GOTTA BE 2008 CHAMPS!!

It’s easy to blame Chris for everything now that he’s not on the team because we like to like our current players. But there was a lot of blame to go around.

Again, I would only want Webber as an insurance policy in case of injury, and I think if Detroit stays healthy, they could be fine without him. So I’m not sure we all disagree that much.

Then maybe we don’t really disagree. I don’t want Webber to start, or be the first big off the bench. I would only want him as an insurance policy if ‘Dyess, or Maxiell fall to injury. And I think Detroit would probably be OK without him. But if there’s a 2-1 or 3-1 deal in Detroit’s future, which there might be, I think getting Webber as an insurance policy to fill a roster spot would be a good idea.

He was a great passer, in the past. He was great at most things, in the past. But this isn’t the past, this is now. If you want him as an insurance policy, that’s fine. But I’m willing to bet money that no team will ever again legitimately contend for a title with Webber as a starter or the first big off the bench.

ps. i’ll go the hyperbole route and say that Brezec is absolute crap compared to Webber. But in the Grizzlies game I saw Brezec start defending a GUARD at the top of the key, and he managed to stay in front of him all the way to the baseline. Ain’t no way in hell Webber will ever be able to do anything of the like again.

Detroit Basketball is defense and hustle. Two things Webber can’t do

Sure, he didn’t do well in the playoffs. And sure, Chris is old, can’t jump, and can’t play defense well. That’s why he shouldn’t be a starter, or even the first big man off the bench. And yes, if ‘Sheed goes down, the Pistons have no chance at a championship. But if ‘Dyess or Maxiell go down, I think the Pistons would still have a decent chance with Webber playing some significant minutes — and this year, I would rather see those minutes go to him, if necessary, than to Amir Johnson or Brezec.

I don’t think Detroit really NEEDS to sign Webber, but I think he would be a good insurance policy.

As for Amir, the kid has extreme upside, let him develope like Maxi. Next year will be Amir’s year, who would be a better mentor to Amir than C-Webb (other than “The big Fundamental”). I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it Amir is 5 he just don’t know it yet! Watch for Hunter to move to the front office as soon as Stuckey is comfortable, that will then be Webbers spot. If Maxi is for real (and I think he is), Amir will not see an increase in minutes this year at the 4 unless Sheed and McDyess go down HARD (if that happens we are done this year), let Amir learn the 5 from (arguably) one the best all-round bigs in recent memory. Webber off the bench for 10-12 minutes a night and Amir with video camera and a notebook…that is a recipe for the future!

Seriously though I don’t see how we can even have a discussion. I have C-Webb’s talent placed at a certain level that I feel is HIGHLY based on what I saw last year. The description of C-Webb i’ve read in this thread by supposedly informed basketball fans has been similar to Eric Dampier on a bad night. That’s not the C-Webb I know so clearly we’re talking about a different fantasy land C-Webb.

I don’t talk fantasy land NBA.

There was a post a week back rallying everyone to vote for Chauncey to start in the All-Star game.

I say we vote for the Big Three from Boston. Let’s add as many minutes to their season as we can. And we should all vote for Jason Kidd and whoever else plays PG to get in above Chauncey. Less minutes for our players and more of a chip on their shoulders.

If Sheed or McDyess, go down, Webber is not the answer. His game simply doesn’t translate to playoff basketball. Ben Wallace easily rendered him useless by not giving him enough room to make his passes or get off his set shot.

That being said, if Prezec, Hermann and/or Flip go in a 2 or 3 for 1 trade, I guess I’m okay with Webber riding the pine (and only riding the pine) as insurance.

Our first team D is much better without Webb on the floor. How in the hell is he going to fit in with our bench players? Afflalo, Max, Jarvis, and anybody else contributing meaningful minutes are energy guys. What lineup combinations are acceptable with him? I don’t see how you can play him next to Max. Plus, I don’t entirely trust Flip to not start messing with Max’s minutes. The bench is playing as well as any of our benches since the championship year. I’d prefer not to mess with a good thing.

For those of you waiting for Amir/Stuckey this year to solve anything, you DO realize we’re now more than a quarter through the season and neither player has done anything right? We’re 2 months away from the big deadline push when EVERYONE tries to make up for starting slow and crash the playoffs….

I think the dream is over, if either player were going to have a significant impact THIS season, they would have…

I don’t even want to THINK about Amir Johnson lining up vs Dwight Howard, or trying to win a 7 game series vs even the BUCKS with Maxy/Dyess at the 5 and a kid who doesn’t know where he’s supposed to be on the floor at the 4.

Stop believing, it’s past game 22. The team your watching now is the team that will either win or lose…. Amir is NOT going to save THIS season… period.