If you build it, there no one perfect way to do it

You know how there’s always a fair amount of consternation in some quarters about which is the best way to “build” a team and how some people think you need to stockpile draft picks and others say you have to make trades and others contend you need to get a group together and let it grow?

And you know how there are those who say there is no “right” way because every situation is different and you need a little bit of everything and not all of one?

Well, all we have to do is look at the four teams left to fight for the NBA championship to realize how true that is; how obvious it is that there is no cut-and-dried formula because there are all kinds of avenues available and they all work.

Let’s look at them:

San Antonio

Built by continuity, consistency, a bit of draft luck (Ginobili 54th, Parker 29th, winning the Duncan lottery), some astute trading (Diaw, Green, Jackson) and the odd solid free agent picks (undrafted Gary Neal).

Oklahoma City

Built by excellent drafting (Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka) with some draft luck (how different are things if Portland does what turned out to be the right thing and take Durant rather than Oden), and good trading (Perkins).

Miami

All free agents (James, Bosh, even Miller and Battier) they are the one best example that if you are willing to live through years of true misery, you can make a huge free agent splash as long as you have South Beach and Dwyane Wade.

Boston

You need to be able and willing to make huge deals for immediate gains because the trades for Garnett and Alllen (only accomplished because they had the pieces to make them, of course) and it was nice to find Rondo late in the first round of the draft and it was prescient to keep Pierce around for more than a decade.

So maybe as we head into tonight’s festivities here we should once again sound that cautionary note, that there’s no one way to construct a team that’s better than another, that it takes a level of astuteness and a dose of luck to keep things growing year after year.

Yes, when the HOTH find out where they pick tonight (and what number draft pick they should try to trade) it will be an important moment but no more important than seeing “organic growth” or making a series of trades or finding some second-round draft picks who pan out.

Just a word of warning.

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What else goes on at the lottery?

Well, since there’s almost an entire day to kill so GMs and Henchmen and others try to fill it with work.

I’m hearing the HOTH will, along with some other teams, got see Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb work out somewhere in Manhattan today (no, media not invited) so there are some other things going on besides waiting around.

Don’t read anything more into that than you should. It’s a workout arranged by an agent for select teams and is just part of the draft due diligence process even if Lamb is probably going to be on a Raptors short list depending on how tonight turns out.

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So, a few of us are the Mets game last night (thanks, Jim, for a nice relaxing night out) and two things struck me.

Citi Field (besides the abomination of a name) is a really nice ballpark, big but comfortable, excellent services without going over the top and far, far, far better than that joint in Miami we went to earlier this season.

(Yes, there did appear to be an outdoor bar in left field but it was not the Clevelander and we didn’t even venture out to see it).

I love real baseball parks (sorry, Rogers Centre with the roof and the plastic grass doesn’t cut it, even with the lid off and sun shining in the pitch of the seats is too gradual and there’s simply an antiseptic feeling to it) and this joint felt like it.

The other thing?

When we do all-time favourite mascots, how can we forget Mr. Met?

Sure, he’s goofy and rather pedestrian but he makes me smile every time I see him.

Put him on the list with the Original Chicken, Youppie and the Philly Phanatic as some of the best in the stuffed animal business and I’m wondering why it is that baseball has the best?

(Yes, Our Chicken is great, best in the NBA but the baseball things, well, I like ‘em a lot).

Is it that the pace of the game allows you to watch more? Is it the rather colourful garb (Mr. Met excluded, of course)? Not sure but you have to admit, when it comes to mascots, there’s nothing like baseball.

Momentary digression done.

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Yeah, we better star the mail. I’m off to OKC tomorrow and it’ll be busy but there’s always time, right?

Click. Write. Send.

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Been about a month since I travelled and I’d really forgotten the joys.

Arrive at Pearson early for the 7:30 a.m. American Airlines flight only to find out it’d been delayed until 10 a.m. (AA because of the addition of the “you can’t get there from here” trip to OKC) and arrive at posh Broadway hotel to find out the league hadn’t sent over the names for the rooms yet and no one at the desk had even heard of me.

Dream gig.

