I am a bit confused as to why there is so much clamor on here for changing our backcourt. CD worked hard last year to bring in players who fit our system... unselfish, hustlers (diving for lose balls), good defenders, team oriented... you get the idea. Look at how the ROX came together when Sura became health(er) and Wesley, Barry and James were added. Yes... we are a little slow over all... but with the addition of Head to the mix with James, we can match up with any "quick" guard combo in the league at least in terms of staying in front of the man with the ball. I like what Sura, Wesley, Barry, James and Head bring to this team. They are fun to watch and they get the job done. A strong case can be made that we lost to Dallas in the playoffs because of our PF situation and lack of a quality backup to TMac. Our efforts should be in addressing those instead of breaking up our wonderful guard combo. Could they be younger and faster... yes. But they also get the job done. And I feel that any weaknesses they might have as a unit aren't greater than the positives they bring each night.
sura is not good enough. needs to go. wesley getting too old. we need better, taller on the ball defenders.
well, if u watched the series against Dallas, we didnt lose because of our forwards, we lost cause of our guards. Offensively, Sura was a no show in all except game 2, Wesley was left open repeatedly from the 3, and bricked more often than not, all meanwhile defensively Terry, Finley, and Stackhouse LIT US UP, from 3s to posting up Wesley, u name it, they did it......and Head is a rookie............so yeah, what was your question again?
We have James and Head that are quick...thats it! BUT, both are 6'3 or smaller, meaning guys like Stackhouse will have a field day (as he did against Wesley). AND, are we really going to play Head (a ROOKIE) 30+ minutes in the playoffs, just because he is quick?
Are you talking about the series with Dallas that went seven games? Didn't we lose a game due to a missed out of bounds call on the baseline? I think that several bad bounces and missed calls were the only things that kepts us from advancing deeper into the playoffs. Kenny Smith was undersized. Vernon Maxwell was out of control. But they were role players who played their roles perfectly while surrounding Hakeem and later, Clyde. With Tmac and Yao, we have our two superstars. We need role players. It is funny that now that our successful season (way more successful than anyone could have hoped or expected) is over... people want to break up the squad that gave it too us. Could our guard be better? Sure. And so could our center spot and power forwards... but I like our team.
Uh because our backcourt is weak, and can't compete with the strong western confernce backcourts of Nash/whoever, parker/ginobli. Sura can't shoot and is slow. Wesley is undersized, and slow, only plus is he is a shooter.
Because the team needs to get better (ie, younger & more athletic). And because we have a full MLE and expiring contracts to facilitate the changes. Taking DAL to 7 games isn't the point. The point is sweeping them and moving on to Rd 2 and beyond. You don't do that by standing pat at any starting or rotational position.
We lost the series BECAUSE Sura couldnt keep Terry in front of him if his life depended on it. Once Terry got by Sura, Yoa had to step up and help, which left Damp wide open for offensive rebounds. A lot of bad calls didnt help, but our GUARDS were the real reason we lost!
I think our results speak for themselves. We can't ignore the turnaround we made once all four of our guys started playing together. And in regards to your remarks... Sura is a hard nosed defender who brings fire to the team and he is always able to get into the lane. And I would argue that even while Wesley isn't the fastest guy... he knows how to defend.
In the WEST, if you stand pat, YOU WILL LOSE! This conference is too good for a team to "not get better".
I agree with your as usual GATER. But with the limited resources we have this offseason... we are better off upgrading our PF and backup SF positions.
dude, first of all, what is so great about a first round exit season? yeah, it was a pretty good season, but not <b>that </b> great.....a bunch of teams win 50 games a year, so what? secondly, how in the world can u compare Sura and Wesley to K. Smith and Maxwell? Vernon was one of the most cluthest players in our history, and he was 6'6, and extremely gifted athletic, and could even guard Jordan......and Kenny was a perfect fit, as he hit every open 3 in our championship runs......and thats not it, we also had a guy named Cassel (no, James is not that good)........I like Sura and Wesley, but face it man, they are pretty old, and they did cost us the series against the Mavs......if u dont believe me, dig up the stats on em in the series.................now u replace Wesley with Cat, and we would've given SA fits!!
Ok, the turnaround was great, but where were they in the playoffs? They couldn't compete because they aren't good enough, I've been saying it all along, the backcourt of Sura/Wesley will never get us to the Finals or the even close. We need to upgrade. No one can honestly actually believe we can compete with such a weak backcourt in the playoffs. Everyone should know Sura/Wesley won't cut it. Ray Allen/Luke > Sura/Wesley Nash/whoever > Sura/Wesley Parker/Ginobli > Sura/Wesley Andre Miller/Melo > Sura/Wesley Jason Terry/whoever they replace Finley with > Sura/Wesley I understand the reason for our turnaround in the regular season was because of the trades and the play of Sura/Wesley and Barry and so and so. But it's the regular season, the playoffs is when the real season starts.
I have felt all along that what we most need is a solid point guard. Does not have to be someone spectacular, just a good assist man who can occasionaly hit the outside shot and be a good defender. That way Sura could be freed up to play shooting guard (his natural position) as backup up or sometime starter or just jack of all trades - switching around. Of course getting said pg would allow us to use Sura, Wesley or James as trade bait as well. That said, if the rumour is true about Howard being forced into retirement, then Power Forward must be addressed first.
Terrible formula... it is a team game. We aren't going to be better than everyone else on the court. If the game was determined by just two players at two positions... I would say this: TMac/Yao > Entire league. YES we could upgrade. But younger and quicker isn't always an upgrade. If we replace any of our guards.. the new guys need to be younger, quicker AND hustlers, defenders, team oriented players, etc. That is the point I am trying to make. Expample... Is Swift younger and more athletic then JHoward? YES. But JHoward is a better all around player and a better role player.
I think most of us see PF as the #1 priority, upgrading SG as #2 priority. Those pushing improving our guards over PF are a vocal minority. To me the SG back-up SF is one in the same, unless you get someone like SAR as a primary 4 who also covers the back-up 3. PG is a distant 3rd priority. Sura/James/and possibly Head is fine for now unless there is a great oppertunnity (say trade Sura or James for someone we think is better like AD or Damon S), or we lose James or Sura in a trade to acquire our 4.
No it's not a terrible formula, why did we lose to Dallas? Because JASON TERRY DOMINATED US, I mean are you serious? Jason Terry... We lost because our backcourt sucked, they couldn't keep it, if they can't keep up with Jason Terry, what do you think Nash would of done to us?
Wait wait... not just Jason Terry, Jerrry Stackhouse was posting up our guards all day, and killin' us. Terry, Stackhouse, Finley, all 3 of these guys were killin' us. Dirk wasn't the problem, and he's there best player, the guards were. Do the math guys... am I the only one who watched us play Dallas.
I have not read any of the previous posts, but the thread question was too tempting. The answer is: Backcourts have recently won championships. It's a guard oriented league.
