Real life is keeping me away from the computer, but the internet doesn’t stop! A few topics worthy of discussion:
- All this Tim Donaghy stuff. I don’t really know what to think anymore. For the most part, I have a hard time believing there’s been some kind of league-wide conspiracy — Mark Heisler of the LA Times agrees (via Nate Jones) — but the evidence does seem to be mounting.
- Then again, bad calls have existed for a long time.
- It’s important for a head coach to be flexible — games are won and lost on in-game adjustments — but Michael Curry is taking this literally. From Coach’s Network:
A few years ago he would visit Michigan State and play pick up ball with some of the MSU players in the off-season. A few things I noticed about the professional player before, during and after the games with the young, eager Spartans.
1-He would stretch before the games. I don’t mean your typical touch your toes type stuff. I mean this guy really stretched! All parts of his body - he was focused on stretching! You’re probably saying what does stretching have to do with anything? I will tell you - when you stretch, it shows you care about your body and most of all your preparation. I see players who just walk into the gym and want to start playing. Stretching is preparation, a vital trait for the coaching business
There’s some other good tidbits in that — read the whole thing. (hat-tip: Henry Abbott)
- Dan Reed, president of the D-League, reflects on Curry’s contributions from his time as VP of the NBDL. (hat-tip: Matt Moore)
Last but certainly not least, Keith Langlois has another monster Q&A with Joe Dumars at Pistons.com. If I had more time I’d devote an entire post to this, so do yourself a favor and read the whole thing. Selected highlights:
Langlois: Veteran coaches, and I think we can cite a few recent examples, are usually leery about playing young guys. But even going back to Rick Carlisle, a first-time coach, he only went to Tayshaun Prince when it was kind of a desperate situation and it paid off. Do you expect Michael to be more or less leery about playing young guys?
Dumars: Coaching is a lot about personality. It’s your personality as a coach. Just as to sit in the seat that I sit in is a lot of my personality. Either you have the propensity to take risks and do the unconventional, or you don’t and you’re going to go the conservative standard way that everybody else does things. I like to think I came in and never worried aobut how everybody else was doing things. I was going to do things the way I saw it. You can expect the same thing from Michael.
Langlois: What do you think the odds are that Amir is a permanent part of the rotation next year?
Dumars: I think there’s a good chance you’re going to see him as part of that. We’ve always been high on him. We didn’t just become high on him. He’s a guy we have a lot of confidence in as a young player, just as we have confidence in Afflalo and Stuckey, we have the same kind of confidence in Amir Johnson.
Langlois: Is the plan for Cheikh Samb more of the same – some D-League time and back here as well?
Dumars: I think you’ll see a lot of the same stuff with Cheikh Samb next year – some D-League, some here, kind of back and forth. We want him to get some game-time experience and where he’s going to get that the most from is the D-League. But we also want him competing here at this level against these guys, too, because that’s going to help him get better. So just to keep him here year-round, only practicing, doesn’t make the most of him. And just to send him to the D-League and not having to go up against our guys is probably not best for him, so we’re going to give him a mixture of both, for sure.
Langlois: The Nazr Mohammed trade put the mid-level exception in play for you. You can use it without exceeding the tax threshold. What are you looking at with that – do you think you’ll use it on one player or split it over more than one? Any ideas?
Dumars: That’s once you find out what your roster is like. But the fact we have the ability to use the entire mid-level is a great chip for us going into this free agency. If we had gone into this summer without the ability to use the full mid-level, like we want to, that just limits what you can do. I like the fact we’re in position – doesn’t mean we’ll use it – but the fact we can is a huge chip for me when I’m sitting here putting a team together.
Dumars also said that Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Amir and Samb are all playing in the Vegas Summer League.
There are a half dozen more questions I’d like to post, too. Dumars is always an interesting guy, but I think Langlois consistently does a good job asking the right questions. Kudos to both.
Our summer league team should dominate. I remember when the Pistons traded away Mo Evans for Samb so I started looking up information about him since I had never heard of him before. All the information I saw said he was very raw, skinny, and would probably never play in the league. He’s probably improved more in the last 2 years then any other guy we have. Nice to see he’s a gym rat…which seems to be a consistent theme with all our young guys.
