This is my 100th post. Doesn't really mean much, but I thought I should use it on a new thread. At first, this was going to be an asinine trade proposal (specifically, G. Rice for Toni Kukoc) but I have since change my mind and decided to post something I think some of ya'll might have missed in the Pike signing... This could mean a few things: 1. Pike will be our starting SF 2. Mobley's moving to the Bench or 3. Pike's dad is full of cow poo-poo. I'm inclined to believe option number 1; it goes with what Pike said about JVG viewing the 2 and 3 as virtually the same position. So I guess that's it. Any thoughts?
I don't know if he'll start at the 3 or not, but that was a good find. The guy can put it in the hole... we haven't had a shooter like this in ages. (well, it seems like ages) If he can improve his D to just adequate I'll be pleased, given the alternatives. AGriff is in the mix as well, of course. It's going to be fun (I hope) seeing how JVG uses those two.
All great teams have good role players. Pike and Griff#2 could turn out to be a nice little 2 headed monster at the SF position. One for instant offense, and one for instant defense.
I agree that he is likely to start at small forward and will play at least 26 minutes per game, if not 28 minutes. We need his money shooting, and I can see him initiating the offense with an inlet pass to Yao on occasions, so as to sit on the three point line after the pass. touch pass back and DRAIN. I think he will average 12 points a game, maybe more.
If true, I think that's good news. Rice is decent on offense, but so immobile that I would want him on the court at 20 mpg max, and that's if his shot is falling. Pike brings more to the table.
JVG is in for some surprises if he thinks that in the West that the 2 Guard Piatowski can play the starting Small Forward. Possibly against the very small second string SF on the weak Teams.
As usual, you are correct; our forwards are "toast" in the West. In another post, I challenged anyone to name a pair of starting forwards in the West that we really match up well with. No responses.
He doesn't have to start to have more playing time. In LA, there was Richardson and Maggette playing at the 2, so of course he didn't see as much time there as he will here being the primary back up.
Comparing to other pieces on board I have no problem with Pike starting at the 3. Shandon Anderson was the same size at 6-6. He played the 3 for the Rockets. Pike isn't as athletic as Shandon nor does he play defense as well, but he's better on offense. With the athleticism of a 2 guard Pike wouldn't need to worry about speed, the size he gave up on opponent is marginal. Like that of Kenny did. Won't help him, won't kill him either. Throwing in that Pike is a better overall player than Rice and Griffin I can imagine Pike starting at the 3 as a temporary solution.
You're assuming that JVG's defensive plan is based on individual defensive matchups instead of team defense. You can't have an All Star at every position. Beside Shaq, which center in the West can match up with Yao one-on-one? Which point guard can match up with Stevie one-on-one?
I'm not convinced that the SF is a very challenging (much less dominant) position in the WEST... Minn: Spree/Wally Lakes: Geoge/Fox Spurs: Hedo/Stephen Jax Sac: Jim Jax Seattle: Lewis (does rashard play the 3?)/Barry Mavs: Finley Utah: Harpring Blazers: Wells/Patterson Grizzle: Posey/Battier Suns: Penny Twolves, Mavs, and Blaze pose some matchup issues, other than that...i'm not too worried....Who in the West am I missing?
This is the answer. Of course he will play more b/c the Clips were much deeper in the 3/2 spots Pike can play. It is hard to find either a starting 3 or starting 4 spot in the West we can hang with, and the problems get exacerbated b/c both adjacent forward spots are weak. In short, our current combinations of forwards are so bad they rival Denver's from last year. It is only b/c our 1,2 & 5 spots are so good that we should be able to win just over 1/2 our games. Pike is a nice signing and makes a fine bench player, further we may be better with him starting at the 3 over anyone else, but the lateer is not a good sign if it happens.
I think you got some errors in the list. Finley doesn't play SF, or at least not for very long. Chances are either Dirk or AJ will play there, though I'm thinking Dirk. (huge problem there.) I don't know Utah's lineup that well, but they could do Harpring at the 2 and AK at the SF, which may be a bit of a problem for us. Perhaps the biggest mistake was Penny on the Suns. Marion plays the SF for them, and he is probably one of the best in the league. Also, I believe Peja plays SF for Sac, and I think he's pretty good. Rashard does play the 3, and I would expect for him to break out some time. He's tall, like 6'10, athetic and can shoot. Could use some work, but he could probably be an all-star soon. Denver will probably have a good SF. I don't know their lineup, but I'm guessing either Melo or that Tskitaisiohdvbekly dude with be there, and at 7', he would have like 6' on Pike. That said, teams like SEA, UTAH, DEN may give us SF trouble but I think we should still beat them since overall talent is better. Also, if we can get a good team defense as mentioned, even Moo..wait, anybody but Moochie we stick at SF may do ok.
my bad. i left off peja, marion... i thought dirk played b/w the 3 and the 4...i remember seeing last years lineup as...nash, bell, finley, dirk, raef...
Unless we take back another ending contract, trading Rice will mean we take back contracts that will continue into 2004-2005. That is 10 million on top of 47 million already committed for the 2004-2005 season. I don't see any way we can move Rice without busting the luxury cap for 2004-2005. I wrote to Jonathan Feigen a couple of weeks ago, discussing these points, and got a response which addresses it. Here are two paragraphs I pulled from his email: anyone we got for Rice would have to be worth considerably more than their salary to justify taking on their salary and the $ hit such salaries will require
It's interesting that JVG says Pikes minutes will go up and a great many of ya'all start matching him up only with starting SF's. No one thinks he's going to play those minutes at SG? Or against weaker 3's (Fox, Bowen)? Or the other teams backup SG's/SF's? Plus no one stopped to consider that when Pike is on the floor with Mobley, Mobley can (as he did in RT small ball) take the tougher matchup. IOW, Pike on WallyZ, Cat on Spree.
it is a process of elimination 1. Cat plays shooting guard 2. Cat plays 42 mpg 3. that leaves 6 minutes at SG for Pike or someone else 4. last season those minutes got played by either Steve or Hawkins 5. Pike will play over 22 mpg, therefore will play most of his minutes at small forward 6. Pike took Posey's roster spot. 7. Adrian took Hawkins roster spot. 8. Adrian will be available for 18-24 mpg as needed, also primarily at small forward. 9. the starting SF will be Rice, Pike or Griffin 10. Rice played back up last year, and he won't be better this one 11. Griffin has defense, but lacks the stroke needed to make Yao more effective in the post 12. therefore, Pike is the choice to start that's how I get there, although JVG could go with Rice or Adrian to start instead
Bingo! Also, just because your minutes go up does not mean you will be STARTING. BTW, good find on the quote about Pike playing more minutes!
