Round 1 (South) - LA & MS advance
February 18, 2008 by Evil E
Let’s kick off my NBA State Tournament in the South Region. Go Monta!
I’ve wanted to setup a tournament like this for quite some time now. Serious bragging rights are at stake!
Where are the best NBA players coming from?
Do certain states excel at producing certain positions? Which states have the most talent per capita?
Most importantly, who’s going to go all the way? 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. |
For our first matchup, let’s go to the South Region, where #1 seed Alabama/ Georgia faces #4 seed Louisiana/ Mississippi…
#1 Seed
South Region
Georgia (15 players) +
Alabama (5 players)
Combined Population = 14,172,601
PG: Anthony Carter (GA) / Louis Williams (GA)
Georgia has produced two very different point guards here. Carter is the veteran who has trouble knocking down shots but can run a team and play solid D, while Lou Williams is a young, athletic, explosive scorer who can get abused by bigger guards and still has a lot to learn. Not a bad PG combo, but you kind of wish you could roll both guys’ abilities into one.
SG: Jarvis Hayes (GA) / Morris Almond (GA) / Javaris Crittenton (GA)
Jarvis Hayes also went to the University of Georgia, so he’s reppin’ GA hard. With Dwight Howard commanding constant double and triple-teams, Jarvis Hayes’ ability to knock down open threes will be a major factor for the success of this squad. Morris Almond has played just a few NBA minutes, but he’s an accomplished scorer, as evidenced by his 53 point record-setting D-League performance. Fellow rookie Javaris Crittenton is still developing into a point guard, so his minutes will remain limited.
SF: Jamario Moon (AL) / Matt Harpring (GA)
It was nice to see Jamario Moon get so much exposure over All-Star weekend. The pride of Goodwater, Alabama deserves it for persevering and finally getting to not only make, but play a major role for a solid NBA team. Here, he’ll team up with “Crash” and “Superman” to give ‘Bama / Georgia the nastiest frontcourt dunking squad in the entire tourney. His defense will be key, and you think he’ll learn a lot playing with some of the big veterans below. Don’t forget about Matt Harpring: he’ll play a key role as one of the leaders of the 2nd unit.
PF: Gerald Wallace (AL) / Robert Horry (AL) / Al Thornton (GA)
G-Wallace has developed into much more than just a high-flying freak, and at 25 years old, is just entering his prime. The versatile forward can’t shoot it like Rashard Lewis, but will still thrive playing alongside the Man-Beast (who wouldn’t?). The secret weapon for this team is another Crimson Tide player: “Big Shot Bob.” Who else would you want to take the game-winning shot? Thornton gives this squad a nice up-and-coming scorer at the end of the bench.
C: Dwight Howard (GA) / Ben Wallace (AL)
Dwight Howard and Ben Wallace provide all the ferocious beef this team needs. D-Ho’s Superman dunk was beyond ridiculous (I think he and Tyson Chandler should play on 12′ rims) and he’s still just 22 years old. The Man-Beast can dominate the paint against just about anybody, but is his supporting cast strong enough to get to the Final Four? Ben Wallace keeps the defensive intensity up whenever he’s on the floor, but he’s on the downside of his career and will play just enough to keep Superman fresh.
Just missed the cut: Shareef Abdur-Rahim (GA), Theo Ratliff (AL).
Abdur-Rahim has always been a nice low-post scorer, but he’s well past his prime and a major liability on defense. Ratliff can still block shots with the best of them, but he’s had to deal with numerous injuries and isn’t needed behind the Man-Beast and Big Ben.
Everyone else: Kwame Brown (GA), Jermareo Davidson (GA), Alexander Johnson (GA), Josh Powell (GA), Mario West (GA).
Team analysis:
Alabama and Georgia have produced some really big dues and some serious high flyers. Their frontcourt is experienced and talented, but their backcourt is probably one of the weakest in the entire tournament. Can Jarvis Hayes and others knock down open shots to keep opposing teams from triple-teaming Dwight Howard?
#4 seed
South Region
Mississippi (9 players) +
Louisiana (7 players)
Combined Population = 7,211,989
PG: Mo Williams (MS), Chris Duhon (LA)
Mo Williams went to the University of Alabama, but he was born and raised in Mississippi. He’s improved every year and is just entering his prime. He teams up with Chris Duhon to give this squad a solid PG duo. I’ve always regarded the former Dukie Duhon as one of the top backup points in the league. He’s a streaky shooter, but a reliable defender and tough competitor.
SG: Monta Ellis (MS), Lindsey Hunter (MS)
Monta Ellis AKA The Mississippi Bullet is the quickest player in the league. He scored the 2nd most points in Mississippi high school basketball history and holds the record for most points scored (42) against Oak Hill Academy (more on them later). He’s a combination of Rod Strickland (able to absorb contact and finish near the rim) and Allen Iverson (minus the 3-point shot and experience), and is getting better every year. Lindsey Hunter has lasted 15 years in the NBA by playing suffocating defense and knocking down threes. These guys are a bit undersized for shooting guards, but they’re tough and relentless.
SF: Danny Granger (LA), Travis Outlaw (MS)
Danny Granger is having a spectacular 3rd season and is one of the most underrated players in the league. Travis Outlaw can run the floor like a gazelle, play solid D, and knock down jumpers. Granger (24) and Outlaw (23) are two emerging small forwards with a lot of talent and bright futures.