I thought it was interesting that Langlois asked so many questions about Cheikh Samb, more than any other Pistons player except maybe Stuckey. The thing with Cheikh is that he will be 24 before next season stats with the Pistons still expecting to play him mostly in the D-League. You only get 2 years in the D-League so it seems to me that if Cheikh can’t develop into at least a 12th man, like Chuck Nevitt, that he will be gone after next year.
My sense of it is, whatever positive we eventually get from him will be an unexpected surprise. At maximum he could become another Mikki Moore, but it took Moore a very long time and an awfully hard amount of work, to reach the level of becoming a mediocre NBA player.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Detroit-080612&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233
Very interesting trade propositions by Chad Ford, who usually seems to know what he’s talking about and has a somewhat close relationship with Dumars.
I think the McGrady trade actually makes a lot more sense than Ford gives credit for. With Arnie Kander, I doubt we’d ever hear anything about T-Mac’s back again. And, contrary to his past situations, he wouldn’t be the leader on the Pistons. We’d still keep Billups, who would be the undisputed leader on the team, and all McGrady would have to do was show up and put the ball in the basket. On top of that, we’d get another first round pick, which could either help the youth movement, or would let us package it with our 29th pick and move up in the draft to get a better prospect. I’d be all over this trade if it went through. I’m interested in what all of you guys have to say.
I would ask that if they’re going to run the league like the WWE, then don’t half-ass it. Make it interesting.
Every player should have their own video and theme song entry. Kobe, of all people, should rip away his jersey like Hulk Hogan.
They should reduce the number of referees at the game to one, and that guy should always be distracted. Cheerleaders would become an essential part of every team. Nobody would scream bloody murder if Cheikh Samb ran out on the court and crashed a folding chair over the back of Tracy McGrady. Halftime? The commissioner could interrupt the festivities with a devious announcement . . .
“This is the commissioner, heh heh. Due to the unbridled enthusiasm of fans in section 212, ALL 3-pointers by the home team will count as 1 point! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.”
Samuel Dalembert could give Pau Gasol a suplex, and people would cheer! There could even be bonus rounds where all the points count double. Maybe a penalty box could be added so that teams are really forced to play 4-on-5 more often than just when Ben Wallace or Shaquille O’Neal are in the game. And the fights, oh ho, the glorious fights. It will really be wonderful to see Ron Artest put up his dukes against Jason Maxiell.
A tie game? Best of 3, spin a wheel, slam dunk contest, a game of horse, 21, 3-point contest, half-court shot contest, or paper-rock-scissors.
I can hear the protests from the players now . . .
“Hell if I’m gonna do all that. I’m an athlete, I don’t get PAID to play no game of horse. Ain’t gonna jump through no mo’ hoops.”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP KEVIN GARNETT, you’re the highest paid clown I know!”
*full beer cup hurtles through the air, hits KG in the head*
Man, that would rule.
I told you it wasn’t just Donaghy.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=3439659
I can’t tell which man was greedier, David Stern or Donaghy.
@Kay I really don’t like any trade that has Rips name in it. I really think Tay and Rip will be here for awhile. If you look at how they play they always play hard. Tay did not shoot the ball well the last RD but he goes hard. I really think that Billups will not be here next year or no move will be made at all. He is the main one who thinks we can turn it on and off. The way he played in game 3 just made me sick. Up and down is all I have to say about that cat. I don’t Sheed being moved until next year if at all. As for Donaghy. I think its something that should be looked into. I really think this is a reason Sheed said what he said after game 5. Sheed love or hate him. The guy is smart.
There is now a Chad Ford/Joe Dumars podcast in that article Kay Wan posted. The one thing that I love what I got from is Joe talking about Amir and saying he wants him to take that next step this season. That makes me happy since more and more Dumars is making it clear that Amir will be here next season and that was something I was afraid of when he said everyone is on the block
I just finished listening to the Chad Ford/Joe D podcast and maybe I’m reading too much into it, but from listening to Joe D talk I have the feeling that Joe knows for sure he’s going to be able to make a big trade.
Chad asked him “What is the most important thing you’ll have to do different this year?”
Basically Joe said he needs to make sure he keeps closer tabs on the pulse of the team because of the changes that are going on…that changes can be scary for a lot of people…that he’ll need to reassure everyone these changes are for the good of the team.
