Looking to Rebound

Let's not even talk about breaking down the rankings for this week's spotlight team. Suffice to say, the Pogiboys have been underperforming across the board. How is it possible that all 15 players are underperforming at the same time? I don't know but I guess Lady Luck is elusive and apparently, capable of escaping fifteen men at once -- sixteen if you count Alvin.

Rankings: The Pogiboys rank last or next-to-last in PTS, REB, FG%, and 3PT. They are third-to-last in AST and STL. They are middle of the road in FT% (7th) and "strong" in Blocks (5th) and Turnovers (1st). That high ranking in TO is dubious since it's probably more an indicator of how inept this team has been; as opposed to any actual strength. In basketball terms, this team walks the ball up, dribbles around for a fifteen seconds, hoists a poor shot (maybe an air ball), misses the rebound, and then the twenty-four second clock expires. They trudge down on defense and attempt to protect the rim, neglecting to switch over to open shooters and the like. In short, this team would suck.

In good news, not all is lost. This is a fantasy basketball league and we don't have to worry about salary caps, making money as a franchise, or a dwindling fan base. Of course, there is pride and trash talking on the line, but those are just words, and everyone knows that words wound less than millions of dollars lost -- arguably. Because we have a keeper format, every team has a chance at the future. It may be hard to rebuild, but those of us who aren't up to the challenge probably shouldn't be playing this game. If you only play to win, then you've already lost. Champions are grown, not born, and true champions keep fighting until they climb that mountain. So with that in mind, let's take a look at the Pogiboys.

Players: It's not like Alvin's not trying. He's turned over almost a quarter of his team. The original draft picks who have already been dropped are Joel Pryzbilla, Ike Diogu, Vladimir Radmanovic, and Sebastien Telfair. Hard to argue with dropping these guys. Only Telfair was producing and he's been uneven. Joel and Vlad straight up suck and Ike would only have value if he got traded away from Golden State's up-tempo system.

The players brought in to replace these duds are (in order): Andris Biedrins, Kurt Thomas, Tyronn Lue, Alonzo Mourning, Damon Jones, and Damien Wilkins. Out of these, Biedrins was the best pickup, and the worst release. Hindsight is 20-20 of course, but with the future Biedrins might have, he would have fit right in on this team. Kurt and Alonzo are what they are -- Kurt's already gone and Tyronn Lue was necessary to handcuff to the disappointing Speedy. Damon Jones has returned to his bombing ways and has some value. The drop of Telfair was for an equally promising prospect, Damien Wilkins, who has been getting some playing time and flashing good all-around numbers.

Let's look at the rest of the roster.

The Big Three is only the Big Two. Gerald Wallace has been a huge disappointment. For a guy who averaged 2 STL/BLK a game, he's been underwhelming to say the least. How's 10 PTS, 5 REB, 1.8 AST and 1 BLK/STL a game on 42.6% suit you as a top pick? Wallace's stock couldn't be lower and really, there's nowhere to go for him but up. It's hard to say that Elton Brand is underachieving (19 PTS, 9.7 REB, 2 BLK per) but despite his typical 20-10 numbers, he's not explosive like he was last year. He's just steady and steady won't cut it -- we need some crazy scoring and rebounding nights Elton. The good news here is that Chauncey is playing like a top point guard with 18 PTS, 8 REB, tons of 3PT and good percentages. Even next year, when he becomes a free agent, he shouldn't drop off much in any categories.

Who's stepped up to fill Wallace's shoes? Come on down!...nobody. Stephon Marbury is arguably the next best player on this team and it's safe to say that he's been playing down to his $15 shoes level. Expectations were (cautiously) high on Marbury and we all knew he was a gamble, but did anyone expect 10 PTS, 5 AST, and 39.6 FG%? At least Steph's hitting some 3PT this year, something he doesn't traditionally do. "Hitting" as in just under one per game. Ugh.

Let's talk white guys. Chris Kaman and Troy Murphy; supposedly two bargain double-double stalwarts. I personally like Kaman a lot, but it's hard to defend his play this season. Those looking for another uptick in Kaman's stats were sorely disappointed as injuries and a quick pace have lessened his effectiveness to the tune of 9 PTS and 7 REB a game. Plus he's only registering one block per game. That's disgusting -- just like his hair.

And speaking of disgusting, Troy Murphy has been just as bad as Kaman. 11 PTS and 6 REB a game. He still puts up the 3-ball but he's always been injury prone and he's proving it this year. The two big white guys were supposed to add solid support in REB and then drop in some BLK and 3PT. Nothing from these guys. The other whitey on this team, Jason Williams has been hurt most of the reason and is just rounding into shape. Even at his best, Williams is a low end point guard with a handful of AST, a three and a steal per game. Useful on the right team, but miscast as the second point guard here. And it's safe to say that White Chocolate is past his prime.

Hey, at least these guys contribute something. Talented Channing Frye has regressed to crap status and now he's hurt too. Much was expected out of Speedy Claxton but he's currently sitting the bench and plays so bad it hurts to watch. Tyronne Lue is outplaying him and by "outplaying" we mean 4 AST and 14 PTS a game. Put both together and you get a halfway decent player, but separate, they're Ronald Raymond and Martin Stein -- useless.

The two (ex-)Lakers aren't doing too bad. Derek Fisher could be a bit better but he was only expected to drop a few dimes a night, a three here or there and that's about it. That's pretty much what he's put up, and with Deron Williams' emergence, he won't get too much better. The old man is putting up a surprising amount of STL (for his age) so all that in combination has some value. The hopes of the Pogiboy Nation -- is there one? -- ride on Kwame Brown. Yeah, that Kwame Brown. Kwame hasn't been terrible, but he's also only at 8 PTS and 6 REB (with 1 STL/BLK) per game. Does anyone see that going much higher? Exactly.

Cure: So here's what we think the Pogiboys should do. This year, as early as it is, looks shot. It's time to rebuild. The roster has not only underperformers, but performers with limited upside. It's time to pull a Celtics and stockpile young tantalizing talent. There are useful parts here...for a winning team. Someone can use Troy Murphy and Kaman, just not the Pogiboys. Before even trying to figure out a strategy, it's time to acquire assets.

Grab more long shots like Andris Biedrins (before he blew up), drop the old veterans like Alonzo. Keep an eye -- and a hope -- toward winning a few games this year, but keep MoRRie's face toward the future. Players need to be brought in with upside, not low double-double upside but high double-double upside. This team will have to get lucky to produce another genuine fantasy star. Elton and Chauncey can't carry a team by themselves, they're going to need another bonafide star in the future. Time to find a few Kevin Martins, Monta Ellis', Andris Biedrins'; that kind of player. Last season, lots of young players emerged during the second half of the season so the Pogiboys will have to be extra-alert.

Our suggestion is that even if a trade doesn't make sense on paper now, you have to weigh the future versus the present, and always choose the future. Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Sean May, Shaun Livingston, Andrew Bynum, these are the kinds of players that need to be picked up and sat on in order for the Pogiboys to steam toward the future. It's time to wait for the contenders who need a few veteran pieces and trade with them to get some young guns in return -- "upside" is the key. So, Alvin, are you a gambling man?

Keep: Brand, Billups
Still a great inside-out combo to build around.
Promise: Kaman, Frye, K Brown, D Wilkins
Still young, still have (varying) potential.
Wait: G Wallace, Stephon
Stocks have fallen too far to move, just hold on tight and pray
Sell: Claxton, Lue, Murphy, Fisher, Williams, D Jones, Mourning
Dead weight on this roster, but useful for somebody else?