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Remember how we thought Spurs-Thunder could be, as the kids say these days, epic?

Well, the absolute truth of the matter is that it’s now basically a one-game series. If OKC doesn’t win Thursday, this one’s over and after seeing a lot of last night’s Game 2 (after the deluge and resulting hour-long rain delay ran us out of the Mets in the eighth), I’m wondering what it’s going to take to beat San Antonio.

They seem to get whatever shot they want whenever they want it and while they are far from the dominant defensive team they once were, they can turn the screws for a six- or seven-minute stretch when they have to in order to put a team away.

And here’s one of the more interesting points about this San Antonio team:

It’s the most explosive offensive unit still playing and who ever thought we’d say that. They score almost 105 points per game – about 10 more than Miami, about four more than the Thunder – and they are a joy to watch on offence.

I think we need to find anyone who still thinks they’re boring and send them off somewhere.

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Comments

[Don in THunder Bay]

Good Morning Doug

Under Boston I think you mean Allan not Bosh who were traded for.
Cheers,

Blogger's note: Oops. Fixed. Thanks

[Kyle Gudmundson]

When did bosh get traded to Boston, I assume you mean Allen?

Blogger's note: Oops. Fixed. Thanks

[Jc]

"You need to be able and willing to make huge deals for immediate gains because the trades for Garnett and Bosh (only accomplished because they had the pieces to make them, of course"
......could not imagine Garnett and Bosh on the same team. Allen maybe? Blame that one on the travel.

Blogger's note: Oops. Fixed. Thanks

[David in Oakville]

I know you are supposed to be an objective observer in all this Doug, but please tell me you are packing your lucky loonie on our behalf and will be spending the morning at Our Lady of the Blessed Big Apple saying novenas to Saint Jude.

San Antonio really does look unstoppable... but what changed so dramatically for them this year? The rest Ginobili got from his injury?
Would love to know how many picked them to win it all.

[wuycik]

Nothing like spending a nice summer evening in a beautiful baseball park. Don't know if you've done this list before, but your top five baseball stadiums, and the reason why, would make good reading.

Blogger's note: At some point, for sure

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
The link to send you mail has somehow been attached to the word "American" in the section below the mail request. This getting used to travel again has put the gremlins into your computer!

[john]

Regarding how to build a team I couldn’t agree more. There is no tried and true blue print on how to get it done. I do think the one thing that all those scenarios have that the Raps don’t seem to have is the center piece to build around. Wade, Pierce, Durant and Duncan. Maybe the reason Raps fans are so interested in the lottery is because nobody sees that ‘one’ piece on the roster right now.

[SFJ]

Morning Doug,
While I agree winning the Duncan lottery was luck (even though they used the Robinson injury as an "excuse" for tanking that season so to get the first pick), I don't agree with the "luck" involved with Ginobili and Parker.
Maybe you should give their scouting department and general direction established by Pop and R.C. Buford credit of looking for specific (type of) players - based not only on skill but on character and who can fit the "system". They drafted Splitter (28th) and Blair (37th), George Hill (26th - traded for Leonard), Dragic (45th - not with team but what a player...), Udrih (28th), Barbosa (28th), Scola (57th)..all guys that either directly or through trade gave the Spurs what tey wanted - solid skilled players who put the team first and not the chest bumping and stats padding. Yes, probably you see the trend that since Duncan (and this is practically the same time Pop joined) - most of their picks have been foreigners - and that's why they behave and care mostly for the result and not twitter/sposnsorhip/advertisement/scandals/reality-shows/etc.
Duncan was luck - the rest was building smart.

[jb]

Doug,

If you also noticed, all teams that are still in the playoffs have something in common. They all have 3 or more all stars(yes Bosh is injured but Lebron is once in a generation type talent) or HOF type of players.

It's the only way to contend in the NBA and in order to get that type of talent for a small market team(Toronto is the 4th or 5th largest market in North America but considered small market when attracting NBA players), it's through the draft.

Oklahoma drafted their 3 stars first then made trades to fill in the needs.

San Antonio drafted their stars and then got tough minded role players to fill in the roster but their core for the past decade has been Timmy, Manu & Parker....who they got through the draft.

