the basket and is a decent backup for LeBron. Josh McRoberts gets 12th man honors thanks to his previous AAU experience playing with Mike Conley. He has just 23 NBA minutes under his belt, but he’s a great passer for a big man and could even help this team out.
C: Zach Randolph (IN), Calvin Booth (OH)
With Calvin Booth being the only true center available, I decided to move Randolph over. He has a soft touch around the basket and should get plenty of easy dump-offs from LeBron. I think he’s big enough to play center, but will he expend enough effort on defense? I haven’t seen Calvin Booth play in a long time, but I’m sure he’s still a 7-foot shot-blocker. Does it feel like I’m leaving someone out?
Just missed the cut: Eric Snow (OH), Rodney Carney (IN).
I give Eric Snow all the credit in the world for lasting this long in the NBA without having a jumpshot, but he’s had plenty of chances to play with LeBron and he hasn’t stepped up. At least not enough. His defense will be missed, but his bricked shots won’t. Carney is a freak athlete, but he really needs to improve his game. It says that a lot that 19-year old Thaddeus Young came in and immediately moved ahead of Carney in the rotation.
Everyone else: Daequan Cook (OH), Andre Owens (IN), Chris Quinn (OH).
Team analysis:
Before all of the “Where is Greg Oden???” comments start pouring in, please read this rule again: To qualify, players must have played in at least one NBA game this season (Sorry Brand & Oden). We don’t know how these guys are going to look when they come back, so I made this rule and I’m sticking to it. It would be easy for Oden fans to say that he’ll anchor this team’s defense, but the kid still hasn’t proven ANYTHING in the NBA. So, how will this team do without him? LeBron’s gotta love having two 20-point scorers on his team, but whether or not both need to start is a valid question. In crunch time, I’d probably bench either Redd or Martin (whoever’s not hot), and insert Posey for better defense. Can Conley hold his own against top PG’s? Can Randolph play enough defense to limit opposing centers?
NBA State Tournament
Round 1
Midwest Region: #1 vs. #4
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Who Would Win?
- Ohio + Indiana (89%, 47 Votes)
- Tennessee + Iowa + Missouri + Arkansas + Kentucky (11%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 53
Loading ...Poll Ends: Monday, March 10th @ 11:59pm PST
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My pick:
in 6 games
This is a fantastic matchup. At point guard, you have the veteran Fisher going up against the rookie Conley. At center, you have Knick teammates Lee and Randolph battling under the boards. Indy/ Ohio has super swingmen scorers in Martin & Redd, but the other team has Joe Johnson as well as some solid defenders.
Oh yeah, you also have LeBron James vs. Shawn Marion. If I had to pick 1 player to guard LeBron straight up, it might be Marion. The Matrix also has plenty of young talent backing him up and the Indy/ Ohio squad isn’t quite as athletic and active. I figure LeBron will ultimately win this series, but it’s going to be a lot tougher than some might expect.
Click here for West Region matchup #2: (2) Texas vs. (3) Everyone Else.
Click here for West Region matchup #1: (1) California vs. (4) Washington/ Oregon/ Alaska.
Click here for South Region matchup #2: (2) Florida vs. (3) North Carolina/ South Carolina.
Click here for South Region matchup #1: (1) Alabama/ Georgia vs. (4) Louisiana/ Mississippi.
Dude, this isn’t even close. If LeBron with no teammates can get to the Finals, LeBron with two underrated stars (Martin and Redd), a 20-10 guy on any other team but the Knicks (Randolph), and a rising rookie (Conley) will destroy a lot of teams. I don’t see how they are the four seed, they look like one of the better teams I’ve seen in the entire tourney.
“Teams are seeded using this formula: Total population (rounded to the nearest million) x 1/2 + Total # of current players.”
Martin, Redd, and Randolph are impressive offensive players, no doubt, but are they really that good? Why are their teams a combined 67-112 (.374) this season? Why were their teams a combined 93-153 (.378) last season?
Did you know that the Kings, Bucks, and Knicks are all better defensive teams when those “stars” are OFF the court? Martin & Redd can drop 30 on any given night, but how many times do they give up 30? Randolph can average 20 & 10 on any team. So what? I can name 20 power forwards whom I would rather have on MY team and I’m sure a lot of coaches, players, and GM’s would agree with me.
Say what you will about the offensive limitations of LeBron’s teammates last season, but at least they played solid defense. Like I said, this matchup is going to be a lot tougher for Indiana & Ohio than some might expect.
Anyone agree with me?
Could you imagine surrounding LBJ with not 1, but 2 stud shooters and Chris Paul lite (he slashes, steals and dishes the last two qualities putting him just out of Tony Parker lite status) to help distract defenders. He went nuts in the playoffs last year because Boobie actually gave them a second offensive threat, so having two other guys to create space and someone else to worry about ball handling, he could definitely tear things up.
