Post#168 » by TheKiwi » Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:18 am
Kiaora lads,
Figured I'd fire up the old account after a couple years downtime (too much uni), especially now that there are a couple of kiwis in the league to follow. One playing and one GMing, which I must confess is the reason I began to follow the Nets, however, it's nice to be watching younger players trying to forge their way in the league.
In terms of Marks GM'ing I'm not surprised at all in the culture change at all that's been clearly implemented, I personally wouldn't attribute it to a spursian approach but would be the same way I'd expect any NZer to run an organization, family first, loyal, valuing and rewarding hard work, no nonsense but encouraging and supportive I would like to think were cultural values here.
I think that this alone bode well for the future of the org, as well as communication appropriate to the millennial generation, and mordernisation of the training, medical and psychological programmed within the organization. These were a no brainer.
He has been dealt a fairly raw hand (I'm being generous to ol' mate billy here) and I think he's done what he can pretty aptly, and it'll be interesting to see how this DMo situation resolves, because that could be a real boon although I'm not sure Who gets waived in that scenario, a bridge to cross if we meet it.
One of the things I am possibly concerned about is his ability to make ruthless business moves where appropriate because he will feel a real sense of loyalty towards guys like skil and whitehead, and in my estimation with the tight knit team/family atmosphere he creates can make it emotionally hard to change things or cut guys who he might feel an (ir)rational loyalty to, only time will tell on that front, but is just a concern from someone from the same culture he grew up in. Nothing suggests that so far.
In terms of moving forward, I think that there is a little too much raw/low ceiling talent on the team (obviously not really by choice) and the veteran presence is needed in the locker room but it would be really nice to have some solid veteran presence on the court too (Lin and Lopez are about it and Lopez doesn't have great leadership qualities, and while a high character guy just isn't that vocal leader on the court. Maybe this opinion has been augmented by Lins absence who is more that style of on court leader. What I really think would benefit the team is another vocal leader, and I think we need to pick up a vet defensive center for a number of reasons:
1. The defense is horrid, really is.
2. Center is the most impactful defensive position (then small forward but we have rhj), whom I like coming off the bench ATM but that's another story.
3. On defense a center is the easiest position to be vocal from and help the younger guys out, especially in real time.
4. I think we have enough spacing (pseudo at our 3pnt%) to get a center who doesn't space the floor especially if we end up having DMo coming off the bench.
5. Someone like bogut (just throwing out a name as an example, but I think he'd be perfect but unless the mavs decided **** it and tanked (who knows what cubes has been meaning lately) likely unavailable and who knows what they'd want in return. But I think this is our biggest need.
I have been pleasantly surprised by Marks eye for talent, seriously the rookies this war have been abysmal - go have a look at the rookie rankings etc levert really could be the steal of the draft and a real prospect. If this holds to be true I really really want to trade into the first round this year (and hope IT stays injured for a while longer), I don't even think it has to be that high given the glut of talent there, I wonder what bogs can get us, or even skil (although I think he can be a good to great 6th man) you have to sell high, and neither are 2 way players on the wing which I think we desperately need more of, as well as having a plethora of wing options I think it becomes clear over the coming months who to keep and who to move at that position.
The only 2 who I view as untouchable are Lin and levert (+/- Lopez the price would have to be right though).
Just some random thoughts to chuck around, I don't think we get much in FA but marks eye for talent has been good enough for me to want to get into that draft quite high.
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