Official Trader of ABCA
Post by Berlin on May 7, 2013 14:12:02 GMT -6
Starting Center:
Jim Krebs, Age: 29, Height: 6'10", Weight: 265
Named the starting center of the ALBA before the draft even ended, Jim Krebs was never expected to contribute more than 25 minutes a game with the duo of Clifton and Glamack patrolling the frontcourt. A surprisingly strong preseason has coaches scurrying to find ways to get more minutes for the big man in what has become a solid rotation. Expect 8-10 points with as many boards from Krebs depending on his minutes per game.
Starting Power Forward:
Nat Clifton, Age: 29, Height: 6'9", Weight: 240
The bruiser of the team, Nat Clifton will be called upon as the rebounding and defensive star of the ALBA for the upcoming season. With a strong work ethic and the respect of his teammates, Clifton was recently named the team captain before the beginning of the preseason. Clifton will be expected to pull down over 10 boards and block at least a shot a game for the season to be a success.
Starting Small Forward
Yury Korneev, Age: 24, Height: 6'7", Weight: 225
It took a strong preseason for Yury Korneev to win the final spot on the ALBA starting lineup, but he will look to do the most with the opportunity in the regular season. Coaches believe that Korneev’s outside shooting prowess will make up for his defensive deficiencies, though Yury’s hold on the starting spot is clearly the weakest on the team. Expect 12-14 points a game unless Branch McCracken overtakes him in the depth chart.
Starting Shooting Guard:
Frank Ramsey, Age: 26, Height: 6'5", Weight: 200
Berlin’s second pick of the draft, Frank Ramsey is expected to be the primary offensive weapon of the team headed into the regular season. With a jumper that can hit from anywhere on the court, Ramsey will be the primary focus of the team’s outside shooting strategy. With the right breaks, Ramsey should score anywhere from 18-20 points per game.
Starting Point Guard:
Al Bianci, Age: 26, Height: 6'3", Weight: 185
The first round pick of the ALBA, Bianci has been portrayed by many in the organization as the future face of the team. Others have stated that his stay in Berlin might be short-lived, as the guard has been the subject of countless trade rumors since the draft. With solid defensive skills, nice passing and a good outside shot, Bianci is one of the most complete point guards in the league heading into the prime of his career. No matter where he plays this year, expect 16 points a game with several assists while being a league leader in steals.
Key Bench Players:
George Glamack, Age: 29, Height: 6'9", Weight: 220
Berlin turned quite a few heads in the creation draft when they used their fourth overall pick to pick up their second power forward, bucking conventional wisdom by electing for depth over another starter. ALBA believed they have found a diamond in the rough in Glamack and hope to use him as a minutes-eating backup at both forward and center. Expect nearly 10 points, 9 boards and a block a game in 30 minutes a game off the bench from the team’s top 6th man.
Nat Hickey, Age: 31, Height: 6'4", Weight: 210
Nat Hickey, one of the premier jump shooters in the league, will look to contribute off the bench in what has become an exceedingly complicated backcourt situation in Berlin. Hickey, originally expected to see big minutes at both small forward and shooting guard, now will only be called upon to Ramsey’s primary backup. Unless the logjam opens up a bit in Berlin, expect only about 6 points per game out of the backup guard.
Atanas Atanasov, Age: 25, Height: 6'0", Weight: 175
The backup point guard, Atanas Atanasov will be called on more for his scoring than for his passing in Berlin’s current offensive scheme. With an amazing first step and the best inside drive on the team, Atanasov will be called on to lead the second team in scoring whenever he is on the court.
Summary:
In the inaugural season of the league, GM John Plossl has shaped the ALBA lineup with a strategy of outside shooting as the primary weapon. With a focus of defense and rebounding in the post and offense from the SF/SG/PG positions, Plossl is hoping that his team will be able to contend against some of the more featured “contenders” of the league. With Bianci, and Ramsey leading the offense and Clifton and Glamack anchoring the defense, Berlin is looking to make its mark early as the regular season begins. While other teams look toward the future, anything less than a playoff appearance would be a huge disappointment this season for the ALBA.
