In that there will likely be some kind of personel overhaul in the offseason, and in that our future clearly revolves around Yao, I have been giving some thought to what, exactyl, we need in the way of complimentary players in a Yao-Centric team. Obviously Kidd, McGrady, Artest, and Garnett would be nice, but in a serious sense, what are the attributes most considcive at each position in a team centered on our center. It goes without saying that Yao we'd need to take into account for the team's development, in that as soon as we add other players thier particular weaknesses need to be taken into account. This is an attempt to best account for the primary essence of our team. I have some general observations, and more specific ones, and welcome others' suggestions and comments. Point Guard: Needs to be at least a decent mid to long range shooter, in order to A) Take advantage of doubles, and cnversly B) Stretch defenses when hot. Needs to be fairly safe with the ball, as our halfcourt/defensive system prioritizes possessions, and we can't afford to give many away. Needs to be at least a decent perimeter defender. Should ideally have good court vision and be able to lead the break. Need not be an exceptional individual scorer, nor a wizard with the ball, but penetration ability would be an asset. Examples of type: Mo Cheeks, Kurt Hinrich when he settles a bit, a bigger Damon Stoudamire, etc. Shooting Guard: Should be able to hit the outside shot with consistency, and create off the dribble when plays break down. Should be a decent defender, and athletic enough to be featured in the break. Can allow for a less than Dumarsish defender as our system allows for one of the 2-3 to be covered up so long as the other is great. Examples of type: Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Vince Carter, etc. or, if reversed, Alvin Robertson, Paul Pressey, Dion Glover type. Small Forward: Defense, defense, defense. Must be able to guard quicker wing players and bigger 3's. Our defensive system relies on the 3 being iso'd quite a bit, and a 3 who is too slow or too small leads to too many fouls for our big men. Should be at least a decent catch and shoot man, with the ability to get out on the break and finish. Need not be an exceptional defender or iso scorer. Exampes of type: Mario Ellie, Dan Majerle, Stacey Augmon, Corey Magette before the scoring, lesser Marion, Bruce Bowen, etc. If reversed Peja, Carmelo, Bernard King type. ( Note...The 2-3's can essentially be reversed, but this is, I feel, the best combination). Power Forward: Needs to be a tough defender, rebounder, and able to hit the 10-15 footer with consistency. Must not be prone to fouls while being able to handle most 4's. Can get by with pedestrian post offense so long as the J is good. Examples of type: Charles Oakley, Horace Grant, Antonio Davis, Kurt Thomas, Brian Grant, P.J. Brown,Carlos Boozer. It should be noted that my examples are not meant to represent the level of quality we should expect, merely the 'type' of player we should be looking for. We will need a second star, and given the needs of a Yao centric team, I would suggest that the best slots for the 2nd star would be 1) SG, 2) SF. with the socrers' role being the primary one for whichever it ends up being, and the defender's role ascribed to the other wing position.
I respect all of the thought and energy you put into almost all of your posts. I agree with you for the most part. I can't help but think you are describing our first championship team. I would really appreciate a PF that could rebound and protect our stars.
i've got your post pattern figured out macbeth. barrage, then goes away to meditate for a while, then comes back to enlightenment attained from meditation.
I'm curious to what extent our 2nd "star" has to be. I mean, we didn't have another star for our first championships. Nor do SA really have a second star. Provided that they play well together, we can probably get away with using players the level of JJ or Mobley for short stretches in a game, for when Yao takes his rest. I also think that a PF as our second go-to guy is just as good an idea as a SF/SG. Because this will allow Yao to rest by roaming around the perimeter at times, where his deadly jump shot can be put into use. That said, it's just a lot harder to get a great big man if we just offer Stevie.
Nice post MacBeth, Only thing I would add is that the PG needs to be able to run a good fast break. DD
A completely Yao centered team...I don't know if Yao is ready for that. He still needs a complimentary scorer. Maybe not Steve, but someone that's near all-star level.
Thanks. Re: 1st Ring team, sort of, in that I think it was an ideal use of less talented complimentary players revolving around a dominant 5, but there are differences. The need for a clear cut 2-3 scorer derives from the fact that Yao is a better/more willing passer, and not as athletically capable of creating his own offense. Also this team emphasizes defense more than Rudy's teams, and the personel has been adjusted to accomodate.
