RonRon wrote:tkf wrote:dk7th wrote:there should be a transparent competition during training camp and pre-season to see who should start at point guard.we need to have the best decision-maker/orchestrator out there to counterbalance the poor decision making of other erstwhile ballhogs.
udrich/prigioni/felton
shumpert has got to develop a jumpshot from not just the baseline or he is doomed offensively. still he must start.
artest at small forward on offense and switching to power forward on defense
anthony at power forward on offense and switching to small forward on defense
chandler at center
if woodson can properly recognize who the starting point guard should be then there is some hope for optimism.
the ideal would be a billups-like scenario circa 2008-9. billups could hit the 3 not great but acceptably, was a very efficient scorer nonetheless, and distributed the ball quite well for a guy who liked to score the ball. oh and billups was an underrated defender most of his career....
all in all we need an old-school player.
one concern I have with that? is artest still the defender he once was? and even then, it is a size issue.. I hate consistently being undersized. at some point you just can't defend that position..
I remember an interview, I think it was with Bird and Nique. They were asked if they played two on two vs I think it was kobe and wade or lebron and wade, I forgot who.. but they asked who would win..
nique and bird, especially nique made a good point. he didn't even go so much into the details of their games or skill, he just pointed to the fact that those guys were too small. they would just be too small to guard he or bird.. and sometimes thats what it comes down to...
For example, was hibbert just that good? well I think Hibbert really improved his game, but the key was, he was just too big for the knicks big men, and when we put kenyon martin on him, he just gave up too much size.. at some point we are going to have to put guys in their proper position... A lot of this problem comes because we have a SF that can't guard SF's can't guard PF's, but seems to have more of an offensive Advantage VS PF's... seems like a lot of shuffling for one guy... why not have guys that can just play their position....
Artest is not a bad guy, but I still see this team getting smashed on the boards, and in the end, that will result in an early exit..
On paper that looks like a solid plan but Tyson Chandler is not a real shot blocking presence, and NO ONE in the lineup there is either
However, if we can be a solid rebounding team with that roster, a decent defensive squad on 1v1 defense and better help defense, and on OFFENSE, Artest's can hit that wide open 3pter and Melo/Artest's take turns posting up on the opponents SF with their size, especially if Iman improves his ball handling/penetration much like JR did last season, it could work
I think AB at C would give us much more room to operate with better floor spacing especially if Melo/Artest can initiate our offense with efficiency at the SF on post ups, and with 5 threats that could hit hit the 3pter, and open the driving lanes to penetrate/finish or lead to a wide open 3pt shot if the opponents protect the paint
Of course AB would need to work his rebounding/defense but he is a mismatch for most Center's to defend at the 3pt line with the ability to drive past him and finish if defended
We would need to crash the board's with timely cuts with good anticipation with consistency when a team mate has a open shot for rebound or when the paint is left unprotected
That is why I think JR would compliment that squad better than Iman when JR is healthy and in NBA shape, but lets see how much Iman improves this off season...
On paper, if we can add a defensive F like James Johnson I think it would compliment our roster very much
That we we could have a more balanced starting lineup and a very defensive 2nd unit with versatility, especially if Hopla can improve James Johnson's baseline 3pt shot like he did with Iman and Brewer in the early season with his defensive abilities/size/athleticism/length
James Johnson would easily be our best 1v1 defender vs the versatile/talented SF/PF like Lebron, Durant, Paul George, Rudy Gay etc with his a combination of size/length/athleticism standing at 6'9-10, 250pds, with great length/reach
Playing a role like a bigger Ronnie Brewer's role on defense and standing in the corner on offense if he can hit the 3pt shot like Brewer did early in the season
With all the great SF's and SF's with PF size/strength, it would be great to have a role player of Johnson's caliber
At the very least, I would much rather have him than CJ Leslie, especially if we can get a 2 year deal on a TEAM OPTION or partial guaranteed for 2nd year
If we are going to be legit Championship contenders we will face some of the more skilled SF's with size and G skills like Lebron, Durant, Paul George/Granger, etc
For the regular season, players like Tobias Harris/Rudy Gay, and many more skilled F's in the NBA with size/guard skills/ability to shoot the 3pt line with any room
Yes Iman and JR could defend Joe Jonson/Pierce, Deng, etc, but they are SG's that are undersized to guard some of these players and a body like James Johnson could be a huge asset for the regular season and even more for the play offs when it counts most
I would love a 2 year deal and think he could be a complete steal with his development and size, especially with Hopla here to improve his 3pt shooting and Woodson preaching DEFENSE and only 25/26 years of age
