Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2010-11'' Season Preview

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2009-10 Record: 23-13

2009-10 ACC Record: 7-9

This past year, the Yellow Jackets had the best inside duo in the ACC. Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors sparked the frontcourt like no other.

If you would have mixed them in with better guards, the Yellow Jackets would have definitely went further than they did.

However, you can't be too mad at the Yellow Jackets. They were able to reach 20 wins and a NCAA tournament berth. That is something that hasn't been achieved since the 2006-07 season.

Key Returnees

The Yellow Jacket returns only a few key players from last year’s NCAA tournament run.

The most important return came from 6-foot-4 shooting guard Iman Shumpert. He was the third-leading scorer on the team that was dominated by Favors and Lawal.

They also returned Glen Rice the 6-foot-5 combo guard. He didn't play a major role in the offense, but now with Favors and Lawal gone, Rice and Shumpert can turn this into a great duo.

They also returned role players such as: Brian Oliver, Daniel Miller, and Maurice Miller. All three of these players will need to step up and make an impact.

Key Departures

Due to the fact that Favors and Lawal were so good down low, they both left for the NBA draft. That left a huge hole in the frontcourt. Both of them were the leading scorers and rebounders.

The Yellow Jackets powerful frontcourt is all but gone. No size left behind because the 7-foot center Brad Sheehan also left.

D'Andre Bell and Zachery Peacock will definitely be missed on the wings.

They provided the Yellow Jackets with consistent energy and hustle on every possession. Their numbers may not be up-to-par but they were great players that every team needs to be successful.

Key Additions

The Yellow Jackets added 6-foot-5 wing threat Jason Morris.

Morris is a great wing player. He makes decisive cuts and stays alert.

Morris is always looking to slam the ball down when he gets it cutting to the basket.

Not only just cutting, but he is big time once he gets into the open floor. He runs well in transition and should be on the highlight reel a lot next season.

Morris has the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper and play great defense. He blocks shot from the weak-side and also jumps passing lanes.

He moves well without the ball and doesn't need it in his hands to make plays.

Morris was a great addition but they really needed frontcourt help. With the departures, the Yellow Jackets tallest player is 6-foot-6.

Overall

The Yellow Jackets had a very good squad last year but was still unable to do anything because of poor guard play. 

However, there guards now have more options but none in the frontcourt. 

Georgia Tech has lost its powerful frontcourt and added no recruits to curb that. This will definitely come back to haunt them seeing that there tallest player is 6-foot-6.

If a grade was given out for you off-season work, the Yellow Jackets would have the poorest grade. 

They really need frontcourt help but were unable to get it. Morris on the wing was a great addition, but with a small frontcourt, rebounds and defense in the post is going to be hard to come by.

The under-sized frontcourt will have the Yellow Jackets going 110 percent every night. If they slack off once, they may give away a win.

Georgia Tech will definitely not be as good as they were a year ago.


Written by DeAnte Mitchell

2010 NBA Draft: New Jersey Nets Draft Grade

New Jersey Nets Draft Picks


Derrick Favors 6'10'' Power Forward

Derrick Favors name has been in the draft since he was a high schooler.

Everybody loves a project and that's exactly what Favors' is. Favors is a 6'10", 250-pound power forward, which is a NBA body.

Around the hoop he displays soft hands in the post, which are essential. Not only that but soft touch as well. He has quick moves in the post which he uses to fight off the defender and score.

Not to mention, he finishes well with contact and strong around the basket.

He is not just all about Favors' either; he is very unselfish on offense. Sometimes looking to set up his teammates rather than attacking the defense.

His activity level allows him to play strong throughout the whole game. That benefits well on the defensive side of the ball. He has great defensive intensity, fundamental and just the all-around defensive feel.

He has a huge upside and he is very young for the class. His skills are still very raw but give him a couple of years and he'll transform into a great NBA player.

Acquired off trades

Damion James 6'8'' Small Forward

Damion James the 6'7'' 225 pound senior out of Texas.

James is a very mysterious forwards and he brings a lot to the table. He is very quick, sometimes displaying guard-like speed in the open court. He can get behind defenders in transition for an alley-oop slam.

His offensive mindset is simple: score. That is his main goal on offense, but he is not selfish. He does have average vision that he uses to set his teammates up.

His first step is quick and he gets into the lane at will. When driving in traffic he stays strong with the ball and finish well around the rim.

His long body allows him to get after offensive and defensive rebounds.

On the defensive side of the ball, he displays good defensive fundamentals and smarts to excel. He uses his length to knock the opposition out of their offensive sets and displays the ability to jump passing lanes and become a weak side shot blocker.

Analysis:


The Nets need all the help they can get. They flirted with the worst record in the league last year and need big time players in the draft. 


They drafted Derrick Favors, the prospect with the most upside of any prospect. Him and Brook Lopez in the post area together will be a big problem.


Also, adding Damion James to the wing is great. You get a hard worker that is consistently moving on the court. James will be the garbage guy that gets after it on every possession. 




Draft Grade: B+




Written by DeAnte Mitchell

2010 NBA Draft: New Jersey Don't Be Silly, Draft Derrick Favors No. 3 Overall

The 2010 NBA Draft is just one day away. The trades are starting to flood in, and the draft speculation has grown more than ever.

Over this past month, it has always been John Wall and Evan Turner as the first and second pick. In just about every mock draft I've seen, Derrick Favors was right there at third.

However, the Nets have shocked a lot of us and are now showing a lot of interest in former Syracuse star Wesley Johnson.

Not to mention, their new coach Avery Johnson is a big fan of DeMarcus Cousins'.

They are not trying to wait on Favors' potential to be reached. That is most likely the reason why they turned their heads to Wesley Johnson and DeMarcus Cousins.

They've expressed interest in possibly landing a marquee forward in the free-agency which puts Wesley Johnson as the front-runner at No. 3.

This is not a smart move at all. The Nets had the worst record in the league and flirted with the worst record in NBA history for most of the season.

The main problem with the Nets is lack of leadership. Harris was sidelined with injuries throughout the season, and the Nets problems started from there.

Now this is not smart at all if you're the Nets. Look at their current roster; they have Courtney Lee, and Terrence Williams. Each of those players is under the age of 24, and still growing as players.

So why would you go off and draft yet another wing player when you have two very good ones?

The average height for the Nets is 6'7''. Something tells me that will not going to win them games next season.

With the exception of Brook Lopez, there are no legit players in the frontcourt. Everybody else would be considered role players at the best.

So why wouldn't you spark the post? Derrick Favors is a project and will take time to develop, but the Nets are a team that isn’t two or three guys away from being good. There whole roster needs help, and Favors is the guy for that. 

Johnson will just stuff the wing-position. So Mikhail Prokhorov, don't make the same mistake as other GM's, draft the talented Favors and call it day.