LeBron shift to powerforward

Canomad · Post #1 » by **Canomad** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:12 am

Well it looks like the cavs wanna add a couple small forwards and move lebron to the powerforward. he certinally has the size and strength to play powerforward, and he showed some post up game last year. hopefully hes been working on it and hes added all the size and strength because he knew eventually he would be playing the 4 im curious to see if this means no charlie v or if it does mean charlie v but he will play the 3 and him and lebron would be interchangable at the 4 depending on matchups and a small forward like matt barnes who i have always liked he just gets the job done.

old rem · Post #2 » by **old rem** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:23 am

You could try for Stephen Jackson a SF/SG...6-8. Offer Hickson and expiring filler and get some scoring.

bcortell · Post #3 » by **bcortell** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:26 am

Don't take it as him playing PF all the time. I think you will see him there for 6-8 minutes per game, depending on the team we are playing.. We are just trying to have versatility in our lineup where we have the ability to go small (or big, for that matter). That is all.

cobrasnake44 · Post #4 » by **cobrasnake44** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:31 am

I really like this move for the Cavs and Lebron, how many power forwards can match up with him in both quickness and strength? I would say not many and I believe he can match up pretty good in both of those against other PF's.

Seems like a good move to me and I believe this move will help the team find pieces to the puzzle easier, and as long as Lebron stays a Cav I believe it will really open the door for future moves as well.

Seems easier to me to find those shooters at the 3 spot instead of the 4 and with Lebron at the 4 that opens up the 3 spot. I believe we can find more complete players at that spot as well, Guys that can run, pass and shot....etc

Nice Move IMO.

Post #5 » by **Rise Against** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 5:12 am

I would only expect LeBron to play the 4 when we are going into a small lineup.. But other than that, I'm not a very big fan of this, since we don't really have a true SF besides LeBron.

cobrasnake44 · Post #6 » by **cobrasnake44** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 5:42 am

Frankie wrote:I would only expect LeBron to play the 4 when we are going into a small lineup.. But other than that, I'm not a very big fan of this, since we don't really have a true SF besides LeBron.

I will say even though it might not be a bad move it also might not be as good a move as I original made it sound to be. Still I do think this could be a solid move but at the same time I do like Lebron at the 3 alot as well.

Also we might not have a true SF besides Lebron but I believe that's also why they said the Cavs will search for a tall wing man this summer to allow Lebron to move to the PF position.

If we added a guy like Hill to the team than that would give us a guy at that spot that has some height (I believe about the same as Lebron) but he doesn't have Lebrons size and wouldn't be a good fit at the PF position. Still this would give us a solid SF and a guy that can handle the ball as well as being a solid passer, he's also still a pretty good rebounder for a SF and he's shot over 50% FG% over the last 3 years as well.

So I guess in a way I'm still not completely sold on this move but I also can't say I hate it either.

Guess we will see how this turns out and I'm still not sure if they meant to move him to the PF spot from time to time or if they meant it as it being his main/regular position.

DirtyDez · Post #7 » by **DirtyDez** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:27 am

Just curious: Why are CLE fans so high on Delonte West? He's a 6'5" SG who's very inconsistant but apparently un-touchable by Cavs fans... thx

prekazi · Post #8 » by **prekazi** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:53 am

^Delonte isn't 6-5, he's 6-3. He's not a SG, he's a combo guard and he's not inconsistent. He's our glue guy and yeah he's untouchable.

Guys, LeBron won't play PF full time. He was already spending some time at 4 and he's really effective when he is on the post. If we can get Ron Artest, that "small" lineup would be a killer.

cobrasnake44 · Post #9 » by **cobrasnake44** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 7:21 am

prekazi wrote:^Delonte isn't 6-5, he's 6-3. He's not a SG, he's a combo guard and he's not inconsistent. He's our glue guy and yeah he's untouchable.

Guys, LeBron won't play PF full time. He was already spending some time at 4 and he's really effective when he is on the post. If we can get Ron Artest, that "small" lineup would be a killer.

Well I was going to make a post to the other poster about the Lebron not playing PF fulltime but my reply got to long and boring so I never submitted it...lol

Anyway the part that confused me a little was thinking if Lebron didn't play the 4 full time and we got a guy like Hill who they mentioned than I wasn't sure how good he would be on D at the 2, maybe better than I realize I'm not sure. I know he's not that young anymore and he's had leg/ankle problems in the past...etc

I could see a guy like Artest playing that spot pretty easy though, but I doubt we could get Artest. I know he has said that he wants to stay in Houston with or without Yao.