Like I said, maybe I’m making something out of nothing, but after reading Langlois Q&A and listening to Chad Ford’s podcast it sure seems like Joe D is confident that changes will be made to the core.
Trevor Ariza looks like he’s going to be in the rotation for the Lakers the rest of this series. I love Ariza as a player. He plays great defense at SF, rebounds well, and gets out on the break. He looks like he’s finally over his injuries and if he’s healthy he’ll give the LAL the extra defender on Paul Pierce they’ve needed.
Kay Wan - I’ve been talking about some version of that McGrady deal for a few weeks. I had Billups and Hamilton going to Houston, not Wallace and Hamilton. I’m not sure who guards Garnett or Dwight Howard in the Eastern Conference playoffs if we trade Rasheed and get a SG back in the deal.
I don’t know, joejoejoe; for some reason I just don’t feel comfortable with Wallace and McGrady being the leaders of the team on and off the court. And as comfortable as I am with Stuckey taking on a major role, I still feel shakey with him being the decision maker as the starting point guard this early in his career. I’d rather keep Billups around, who is the hands-down leader and can keep the players in check, while making solid decisions on the court. As far as Wallace’s defense on premier big men, I don’t think it’s possible to find a one-for-one replacement, but the combination of McDyess, Maxiell, and Johnson, along with maybe chasing DeSagana Diop or Kurt Thomas in free agency, could lessen the burden. McDyess seemed to be defending Garnett during the ECFs most of the game, and I know we all remember Maxiell handling Garnett on several plays.
Man, this referee scandal is huge. It’s fascinating watching Stern in his press conferences, calmly answering all the questions with the stoicism of a sociopathic serial killer.
And also: Kevin Garnett was just called for ANOTHER illegal screen. If only they would have called it in our series…..
KB24 sure looked incredibly unbalanced during the post-game press conference. To say that this guy has anger management issues would be an understatement. There’ll be hell to pay for his teammates.
OT: When’s the LawyerBoy report coming out?
Fuj: Tomorrow. Almost complete.
I can’t believe this Laker team beat the Spurs. Ginobli must have been playing on one leg.
Man, go see Hulk . . . it was great.
So much for this Doc Rivers can’t coach thing. Celtics have completely owned the 3rd quarter. So much for the Zen Master’s halftime adjustments.
Zen Master’s 4th quarter interview summed it up:
Tafoya: How did the Celtics come back like this Phil?!?!
Jackson: Um, I don’t know! How DID they come back?
McGrady? Hmmm. A player with a chip on his shoulder because he is being written off as injury prone and unable to get out of the first round? Sounds like a good fit.
I’ve always liked McGrady. He’s a good passer, pretty unselfish, and a big-time scorer. He can also defend well at times. McGrady can play the 3, so that would be one way to give Tayshaun some rest. Plus, Stuckey’s versatility means that McGrady wouldn’t have to average 40 minutes per game, which would help his back get better.
Forgot to mention: McGrady’s a good ball handler, too. That would give us three starters that can pass and bring up the ball (Chauncey, McGrady, & Tayshaun). However, McGrady takes too many 3 pointers; he doesn’t shoot a great percentage.
Not too crazy about any of Ford’s proposed trades. I think the deal that does go down is going to be a 3 or 4 team blockbuster.
I think Joe D. makes a big trade with several teams, or at least several teams involved. Given how deep the draft appears, I don’t think anything happens until then and everyone sees how the draft plays thru. Chad Ford has players moving all around his mock draft and I think it all hinges on what Chicago does at 1. Rose or Beasley then Miami decides to start trading or drafting Mayo, don’t think they’re going with Beasley. From there, Minn trades down and can still get a decent 5 to pair with Jefferson plus pick up a pick. Seattle hasn’t had someone in the middle since Sikma and Memphis needs a new roster where they’re picking. But I can see Memphis and Miami doing something depending on what chicago does.
