Mbah a Moute and the PF position

[Joana]

If anything, further training of his lower body should make him quicker, unless he's just doing bodybuilding exercises. If he trains like an athlete, he'll perform like an athlete. It's not true that stronger = slower.

Sure, it depends on the kind of strength training. If he's going to be a PF, he needs to add a lot of mass and as soon as possible - to be more durable and to allow him to guard every PF in the league effectively. Slow tempo strengthening exercises, that will affect his quickness.

Dear Satan-

Will trade you one soul for David Lee.

Your Pal-
Mags

Lee doesn't defend at all and struggles to create his own shot. To be a starter, he needs to play for a team filled with defensive specialists all-around, especially his fellow big man. Satan gets a great deal, even if it isn't an all-star caliber soul.

[paulpressey25]

Ty did a statistical analysis of the height/weight/standing reach of all five positions. It is a rather compelling conclusion that we'd be stupid to put LRMAM in the PF spot long-term.

LRMAM is 32 pounds lighter than the average PF in the league and his standing reach is 5.5 inches shorter than the average PF.

He doesn't have the mass nor the reach for the position. I think we'll be sorry if Hammond doesn't realize how badly this team needs a big body for the position and pencils in LRMAM as PF.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

He doesn't have the mass nor the reach for the position. I think we'll be sorry if Hammond doesn't realize how badly this team needs a big body for the position and pencils in LRMAM as PF.

I'm quite sure he realizes it - Detroit always had a great collection of big bodies, and Hammond tried picking up Camby for us this year. He also shelled out what half of us thought was too much money for Bogut (although if Bogut keeps rebounding so well it'll be a great deal). In the end, we got all we could: Malik Allen and Austin Croshere.

The problem is that while PF is a deep position in the NBA with a dozen near-elite players, those players are extremely valuable and tough to acquire. You almost need an all-star level player at that position just to compete if you don't have a bonifide superstar somewhere else on your team. Nobody is eager to give them up.

Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Amare Stoudamire
Chris Bosh
Dirk Nowitzki
Carlos Boozer
Pau Gasol
Al Jefferson
Elton Brand
Antawn Jamison
Al Horford
David West
prospects like Aldridge/Love/Beasley

We have the luxury of having Bogut, who can defend most of those guys, but that's only if our PF is big enough to then defend starting centers. And if the guy can defend centers and provide consistent offense, he's too expensive to acquire. Consider how each of those players above were acquired. Most were drafted in the high lotto by teams that kept them long-term. The others were signed to max contracts in free agency, or traded for multiple draft picks and prospects.