https://theboxand1.weebly.com/draft-philosophy/nba-team-building-the-3-pillars-approach A good read that I thought could spur a thread.
In 14/15, I felt a mostly "jump shooting" teams could not win the championship. The Warriors proved otherwise. Since then I recognized the trend; winning with multiple SF's in 15/16 for position-less basketball. Many of us feel the Rockets did it best in 17/18 when we had Ariza/Luc MaM. PG...................SG.................SF......................PF.....................C...................... CP3..............Harden..........Ariza................Tucker..............Capela................ (6'1")...............(6'5")...........(6'8")..................(6'5")................(6'10").............. EGo...............G Green.......Luc MaM.......Ryan Anderson......Nene............... As it has been brought out recently the Sun's are currently similar: (height/3P%) PG.......................SG................SF.....................PF........................C................ CP3.................Booker..........Bridges...........Crowder...............Ayton............ (6'1"/ 40%)...(6'5"/ 34%).....(6'6"/43%).....(6'6"/ 39%)............(6'11"/ 20%)... Payne.....................................Craig..........Cam Johnson.........Saric............. (44%).................................(6'7"/ 37%)......(6'8"/ 35%)...........(6'10"/ 35%)... ....................................................................................Kaminsky (7'0"/ 36%).. ___________________________ Now where does our current Rockets team stand? PG....................SG...................SF..........................PF...................C.......... Wall...............E Gordon..........KM jr..................Wood................................ (6'3"/ 32%)....(6'3"/ 33%)......(6'6"/ 36%).........(6'10"/ 37%)...................... Augustin............KP jr...............Tate............................................................. (5'11"/ 38%)......(6'4"/ 31%).....(6'4"/ 31%).................................................. Khyri............................................................................................................. (6'3"/ 33%) So if we draft Cade/Jalen Green/Suggs/Mobley/Kuminga......that would shuffle the deck to an extent. *No guarantee Olynyk comes back (6'11"/ 34% for season) ________________________________________ I see all of our pillars located under one side of the roof. I prefer skilled players at PG, SG, and SF........I want Bassey as my Capela/Gafford role and do some of the dirty work of boxing out, rebound, block shots. Rockets need to trade for Aron Baynes or sign D Theis in free agency even if Olynyk comes back. Not for long term future; but short term success for this one season. Most of these big players drafted will need to spend time in the G-league. Bassey, Greg Brown, Kia Jones, Garuba, etc. Those thinking Mobley solves our big man problem.....good luck with that.
Even though this post is unreadable on mobile I think I agree. I'm still in favor of a super switchable army of positionless SFs with a floor general PG and a mobile PF playing C.
I like ATL's rebuild. Some pain and uncertainty in the beginning that gave them 4 top 10 picks (Young, Hunter, Reddish, and Okongwu) plus some good hits outside of the lottery ( Huerter and Collins) over 4 seasons. They supplemented their young guys with good, young veteran free agents.
I agree. Morey tried that out in both Houston and Philly but has been stymied by luxury tax or a point center who never bothered to learn how to shoot a free throw (mentally and physically).
Why would we want short term success? We want to be just as bad next year and probably the year after and hope we hit on a once in a generation type player.
If you want a super skilled big man foundation then throw away your short term ambitions and take a long good look at Chet Holmgren.
Because the role of the big man is evolving. Just as you think the big man is being kicked out of the league, now they have begun trending up again. Jokic/Embiid were MVP candidates with Jokic winning it because teams have gone small-ish too much. Now players like Jokic and Embiid are dominant again. Ayton is going to eventually get up there as well. Zubac and Capela are in that realm of Bassey type. Again Bassey is about a year from being ready to take that starting gig. Short term need is in the case that the Rockets are actually decent. You have to have a big or muscle guy or you never make it to the playoffs. Zubac/Capela/Embiid/Ayton/Blake Griffin will dominate the paint.
I'll take the other guy. Poalo Banchero. He has a solid frame. Chet will break in two if Embiid leans on him. And what are the odds on that? 14% chance; but we have to be top 3 in bad. I'm guessing even without a center we can be 6th or 7th worst team with Wall/EGo/Wood/KMjr/KPjr/Tate........and Cade or Jalen Green
Good Read, however You have to have at least two all star caliber players but what many fans do not realize is the position of these players is key. Two stud guards doesn’t make you a lock aka (Blazers). The stars you go after must compliment each other not do the same thing. One of your stars must be able to play in the paint. The other has to be the guy your offense flows through. Build your team with two stars and spread the salary around.
We shouldn't even be trying to be decent. And let's be real Jokic and Embiid were only the jn the MVP conversation because every super star in the league got injured this year. No one actually thinks Jokic is MVP. CP3 got robbed..
I'm guessing Gordon will be gone and Wall will be relegated to the bench, or if we can find a taker, traded. We're going for the #1 again next year. Get ready for it!
