(Guards! Guards! Guards!) ..but what does JVG want??

Replace them with who? You sound like a Sura/Wesley combo HURTS this team..

 

Count me along with Kenny that T-mac IS the bulldog. The way he elevated his game in the playoffs conviced me that he has all the "fire" to carry the team all the way. We just need some more consistency out of Yao (and less foul trouble), and a talent upgrade in the backcourt (either mid-season trade or full MLE next year could do it).

 

They did well last year, no question. However; that is no reason to believe they will perform to that standard next year. They were pretty well exposed by Dallas and I don't have a warm and fuzzy that anything has happened to change the reality of the situation. David worked so hard during the season that he ran out-of-gas during the playoffs. Sura was so banged up there is no guarantee he can even play this season. Standing by them is loyal but misquided (with due respect).

 

"We have no way of knowing what lays ahead of us in the future, all we can do is use the information at hand to make the best decision possible." -Wedding Crashers

I think there is every reason to believe they will be as reliable as they were last year. Wesley "ran out of gas" trying to defend guys who were 5-6 inches taller than him. They weren't blowing by him - they were just shooting over him. Dallas took advantage of our weakness at four more so than at guard, IMO. They forced us to use our best perimeter defender to guard their PF, while their taller perimeter players dominated the mid-range game.

Jason Terry "dominated" Sura from our defensive rotations. He went an unheard of 20-33 from downtown in the series -- mostly from kickouts. IMO, with Stromile now, Tmac is free to guard whichever 2/3 is hot and shut him down, while Wesley can handle the other.

A lot of people forget that we didn't have a PF for the entire series, we had our starting PG on one knee, and were forced to rely on Napoleon Dynamite. (Anyone else yell at him to pass the ball every time he touched it on offense?).

I'm not saying the ideal situation would be to stand pat with just the addition of Stromile -- I'm just arguing that a Wesley/Sura combo by no means hurts this team, and if we do replace them, hopefully we can replace the leadership and toughness they brought to this team.

Huh? Sura was banged up, no question. But what makes you think he won't be playing this season? He's had an entire off-season to rest his knee and back both. I don't think Sura played 1 single game last year at 100%. As it stands right now, it looks like he may start off the season 100%. Sura was unbelievable in stretches last year, and I'd pinpoint him for the reason the Rockets made their turn-around.

 

I would hate to see Sura traded. I'm live in Waco but I still think the x Baylor Bear is expendable. Wesley not being able to alter shots because of his height and his inability to finish a fast break makes me think he should be the first guard to be traded. I also believe Sura was one of the main reasons for the turnaround last season. His toughness, hustle, and leadership is contageous to the rest of the team. If another guard is needed to be traded it would be a hard decision for me. I would have to go with Mike James becuase he came later in the year and seemed not to develope the chemistry that the other guards had with the team.

 

I seriously doubt he has grown 4-5 inches this summer and I am pretty sure he is a year older so that liability is still there, IMHO.

Good shooters can do that with no one in front of them. Sura has a ton of good qualities and he was truly a Messiah last year, but quickness is not his long suit.

We can't put TMac through the same meat grinder of playing full-tilt 'O' and 'D' all the game, we had to put him through in the Dallas series, by the 7th game even he was exhausted. Our primary perimeter defense will have to come from someone else for us to contend.

I would argue that we are trying to help them not replace them. They would be a great b/u combo or even starters if we had quality younger players behind them. I just don't like having the OLD back line backed up by the ANTIQUE back line.

Maybe you know things I'm not privy to, but several trusted posters on this board this summer have alluded to JVG's concerns about Sura's health.

 

from his agent, DA is looking for a contract around MLE.

 

Well, you can pick out parts of my post and not read the entire thing to help your cause if you want. I didn't say he was going to grow -- I just simply said he was at a severe height disadvantage. Stackhouse and Finley weren't blowing by him, they were just shooting over the top of him -- when he should have been guarding JT more realistically.

I agree re: Sura's quickness. But it didn't really matter if you had Taveras running out on rotations at Terry -- he was simply in the zone and punishing our defensive rotations.

Uh... that's what a superstar does. Guards their best player, and then controls the offense as well. Do you think T-mac would have been as worn down had he been locking up Stackhouse/Finley? Once again, as I said before, the Swift addition will let Tmac slide over and guard on the perimeter where he usually does. Try to read through my whole argument next time..

Huh? Who's antique? Mike James backing up Sura? Or Barry backing up Wesley/Bowen? Obviously getting younger, more athletic guys would certainly help -- but is it a glaring weakness? IMO, no. As CD is always saying, "we're always looking for ways to improve our team" -- but to suggest that Sura/Wesley will make us fail again is a little much. Hell, even if we signed Gerald Wallace/DerMarr Johnson -- I have doubt that they could beat out Wesley for the starting 2 slot.

I might have missed it but.. when? And who? I don't recall seeing anything about a nagging injury and Sura this offseason -- but I've been wrong a lot before.

 

I did not mean to pick your post to pieces, but sometimes in a long post it easier to debate one concept at a time. I do have a couple of problems with what you said this time though. The best "O" on one team does not usually guard the best "O" on the other team. Even Jordan at his prime was not asked to guard the best player on the other team, that was Pippen's job. I am just agreeing with some of the best coaches in basketball, when I said Tmac cannot be fed through the meat grinder he was in th Dallas playoffs. A starting back court of Sura/Wesley in the playoffs is a glaring weakness for a championship contending team. Back ailments, admittedly with some exceptions, usually degenerate over time rather than get better. Just like arthritic knees. But, just the fact that we are still looking for 1's, 2's and swingmen speaks volumes. BTW: if you have any influence at all, please get us GWallace/DJohnson in our backcourt. You can any '1' you want then.

ps. Having SS and a healthy? JHoward in the playoffs will definitely help us. I aagree.

 

I hope JVG wants Sprewell now that Damon left us for that w****.

 

Does anyone know what guards will be available through FA next year?

 

Here's a list: http://www.realgm.com/src_freeagents.php?year=2006

Some notable UFA's:

<li>J. Stackhouse
<li>M. James
<li>D. Mason
<li>M. Peterson
<li>J. Rose
<li>J. Posey

 

I hope we never sign Sprewell, he's a piece of crap. Also, regarding Sura, he played in T-Mac's Charity game and was the subject of several T-Mac quotes regarding how "tough" he is. If T-Mac likes him, I bet he stays, arthritic back and all!

 

How about Gerald Wallace ?

Anyone hear anything about him ? --all the NBA guys on ESPN Insider are all shocked no one has signed him up yet....

 

look for the Rox to be interested in players such as Buckner,Mckie..by d way, nobody want to sign gwallace coz he's only athletic. Not a good ball handler and can't shoot..

 

I'm guessing that if there is a changing of the guards, it will be via trade rather than free agency.