Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wake Me Up When September Ends

I'm bein completely honest.... Wake me up when September ends. I'd put a YouTube clip of that song by Green Day, but it's lyrics really stray from my point. All I know is one thing: when ESPN's main NBA news is about Delonte West missing a practice and how it could relate to his depression, well, there just isn't much to talk about. All the newsworthy Free Agents are signed and I believe every team is in training camp. We can talk about possibilities for each team. Or we could just wait till the games begun.

Wake me up on October 30th so I have a day to regroup.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

"Iverson: Really There To Win?"


"He indicated to us that he just wants to come in and help a team out, to get better, to win, and he'll shine during that process. I think Allen Iverson is going to be very fine with whatever role he would end up fulfilling here in Memphis. … He knows where we're coming from, we know where he's coming from and I think if he comes here it's going to be a very productive marriage."(ESPN). I've also read many other quotes from Iverson, many simimlar to this: "You think I came to Memphis to help them sell tickets? I came here to Memphis to win." He eitehr really believes they will win any make the playoffs, or he is just doing the right thing by saying that. "Coming off the bench is not a problem; I'd rather start, but it's no problem. I signed with this team becaue I've done it all. I'm a HOF'er, Scoring Leader Champ, etc, but still haven't gotten that Championship ring. I believe this team can win, and I think I could get that ring here in a couple years".

Now those aren't exact quotes(other than the first from ESPN), so there are no sources for the others. But trust me, I am just relaying what he has said in a quicker manner. He goes on to say many pretty unbelieveable things, so I just kept it simple. So does the NBA really lie this much, or are the Grizzlies GM's and Iverson living in a dreamworld where Iverson is 25, Zach Randolph is the best team playing PF, Gasol is actulla his older brother, Mike Conley is who we thought he would of been, and well, OJ Mayo is OJ Mayo, except now he has A.I. next to him. Is that really what they think?

Alright. I posted some quotes, responded to them, now let me break this down with my so very unique, intellectual, engaging, and witty analysis(yea......just believe that's true). So I thnk the first subject is Allen Iverson. Who is he now(personality/humbled) and what kind of athlete(skills) does he bring to this young Memphis team at his elderly age of 34/35; elderly for the NBA of course.

The Grizzlies won around 20 games last year(more or less), and I think it's 100% apparent that Iverson had NO other offers from ANY other teams; you know, those REAL, TANGIBLE offers that you can sign. The Griz were the only team, and of course, he happens to sell a ton of Jersey's and will hopefully raise their attendance from the worse in the NBA last year to somewhere other than last this season.

According to Iverson and GM/Owner Heisley/Wallace, I guess adding Zacn Randolph, Allen Iverson, and rookie Hasheem Thabeet(with other slight additions and subtractions), means you go from a 20 win team to a 50 win team. Honestly, I'm not sold, lmao. I am sold on Iverson's jersey though, and I know tons of Memphis kids are already rocking that #3 A.I. jersey as it's already been released.

At the end of the season, let's compare their record to last year(differential) to their increase in attendnance and sold merchandise/jersseys(differential). I think we all know that this was just one of those moves for a small market team to get a HOF guard, who was once AMAZING, and signed him for $3.1 million. Can't really complain.

Monday, September 7, 2009

"The Session is Finally Over....right?"

I honestly hate trying to come up with titles. I think so black and white sometimes; I wanted to title this: "Ramon Sessions Future" or something of that taste, but it's got no flare. So to answer the main question(and Title), Ramon Sessions remains in the "restricted free-agency zone"; it can really be a lonely place.

To be honest, I thought he was going to be a sought after player, at least moreso than Jarret Jack who is a less efficient and worse attitude version of Sessions, among lack of floor vision and many other things. Anyway, to the point: I am quite surprised that Milwaukee did not match the offer from Minnesota instantly(believed to be $3.5mil this season and $16mil total over 4 years). So at least the kid finally has some financial security playing and living around these rich lifestyle players and society. Props to Ramon for making $700k last year to nearly $4 million this year.

Maybe I am just oblivious with this kid, at the age of 23 now, was has proven to be an effective player, starting or coming off the bench. He has incredible floor vision, and easily will average 10 assists a game for Minny if they played him 36 mpg at PG. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

All I'm saying is Milwaukee is BARELY over the luxury tax threshold. They could of easily traded a player for a cheaper player, or just done some swift maneuvering, as they've been doing, as they only needed to cut 1.5 million to match this offer and be under the luxury tax. Personally, I think he's worth it. But maybe he's just not right for their system. I will say, without a doubt, that he is the best PG in Milwaukee if he were to stay there(Ridnour, Jennings; is Jennings really that amazing? I'm honestly asking....).


