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Superstar Guards Need a 2nd Playmaker in the Frontcourt, not in the Backcourt

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Sen89, Feb 24, 2016.

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  1. Sen89

    Sen89 Member

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    I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying in this thread. Draymond might be the only "frontcourt playmaker" to you, but you're defining these terms on a black/white basis. Draymond is a unique hybrid example in today's game.

    A secondary creator is not always a ball-handler, it can be someone who draws gravity from defenses and moves the ball to the open man (a big man like Duncan, Dirk or Pau fits this mold), which may not always result in high-APG numbers, but does result in good shots for teammates. Dwight is unfortunately awful in this regard, so his fit with Harden offensively is and has been questionable.

    I'm looking at Championship teams that were led by a superstar SG/PG in particular, because Harden is clearly our centerpiece and we're trying to figure out how to build a title team around him.

    And yes, the game is evolving, but bigs are still invaluable -- just in a different way. Skill beats size, but skilled size beats all.

    Traditional slow, post players (especially one without rim-protecting ability) are going extinct. But guys like Karl-Anthony Towns are going to be NBA cornerstones for the next 10+ years, even in this perimeter driven league, because they can protect the rim on D, spread the floor on O, and still finish and provide a threat inside the paint when needed.
     
    #41 Sen89, Feb 24, 2016
  2. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    This is why Morey is trying get Durant?
     
    #42 Easy, Feb 24, 2016
  3. for-three

    for-three Member

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    I wish there would have been a way to keep Chandler, as well as signing Ariza. That could have been the making of a very dynamic small-ball lineup: Beverly, Harden, Ariza, Parsons, and Howard. Ariza and Parsons would essentially be interchangeable at the 3/4 position in that lineup.

    I also think Paul Milsap would have been a great 4 for this team, with Parsons being kept as the playmaking wing.
     
    #43 for-three, Feb 24, 2016
  4. RocketsFido

    RocketsFido Member

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    yea,, nonetheless we still need 3 all-star level players along with a solid bench to compete with other contenders these days. Every real contender in the league has at least 3 all-star calibur players plus better coaching than us.
     
    #44 RocketsFido, Feb 24, 2016
  5. oogie boogie

    oogie boogie Member

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    Makes sense. Which players is houston realistically capable of going after though to fit this structure?
     
    #45 oogie boogie, Feb 24, 2016
  6. RV6

    RV6 Contributing Member

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    Are you saying he was a star??

    Because that was the only reason to keep him without Bosh.
     
    #46 RV6, Feb 24, 2016
  7. xtruroyaltyx

    xtruroyaltyx Member

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    Sounds like a Parsons thread in disguise.
     
    #47 xtruroyaltyx, Feb 24, 2016
  8. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

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    I didn't want to keep him...
    We improved by replacing him with Ariza. Sure, there may have been some benefit in keeping Parsons off the bench, but then again, the guy is clearly a misguided primadonna, so doubtful that would have worked out anyway.
     
    #48 DrNuegebauer, Feb 24, 2016
  9. Sen89

    Sen89 Member

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    This is a good point. Obviously Smith is a far too erratic and inefficient of an offensive player to rely on as a main option, but his game fit a role we needed so badly that we actually thrived with him in there much of the time (and the fact that he knocked down threes at a respectable rate for that stretch helped immensely).

    But he's regressed further this year, and last year we got lucky with him playing above his expected level or play for our stretch run. But a more consistent, smarter/efficient version of last year's Smith is what we're looking for, or something similar.
    Horford, Batum, Pau (RFA) and Joe Johnson might fit the bill (not sure if Johnson can defend well enough to warrant legitimate PT next to Harden at his current age, but he can still be a solid off-ball creator for himself and others).

    Millsap would be a near-ideal target. Jabari Parker too, if Milwaukee gets low on him someday (I think they're misusing him). Gallinari would be great if he could defend, but him and Harden out there would be rough.
     
    #49 Sen89, Feb 24, 2016
  10. SirIvyLeague

    SirIvyLeague Member

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    Playmaking from the forward spots is what's missing; Josh did it last year, Parsons the year before.

    Also with Parsons, this whole Dwight saga doesn't go sour.
     
    #50 SirIvyLeague, Feb 24, 2016
  11. basketballholic

    basketballholic Member

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    It doesn't matter what spots playmaking comes from. What matters is that there are at least two playmakers on the floor and that the primary playmaker is an efficient playmaker.
     
    #51 basketballholic, Feb 24, 2016
  12. SirIvyLeague

    SirIvyLeague Member

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    We clearly can't have it from the PG spot. We have a guy who averaged almost 10 APG last year that can't fit next to Harden.

    It needs to be a secondary playmaker, so not a PG.
     
    #52 SirIvyLeague, Feb 24, 2016
  13. eslate22

    eslate22 Member

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    I'd say he's no worse than 5th... only cousins Marc gasol towns and dre are better imo... and if you include "playoff" Dwight in there then maybe top 3
     
    #53 eslate22, Feb 24, 2016
  14. Texanasiafan

    Texanasiafan Member

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    Superstar needs to make his teammates play better,

    not the other way around that he needs a teammate to make himself play better.
     
    #54 Texanasiafan, Feb 24, 2016
  15. ibm

    ibm Member

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    ding ding ding

    last time i challenged harden fans to name one single player that harden made play better. still waiting...
     
    #55 ibm, Feb 24, 2016
  16. oogie boogie

    oogie boogie Member

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    James has set up Ariza, Beverley, Jones, Capela, and Brewer and they have all played tremendously better than they actually could if they didn't have a play maker like James. Is James the best play maker in the world? Obviously not, but he has good enough vision, passing ability, and attracts enough attention to help guys get open and get the looks that they get.
     
    #56 oogie boogie, Feb 24, 2016
  17. SuperMarioBro

    SuperMarioBro Member

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    D-Flop a great defender? C'mon dawg...
     
    #57 SuperMarioBro, Feb 24, 2016
  18. langal

    langal Contributing Member

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    Maybe he is obsessed with taking advantage of the artificial price ceiling (ie. max contracts) because it would be the "smart" thing to do.

    MELO would have been an absolute disaster.
     
    #58 langal, Feb 24, 2016
  19. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist
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    I think a second playmaker can be anywhere. Different coaches, different systems, different players.

    The issue we have is that the moment Harden passes the ball, if it's not an assist then Harden goes from being a top 3 NBA offensive player to the worst on the team. Stands around, resting for his next ISO I assume. Doesn't know what to do, where to be, how to behave, nothing.

    He needs to be shown tape and shown good habits by a coach. He should be better than this, and once he gets better at it, it won't matter what position the second playmaker is playing.
     
    #59 Mathloom, Feb 25, 2016
  20. basketballholic

    basketballholic Member

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    Here's the problem.

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n1pEjT4mQIU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
    #60 basketballholic, Feb 25, 2016
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