While big market or no-state-tax destination teams got the stars via free agency or the trade route like Miami, Boston, L.A.

So for the Raps, they need to get their stars through the draft and then make trades to fill in the needs. I don't see how the Raps can get a star in his prime via trade when we couldn't even get Alonzo Mourning to play for us after the Vince Carter trade. I think(not sure if I am correct) the Raps paid him something like 10 mill to not play and then he joins Miami and gets a ring.

[Rob.V]

Although I agree that there are different formulas to getting there, there does appear to be a couple of common denominators when building a competitor.
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Draft Picks! (no, good draft picks)... and a little lady luck!
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San Antonio - Yes Ginobli and Parker were "flukes" of genius for RC however it all starts and stops with Tim Duncan.
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Boston - Paul Pierce.. and the high (traded) draft pick for Ray Allen that set the stage for Garnett to arrive.
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OKC - 3 consecutive drafts with arguable the best player in his class (and in particular Durant of course). If they happen to win the lottery and select Oden over Durant they may be nowhere near the CF's right now.
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Miami - Dwayne Wade. It's doubtful that LBJ or Bosh end up in Miami without Wade.
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You definitlely need a few things to bounce your way however without high picks and good drafting all four of these organizations would look dramatically different right now.
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The Raptors are in a good position regardless of what happens tonight however it would be great if lady luck shined on them with the #1 pick tonight.

[Ren]

OK. Chances are, tonight, we get the 8th pick.
I know how you love speculation, Doug, but if there is anyone on the radar for the Raps, the list needs to contain, in my opinion, the PG Damian Lillard. I know he comes from a small school, and has not played in the biggest of games, but reading around (I know, but it's all I can do!), he seems to have all the skills the Raps are looking for in a backup point guard - scoring ability, pick and roll ability, size, a good handle, etc. And, apparently, he has gotten better in every category since his freshman year.
Seeing as how the Raps are in need of that backup point guard, he has to be on the list, right?
Free agency can find them the SG or SF they need - they are out there, and they are veteran players for the most part, but a new, young, backup PG to Calderon has to be a big priority.
What's your say?
I would think the easiest fix to find, outside of the draft, is the SG, SF. The toughest, the PG.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
So, a "posh Broadway hotel", eh? Well, assuming you were finally allowed to check-in, please do tell one of the best things about staying in swanky digs in NYC? Is the NYT delivered to you door? Is the view overlooking Central Park? Are the elevator buttons there on both sides of the doors? And since you're On The Town - well, here's some vintage Frank and Gene.
http://youtu.be/b-J3GNLRuIQ
Cheers!

[Mike D.]

With respect to the Thunder, it's important to note that as the Sonics, and then the Thunder, they wandered for years in the wilderness to build their current base of young talent:
- in 2005-6 they were 35-47
- in 2006-7 they were 31-51
- in 2007-8 they drafted Durant....and went 20-62
- in 2008-9 they added Westbrook and Ibaka in the draft, hired Scott Brooks as coach...and went 23-59
- they didn't really start to break out until 2009, after they added James Harden in the draft, cracking the 50-win barrier and finishing 4th in the West

Could we all please keep this in mind if Jonas V and Bargnani don't immediately look like the league's new twin towers, if our 2012 draftee struggles to learn Casey's defense, if we sign or trade for a star wing and the offense doesn't flow right away, etc, etc?

[Phil A]

Great article that you posted about Bosh yesterday. That's why he's still one of my favorite NBA players. He's never really changed who is he.

I'm one of those people that used to think the Spurs were a boring team to watch. It's funny how quickly things can change. I'm just amazed at how efficient they are on offence. I feel bad for OKC because they're getting picked apart defensively despite being a good defensive team. Another bright spot for San Antonio is Kawhi Leonard. He's one of those players that play the game the right way. He's going to be a Spur for a long time.

[Steve]

"OKC - 3 consecutive drafts with arguable the best player in his class"

Another element to the luck is who is the best player in the particular draft class you get a high pick in and whether it is clear at the time.

