UFA Forwards and Centers in no particular order. Forwards: Stanley Johnson Danilo Gallinari Evan Turner Marcus Morris Markieff Morris John Henson Maurice Harkless Solomon Hill Davis Bertans (too expensive) Jae Crowder Montrezl Harrell (probably staying in LA) Jae Crowder Wilson Chandler Juan Hernangomez Demarre Carrol Centers: Paul Milsap Serge Ibaka Marc Gasol Myers Leonard Aaron Baynes Alex Len Nerlens Noel Jahil Okafor Christian Wood Jeff Green
Ibaka is the ideal 5 for us. Even though he's older, he has the size, shooting touch, and defense that we need. Doesn't hurt that it'd also be a mini OKC reunion. He seemed somewhat open to it jokingly in his cooking show interview with KD. Don't know how realistic it'd be to get him tho.
He would be a good fit, despite his age. Whether he is getable is hard to say. I vaguely recall a statement from Bima saying that the Rockets might not be able to use the MLE because of their cap situation, I might be wrong. @BimaThug
Yes, JVG spoke of such in a podcast I posted recently. It was an interview before the restart. Apparently JVG is a fan of Nick Nurse because he mentioned him often. Van Grundy was asked how would he coach today? He said he would play a great deal of 1-3-1 zone defense with big Center being the 1 by the rim. Hinted that the Raptors do that with Nick Nurse. Teams guard against the “Short Porch” corner 3’s. 1-3-1 zone defense allows the corner 3’s to be open to a greater extent imo. The big center is not going to abandon the area near the rim to contest the corner 3. Leaves open spots in the defense that can be exploited; as with all defensive zones. Caboclo could be used and maximized in that role. Would JVG accept a Bruno type as his center? Or more bulk? Yes, AD is a problem. He gets in the interior of a defense vs players an inch or 2 smaller than him and takes the defender to the perimeter if they are an inch or two taller than him. Success with either. I complain about the Rockets depending on 4 players 6’3” (McLemore/ WB/ Rivers/ Eric Gordon) but all in all the Rockets defense was not the problem (holding the Lakers to less points than Blazers/Nuggets per game). It was the our offense where short guys could not find enough space to get off a shot. Having more 6’7”players helps both our defense and offense. 4 guys 6’3” plus Harden (6’5”) and two guys added to that group (Clemons/Frazier) is a waste of space and 7 players undersized in height. Losing House compounded the situation. —————————————————————————————————————————— Losing Rivers (opting out) & Eric Gordon/McLemore (trade) doesn’t hurt me. In the Gordon trade get another backup PG and SF. Hopefully free up money to add Gerald Green & Jeff Green Gerald Green ready to join the team......added to David Nwaba. Use the MLE or partial to get the center in free agency. JaVale MeGee type, John Henson. Good x18 mins per game. Run it back, again.
Agree, on your 1-3-1 analysis. We need a lot of luck to get a JaVale type. Bruno can’t cut it. He isn’t physical strong and more importantly he is mentally weak. His basketball IQ isn’t up to par either. He lacks explosive speed and doesn’t work hard. He should be cut from the team.
Yes, JaVale is a player option. And I’m talking Caboclo as the center staying near the rim of a 1-3-1 zone. Allows Bruno to just blocks shots near the rim. Hides many of the weaknesses you mention. Play the Tyson Chandler role on the Dallas Mavs championship team. But I believe the Mavs ran a 2-3 zone back then. Similar though, center patrols area in front of rim.
I get your point about utilizing Bruno, but he can and will be dunked on with force. Bruno gets demoralized easily. This will also affect his jump shot. He doesn't bring even a trace of intimidation.
Harty may rebound but he does not protect the rim either. Bender is more switchable and possess guard skills like passing and creating for himself. Rather have guy with more upside and skill set that better fits team. If we can only choose 1 of them, I choose Dragan Bender.
I would play Bruno as one of the "3" in a 1-3-1 zone because his strength is closing out and being a weakside blocker. 7'7 wingspan allows him to attack close outs very effectively. I would play Bamba or Barnes as the bottom "1". RoCo would play the "nail" or center of the "3" because he has the instinctive ability to slide to ball and disrupt.
Possibly, but in essence the center doesn’t contest fully to the corner 3. Wing defender of that line of 3 defenders is basically guarding both the corner 3 and above the break 3. Those two players could play “Hot Potato” between each other until one or the other gets an open shot. Too much area for that wing/ perimeter defender to cover both or run back and forth. If defender (1 in the 1-3-1 zone near the 3-pt line straight away) rotates to above the break 3-point shooter to help out on those two playing hot potato......leaves a player like Harden open on the weak side above the break. So defender by free throw line (in the 3 player line in the 1-3-1 zone) may have to pop out and rotate to that above the break 3-pt shooter involved in that hot potato exchange. Leaves hole in the middle for a player to slip in. So yeah Caboclo could be that player defending near the free throw line which may have to rotate to perimeter. But would that 7’7” wingspan be better served under the rim and/or contesting an offensive player slipping into the hole near the free throw line once that defender leaves to help out on the perimeter. If every zone defender stays in their zone......there are holes to exploit. If the the zone defense contorts......leaves holes to exploit. Good discussion.....I like your thinking out of the box.
..................................................................O <— rim #.................................................................X (1)............................................................# .............X....................................................X.................................................X(3) ........# .....................................................X (1).............................................................# ..........................................# (Harden) One can see visually how the wing defender has to guard two players on one side of the court once Harden swings the ball to weak side. They play hot potato between each other (corner 3 & above the break 3). If Center rotates to corner 3, then rim is open or like you said Bruno moves from free throw line (defender in 3 player line) to near rim. Defenders.......X .Offense..........# Rim.................O
I would play Harden closer to the rim as one of the "3" and let PG (Russ?) play the top "1". 1-3-1 zone should allow Harden to rest if he plays one of the "3" on defense instead of running around the arc as top "1" defender.
7 footer needs to be switchable and/or can shoot 3ball. It's about fit especially if Lucas is hired, system not changing.
