Garner I'm not posting this as an expert or a "know-all-tell-all person". It's just one person's opinion. Its my opinion that the Rockets lose towards the negative when Brewer is playing. It's open to everyone's interpretation or perception. Many feel Brewer is tremendous while my interpretation differs. 1) I would take Korver 3 point shooting over Brewers. 2) Korver shooting around curls or spot up over Brewers. 3) Korver defense over Brewer. Now defense can be broken up. A) perimeter defense I pick Korver over Brewer. B) postup defense I pick Korver over Brewer. C) Transition defense I would have picked Brewer over Korver a couple of years ago......but I may say it's equal nowadays, if not leaning towards Korver. I respect those who never want Brewer replaced. May we all be open minded about it.
I If kj/gentile/2nd for Korver prevents houston's ability to bring in an actual backup center, then yes, I think I'd be unwilling.
That begs the question:which is more important 1) backup center or 2) backup wing? (If you can't get both in the same transaction).
Why would it prevent us? We would still have our 1st and other 2nds. I've been harping backup center for a while but it appears we are trying to ride it out, and so far so good. Just because you improve at one position, doesn't mean you can't at the other. Also, you could prefer fixing one problem, but to dismiss another problem because of said preference is short sighted. Improving a weakness, no matter the importance of the weakness, is still improving the team. Well, I would reckon to say backup center. Especially once post season begins and people start focusing and attacking our weaker interior defense. But we need depth at the wing/guard position as evidenced by our dominance with bev. Having to rely on ennis at any time of importance is troublesome. Same with brewer and kj. And if an injury were to happen we are thin in quality behind the current guard/wing rotation. Whereas, our Big's have surprisingly done OK without capela. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to acquire both a backup center and back up wing, without harvesting any of our quality rotation.
I absolutely would and have advocated for him in the past. But Harden and the team need to sign off because Sanders could be too much for some teams. His skill set would be nearly perfect for the current Rockets.
No doubt. His skill set would be ideal. He was Noel before Noel. Yes he would need to pass a physical & interview. I hope Harden would not veto a deal. He and other players say keep the team intact as is.
Interesting discussion could be made on that topic. I agree with you on hoping the Rockets can get both (wing & center) to shore up weak areas of depth. W/defense it has become how well you guard the 3 & rim. Not going back too far; since 14/15 is when the NBA changed drastically imo. I noticed basketball-reference.com goes by 0-2 feet in the PO's & 0-3 feet x reg season. 14/15 reg..Def 0-3 ft (rank)....Def 3P% (rank)-------14/15 PO's..Def 0-2 ft (rank)....Def 3P% (rank) GSW...............(.620)..11th........(.337)..5th....................................(.618)..8th...............(.339)....6th...... Cavs................(.647)..25th........(.343)..9th/10th...........................(.643)..10th............(.353).....7th...... Spurs...............(.607)..6th..........(.360)..24th.................................(.541)..2nd..............(.308)....3rd..... OKC.................(.610)..8th..........(.343)..9th/10th...........................(.576..4th................(.371)...11th.... Rockets...........(.641)..21st........(.322)..1st...................................(.712).16th............(.403)...13th.... 15/16 reg....Def 0-3 ft (rank)....Def 3P% (rank)---------15/16 PO's..Def 0-2 ft (rank)...Def 3P% (rank) GSW.................(.639)..20th.........(.332)....2nd...............................(.618).8th................(.339)...6th..... Cavs.................(.633)..18th..........(.347)..12th................................(.643).10th..............(.353)...7th...... Spurs................(.590)..4th............(.331)..1st.................................(.541)..2nd...............(.308)...3rd..... Rockets............(.655)..27th..........(.361)..21st..............................(.695)..15th..............(.337)...7th... 16/17 (B4 tonight)...........Def 0-3 ft (rank)........Def 3P% (rank)........................................................ GSW....................................(.618)....14th...............(.324).....1st.......................................................... Cavs.....................................(.635)....20th...............(.355)....15th/16th................................................ Spurs....................................(.607)....9th.................(.344)....6th.......................................................... OKC......................................(.621)..,15th................(.347)....7th......................................................... Utah......................................(.567)...1st..................(.355)....15th/16th................................................ Rockets................................(.680)...29th...............(.360).....20th....................................................... So Houston went far in 14/15 w/o the best defense in the playoffs and the Spurs didn't go far enough in 15/16 while being Top-3 in both stats in the PO's. Cavs are something like 29th in points in the paint at the moment......but LeBron and Irving will attack the rim in the PO's when it counts. Rockets are something like 6th in defense for December.....they better improve; because 29th is not going to cut it. Note GSW are 1st at guarding the 3 & will force the Rockets to drive. 1 or 2 blocks more a game in the interior may be the difference in winning a series.