After hearing all of these ‘best player’ references, I ran through my head the type of players that Joe D. is looking to acquire. I failed to include teams within the division, untouchables or any of the Final Four and added second options where I thought it was likely that player could be moved. Here is my list…
Atl-Joe Johnson
Char-JRich or Gerald Wallace
Dallas-Dirk or Josh Howard
Den-Carmelo
GS-Baron
Hou-McGrady
LAC-Elton Brand
Mia-DWade
NJ-VC or Jefferson
NYK-Curry or Randolph
Phily-AI
Phx-Amare
Sac-Artest
Wash-Arenas (sign-and-trade)
For what we have, what teams want and the situations they are in I think Dallas, Phoenix and GState are our most likely dance partners. I only added AI and Joe Johnson because those are two young teams on the rise that may want a veteran influence and a guy(s) who have been there before.
Cross-referencing that list with the type of player Curry wants (defense, post or a driver and they have to have at least one-and-a-half of these) I think the most likely options are Dirk, Howard, Baron, Brand, Jefferson, Randolph and Amare.
The other thing I really like with what Joe D. has done is that he has told everyone that everyone is available, but at the same time he has hedged his bets in case the right deal doesn’t come along by hiring a respected former player as coach (I am as confident as one can be in a guy that has never been the head coach in an NBA game before, because he has all the charcteristics you want and need in the position) and bringing Pat Sullivan back in. I think these moves were brilliant by Joe D. and won’t allow him to be hamstrung.
I hate McGrady’s style of play and REALLY hope that he isn’t the one we net. With Stuckey we can’t get a guy who will dominate the ball on the offensive end like both McGrady and Anthony (and to a lesser extent Baron) will.
The thing I like most about Curry is here is a guy who has the same bravado the ‘03-’04 Pistons had as far as feeling he/they were the best (see quotes he thought he should have been a head coach right after retiring), but the bravado is based off of hard work. When you combine the two you become unstoppable. I loved his quote yesterday on Rome that being more focused is part of being the better team.
There’s a new Michael Curry interview up at pistons.com. I thought Curry’s answer was interesting on this question, he talks as if the core will be back.
Langlois: Joe said a week before he hired you that “everyone is on the table,” but he also said “I’m not going to make a deal just so I can come back and tell you guys I made a deal. If it doesn’t make sense, I’m not doing it.” If everybody does come back it might make for an awkward situation. Would that be putting too much on you, to coach these guys when Joe’s put them all on alert?
Curry: No. I don’t think it’s going to be an awkward situation. He’s told those guys that throughout the season, so they knew. Guys either want to be here or they don’t. I think the guys really want to be here. I think I can do things and I know myself and my staff will do things to give them the best chance to stay here. The way we prepare, the way we take advantage of having the best strength coach in the business in Arnie Kander, and the way we practice every day, I think that will give us a better chance of playing more consistent and at the level we need to. At the end of the season, you have two type of feelings. If you don’t win the championship, you’re either disappointed or you’re frustrated. The difference the last three years is everyone around here has been frustrated instead of disappointed because they felt the team could have done more and probably gone further. That’s when you become frustrated. You’re disappointed when you say, man, I wanted to get to the Finals and I wanted to win a championship, but we got beat by maybe a better team at this time. Like when we lost in Game 7 of the Finals. We weren’t frustrated, but we were disappointed at the finish. If you’re going to have one of those feelings, you’d rather be disappointed than frustrated.
ever since i read tracy mcgrady bought a gold plane or some such ridiculous cribs-style nonsense, i’ve been happy to watch him fail over and over. don’t want him on my team. i’d almost rather have the rapist from l.a.
I’m literally debating whether or not I even watch NBA games next year.
@somethingmoreproductivelikeRoscoe:
man, a lot of these really scare me and I hope that Joe doesn’t even consider a lot of these… they’re lateral moves at best, downgrades elsewhere.
Atl-Joe Johnson
rip hamilton > joe johnson
Char-JRich or Gerald Wallace
we don’t need a PF, we need a C and a backup SF
Dallas-Dirk or Josh Howard
dirk, possibly. josh howard would be a lateral move, he’s = tayshaun prince.
Den-Carmelo
please, god. please, do NOT allow this to happen.
GS-Baron
why? i’d much rather keep Chauncey. also, bringing in davis would effectively mean that we’re giving up on Stuckey as the PG of the future.
davis is nearly 30, injury prone, and past his prime. its too late to invest in a guy like that.
from GS, I want one player: Biedrins.
Hou-McGrady
injury prone, playoff curse, please no.