You look at the 2006 draft where the Raptors picked Bargnani first and in hindsight you might even say Rajon Rondo was the best player in his draft class and he went at 29th (maybe Brandon Roy if you ignore what ultimately has happened to him injury wise). How many people thought he should have been first at the time though?

[Peter]

Good teams don't choose Araujo with a #7 pick. Or Darko with a #2 pick. I don't care where we pick, I just hope we pick a decent player who will add to the roster, or can be traded for someone who adds value.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Spurs are one well-oiled machine. Man, they could literally run the table.
So Bobby D. gets a presidential medal and some guy named Mitt is an official presidential candidate and the silliest of silly seasons that is politics is now truly upon us. Which means a little review of where we were just four years ago is probably in order, right? Hit it, Robin Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW2jSLuHlz4
Cheers. Go ping-pong lottery thingies!

[J]

Just a few corrections:

Rondo went 21st (same difference though).

Araujo went 8th.

[doug]

some guy named Mitt cannot launch a iPhone app and call it a "better amercia", that's a tough one to live down and their is no such thing as a "silly season' in U.S. politics anymore it spans 4 years, hence why nothing gets done and the states is going down the tubes, everyone is so busy campaigning they fail to see the big picture...oh wait we have Rob Ford here in Toronto nevermind....the draft is the draft, no matter how it happens talent wins plain and simple in the NBA moreso then any other sport...and it continually perplexes me how coaches and players take the heat for not living up to standards/expectations etc...well in fact the true culprits are GM'S, you have the Dumars, the Wizard dude, Kupchak etc...but how Ainge avoids the axe is beyond me, this is a guy that has assembled a weak bench , they had a better bench 5 years ago when they never needed it...plus I don't care how people slice it, the Perkins trade was a complete and utter mistake, imagine Parkins there now with the Celts he is a protypical eastern conference player, in the west not so much...and Presti should have got him then flipped him back to the East, as he isn't as effective in the western conference...have ping pong balls ever got more press then since Forrest Gump??..ok cheers..

[Peter]

I haven't got a TV tonight, any idea what time tonight, you, or Twitter will be letting us know where the Raps pick?

Blogger's note: It'll be all over by 8:30

[KD]

It NO let the conspiracy theories begin

[doug]

I don't mind 8th...as there is talent there no matter what the pundits say...Harrison Barnes may slip and he can shoot a mid-range jumper...players that can shoot a mid-range jumper in the NBA are gold...if we package it in a deal then fine, but it hasn't much worth on it's own...me I'd roll the dice and keep it...don't forget Kobe and Karl went after the top 10 so so called experts really know squat...cheers//

[J]

You called it, Doug. New Orleans win the lottery. Armchair bloggers, look out!

[g.t.]

Ill add the coaches deserve some credit. Yes they get too much blame in bad times and too much credit when their teams are good but after watching the HOTH over the past few years and seeing how one year of Casey have made probably the weakest lineup of Raptor players in a long time 'man up' , and performed above their talent level instead of being the typical soft team they were known for , id say the Coach's philosophy counts.

Triano and the assistants under him did a very poor job getting these guys to play any defence in the 2 years he was calling plays, Mitchell , had the players to get results and did not know how to use them. At one point you have 2 7 footers plus Bosh, one being a good perimeter player and you still cannot win.

All 4 teams have solid tactical defence first coaches, no run and gun offence here.

Spolstra of the Heat gets the least credit because of who is on his team of course. Does the Heat even need a coach? Just kidding, of course they do.

Pops is as good as you will get in a head coach and the Spurs scouting division is excellent. Ginobli drafted by another team prbably would not have been as good as he is now. Parker too.

Scott Brooks have been solid with his young players, managed the young millionaires well and Durant's character and leadership has contributed a lot.

Doc Rivers has gotten a lot out of his team, and managed to keep them mentally focused when it counts. It shouldnt be hard to keep Allen , Pierce and Garnett focused though.

Coaches seem to be most successful when they know their players strengths and play into it.

[Nasko]

I think Kobe actually went 8th, hence his number in the beginning. Cannot remember exactly, as I was in high school at the time. Maaan, that makes me feel.... mature :)