PF: Antonio McDyess (MS), Paul Millsap (LA), Tyrus Thomas (LA)
McDyess is another former Crimson Tide star who was born and raised in Mississippi. He gives this frontcourt a veteran leader who has been thru playoff wars and major surgeries, and the Dice Man can still ball. It’s only his 2nd year in the league, but Paul Millsap is already one of the best backup big men. The former Louisiana Tech star is the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding three years in a row. I’m selecting Tyrus Thomas for this team in hopes that McDyess will teach him a thing or two. Tyrus is still RAW, but he has serious potential and can provide good energy off the bench.
C: Al Jefferson (MS), Erick Dampier (MS), Brandon Bass (LA)
Al Jefferson has already established himself as one of the top post players in the game. His senior year at Prentiss High School in Mississippi, he averaged a ridiculous 42 points, 16 boards, and 9 blocks per game. He’s a handful to say the least. Dampier is a former Miss. St. star who gives this squad another legit 7-footer, while his Dallas teammate Brandon Bass is a bit undersized but has serious talent.
Just missed the cut: Glen Davis (LA), Stromile Swift (LA).
I wanted to give Big Baby a spot on this squad, but he lost out to Bass and Thomas. If his buddy Tyrus doesn’t start to harness his potential, Davis could prove to be the better NBA player. I felt bad comparing Tyrus Thomas to Stromile Swift awhile back, because the Stro Show is 28 and he still doesn’t “get it.”
Everyone else: Earl Barron (MS), Othella Harrington (MS).
Team analysis:
Louisiana and Mississippi have produced some of the finest young players in the league. Their guards are small, but Monta is a future star and everyone else is quick, tough, and talented. Up front, they have a nice mixture of beefy power players and long athletes who can run the floor. They can use their athleticism to take chances and cause turnovers on defense, and play at an uptempo pace and crash the boards hard on offense.
NBA State Tournament
Round 1
South Region: #1 vs. #4
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Who Would Win?
- Mississippi + Louisiana (77%, 56 Votes)
- Georgia + Alabama (23%, 17 Votes)
Total Voters: 73
Loading ...Poll Ends: Sunday, February 24th @ 11:59pm PST
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My pick:
in 5 games
Despite having less than half the total population of Georgia + Alabama, I’m going with the #4 seeded Mississippi + Louisiana squad to pull off the tourney’s first upset.
Dwight Howard leads a powerful and athletic Georgia / ‘Bama frontline, but Al Jefferson & company can more than hold their own in the paint. The Man-Beast will single-handedly win one game for his team, but their backcourt will most likely get demolished by Mo Williams & Monta Ellis.
I voted for LA/Miss, too, but how is it exactly that you did the seeding? AL/GA is pretty bad 1-3. Given that you believe they would get beat in 5, why aren’t the seeds switched around?
“Teams are seeded by the number of active players and total population.” The formula I used is:
Total population (Rounded to the nearest million) x 1/2 + Total # of current players.
So for this example….
AL/ GA = 14 x 1/2 + 20 = 27
LA/ MS = 7 x 1/2 + 16 = 19.5
Louisiana & Mississippi have the fewest # of active players as well as the smallest total population in comparison to the other teams in the South region, so they’re the #4 seed.
If you had to pick winners without knowing which players are from each state, you would generally lean towards the states with larger populations and more active players (more players to choose from), so it makes sense to give those teams higher seeds.
That’s an easy one…?!
PG - MS/LA have a CONSIDERABLE edge (Mo)
SG - MS/LA have a CONSIDERABLE edge (very hot Monta)
SF - MS/LA have a CONSIDERABLE edge (Jamario can dunk but he is not even close compared to Granger)
PF - GA/AL have a SLIGHT edge and HE is easily breakable
C - GA/AL have a SLIGHT edge (newly nicknamed Superman)
My vote goes to MS/LA…
Like Evil E, I think Mississippi/Louisiana would win in 5 games.
Mo Williams is a better PG than Louis Williams though Duhon and Carter are both about as good as each other so they have a small advantage there.
Monta Ellis is far better than all of Alabama/Georgia’s 3 shooting-guards. He shoots a high % from the field, picks up a lot of assists, gets to the line a lot and is lightning-quick. This along with the SF position if where MS/LA have the biggest advantage.
Danny Granger and Travis Outlaw are a lot better than Moon/Harpring and would easily outscore them.
PF is quite even but I think GA/AL have a slight advantage there because ‘Crash’ Wallace is the best player at that position though MS/LA have good depth with McDyess, Paul Millsap and Tyrus Thomas.
C is close again because Jefferson is a good player but ‘Superman’ is one of the best big men in the NBA and would win this match-up.
Good article again Evil E, keep them coming (though I had seen this before, I have only just commented on it now).
I think MS/LA, MS particularly, has been overlooked because of actual population which is 31st overall. But the athletes there are 2nd to none. With a population of less than 3 Million, to have 9 current players in the league is outstanding, and I do believe per capita it has the most current players. Back to the article, MS/LA will dominate all states except California. I even think MS/LA will beat GA/AL, which I think you indicated they’d lose. It would be nice to see that happen for real. I remember when I was living in Memphis when Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN had a bit of rival like that. It was awesome seeing Penny, Lorenzen, Elliot Perry, and the Memphis Crew going up against the Jackson locals.