I strongly disagree, with all due respect. The reason is zones of influence, for lack of a better term. As we saw with Barkley/Dream, two dominant post players often become redundant, and one player usually needs to sacrifice offense for the other. In that we won;t have a Clyde/Pippen 3rd star, we need to not have our 2 stars be redundent.
I understand the general concept. But I see two differences between the situation now and with Hakeem/Barkley. One is that Yao has amazing range. I'm beginning to wonder if the guy could hit 3s consistently if he only works on it. So Yao's effectiveness isn't not diminished by much on the perimeter or the high post. I don't cringe when I see Yao take his 18-20 footer the way I do with Barkley's 3s. The other is Yao's stamina, to a lesser extent. Yao can conserve his energy on the perimeter, leaving the more demanding post-ups to someone else more often. This will allow him to play longer and still have something left at the end of games.
who doesn't? one man shows don't work. ask pierce and iverson. it will be very hard to make such drastic roster changes to 4 spots to fit your ideal. my question is this... if only one or two changes could be made, which two spots would you change? i would change the power forward spot and the point guard spot, in no particular order. i can live with JJ being the 3, you know he fits many of your descriptions. i can also live to cat being the SG... sometimes.
Just for argment's sake, why would a point guard need to run a fast break because he plays with Yao? Yao doesn't get out on the break, and he isn't a dominate rebounder, and his shot-blocking has fallen off.
Excellent points. I will still disagree because of this: In a Yao-centric team, the premise is that we are dedicated to the inside out offense. As such, although occassional plays can be run through him at the high post, his primary place of operations will be the left low block. Most dominant 4s also use the LLB as their office as well. Yao's range is partly effective because he presents the defending 5 with a conundrum because you can't play him to be a shooter most of the time when he is primarily an inside player. If, however, there's a 4 who sets up in the block, it would be an easy switch to run the 4 or 5 out to cover Yaos' shot, as he obviously won;t be going inside. Secondly, re: endurance. until Yao resolves that issue we aren't going to be measuring for banners either way, and I would rather build around what he will be when we're legit than compensate for his short term ( let's hope) weaknesses. Still, excellent rerponse.
I think it needs to be a true small forward. Cat already basically fits your description for a SG. Ray Allen and Redd would be upgrades, but the monetary value vs. production value doesn't warrant a replacement IMO. That's why we need a SF. I always have been saying trade Steve for a solid PG (think Eric Snow) and really good, but not great SF (think Harpring). I'm still not sure if Yao is truly a low post player. He definitely has shown that he can score down low, but I think I'd like to see more creative use of him in the high post with the offense going through him. Not inside out, but to Yao up top and then passes out to the wing/baseline or in to cutters. About 2/3 of the time run that, and 1/3 inside out in the low post. Don't know if JVG would or could do that without severely pissing off Steve.
Hmmm...good question. Problem with those two changes is that Cat is then your 2nd scorer, which while not a disaster, is also not really the stuff rings are made of. Yeah, the point is the obvious one. And we can live with one of our 2-3's. It's a choice between going with the 2 headed monster at the 4, and hoping Cato develops a J or Mo a spine, or living with Cat as 2nd scorer....I'd probably keep Cat and our 4s, and swits Francis for a Hinrich like 1, and JJ for a shooter/scorer at the 3 spot. That's a tribute, IMO, to Cat's defensive improvement.
My 1st Yao-Centric Team: PG- Chauncy Billups or Brent Barry SG- Ray Allen or Cat SF- Rashard Lewis or A. Jamison PF- Boozer or Sheed I think these guys are able to play a team game and all would be nice complements to Yao. Chauncy and Barry can shoot the lights out and pass the ball well. Ray Allen is a smart player and can hit the 3 like it's nothing. R. Lewis is a big 3 that can shoot the ball well and rebound. Jamison is another big 3 that does wonders around the basket. Boozer is a hard nosed PF that can help protect Yao. Sheed is a decent rebounder that can score and play D, our frontline would be one of the best in the league.
The assumption is that the rebounds/blocks he gets merely by virtue of his size will lead to many a fast break attempt, in which he would only be the outlet passer. It would be a ' go for the break attempt if it's there, wait for Yao and set up if it isn't' kind of mindset. Yao will never be a 7 foot finisher the way Dream or the Admiral were, but he might start many the way Walton, Kareem, Russel and Wilt ( in his LA days) did...
