Sorry, I am always verbose. Something that has been on my mind for a while - Athleticism or Smart Play? This is seemingly a recurrent theme amongst non-superstars in the NBA, with so many players either playing with one or the other, and rarely both. One needs to look no further than the contrast between our last year and the year before. There is definitely a relationship between youth and athleticism, and it seems the NBA often dubs players who play with athleticism as "young" as we often saw with our very own Steve Francis. At the same time, players who play intelligently, using their skills and their head more often than their athleticism are generally related with being "old" although at times you get the younger player who plays like he is experienced, aka Tim Duncan. Just a side thought, what's amazing is how the Dream started out simply athletic, and then proceeded to develop a "smart" style of b-ball (once he was convinced to pass/fully learned the dream shake) and was simply an awesome player. At his peak Dream got to an age where he still had enough athleticism, yet had such a feel for the game that he became unstoppable. He would spin, befuddle and confuse the living hell out of any defender, and at times simply spin around and dunk or grab the tip in or etc. The current line-up of veterans in the backcourt that we have accumulated are a definite example of this dichotomy. Except for Mike James, who belongs to the "youth" category only because of his propensity to shoot, our three guards are primarily "intelligent" players who rely on their skills more than their athleticism. This was truly a stark contrast to the play of Steve Francis and Cuttino, yet come play-off time their defense was exposed. Now many are clamoring for a "youthful" 2/3 who could defend and run the floor along with Tmac and Yao. However, unless we land a player that is above the average, we will most likely end up with a non-upgrade at the position, as he will most likely either take away from our precious chemistry which formed with the additions of our "smart" veterans, or simply be another of them. So the only argument that I see in support of a "youthful" 2/3 is a player that can balance out our team to give it the "1-2 punch" of youth/better defense, and a backup veteran of intelligent play. However, with the current players that are available, none of them seem to be a good option. IMO, the players on amnesty clause are simply non-upgrades at our 2 position. There are also very few "youth" players out on the market who would complement our team at a reasonable price. Which leads me to the 1 position. Having watched Damon Stoudamire play at the Fonde against Mike James, he seems to have really lost his legs. He was close to as slow as Moochie Norris out there, and really couldn't keep James in front of him. I'm sure Mike wanted to take it to Stoudamire to prove that he was a better point, but that aside, Stoudamire looked really slow. His shot was also off, and he just had an overall bad game. His one positive is that he ran the offense better than any of our points, but definitely nothing spectacular. At first I kept telling myself that he wasn't playing hard, but towards the end of the game, you could tell that he started really trying because Mike James was embarrasing him. IMO, Damon is a minor upgrade at best. His defensive problems won't come from only his height, but his speed as well. Any playmaking abilities he has will most likely be heavily negated by this. Which leads me to the conclusion, do we really need to make a move? If we lose one of our guards in a SnT for Damon, it really seems like a lateral move to me. Otherwise, there really don't seem to be any solid "youthful" defensive roleplayers outside of perhaps Darius Miles that we can currently obtain, and I personally don't want him for his definite lack of "intelligent play". Until there is a legit offer on the board to improve our team, I think the way it stands is just fine. However, I would rather be patient and pick up the right player, and not just to fill our immediate defensive need. With all this said, for those who disagree, who do you feel we can obtain who will help our team?
This is the prevailing question remaining in the offseason. Any trade made will come with baggage, and it's just not worth it for a player like Stoud, especially at this stage of his career.
I agree, but who is realistically attainable that would be worth baggage? Short List: MoPete (Baggage = Rose, A. Williams, E. Williams, etc.) anyone who hasnt been drafted in the last two years DS (Baggage = Miles, DA, Patterson) Mason (Baggage = Booth and/or one of our picks) Expensive, short deals who could possibly fit in well w/ us: Bender/Croshere Jerome Williams Antonio Davis
Well, in that case, we should start Moochie. Anyone that guarded him at Fonde, he took to school. He has mad dribbling skills and always took it to the hole. We should insert him into the starting lineup. Don't base Damon's skills on a pick up game at Fonde.
i dont think we could get anyone for baggage that would be effective. How bout the rockets try and get a bigger guard? i made a sweet new t-mac vid check it out http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=99740
You are assuming that we are giving our entire MLE just because he said would come for that. I am holding out hope that we are able to create a SnT situation with Memphis instead [like the Netsthat will preserve our MLE for a real '1' or '2' or 'swingman' instead of having to settle for what we can get for LLE. If Les wants to win that is what will take. BTW: Why do you consider Miles baggage, on this board he seems to be thought of as the second coming of a defensive messiah?
Dude, please stop spamming every other thread with it. Perhaps you could put the link in your sig and it would be ok?
I totally agree, DS is a very very minor upgrade at PG on offense and is a significant downgrade on defense. Making it a wash at best. Just say no to DS. DD
I think I read it in the article about who we should cut to avoid luxury tax but I thought I remember them saying that we will be under the cap somewhat nextyear. Is this until we extend Yao's contract or are we really gonna have some money to throw at a point gaurd next year? If so I think patience is the name of the game. We should just try Jason Williams out and call it an offseason.
We should play it like last pre-season. Patience. Pick up a Sura or Wesley, or James from a trade. No need to panic. No need to overpay. Stick to the plan. T-Mac, Yao and Stromile have got a couple of years to get it together. We should get to the second round with no new pick ups. Wait for a bargain. It will come.
darius is signed till 2010 if i'm not mistakened.....thats baggage! this is our roster right now, if we pick up Barry and Deke. Can we get past the first round with this line-up? Sura-----------James, Head----Mooch,Ward Wesley---------Barry T-Mac---------Bowen Swift----------Howard-------Spoon, Baker Yao-----------Deke
For those who are better at this than me, don't our expiring contracts have some serious value to the ROX next year? For all the talk of trading these, I would think we would set up nicely for next year's FA market? No or yes?
Fuzzybear, thanks for the post and Fonde report. You have changed my opinion about one thing, I would not trade Mike James for DStoud as I would have strongly considered before. Sounds like we would lose what quickness we have. Still would trade Wesley and the NY 2nd for Stoud (or Baker or Mooch + 06 1st), and move Sura to SG, and resign Barry. This way we get the offensive punch and offensive set-up from DS, but have James there splitting time with him and ready any time DS is getting hammered by bigger/quicker 1s. I'd really like a DS/James combo at the 1.