LAC-Elton Brand
what about Kaman?
Mia-DWade
NJ-VC or Jefferson
VC? no way in hell. Jefferson, possibly– although he’s a minor improvement over Tayshaun, not much of an improvement for DET.
NYK-Curry or Randolph
ugh. please no.
Phily-AI
Why not dalembert?
Phx-Amare
Sac-Artest
Wash-Arenas (sign-and-trade)”
could we trade for arenas but leave his knees in washington?
I don’t like most of those moves either, that’s why I think we are seeing a lot of Joe D. hedging his bets w the Curry and Sullivan hires. I live in the Bay Area and no chance in hell is Biedrins leaving the W’s. He and Ellis are their future and they have to resign both. Baron with one year left on his contract is expendable. I agree he is a 28 yr old in a 45 yr old’s body, but as I mentioned before I think GS is a very likely trade partner. I believe Baron and Sheed make about the same amount of money. Nelson HATES playing young players. They need a big man and I think are willing to part with Brendan Wright. They also have a lottery pick. I’m not sure how all that comes together, but the options seems plentiful and Baron’s contract is a big/necessary part of that.
I love Rip, but if ATL offered Johnson for Hamilton, I feel that’s a no brainer. Did you see how Johnson just destroyed the Celtic d in one-on-one situations? He’s also a bit younger. That being said, I think he’s the least like option on that list to be dealt.
I like Kaman, but the Clips will be much more likely to deal Brand instead. Dalembert is someone who would take Amir minutes and doesn’t have a post game.
My wish list (and who I thin are realistic) would be 1) Amare 2) Elton Brand 3) Jefferson.
Jefferson gets to the foul line like it’s his job. That’s not something Tayshaun does well. And Jefferson is a much more reliable/consistent offensive option.
I tried to do this as diplomatic as possible. I don’t like most of the guys on the list either professionally (McGrady, Anthony) or personally (Jefferson, Anthony, McGrady), but it is what it is.
@something:
“I love Rip, but if ATL offered Johnson for Hamilton, I feel that’s a no brainer. Did you see how Johnson just destroyed the Celtic d in one-on-one situations?”
Yeah, and I also watched Joe Johnson play terribly inconsistent all season long, shooting terribly one night then decent the next. He shot 43% from the field vs. Rip shooting 48% this season. Johnson is inconsistent, he’s a gamble every time the possesion ends in his hands. I would take Rip over Joe Johnson any day of the year. (Johnson was on my fantasy team this past year, and I wished I had never drafted his inconsistent, poor shooting ass. he’s a volume shooter, the kind we don’t need in blue)
As for Biedrins, I know it is a long shot– but GS has its options cut short– no matter what they do, they cannot have Davis, Ellis and Biedrins back next season. It would be impossible. They have to give up one of the three, and Detroit could fuck them up by offering more than GS can afford for Biedrins, a la $50 mil across 5 years. Biedrins is worth that.
Last, re: Dalembert. How would Dalembert possibly take Amir’s minutes?
MP: He wouldn’t possibly take Amir’s minutes. That’s the answer to that question.
I’m usually a fan of SMPLRoscoe’s viewpoint, but SMPLRoscoe, you seem to be drinking the “Amir can be a C in this league” kool-aid. According to Wikipedia, Amir is 6′11 (still doubt it) and 220 (plausible by me) coming from 6′9 and 210 when he came into the league. It’s pretty unlikely that after three years with the organization he’s going to inexplicably add 20-30 more pounds on top of the ten he’s already added (which sucks when you bump him two inches in height). Just keep in mind that Theo is listed at 6′10, 235 for example while Dale Davis was listed at 6′11, 252. Do we really want Amir, even with 10-15 pounds of bulk added, trying to play C with his ups and lack of post strength? Bad idea. The possible addition of Dalembert on the other hand (ie: bye Sheed) would be fantastic in my eyes.
Just for full disclosure’s sake, Dalembert is listed at 6′11 and 250, and he’s one tough MFer with an over 7 and a half feet wingspan. Sign me up.
