Team Focus: MoRRie's Pogiboys

It was nearly one year ago when Alvin and I first spoke of starting an "All-Star" fantasy basketball league in order to fulfill our basketball jones. Here we are, one year later, about to step off the precipice of an exciting keeper league. So, how's Alvin looking?


Despite not getting Gilbert Arenas to fall to him at pick nine, Alvin has to be ecstatic about Elton Brand dropping down to him. Nobody would have predicted that this 20-10 stud, still in his prime, would drop so far. On the turnaround, Alvin scooped up Chauncey Billups, who is hardly underrated, but he's still underrated. A career year translated into 18 pts, 9 asts, and 2.3 threes for Chauncey. That's pretty useful to have around. If fourth round pick Stephon Marbury bounces back like we all think he will, that's another 20-8 point guard on the roster. Young big men Chris Kaman and Channing Frye are both active on the boards and on defense -- plus, both shoot stellar FT%. That's a 20-10 franchise player in the frontcourt, two stellar point guards, and two double-double big men. That doesn't include X-Factor Gerald Wallace, who is a STL and BLK machine if he stays healthy.

With a stellar first six picks, could Alvin surround his solid core with the right kinds of players? The additions of point guards Speedy Claxton and Sebastien Telfair should add more ASTs for the present and the future, however neither are stellar shooters. No problem, shooting is all Vladimir Radmanovic does. He'll be needed to shoot a career number of threes, and even that might not be enough (Pogiboy is currently ranked 8th in 3PT). If Derek Fisher can contribute in any way, he'll help those long range numbers. Golden State big men Troy Murphy and Ike Dioglu are directly opposing type of playrs. Troy is a FG% killer, but he can score and rebound, plus drop in a three per game. Ike is currently in Don Nelson's doghouse but he's got some good low post skills.

The Pogiboys are well rounded in pretty much every respect -- with good numbers in AST, REB, STL, BLK, FT% and TO -- however, the total lack of PTS could be troubling. This team is dead last in PTS -- since Elton is the only bonafide scorer (and maybe Stephon if he returns to form). It may be time to ignore the scoreboard and just add on to the strengths that this team already exhibits. It'll be interesting to see how Alvin rounds out his roster to maximize his talent.

Best pick: Elton Brand in Rd1.
Future star: Gerald Wallace in Rd3.
Steal: Stephon Marbury in Rd4.
Questionable: Sebastian Telfair in Rd9.
NBA copycat: Houston Rockets.