(This is assuming we're ready to blow up the team completely in a BIG way, not just tweak it) Obviously its too early to tell for sure, but i'm beginning to feel like we're building a similar team to Orlando's. I think the team still believes in yao being our centerpiece, but is now planning on surrounding him with these long, versatile players that can all shoot and drive fairly well at the 2,3, and 4 spots. If that is true, then ariza would be our Rashard Lewis-like PF, Taylor fits the Pietrus role.....Budinger is a long shot to ever be as good as Hedo, but once again there's some similarities in their play...budinger can fit the reddick role, but with more versatility......of course this means trading away Shane, scola, and possibly Landry...maybe that can bring back a solid starting swingman to be our "courtney lee" but better. I know it's not an identical match, but i think that may be the basic idea, but they seem to be trying to cultivate these guys rather than going out and paying the already established players like Orlando did. I've always though the ideal NBA team would be composed of mostly of versatile guys, like an Odom, Rashard Lewis, Bosh, a Pippen, etc. Guys who are quick enough to move down a spot or two, but long enough to also move up a spot or two. Interchangeable. Solid shooting, solid handles, quickness, and length all around........the Pg spot and center would be more traditional-like, as in brooks and Yao...that being said, we could always let Yao walk eventually and try to get a more Howard-like center, not that it will be easy.. and before there's any replies stating Yao isn't Dwight Howard, keep in mind i'm mostly refering to the 2,3 and 4 spots.
I see very little similar between Ariza and Lewis. Ariza is a super-athletic defensive specialist who has a better chance of scoring aournd the basket, regardless of what his numbers were last season. I also don't see Ariza being a 4 under any circumstance but then again, I never really saw Lewis as a 4 either. Ariza isn't nearly as good of an outside shooter as Lewis, either way. I see very little similar between Taylor and Pietrus. Pietrus is much bigger and a solid defensive player. Based on scouting reports, Taylor seems like a slightly more versatile scorer with defense being his biggest weakness. Pietrus is also a legit 3 while Taylor is not. Howard is also young and super athletic so Orlando can afford to leave him alone in the middle and still expect to get second chance points. Yao may never play again and if he does, he is just a totally different kind of player than Howard. I don't see any similarities between the two teams beyond the fact that the best player on both teams happens to be a center. They are completely different players though so that's where the similarity ends.
the interchangeable 2,3,4 model has been in play for quite awhile as the traditional big man has become obsolete. many teams use the same model as orlando, perhaps with less success though. off the top of my head i can think of: phoenix (marion/johnson/bell/diaw), atlanta (smith/williams/johnson/horford), orlando (lewis/turkoglu/lee/pietrus), golden state (pietrus/sjax/harrington), LA (bryant/ariza/odom), and i'm sure there are many more. having interchangeable wings makes it much easier to rotate defensively and guard the pick and roll since you can switch without a large penalty. it also adds a level of unpredictability to both sides of the ball since the opponent is never quite sure which player will be featured at any given time (assuming they are all multidimensional players)
i think ya'll are focusing two much on the direct comparisons, i guess i shouldn't have tried to compare them directly, but my point was the basic idea is the same, that they want these versatile players who have length, some speed, some shooting, etc. at the 2,3, and 4 spots. I realize the direct comparisons aren't that close, you're never going to be able to come very close to copying another team's lineup, but you can still have the same concept.
The ironic thing is that Artest is perfect for an interchangeable 2,3,4 system. For that matter I always thought he was a better 4 than 2.
I dont think the examples you listed are quite the same. My idea, and orlando's concept, is having the interchangeable 2,3,4 revolving around a very capable big man, like Orlando. So you need both, the big man and the 2,3,4 players who can all shoot fairly well, among other things. GS had the shooters, but didn't have that center to feed off unless you count Biedrins, but he's not exactly a guy you can feed off of or someone you can center your team around. Horford is a traditional PF, far from a shooter or solid ball handler and they too lack the big man. Phoenix and LA are close, but not quite what orlando has. I guess what sets Orlando apart from the rest is having big center to draw attention AND a 4 man who's going to space out the floor like a swingman. Odom doesn't hang outside as much as that. the other key of course would be to play some D as well, otherwise you'll just be the Suns..... I realize it's not a concept that's never been explored, but i think in the past teams have always fell a piece or two short of it, mainly due to the lack of big men lately. You may even be able to go back to the 95 rockets with Horry at the 4, and the reason they did so well is because they had all those pieces, including the big man and the defense.
I'm trying to put 2 and 2 together and I still don't get it. No similarity. I remember Lewis once saying that he wants to play in Houston before retiring. Do you think that is possible after his contract is up? How long does he have? If he would give the Rockets a concession and sign cheap in a few seasons time, He would be the vet presence we need with the youth movement going on. Anyway, that's going off topic. I'm thinking long term with that one.
He doesn't have the shot though or length.....its not just about being able to play the positions, but having the length, speed, and shooting ability, so you're as versatile as you can possibly be, especiallty for the guys playing 3 and 4.
i guess i should have just left orlando out of it and described what I thought Morey was building...that being a PG who can shoot/score, along with fairly quick and long shooters at the 2,3, and 4 who all feed off of a center who gets a lot of attention...but then i think someone would ask if i meant Orlando
I remember making comparisons between our 06-07 squad and the 2006 Miami champions. Playground PG (Alston/Williams) Superstar SG (McGrady/Wade) Defensive SF (Battier/Posey and/or Walker) Scrub PF (Howard/Haslem) Dominant C (Yao/Shaq) HOF Backup C from Georgetown (Mutumbo/Mourning) Both teams would go on to lose in the first round in 2007. Systems that work one year may not the next in the ever changing environment that is the NBA. We'd be better off creating our own unique team than trying to shape the team in Orlando's mold.
Actually, this Orlando team reminds me of the 95 Rockets. Nelson/Smith Reddick/Elie Carter/Drexler Lewis/Horry Howard/Olajuwon
I get what you mean, but thats not always the case, in this comparison yao was not dominant at the time, he was hardly as experience as Shaq, and we faced our worst matchup available, not to mention the future was filled with injuries...otherwise i think we may have been on our way..
Lewis won't be a free agent until 2013-14 after he collects his $24 mil for 12-13. He'll be 34-years-old at that point.