Projected Record: 52-30
Jim Krebs, Age: 29, Height: 6'10", Weight: 265
Named the starting center of the ALBA before the draft even ended, Jim Krebs was never expected to contribute more than 25 minutes a game with the duo of Clifton and Glamack patrolling the frontcourt. A surprisingly strong preseason has coaches scurrying to find ways to get more minutes for the big man in what has become a solid rotation. Expect 8-10 points with as many boards from Krebs depending on his minutes per game.
Starting Power Forward:
Nat Clifton, Age: 29, Height: 6'9", Weight: 240
The bruiser of the team, Nat Clifton will be called upon as the rebounding and defensive star of the ALBA for the upcoming season. With a strong work ethic and the respect of his teammates, Clifton was recently named the team captain before the beginning of the preseason. Clifton will be expected to pull down over 10 boards and block at least a shot a game for the season to be a success.
Starting Small Forward
Yury Korneev, Age: 24, Height: 6'7", Weight: 225
It took a strong preseason for Yury Korneev to win the final spot on the ALBA starting lineup, but he will look to do the most with the opportunity in the regular season. Coaches believe that Korneev’s outside shooting prowess will make up for his defensive deficiencies, though Yury’s hold on the starting spot is clearly the weakest on the team. Expect 12-14 points a game unless Branch McCracken overtakes him in the depth chart.
Starting Shooting Guard:
Frank Ramsey, Age: 26, Height: 6'5", Weight: 200
Berlin’s second pick of the draft, Frank Ramsey is expected to be the primary offensive weapon of the team headed into the regular season. With a jumper that can hit from anywhere on the court, Ramsey will be the primary focus of the team’s outside shooting strategy. With the right breaks, Ramsey should score anywhere from 18-20 points per game.
Starting Point Guard:
Al Bianci, Age: 26, Height: 6'3", Weight: 185
The first round pick of the ALBA, Bianci has been portrayed by many in the organization as the future face of the team. Others have stated that his stay in Berlin might be short-lived, as the guard has been the subject of countless trade rumors since the draft. With solid defensive skills, nice passing and a good outside shot, Bianci is one of the most complete point guards in the league heading into the prime of his career. No matter where he plays this year, expect 16 points a game with several assists while being a league leader in steals.
Key Bench Players:
George Glamack, Age: 29, Height: 6'9", Weight: 220
Berlin turned quite a few heads in the creation draft when they used their fourth overall pick to pick up their second power forward, bucking conventional wisdom by electing for depth over another starter. ALBA believed they have found a diamond in the rough in Glamack and hope to use him as a minutes-eating backup at both forward and center. Expect nearly 10 points, 9 boards and a block a game in 30 minutes a game off the bench from the team’s top 6th man.
Nat Hickey, Age: 31, Height: 6'4", Weight: 210
Nat Hickey, one of the premier jump shooters in the league, will look to contribute off the bench in what has become an exceedingly complicated backcourt situation in Berlin. Hickey, originally expected to see big minutes at both small forward and shooting guard, now will only be called upon to Ramsey’s primary backup. Unless the logjam opens up a bit in Berlin, expect only about 6 points per game out of the backup guard.
Atanas Atanasov, Age: 25, Height: 6'0", Weight: 175
The backup point guard, Atanas Atanasov will be called on more for his scoring than for his passing in Berlin’s current offensive scheme. With an amazing first step and the best inside drive on the team, Atanasov will be called on to lead the second team in scoring whenever he is on the court.
Summary:
In the inaugural season of the league, GM John Plossl has shaped the ALBA lineup with a strategy of outside shooting as the primary weapon. With a focus of defense and rebounding in the post and offense from the SF/SG/PG positions, Plossl is hoping that his team will be able to contend against some of the more featured “contenders” of the league. With Bianci, and Ramsey leading the offense and Clifton and Glamack anchoring the defense, Berlin is looking to make its mark early as the regular season begins. While other teams look toward the future, anything less than a playoff appearance would be a huge disappointment this season for the ALBA.
Projected Record: 52-30