I will let you believe that. Curry was healthy and Giannis was as well. Teams have figured out how to get the big Big near the rim without doing it as the post play: 1) Teams run the high PnR near the 3-point line 2) ball handler dribbles and draws two defenders to the rim/baseline 3) passes ball to either, player travelling along baseline (weak side) or big Center/PF travelling down middle of paint with full momentum to rim. 4a) player travelling along baseline (coming from corner 3) receives pass and gets a layup/dunk or passes to big Center/PF going through the paint with full momentum. 4b) Big Center/PF receives the ball from original ball handler as he goes from screening for said original ball handler, then trails the play by cruising down the middle of the lane. ___________________________________ This type of play has replaced the post play......making big Centers/PF's relevant again. Hard for some of these skinny PF's/Centers to stop these "Bigs" with them receiving the ball and full momentum headed towards the rim; approximately 7 feet in front. Bassey will excel in this play set. Mark my words.....I said Skinny Centers/PF's were going to trend in 15/16. Now I'm saying that you are going to see a bounce back. Especially if the big can shoot 3's.
It works in the regular season but gets exposed in playoffs. Philly had no business losing to the Hawks. The Nuggets got swept by the Suns.. gotta get as many wing players as possible..
What everyone seems to be missing is the Rockets biggest weakness. Health. Before the injuries started they were on a run and above .500. This team is better than what they appear.
Good read and interesting thread topic. I think this can gain some more momentum after 22 Jun and we see actually where all of our picks will fall. With the NBA Combine starting next week, the rack-n-stack for some players will start to change as well. With what we have now, here's how I see it... - Potential All-Star Players: Wood and KPJ. Wood will have to stay healthy and if he does and develops beyond that 20/9 we will have a hard decision on trading or extending him. His rapid development could speed up the rebuild. KPJ is a bit of an enigma, hopefully he matures and grows his game. His potential is enormous, but he's got to put in the work and stay out of trouble. - All-Defensive potential: JST likely won't be an All-Star, but his defensive skills and energy are contagious. Believe he's a key role player with his versatility and skills on both ends. - Valuable Role Players: KMJ has exciting athletic potential and seems dedicated to improving and growing his game. Tough for me to see his ceiling at this point, but he should continue to be a valuable role player and energizer off the bench. We only had a brief glimpse of Khyri Thomas, but the snapshot looked promising. He could be another value-added two way player. Finally, Armoni Brooks looks to be a solid 3-D player now, with some potential to be an elite shooter. - Veterans: Would love to resign KO and either Nwaba or Sterling at the right price. Having two of those 3 and keeping Augustin will give us some solid vet leadership/experience, as well as players that can contribute. - Trade Chips: Wall is a longshot to go in the offseason, but the probability of departure gets better if he stays healthy and the less is owed on his contract. Stone will be a magician of Houdini fame if he can move John w/o taking a worse contract or giving up valuable chips. Eric G may find a taker if he bounces back strong from the injury. He's a value-added two-way player that can help a contender. House has potential and hopefully Stone is able to bundle him with one of the two above to get some cap relief and some assets. - Draft Picks: To be continued after next week's Lotto Ball!
Oh I agree with getting as many wings players as possible. I guess you don't know me.....I've been pushing that even before some NBA teams like the Pistons were still trying to make Drummond/Tobias Harris and Josh Smith work. But just wings won't get you to the playoffs. Everyone here knows I'm an advocate for sitting the big man in the playoffs and go small ball as an option much like the Hampton 5.....but without Bogut, MeGee, David Lee, Looney do you even get to the playoffs? Capela is 245 pounds......N Claxton about 218 pounds, Mobley at 218 pounds. Embiid would go for 45 points and 20 rebounds. It's Tobias Harris and Simmons that don't fit with Embiid and cost them. Nuggets lost J Murray for the season, Michael Porter Jr hurt his back in game one and could barely move for games 2 and 3. Will Barton was coming off of injury. And 265 pound Ayton had something to do with the Sun's advancing. I'm not saying bring in Baynes to be a star; but I'm saying someone needs to rebound, block or alter some shots, box out people during the reg season or we won't get to the playoffs. The 235 pound to 245 pound is the hybrid center teams will be seeking that are a cross between the big lugs and skinny toothpicks. Preferably ones that shoot 3's. Your tanking for another year to get a 14% chance at Chet Holmgren sucks and I wouldn't recommend it. You are breeding perpetual mediocrity. As you bring in young potential you also lose young potential in Porter and Woods. Taking one step forward while taking two steps back.
Speaking of .. seems like we dodged bullet after bullet in the Harden fiasco. Tyler Herro reverted to the mean, Ben Simmons imploded, and Michael Porter Jr needs a backiotomy. I wouldnt tank for Chet, but for Paolo??? Yeeesh hard not to get worked up for that prospect. Best since LeBron IMO.
Did you see the guy play? 26-11-8, a big man playing point. Jokic easily deserved MVP, deserving was also Embiid, maybe harden and thats the thing every year multiple people typically deserve it, as we saw closely with harden.
