1) Get a real PG that can penetrate, finish around the basket and shoot better (Brooks will be our backup PG, bye-bye Rafer) 2) Let T-Mac play off the ball next season - less ball handling and dribbling, post up high and come off screens (that is where T-Mac is most dangerous as a scorer and passer) 3) Get a healthy Yao back - low-post dominance and the additional scoring option we have been sorely lacking since he went down 4) Use Bobby Jackson's contract along with any other small contracts to land a very good player before the trade deadline - this guy has to be a scorer that can create his own shot at times 5) Find a taker for Luther Head (maybe part of the midseason trade) 6) Consider moving Battier if you can get a more complete player in return 7) Get a decent backup C 8) Hope that Novak can finally overcome his weaknesses to become a consistent role player off the bench (10-15 mpg); if not, find a good shooter that can be part of the rotation
I just want to get 1 or 2 guys who can consistently hit a damn 16-ft jumper. We still don't have any shooters. (And don't you DARE mention Steve "Tenacious No-D" Novak...) We especially have to do something about our PGs and SGs. They suck, shooting-wise: Our 3 main playoff PGs shot an average of 40.8% in the regular season and are shooting 36.5% in the playoffs. Compare that to the Jazz's 2 main playoff PGs, who shot 46.9% (average) in the regular season and are shooting 50% in the playoffs. Our 2 main playoff SGs shot an average of 42.6% in the regular season and are shooting a dismal 25.4% in the playoffs. Compare that to Ronnie Brewer, who shot 55.8% in the regular season and is shooting 57.1% in the playoffs. We need perimeter guys that'll step up in the playoffs, Yao or no Yao.
We need to bring a descent 20 min. back up center that will put Yao on a 30-35 min playing time rather than overwork and stress playing time like this year.
Battier can find his range if Adelman will identify his ability not only he is a good on defending the best player on the opposing team but also polish his shooting ability.
Players we need to dump: Head, Battier, Bjax, Francis I think McGrady needs to buy into adelman's system. In the opening game of the season, he dropped an effortless 30. It was effortless because he played RA ball. He can't do what he used to do and he needs to realize this and play within the system. He also needs to take growth hormone this offseason to rebuild his body. It's pathetic to see a 28 year old breaking down. Hell, he started breaking down at 26. Take him to a rejuvination clinic and get him a prescription, please. Yao needs to be limited to 28-33 minutes a night next year. There is no reason to be playing him 40 minutes in November. Save the guy for the playoffs like San Antonio does with their guys. Yao's frame won't allow him to play those kinds of minutes anymore without side affects. Hell, get him on some gh while we're at it. We obviously need a third guy. I would love to make a deadline deal for Marion or do a sign and trade for Artest/maggette/m. miller. We don't need a guy to 'space the floor' if that's all he's gonna do on offense. I love the defense but not at the expense of his offense. Landry needs to start next year next to Yao. I like Scola but he doesn't finish at the basket and I'd much rather have Landry on the weakside than scola. That block on Deron was what we need on the weakside for Yao. Alston for this team is fine running the team. He seems to suck to so many people because he's our third option. If you give the amount of shots he's taking to a maggette/artest type player this team is money. If we had them taking the shots instead of Rafer and his spot up 3's, McGrady would average 8 assists a game. Alston maggette/miller/artest McGrady Landry Yao --- scola brooks new backup C, drop hayes drop head/bjak/francis for some decent talent I'd consider bringing back Gerald Greene to take Novak's limited minutes. And for goodness sake's, run RA offense like you did in that Laker's game to start the season! It was the most efficient offensive game outside of the first 10 minutes I saw the entire season!
