I argued that the problem with the draft, and the reason why many people find it unrealistic, is that the ability levels of the draftees are too low for teams in Div. III and up (in the U.S., and possibly for lower divisions in some countries) to draft a player who could start for them without creating a severe skill deficit at that position. Fast or slow training speed makes no difference to that. But if you believe training should be slower, shouldn't you also agree that the skill levels of draftees should be higher, or that their age at draft time should be younger?
Of course, if you agree with the BBs' view of NBA players' skills, maybe we don't need to change much. Here's LeBron, from the simulations they did earlier in the NBA season:
Jump Shot: prominent Jump Range: awful
Outside Def.: strong Handling: prominent
Driving: legendary Passing: prodigious
Inside Shot: prolific Inside Def.: proficient
Rebounding: respectable Shot Blocking: mediocre
Stamina: respectable Free Throw: prominent
Apparently you can train a LeBron in 4-5 seasons, which I guess is about right. I would say two things though: (1) these skill levels are mostly too low for him the way he's played the last two years (does anyone here really think LeBron's outside shot is "awful," or shall I put Game 2 against Orlando on the Tivo again?), and (2) they were appropriate four or five years ago, when he was just starting out. So why can't any of our draftees come with proficient skills here and there?
Last edited by crimedevil at 5/25/2009 9:04:59 AM