I keep seeing threads where people talk about tearing the team apart that it is just not working, and I cringe. This team is talented, but the chemistry is just not right, they have no leadership, no defined roles, and no intensity. Adelman has to take some heat here for a lot of this, but the players are just as culpable. But I would not blow it up, not at 12-12......what this team needs is a tough hard nosed player in the starting lineup, if not someone vocal, then someone who leads by example but plays hard night in and night out and demands the same of the rest of the players. A Bob Sura type..... That does not mean you blow the team up, if you have to make a trade, get rid of some unhappy pieces to do it, then by all means make it happen. Keep Tmac and Yao, and utilize the rest of the roster as you see fit....I really believe that at 12-12 the team is not far away from being a contender....all it takes is a team dedicated to playing with more effort, and competing every single night. I just think we need to juggle the pieces a bit.......just not light the fuse to blow up the team. Don't panic....tweak. DD
...and the Bobby Sure-esque player out there 'on the block' is? But, who is the savvy vet Rox could get who could inject all you say? BTW - might Ryan Gomes have some of that, and be movable by the ever brilliant Mr McHale?
This team won 52 games last year with significant injuries so there is no doubt they can compete. A new PG would be nice. By the way, is Morey still a genius?
I have no idea whom the team should get or if there is one on the roster already? Scola plays hard - does anyone else fit that bill on the bench? Francis would - but he has completely lost his game. A trade would work, maybe an aging veteran, or an aggressive youngster..... Got to be someone locked in a doghouse somewhere. I think he did a wonderful job, but sometimes the chemistry doesn't work.....so you have to keep at it until the balance is just right. DD
I agree DaDakota. Im just not sure who though.. It would be best if he was a PG so he could run the team because his leadership and passion will trickle down the team a lot easier, but again im not sure who. A savvy Vet like Darrell Armstrong would be nice but he is just to old and wont give us much. Something along the lines of him though. Anyone feeling Gary Payton? You reckon he still has what it takes. He's defiantly a competitor and wont take **** from no one. Wouldnt mind him, PROVIDING he can give us a solid 28-30 minutes a night. He would be cheap to. I dont know. Im just thinking outloud i guess. I just think we need a savvy, veteran, pesky PG with an attitude to boot. A Punk. Any suggestions?
I like him, he is a nice defender and shoots the 3 well. I just think this team needs an older more savvy pg to wake up some of the more lackluster players. You know, light a fire under Tmac, Bonzi and James' ass. Another guy who would fit nicely is Derek Fisher. I dont know if we can get him though, especially with his daughters situation. Maybe a Damon Stoudamire. Chris Duhon? Sam Cassel? Eric Snow? Earl Boykins? Speedy Claxton? These guys may or may not be suitable. Im just throwing up names of some older, more savvy PGs that might be able to get this team going. Some of them arent even starters but again, im just thinking aloud. I do agree with you though. This team needs a hard nosed, gritty player and i think it has to come from the PG position.
The real questions is... Is there a Chris Paul or Tony Parker clone out there in other teams??? ...and if so, why haven't they been given a chance by the other teams?
Matty, Sam Cassell would be perfect, but would the Clippers give him up? What about Francis for him? They might go for that, if you threw in Head or James... DD
The real answer is - Highly Unlikely Unless someone like Smush Parker us really a Chris Paul without a brain
Totally agree...and isn't it sad that we have to talk about these issues with a professional basketball team?
Disagree. Throw Tmac under the bus. His contract does not equal his performance. It gets worse the next two years. Get out now.
One of the best threads from you yet DaDa. As I clicked on the title, I thought the same thing too. We DO need a Bob Sura type player. Doesn't have to be a PG, but just someone who can play and command respect from the guys we have. Someone who can back the coach up no matter what the other players think and inspire the rest to work their butts off. I don't know who fits the bill right now though. Delonte West will be a good fit imo. I've been high on his game since he came into the league. He's not a pure-bred PG, but he can run an offense, hit open shots and finish at the rim. He plays defense too. Not sure why he gets no hype though, he's definitely a solid role player. Starter material even.
A good hard-nosed player who is also a vet so that everyone including to TMac would respect. That's not an easy find and may cost a bomb. Earlier on it seems that Francis can solve part of the solution as he is hard-nosed type and was "good" but recently he took a plunge. I think a good start to tweak to enquire what's wrong with Francis. Is it his tailbone is still "not right" so he need special attention or something else? If he is recent poor play is due to tired/lack of fitness or the body cannot cope then he officially done and no tweaking will help. I think Francis is not that old yet and can build back his performance earlier on. We just need to find out how.
I think Sam is earning a fair bit though im not to sure. To make salaries match it would have to be James and Stevie. I think the Clippers would do that because of Sam's contract and because Livingston is due back in the not to distant future. (Although, with an injury like that, retirement isnt out of the question either.) Sam's injuries worry me though. If we let go of 2 guys who play PG for us and Sam goes down, im not sure we would be able to adequately cover for him.. What about Eric Snow. The guy plays good hard D, has a nice mid range shot (although he doesnt shoot the 3 well) and has playoff experience with Philly and the Cavs. Is he done, or could he go another few years?
While I have been very disappointed in Tmac's play and lack of committment to the new regime, I would just be afraid that it is just a typical Tmac brain fart and he snaps out of it elsewhere. I would rathter that Rick Adelman finds what motivates him and uses that to get him back on board. DD
I would love get get Gerald Green away from the T-Wolves. He dosent even play most nights, but I wonder if there is a reason for that.
I'm all for tweaking and would even be willing to wait a year while we acquired actual talent instead of retreads. Chuck is not a starting four in this league; we need a defensive presence there with Scola as the offensive threat off the bench. The Point guard position though needs more than a tweak, we should lose all three guys (Francis, James and Alston) and let Brooks back up whoever we bring in.
Yes his name is aron brooks...and he needs to be given a chance...i see brooks as a future tony parker/devin harris type player
The current roster was built for a Jeff Van Gundy game. It will take much more than Bob Sura 2007 to turn this around.
