Team Focus: Buffy

With seven potential 20 point scorers, Buffy is misleadingly ranked only third in PTS. We can't figure out why either. The young trio of Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, and Rashard Lewis complement and cover for each other very well. Paul is the new Jason Kidd, Joe Johnson does it all, and Rashard shoots. Add in savvy veterans Antawn Jamison (PTS, 3PT, REB) and Baron Davis (everything, except FG%) and this team is very solid.

Then you look at rounds 6 and 7, Chris Webber and Shaquille O'Neal, both former #1 NBA picks, both former ROY. Both still capable of near 20-10 seasons, even if they are injury prone. It's amazing how far Shaq slipped. The big man does have some issues, but he's still a force in head-to-head leagues.

Keeping with his "I'm sticking to my board" strategy, Buffy GM Roger was able to get value picks like Webber, Shaq and the underappreciated Cuttino Mobley, along with upside loaded talents like Jamal Crawford, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, and Stromile Swift in the late rounds. Of course, all four of the latter players have been mostly teases throughout their careers, but they are all calculated gambles.

With a roster stacked with talent and names, Buffy is pretty good at everything. They are near the top in PTS, AST, REB and spectacular at STL. FT% is dead last, but if Shaq doesn't get off the bench for Buffy, that number can rise at any time. TO is also a concern but when you have playmakers like Paul, Joe Johnson, and Baron Davis, you've pretty much committed to punting that category.

It looks like Buffy has a versatile team capable of mixing and matching with any other team in the league. It'll be interesting to see which teases pan out for Buffy and how the players are deployed each week in their quest for a basketball championship (to go along with a few football ones).

Best pick: Antawn Jamison in Rd4.
Future star: none.
Steal: Shaquille O'Neal in Rd7.
Questionable: none.
NBA copycat: Miami Heat.