The Luck of the Draft

[Jerry Lundergard 394]

I posted this in the other sports section, but i will post it here too and see how it goes.

There are many similarities between being a Bucks fan and a Demos fan, take these opening lines from Frank Madden on his blog Brewhoop after Milwaukees game against the warriors last night, do they sound familiar?

My twenty years as a Bucks fan have been, at least superficially, a disappointment. Too many 50-loss seasons ending in mid-April. Disappointing draft picks and bloated contracts. "Stars" that don't shine as bright as every other team's stars. Coaches that talk a good game but can't seem to coach one. So if you're a recent convert or a casual fan, understand where I'm coming from. I might love the game too much to give it up, but as a fan I've got some serious baggage. Cynicism, pessimism, paranoia...it's all there lurking in the shadows.

You can sometimes be blessed as a sporting organisation when it comes to a drafting system. A few years ago, the Bucks lucked out and managed to get the No.1 ball drop for them in the lottery, however, as good as Andrew Bogut may become, he will never be Dwight Howard, LeBron James or evn Chris Paul who was taken a couple of picks after him.

This year Milwaukee picked at No. 10, and went for a young cocky PG who decided not to follow the usual path of all other US kids in this years draft of spending at least one year of playing college basketball before declaring for the draft, instead opting to spend a year mainly riding the pine in Europe and honing his game playing against seasoned professional basketballers in a tough, physical league.

And here is the reaction of Frank Madden as a Bucks fan,

So quite honestly I don't know how to deal with Brandon Jennings. I just watched him score 55 points in his seventh professional game, and quite honestly I'm working through some things. Like, is this really happening? Is it possible the universe is playing an awful, awful trick on us poor Bucks fans? Or is this just what it feels like to have a superstar drop into our lap? And can we just get him to sign a max contract extension now, rather than waiting another two plus years?

On the eve of our draft, i am hoping there is some synergy in what is happening with the Bucks and what may be on the horizon with the Demons, as they are both comparable as clubs in terms of their support and stature in respective leagues, and as a fan of both teams it is fair to say i am bloody excited right now.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Interesting Jerry, great thread idea and content.

I'm not sure how to read into it though. It could be taken a couple of different ways!

[Clintosaurus 6,738]

Brandon Jennings is a gem. Maybe Jack Trengove could have a similar impact. Hopefully both of them have sustained periods of personal and team achievement.

[45HG 1,539]

45 points in a half!

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

45 points in a half!

Jurrah will do that one day. 7 goals 3 behinds in a half. Then bench him.

[45HG 1,539]

Would probably agree with that

[Brayshaws' Helmet 143]

I posted this in the other sports section, but i will post it here too and see how it goes.

There are many similarities between being a Bucks fan and a Demos fan, take these opening lines from Frank Madden on his blog Brewhoop after Milwaukees game against the warriors last night, do they sound familiar?

My twenty years as a Bucks fan have been, at least superficially, a disappointment. Too many 50-loss seasons ending in mid-April. Disappointing draft picks and bloated contracts. "Stars" that don't shine as bright as every other team's stars. Coaches that talk a good game but can't seem to coach one. So if you're a recent convert or a casual fan, understand where I'm coming from. I might love the game too much to give it up, but as a fan I've got some serious baggage. Cynicism, pessimism, paranoia...it's all there lurking in the shadows.

You can sometimes be blessed as a sporting organisation when it comes to a drafting system. A few years ago, the Bucks lucked out and managed to get the No.1 ball drop for them in the lottery, however, as good as Andrew Bogut may become, he will never be Dwight Howard, LeBron James or evn Chris Paul who was taken a couple of picks after him.

This year Milwaukee picked at No. 10, and went for a young cocky PG who decided not to follow the usual path of all other US kids in this years draft of spending at least one year of playing college basketball before declaring for the draft, instead opting to spend a year mainly riding the pine in Europe and honing his game playing against seasoned professional basketballers in a tough, physical league.

And here is the reaction of Frank Madden as a Bucks fan,

So quite honestly I don't know how to deal with Brandon Jennings. I just watched him score 55 points in his seventh professional game, and quite honestly I'm working through some things. Like, is this really happening? Is it possible the universe is playing an awful, awful trick on us poor Bucks fans? Or is this just what it feels like to have a superstar drop into our lap? And can we just get him to sign a max contract extension now, rather than waiting another two plus years?

On the eve of our draft, i am hoping there is some synergy in what is happening with the Bucks and what may be on the horizon with the Demons, as they are both comparable as clubs in terms of their support and stature in respective leagues, and as a fan of both teams it is fair to say i am bloody excited right now.

Excuse this if you have covered it, because to be honest i skimmed your post (no offense), but there is a huge difference between the NBA draft and the AFL draft. and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, a basketball team only has 5 players on the court at any given time, and a min roster of 12. so if you pick up lebron james or andre igoudala he makes a MASSIVE difference.

Secondly, the NBA draft is a lottery draft, im not quite sure of the maths, but i think it is the bottom 5 teams, all have a certain chance of getting the no1. draft depending on which position they finished, with last being the favourite to get it. So if the bucks finish bottom the don't necessarily get the no.1 pick.

Also, why the bucks? im a long time Celtic fan, and was following them before Garnett and Allen came along, and they had seen some long summers too. I think it is all about staying true to your club, or team, and supporting them, because it is at times like these that they need the support to get numbers to the games, to sell tickets and merchandise.

It is times like these where you find out who the true supporters are.

[Jerry Lundergard 394]

Excuse this if you have covered it, because to be honest i skimmed your post (no offense), but there is a huge difference between the NBA draft and the AFL draft. and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, a basketball team only has 5 players on the court at any given time, and a min roster of 12. so if you pick up lebron james or andre igoudala he makes a MASSIVE difference.

Secondly, the NBA draft is a lottery draft, im not quite sure of the maths, but i think it is the bottom 5 teams, all have a certain chance of getting the no1. draft depending on which position they finished, with last being the favourite to get it. So if the bucks finish bottom the don't necessarily get the no.1 pick.

Also, why the bucks? im a long time Celtic fan, and was following them before Garnett and Allen came along, and they had seen some long summers too. I think it is all about staying true to your club, or team, and supporting them, because it is at times like these that they need the support to get numbers to the games, to sell tickets and merchandise.

It is times like these where you find out who the true supporters are.

Actually, although the roster sizes are different and there is a lottery for the first 3 picks amongst the 16 teams that didn't make the playoffs, the NBA with is drafting system and salary cap is the most comparable league anywhere in the world to the AFL.

There many examples of drafting blunders, tragedies and excellence just like there has been in the AFL, and stories of players drafted to once non relevant teams, that have changed the fortunes for those franchises, perhaps forever. Jordan and Duncan and two that spring to mind immediately.

It may be harder for one player to have influence over an AFL club like it is possible in basketball, but the likes of Judd, Reiwoldt, Voss and Hird are some players that i believe helped raise their teams level of excellence that might not have been possible had they not been drafted to their respective clubs.

[45HG 1,539]

What players drafted to AFL teams have changed their fortunes, perhaps forever?

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,491]

Or you could be as unlucky as the Minnesota Timberwolves. They selected an Italian chap at pick 6 who might not even set foot in the States - ever! The poor T-Wolves are sitting at about 1-12.

[Salems Lot 2,394]

What players drafted to AFL teams have changed their fortunes, perhaps forever?

Barassi to Carltank!!!!

Edited November 18, 2009 by glenn honey's dud brother