@BigMaloe ....if forced to pick one or the other (not both) I would probably go with obtaining a center that could help defend interior and perimeter. Which would be your preference? The NBA has become a perimeter game nowadays. Throw out conventional wisdom. Just out of curiosity. Even w/Caps & Harrell playing together eventually that's my choice.
@Codman said Free the Birds. NBA Finals with this trade... http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=z97a6z3
That's difficult for me because I have been gung ho about getting defense in the middle even with a healthy capela and improved Harrell. And it is our biggest weakness. A defensive veteran like Chandler would be clutch come playoffs. But that limits Harrell and nene minutes who have been good lately. But as evidenced by every time bev misses a game we are just much weaker overall imo. This system relys heavily on forward and guard play. I feel improving brewer/ennis could pay similar dividends. So like you said gsw is# 1defending the 3. They switch everything and have the length on the perimeter to slow us down considerably since we live and die by the 3. And my main focus right now is how to beat gsw. So getting a korver would be fantastic in testing their defense and making sure we don't go cold like tonight but IDK. In a vacuum I would still have to say backup center because it's our weakest element. And could possibly attack gsw inside like okc did last year.
Houston has relatively few assets the team is likely willing to part with for the rotational caliber players we are discussing. You are speaking to me as if I'm disagreeing that Korver would be an upgrade; I'm not. Simply, my point here is that I don't see a cache of assets that will net both Korver and a backup Center. As confirmed by Marc Stein, Houston is doing anything but "riding it out" at the backup center position. The reality of it is, it would seem, is that nobody wants a Corey Brewer package (because why would they?). I read this reality as having to eventually cough up a bit more to get the team's biggest glaring flaw shored up, which will likely cut into the Korver package you've laid out.
I agree that backup center should be addressed. My speculation is that morey is trying to negotiate Tyson's contract and willing to give up our 1st in exchange for also dumping brewer. Kj isn't really an asset. Gentile is worth a 2nd maybe. And we have our 2nds which are not overly flattering. If you put together all our assets it's not an overly competitive package. That's why everyone should be looking at bargain gets. Older players on uncompetitive teams. These teams are willing to take something for nothing, especially when the said plays is expected to leave in fa for nothing, ie korver, bogut etc.. Typically you couldn't acquire the tour of players for 2nd rd pick.
Yeah, in post #709 we see Cavs went from 25th (reg) at the rim to 10th (easier path in PO's thru East). It's hard to win with a .712 clip at the rim as Houston gave up in 14/15 PO's (last in PO's). 7-10 plays at rim were successful vs Houston that year (PO's). I read an article in late October-early November about an NBA player shooting 2-3 feet beyond 3-point line. Went into details of how much square footage & on how one defender or in some cases defenders have to cover between shooters. One guy like Ryno puts so much stress to a defense; then add Gordon to that (imagine a Korver on top of that). It is a dilemma.....centers will be forced to defend the 3-point line on switches. This is why I favor the slender type Center. I also know you need a bruiser of a center as well. I see Larry Sanders tweeted cryptic messages 4 months ago....a picture of a Warrior followed by a portrait of a Cavalier. Hinting that both teams were interested in him before the season?.? Maybe a Rockets trade for wing could clear up roster spot for addition of someone like Sanders.
We agree. Teams are just going to field offers until the deadline. The deal will come through sooner or later.
Getting a defensive/rebounding center sounds great in theory but if he's not really good in the pick and roll he's absolutely unplayable, that is and is going to be the foundation of this team. The speed of Capela and Trez to set a pick for Harden and get open quickly as well as defensively hedging around picks and being able to switch out on guards prevents alot of open 3's that Dwight allowed all day last year, that can't be understated.
I agree with you. I believe the Rockets recognized that & that was 1 key reason they moved away from D12. That & the money associated w/or tied to a guy who didn't want to PnR on offense & gave token defense on the perimeter. I don't want to keep beating that dead horse......but yeah. I was watching the Cavs/Warriors game on X-mas. The host commentator asked the analyst what the Cavs & Warriors need to do to improve. Interior defense was the reply. The host replied, "why" they played each other so close last year. The analyst replied that both could win the finals against each other as is......but it's a matter of getting to the finals & getting by a team that has a big interior presence. Utah & San Antonio in the West. I feel it would be a mistake to stand pat; as the Rox players wish. Cavs have assests they can move: Felder/Liggins/McRae & Frye/Shumpert/JR Smith/Dunleavy if they feel it puts them over the top. Warriors: Ian Clark/Looney/ Damian Jones/McAdoo/McCaw/ & Pachulia if they feel it puts them over the top. Clutch Fans are too sentimental in their attachments towards Brewer/KJ and Nene. Chinanu needs to be moved so we can put Nene deeper on the bench. Wiltjer is still a project keeper.