To change the subject to the NBA Finals. . . . I don’t like Boston, but you have to respect the way they have proven folks wrong about their supposed/apparent weaknesses after the early playoffs. Their role players have had some huge games, Allen is back on track, the “Big Three” don’t look tired, and all of this resulted in two big comeback wins on the road: Detroit in game 6, and LA in game 4. And if they win it all, as they probably will, they will have gone through last year’s EC champ, the team with the NBA’s second-best record, and the #1 seed in the West, in that order.
I really, really, really want Detroit to beat them next year.
All I meant regarding Dalembert is that he is basically a defensive presence, not a low post threat that gets to the line. I think we already have someone like that in amir who has much greater offensive potential. Plus the point of the original post was looking at team’s best players that may be available. Dalembert is the third best player on a team that barely made the playoffs in the EC this year. He’s not the kind of player I see giving up one of the core four in exchange for.
And while I’m not going to argue Johnson wasn’t consistent enough for the Hawks, he is a young number one option on a young team. I feel like being around veterans on a day-to-day basis would help with developing the kind of consistency needed. As to trading him for Rip, Johnson’s game is more get to the paint-oriented (from what Ive seen) which is what I keep hearing Curry stressing. Rip’s game, while incredibly unique and efficient (for the most part) is not a get to the line kind of game.
I haven’t drank kool aid in a long time, but that stuff was pretty good.
No, I don’t feel like Amir is an NBA center. All I was trying to do was take Joe D’s comments, mesh them with Curry’s and see how that all fit together for the Pistons future plans when placed in context with the current league landscape. I like Dalembert, but I don’t think he fits into this discussion under those guidelines.
Bill Russell was listed at 6-9 215. Not that I am making a direct comaprison to Bill Russell, but Amir at 6-9 or 6-11 and 210 or 220, possess the skillsets to play the 5 in the NBA. He has shown an uncanny ability to get to the ball, and he has an acceptable offensive “in the paint game” I believe he does need some work in the low post, and needs to improve his passing, but implying that he isn’t “big enough” to play the 5 is unwarranted. Although I did not find any under 235, but there are a plethora of fives in this leauge under 6-11; Amare Stoudemire, Ben Wallace, Nazr Mohammed, and Kendrick Perkins to name a few. Just as there are 7 footers riding the pine, it takes a lot more than height and weight to be good center. Amir has the skillsets to develope into a fine center, if the DBB nation wants Amir on the floor, he is going to have to play either the 5 or the 3 unless we trade Maxiell (a move I am against.) As our roster stands right now, we have 2 or 3 guys in front of Amir at the 4 if we draft or trade for a 5. Also, I’d like to note, that we HAD a true Center on our team, and we traded him to Charlotte, I do not recall a whole lot of posiive support for our Pisotns when Nazr was here, although there were a lot “hope you have a great career now that you are gone Nazr” posts. I don’t think there are many options for a “true” center anywhere, and unless Coach Curry is going to completely rewrite our playbook, there is not much use for a “true” center on this team, our offense is not tailored to that style of game.
A back-up 3 is high on the list of bodies we need to get as well, are Hayes or Herrmann going to fill that roll? I am not sure Hayes will sign again if he can get starters minutes elsewhere and Herrmann may end up in Europe! If we trade Rasheed for a 5 (keeping things simple here), we still need a 3 and Amir is behind Maxiell and McDyess at the 4, and only guy-for-Rasheed at the 5, more minutes for Amir (at center), but I still think he will be underutilized. It is not far fetched to see an offesive set with Amir on the low block, and then on the defensive end put Maxiell (who is an excellent Low post defender) or Mcdyess down low, Amir is young, athletic, quick, and he moves well, he doesn’t have to stay “down low” to be a center in todays NBA.
DJ: Kendrick Perkins is listed at 280. I know that he is 6′10, but at 280, his fat ass compensates against plenty of players who are slightly taller than him but aren’t fat. He still sucks though and like Nazr, shouldn’t be used in any example of “league centers”. A better example is Al Horford who is 6′10 and 245. Yet still, 25 pounds of simply brute strength on Amir. Ben is a freak of nature (yet past his prime). No one in the league is like Ben. If Amare was a true center, why feel the need to go get Shaq? Amare is an excellent PF who was masquerading as a C (see: Wallace, Rasheed). Amir Johnson is not cut out for success as a center in this league, period. Centers (except MAYBE freak of nature, the one-of-a-kind among 450 players in the NBA Ben Wallace, and Dwight Howard, another one-of-a-kind freak) don’t have the highest vertical leap on the team. So, why can guys like Wallace and Howard play center and Amir can’t? It’s simple, Howard is listed at 265 and Ben at 240 (I suspect he weighs more). They’re incredibly strong, something
Amir is not.
