If we resign Landry and Francis has his best season in three or four years. I dont know how possible, but it would be a dream come true. He is only 30 or 31 years old, and if he is healthy and is humble enough to try and bring something to the table, I think he could make this team from great to elite. Hedo last year for the Magic came back after a couple of disappointing seasons and had a career year and won most imporved player. I know they play different posistions, but no one on this board last year would have said he was more talented the Stevie. Maybe this is a pipedream, but I think it has a legit shot to happen. I think Steve could end up with stats around 10 ppg. and 3 reb. and 3 ast. As for Landry, I think that he is worth 3 or 4 mil a season. I think his talent and production out wiegh his knee problems. This could blow up in our face, but I think it is worth the risk. These are both BIG " what ifs". If they do happen, I think we have the best bench in the NBA. Shane Battier Carl Landry Brent Barry Steve Francis Aaron Brooks Chucks Hayeys Joey Dorsey Deke Luther Head Mike Harris I want to know where people rank our bench if Landry and Francis pan out, and if Francis is a bust again and we lose Landry and use the MLE on someone else. I think we are a landslide #1 if the first thing happens, and I think we are still in the top 5 or 6 if Franics sucks again and we go after someone else other then Landry.
The only teams I can think of that have a better bench off the top of my head are LA and Detroit, so I guess we're #3.
Maybe the Pistons. Stuckey is a great young talent. The Lakers.......I dont think they are even close to our talent level.
First of all you list signing Landry and Steve playing a lot better than we think he will as to BIG "if"s, but in reality, signing Landry is not a big "if" at all. In fact, if we don't sign Landry, it would surprise a lot of people around here, myself included. You say "If Steve plays a lot better than the crappy player we know he is, I think we have the best bench in the league." Well you know what? You could use that logic when it comes to half the teams in the NBA. I think we have a very good bench that could very well be the best in the league when it's all said and done, but not for the reasons you listed.
lakers bench is overrated. farmar, ariza, valad, sasha and walton is'nt anything to fear.However clippers will have a solid bench. thomas, gordan, jason willams, ross, skinner and jason hart. bulls are another one. with hinrich, ben gordan(if he signs) noah, selfosha, tyrus thomas.. Personaly i think phoenix is very deep. barbosa, matt barnes, grant hill, diaw, alando tucker, thats pretty deep at the wing spot. then there is portland with bayliss, rudy fernandez, outlaw, webster, frye, phyzbilla, diogu, batum thats a staggaring amount of young talent. damn the blazers are loaded. Utah has a solid bench as well bewer, harping, almond, brevin knight, krover, millsap and ronnie price. jesuse the west is loaded with deep teams. Phoenix-Barbosa-Barnes-Hill-Diaw-Tucker Portland-Rudy Fenanderze-Jaryad Bayliss-Outlaw-Webbster-Frye-Phyzilla-la frentz-batum Utah-Millsap-Brewer-Brevin Knight-Ronnie price-Morris Almond-matt harping kyle krover Dallas- stackhouse-dampier-Gorge-Bass- greald green-barer Clippers-Mobely-Eric Gordan-jason willams-Brian Skinner-Tim Thomas We've got a very good bench to, but so des half dozen other team. portland, phoenix and the clippers in particular. conversely, our first unit is much better then theres.
seriously, what is it with people making threads without reading what they title it?? ARE BENCH IS GOODER than moast.
I think our second unit of: Steve Barry Battier Landry Deke would beat any other second unit in the league if they played head to head. That being said, it will all be about the substitution pattern. I think we will re-sign Landry, I doubt he wants to leave looking at this team and his opportunity to go deep into the playoffs in his second year and possibly win a championship. And I think that Steve will have a comeback year and win the most improved player award, assuming his surgery repaired items hold up.
A lot of people you named wont be bench players. Noah and Tyrus Thomas will be starting. Grant Hill starts. Travis Outlaw starts. Brewer starts for the j*zz. Eric Gordon will start for j*zz. Our bench is the best in the league, bar-none.
Good points, I was just thinking the same thing and trying to remember exactly how many of those players start. Assuming you are correct, thanks for saving me the trouble.
Nontheless. assuming brewer starts that makes it Jazz -millsap- Harping -price -krover -breving knight-harping and millsap provide defense and grit. krover provides offense and knight is better then any of our point guards not named rafer alston. As for Hill, we'll say starts.then it goes something like this. Barnes- Barbosa- Diaw - Alando Tucker - strawberry. thats still a very good bench. Certianly not better then ours, but it's not that far behind. francis is probaly the only weak link.i mean he's in noway capebale of being handel the backupPG positiom. brooks is a bigger key then what francis will be. We've got alot of depth now no doubt about it, but what will really decide how far we go will eventualy be how the big gell and rafer playing like last season.
the bench of rockets is undoubtedly the deepest around the league.however,we don't have a backup center,which is quite valuable in the event that yao falls down again ,and that is likely to happen because of yao's fatigue gained from the olympics.Besides deke,we don't have another post roster with a size larger than 7'.what if we face spurs or lakers who have a pile of big towers in the paint when yao is down. scola may be a center for sometime but i don't think he can match up with duncan or bynum according to his size and atheletism,dorsey is of great atheletism but is also lacking in skill and basketball IQ.Elson may be a good piece ,who has plenty of playoff and final experience that he gained from san antonio.
Eric Gordon will not start over Catino Mobley, Al Thornton or Ricky Davis at SG/SF. He wont start over Baron Davis or Jason Williams at PG either.
Deke will Re-Sign. btw, elson is gonna sign with the bucks and robert swift will probaly Re-sign with the OAKC.Morey knows how valueable deke is and they'll bot reach an agreement.