As for the Zach Randolph/Kev Mart/Redd debate… Redd has no one other than Mo Williams and neither are good enough to carry a team. Kev Mart is on a team that is aging and miscast. Other than Artest, I wouldn’t want any of the other guys on that team in the starting line up for my favorite team (then again I’m a Jazz fan, and our lineup is pretty solid). Basically Kev Mart and Redd are very good at what they do, but shouldn’t be expected to carry a franchise.
Zach Randolph on the other hand is awful. If I ran the Ohio/Indiana team, I’d probably start LBJ at the 5, start Jared Jeffries at the 4 and run a box and 1 defense with Jeffries the one on Joe Johnson (or maybe a triangle and two with someone else shadowing Korver so he doesn’t get any open looks).
I would personally trade Boykins out for Quinn. This team really doesn’t need another scorer. Then again I’m biased and watched on as Quinn (from Dublin Coffman) dropped 48 on my HS, raining 3’s from everywhere (and bricking 1 dunk haha) as a statement game because the local papers were saying he couldn’t score enough at the time. And then the next year we pissed of (also Dublin Coffman/Notre Dame grad, but no relation to the aforementioned Quinn) Brady Quinn and he put up 50 on us by half time. Man we sucked those two years.
Speaking of recent ND PG’s named Chris, where is Chris Thomas at these days? I used to like watching him play…
I know the rules don’t permit Oden and we really don’t know how good he’s going to be, but can’t we agree that he’s at least better than Calvin Booth?
Yeah, I’ll give Oden that much!
I enjoyed watching Chris Thomas too, but I’m guessing he was too small for most team’s liking. Another Notre Dame I liked was Ryan Humphrey. He was a 1st round pick but didnt last long. He was also undersized tho.
I gave Chris Quinn some love in my “All-White USA Team” piece, so this time I had to give Boykins some love. I bet LeBron has a ton of respect for Earl, and I know they’d have good chemistry together. Can’t say the same for Quinn…
Mike Conley is suddenly Chris Paul lite? C’mon man, Conley has a LONG way to go before he proves himself. As far as the “lite” goes, one of CP3’s biggest strengths IS his strength. He’s able to absorb contact from big guys and still finish and create. Conley Lite is a lot weaker than Paul, and he’s yet to prove his body can handle the rigors of the NBA and that he can hold his own against bigger guards. Take this matchup for example: I think Fisher could post up Conley all day and score fairly easily. Of course Fish would have trouble matching Conley’s quickness, but I don’t think even Mike C would mention himself in the same sentence as Chris Paul right now.
I like what you said about starting Jeffries and putting him on Joe Johnson. If you can limit JJ, that team is in a lot of trouble. But if Jeffries is in the game you can essentially leave him open while double teaming LeBron. Even with 2 guys hounding him at all times, you can’t stop LeBron, but a combo of Marion and either one of the Brewer boys would be very effective IMO.
Go ahead and leave Jeffries open. From 04-05 to 06-07 he shot better than 45% from the field. If I was in NY, and could ball… or at least fool Isiah into thinking I could ball (the more I type this sentence, the more I believe it’s possible) I would just jack shots up as well, not caring about my efficiencies. Since scoring seems to be Isiah’s main scouting and lineup setting method this year more than ever, I don’t fault Jeffries shooting this year on him, so much as the team he plays on.
As for Conley/Paul… the emphasis was meant to put on the lite part. But they still feature a similar skill set, that not all PG’s in the league have. Watching Conley in the tournament last year, and maybe more so early in the year when Oden was still out, Conley had that slasher/cut throat mentality that Paul and Tony Parker best display. I was originally going to go with the TP lite comment, but didn’t feel that was appropriate because Conley’s more of a distributor first, and scorer second. It’s unfortunate that multiple injuries have affect Conley this year. The shoulder first and then the Chest, the second coming right when he was starting to get consistent minutes. Also have to factor in that CP3 was at Wake Forest when he was the age that Conley is now. But, lets compare the two to Paul’s rookie year anyway! Paul averaged 10 more mins per game in his rookie campaign, so lets translate Conley’s per minute numbers to CP3’s rookie year minutes.
Mike Conley Jr per36 min
Pts: 12.4
Reb: 3
Ast: 6.2
Stl: 1.4
3pts: 0.55
TO: 2.2
FG%: 42.8
FT%: 74
CP3’s Rookie line
Pts: 16.1
Reb: 5.1
Ast: 7.8
Stl: 2.2
3pts: 0.6
TO: 2.4
FG%: 43
FT%: 84.7
[Obvious caveats apply... it's more minutes, so not certain how he'll perform in that extra time. Would he settle in and play better (Kev Mart last year) or would he be uncomfortable and quickly lose the extra minutes because he lost his handles?]
Is Paul better? Of course he is, was and likely always will be. But do his rookie numbers get blown _that_ far out of the water by CP3’s rookie campaign? How about when we account for the injuries and that Paul was a year old with an extra year of ACC competition under his belt when he entered the league?
Another note: I’m the Jazz fan who’s STILL pissed at the Jazz for passing on CP3 in favor of Deron Williams, and probably will be until they both retire.