Stupid submit button.
@DJ:
Let’s assume we trade Rasheed for a 5 and a backup 3. In an ideal world, should Amir really break out this season, It might be sensible to start Amir at the 4 and keep Maxiell as our sixth man off the bench. He could continue to dominate the way he has, be our spark leader for our bench game.
Again, that’s in an ideal world where Amir explodes in 08-09. Also, from the sound of how Curry wants to run the bench, I see Amir as its anchor.
LB: So your definition of an NBA caliber center is what? 6-11 and 245+? If height and weight were the defining attributes for a center, how do explain Bill Russell’s success? Also, Kareem is listed at about 225? How was he so successful? Solely becuase of his height? Wouldn’t “larger” players have been able to reduce his effectiveness through “brute force” alone? In a time where there were no “hard fouls” or flagrants, Russell and Abdul-Jabbar excelled. They played with intelligence, quickness, vision, and a desire to win, attributes that Amir seems to posses. Al Horford is a great example to my point, with a little work on his shooting mechanics outside 12 feet, Horford has the ability to be a KG or Duncan caliber 4, lack of an outside game relegates him to the 5, not that that will hurt him, I forsee a fantastic career for this young man, and I was of the opinion he should have been the ROY (a point I believe we both agreed on), but his athleticiism and quickness are not typical of a “true” center. The Shaq’s and Howard’s are the exception not the rule. Over the span of game or a series, I don’t beleive Amir would come out on the short end one-on-one against Horford on either end of the floor.
Regarding Amare, I agree with your post, he is much more effective as a 4 than a 5, I used him because he is listed as a 5 and started at center for a significant portion of the season. I could have used Duncan, but I do not recall him starting at the 5 this year and I think history considers him a PF more so than a center. Nazr, though, has never (to the best of recolection) played anything but center.
DJ: This NBA isn’t the NBA of Russell and Jabbar. Comparing those two eras is like comparing apples to oranges. Players had skills then. When was the last time you saw a center put up a beautiful sky hook? Now players are lazy and it’s a lot more about physical gifts than it is about finesse and mastery. If you’re thick (Perkins, Shaq), tall (Yao, Ilgauskas) or strong (Howard, Camby), you’re a center. Amir is neither fat (220 lbs.), tall (7 foot+) nor strong. Amir is an athletic freak, which is not one of the prerequisites for a center. He’s a 3 or 4 (4 is the best bet), plain and simple.
LB: I’ll give you the game is different today, but I fail to see how comparing todays NBA with the Russell and Jabbar era is like apples to oranges. The basket is the same height, the court is the same size, the ball is the same size and weight, the free throw stripe is in the same place, its 5 vs. 5. There have been a few rules changes, but for the most part the game is still the same. If you want to disagree with me fine, that is what blogs are for, but for you to state emphatically that Amir CANNOT be a five in the NBA, that sir, is plain and simply wrong! What skill sets is Amir lacking that prevents him from being a five?
DJ: You’re right about me incorrectly stating “Amir can’t play center”, so I apologize for that. I’ll rephrase and say that Amir’s skill set (insane ups with a lack of great strength in the post and a heavy reliance on athleticism over a fundamentally sound skill like a sky hook, or a bruising mentality) makes him best suited for success at the 3 or 4. Remember, I still believe he’s only 6′10 as well. Even if he is 6′11 I still maintain my claim even if it loses a bit of authority.
If Amir had Maxiell’s skill set (which would almost invariably require having some of his weight too) he’d be an excellent center because he could use his strength to will himself to the basket. As it stands, the only way Amir really gets to the basket consistently now is through a defensive breakdown on a box out (which happens fairly regularly when’s on the floor because he’s so active and hard to keep a body on when he doesn’t have the ball). He can’t bruise his way to the rim with ball-in-hand like the Shaq and Dwight Howard, so he has to rely on athleticism to get there. Relying on athleticism like Amir does, as opposed to strength/size is not the mark of a true center at all.