Bigger Need: Clutch Bucket-Getter or Imposing Rim-Protector?

One problem is there are no 'Deke in his prime' equivalents currently available. So while we're hypothetically talking about which one could benefit us more, the more important point is that a 'Carmelo in his prime' player (who, in this case, is oddly enough named Carmelo Anthony) has a chance of actually becoming a Rocket.

So if the point of the discussion is to aid us determining which of the two needs is more important, I'd say that's a faulty premise. However, if the point is merely to answer the question literally and decide which this current team needs more it's a shot-blocking/altering paint defender.

 

We can't keep trying to outscore our opponents every night while they run layup drills. Any capable defensive center would do wonders.

 

Put Melo in this lineup we don't win anything in a short term either. Bad defense gets you nowhere.

Denver has been building around Melo for years with Billup, Camby, Nene,Birdman, Iverson etc, they still haven' won anything. There defense was not good enough to win Championshp. Rockets' defense with Melo only will be even worth.

 

Are you joking? Never in NBA history has a team won it all without an elite defensive big man. Never.

 

This is really a strong point. It isn't so much that the Rockets need one more than the other - both are rare enough commodities that you take one when you can get it.

 

Prime Mutombo is 2x the player Melo is.

 

The last 2 laker teams..........no, Pau is not an "elite" defensive big man.

 

DeAndre Jordan AND Carmelo... only in my dreams.

 

Deandre looks great when he is in position to make a play BUT far too often he is out of position and picks up silly fouls or worse yet completely loses his man somewhere on the baseline for an easy bucket. Even after two or three years, Deandre is still a bit of a project. I'm just saying....

 

The only player close to Deke in his prime nowadays is Dwight Howard. So yes, I would take him first.

But if the question is a superstar or a defensive center to actually win a championship, you have to go for the star and fill in the rest later as they are harder to get (defensive centers are hard to get too, but not more than a superstar).

 

Defensively.......

 

Half the teams (including us) if not more are playing pf's as their centre, it means the post game isn't really there (honestly, Shaq, Howard and Bogut are probably the only true centres in the nba that have an offensive game worth mentioning) Add that you can't be anywhere near as physical as you could in the 80'2 and 90's (don't remember the blocks where players are climbed all over the opponent that you just can't do today?)

Which is why only 1 championship since what? Bill Russell has been won with a defensive specialist centre, whilst high scoring wing players who take the ball in the clutch have been part of a tandem that has won almost every championship for the last 20 years.

 

Take out Lebron and insert Melo on Cleveland the last few years and they get to the finals each year

 

Is there even a player currently available either thru trade, free agency, or draft remotely of the caliber of a Dikembe Mutombo in his prime? I don't think so. What's the point of these hypotheticals when one of the variables is not even extant?

 

that's because, teams tighten up their defense in the fourth quarter, we are not the only team that's been seeing 4th quarter meltdowns night after night.....

 

Alot of it's due to Adelman, he prefers offensive centers to play the high post.