He showed up at the end of the 2007-08 season, after the Bucks knew they were out of the playoffs. He put on a great performance in the 7 games he started, averaging crazy numbers; something like 17 ppg and 13 apg. Yes, I understand that was the end of the season games where non-playoff teams play their youth and playoff locked teams might rest their best players. But for a 56th Overall pick in 2007, he showed some serious promise by the end of the season.


Now enters Skiles, along with Like Ridnour: "the definition of mediocre PG", though efficient. He won't make amazing plays to get a basket or create for someone else, but he will run the offense, pass the ball well, and shoot when open(at a nice rate). So this entire season was a battle between these two PG's, especially before Redd went down. I think Ridnour stayed as the starter(Skiles does love his smart, white PG's that are basically clear-cut images of himself 15 years ago)


So he's a 6th man'ish type of player for the first half of the season getting 20 minutes a game; Redd goes down, Bucks lack depth, step in Sessions. Like Skiles loves to do, he sort of went to a 2-guard offense that adapted to their overall offense. Sessions isn't a pure SG by any means, nor is he the size of one. What he is, though, is a great PG. I can't stress this enough. This season all-together he averaged:


Per Game
12.4 ppg~~5.7 apg~~3.4 rpg~~1.1 spg~~45%FG~~~27.5mpg


Notice that last number italicized: 27 minutes a game was what he played. So, obviously, you know me and my love of statistical analysis, let's see what Sessions numbers would be if he were to, let's say, play 36 minutes as a starter(Per36):


Per36
16.2 ppg~~ 7.5 apg ~~4.5 rpg ~~1.4 spg~~45%FG~~~Per36mpg


Obviously those number's aren't too shabby, considering he's a little guard that shoots 45% from the field is a great sign too(there's too many borderline 40% FG guards out there, i call them "chuckers"; sorry Baron Davis). So he's basically a 16 and 7 guy, which is basically what we would call a solid starting PG. And then add the fact that his man-defense is actually good, how in God's name did Ridnour play over him? I bet money Eddy Curry could cross up Ridnour and get to the rim(if he can make it that far, lmao).


So I've made my case for him being a solid starting PG, right? We need to remember that he was playing SG quite a bit this season as well; I believe he logged around 20% of his minutes as a SG. Then take a further look, and his Efficiency, Production, PER, and every other measurable stat shows that he is far, far more productive at PG than he is at SG(whe he doesn't belong). So in theory, if one were to calculate what his statistics would be as a starting PG, playing 36 minutes(all at the PG spot), that his stats would be superior to those that his Per36 showed. A quick analysis(I am tired and my calculator broke....). Farc's prediction of Ramon Sessions stats if he were to start at PG and play 36 minutes(all at PG); we'll call this Farc36:


Farc36 18.6 ppg~~8.7 apg~~5.4 rpg~~45%FG~~1.7 spg~~~Farc36mpg


Now that, my friends, my colleagues, my fans, my 3 consistent Farc's blog readers, will be the production Ramon Sessions is going to do show Minnesota if Milwaukee does not match the offer. Call me an idealist, but even if he were to just put up his normal, projected Per36, that would mean they still upgraded to a good PG for the next 2 years(maybe more, Mr. Rubio). Right now I would go on a rant about the Rubio situation, but I'm saving it for another day. So, you see, this is one of those times I will go out on a limb and predict something boldly, something people probably don't agree on. Sessions, if given 36+mpg for Minnesota, has a change to get the "Most Improved Player Award" while also creating some turbulence with not only his name, but the team. What has Minny lacked for so many years now? A true PG. Now they have a 23 year old sessions who they got(hopefully; knock on wood) for very cheap in my opinion,. Johnny Flynn, back tot he bench, lol, Ramon is in town. That should be a good batte in training camp, though they might just start together.


Let's do a "What If?" scenario.............I swear, these are always fun:

What if Ramon Sessions is a 20 ppg__10 apg__2 spg stud PG at the end of the 2010-2011 season and helps the Wolves edge into the playoffs? What now Minny? Is Rubio still your "Savior"?





Let me know what you think; maybe I'm just crazy thinking Ramon Sessions can turn into a top 10 PG and nearly a 20/10 guy.