Who do you think is better player for us, Pike or Sura? Why? Who will have more of an impact with us this year, Sura or Ward? Why? thanks for your opinions.
Pike's only competitive advantage was shooting 3ptrs. We gave him OPEN looks on this team and he didnt deliever and thus was rendered worthless. Sura will be able to do a lot of the little things that will keep him on the floor. Running the fast break, defense, rebounding, passing. More of a jack of all trades type player. His versitility will make him a more valuable player for this team.
Sura, he is the better player. I am not sure how much Ward has left in the tank to be honest with you. Although I think Ward will be the starting PG and Sura will come off the bench. I wouldnt be surprised seeing Sura as the PG late in games though.
I know Ward is getting up there in age, and from many posts that I've read recently claim that Ward can't D up anymore. That would automatically give minutes to the Sura and his 26 % 3pt. shooting %. Didn't we need someone to hit the three's except JJ next year? Do you remember game 1 playoffs? I know T-mac will get his, but not anymore than Cat got last year. Really our outside shooting is a concern. If Ward or Lue can't step up, then we have to depend on T-mac and JJ. Its a concern. Can we depend on Boki, Padgett, Ward, and Lue. One of them needs to step up. I'm hoping Ward will be that one. He's always had a nice shot. Yao JHoward JJ Tmac (Ward / Sura) Deke (MTaylor / Padgett) (Boki / Padgett) Sura Lue Looks good.... for now. Is Padgett going to play only 4 or can he play some 3 too?
I think Sura is the overall better choice because of his versatility. He can play three positions, has the skill to defend, passes and handles the ball well, is a good shooter inside the arc, runs the break and can get to the basket. He isn't a GREAT three-point shooter, but he does a lot of other things well. Piatkowski is a three-point gunner with no other real marketable skills. With JVG, you need to be able to defend and Pike is just not a good defender. Sura will likely excel under JVG because he fits the mold of a guy who is tough, has quickness and makes good decisions. I still think, because of his history with JVG, that Ward will have the edge in the starting matchup - also because Sura will be able to back up at three positions. It gives them more flexibility to start Ward, though I'm absolutely not convinced he is the long-term answer there and I would hope that JVG has a pretty short leash with him. We'll see.
I also think it'll be Sura, by a long shot. I like Ward's on-court leadership abilities, but he's proven in the past to be a divisive presence in the locker room. He nearly tore the Knicks apart at one point by alienating the players who refused to participate in pre- and post-game Christian prayers as well as at-home group bible study sessions. Makes you wonder how he'll get along with Yao (not to mention Les). Sura, on the other hand... everyone knows he stepped it up after his trade to Atlanta, when he saw his minutes go over 35 per game for the first time in his pro career. After giving him 8 games to settle in to his new team, his averages for the final 19 games of the year are sterling: <TEXT> MPG 38.4 FG 44.5% 3FG 33.0% PTS 16.2 R 9.4 A 5.8 TO 2.9 S 1.1 </TEXT> That's basically 16/9/6 over a 19-game stretch. I'd be friggin' giddy as a schoolgirl if he can give us 10/6/6 for the year.
To be accurate Sura has been an extremely poor 3 point shooter the last 4 years, like sub 30%. I hope he brings many of his positive attributes Jeff discusses, but becomes much more disciplined in 3 point shooting. That means not taking that shot unless no one is within 10 feet,--maybe not even then if even that proves to be a sub 35% shot. We will see.
I have a feeling that Sura will see quite a few of those "no one withing 10 feet" moments when he's on the floor with T-Mac and Yao.
Who would you like to see start at the point then Ward (experience, leadership, good team D, solid 3 pt. %) or Sura (defense, 10 /6/ 6 guy if given enough minutes)? The answer is pretty obvious, but then who will play the backup 2? Sura and Motay are 6th and 7th, Deke (8th) and then (9th - Ward, Boki, Padgett)
We should really think about getting Keon Clark. I know when he played for the Kings few years ago with JJax, they played well together. Deke's got a list of injuries from the past few years. It would be nice to have Keon, let him play some 4... not that we need him there. just a thought, you can't have enough 7 footers ex. Detroit.
For me the answer is Lue. Lue is an excellent shooter, relatively carefull with the ball, very quick and can play heavier minutes than Ward b/c of age. Perhaps we symbollically start Ward, but I think Lue will get more 1 minutes than any other player. I expect Sura to get more minutes off the 1 than as a 1.
Sura is a much better player than Pike. Don't get me wrong, Pike is good, he can hit open 3's, but seriously, he is only good in small bursts coming off the bench. The way Sura played at the end of last season was amazing, he has the potential to take over a game.