Still it would be nice to have a tall 2 that could move to 3 from time to time to allow Lebron to play the 4 and also to play the 3 some when Lebron is on the bench resting...etc

DirtyDez · Post #10 » by **DirtyDez** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 8:09 am

prekazi wrote:^Delonte isn't 6-5, he's 6-3. He's not a SG, he's a combo guard and he's not inconsistent. He's our glue guy and yeah he's untouchable.

Guys, LeBron won't play PF full time. He was already spending some time at 4 and he's really effective when he is on the post. If we can get Ron Artest, that "small" lineup would be a killer.

WOW there's like 5 guys in the NBA who are considered untouchable and Delonte is one of them? You musta missed the Orlando series, i mean he's a good player but damn! :lol:

pickIBL · Post #11 » by **pickIBL** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 8:30 am

My take is the Cavs know the Rashard Lewis type 4s will continue to be a huge problem. You heard the analysts point that out over and over again when discussing the Shaq trade. What we have learned is when a team comes in with an Orlando type lineup... Lebron will end up picking up Rashard. It is way easier to go out and get wings than it is to find someone to counter Rashard. Ferry and Brown figured out they already have a guy capable and I happen to agree with what they are thinking. If you are thinking Lebron is going to turn into a Karl Malone type 4 you are nuts. He's just going to guard Rashard.

Post #12 » by **Rise Against** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 9:05 am

DirtyDez wrote:
prekazi wrote:^Delonte isn't 6-5, he's 6-3. He's not a SG, he's a combo guard and he's not inconsistent. He's our glue guy and yeah he's untouchable.

Guys, LeBron won't play PF full time. He was already spending some time at 4 and he's really effective when he is on the post. If we can get Ron Artest, that "small" lineup would be a killer.

WOW there's like 5 guys in the NBA who are considered untouchable and Delonte is one of them? You musta missed the Orlando series, i mean he's a good player but damn!

West is actually more valuable to us than people would expect for him to be. Although he is undersized for a 2 guard, he is perhaps our best perimeter defender (other than LeBron, of course) and he is also one of the more consistent players that we have on the roster...Which is why we are looking to keep him.

tidho · Post #13 » by **tidho** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 1:12 pm

I think this point is flexibility for LeBron to play PF in spots, not for any length of time.

We don't have Sasha or Wally to play SF anymore. Danny Green is one option, but you could see how they'd be interested in adding a LLE rental at the SF spot.

tranjSAIC · Post #14 » by **tranjSAIC** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 3:20 pm

I think having Lebron play a lot of PF is a good idea, because it is easier to get a good SF then a good PF. Plus when you guys play us (Magic) it would be less mismatches.

ddubb · Post #15 » by **ddubb** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 10:54 pm

I can't wait to see him attempt to guard KG on the block, giving up 4 inches and a careers worth of low post experience....

Let me get this straight, Cleveland thought he was a pg when they drafted him. LBJ then plays 6 great years as a wing, who is really the defacto pg because of how much he handles the ball ----- and now all the sudden your signing SF's looking to put LBJ at the 4?

I guess next year you'll just move him to the back court when he teams up with Bosh? I see no fore-site in the decisions Ferry makes. It's like he's trying to mimic Orlando's front court with D12 and Lewis all of the sudden...

Post #16 » by **Rise Against** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 11:03 pm

ddubb wrote:I can't wait to see him attempt to guard KG on the block, giving up 4 inches and a careers worth of low post experience....

Let me get this straight, Cleveland thought he was a pg when they drafted him. LBJ then plays 6 great years as a wing, who is really the defacto pg because of how much he handles the ball ----- and now all the sudden your signing SF's looking to put LBJ at the 4?

I guess next year you'll just move him to the back court when he teams up with Bosh? I see no fore-site in the decisions Ferry makes. It's like he's trying to mimic Orlando's front court with D12 and Lewis all of the sudden...

I don't think anyone is trying to mimic anybody. Like tranjSAIC said, it is easier to get a good SF than it is for a PF. And since we do have LeBron, who has the physical frame to play the 4, why not just sign a swing man (Artest) instead of trying to go through all the trouble in finding a big man with a post game and defense? It's very difficult to find PFs like that nowadays.

m23uza1hem36 · Post #17 » by **m23uza1hem36** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 2:18 am

cobrasnake44 wrote:I really like this move for the Cavs and Lebron, how many power forwards can match up with him in both quickness and strength? I would say not many and I believe he can match up pretty good in both of those against other PF's.

Seems like a good move to me and I believe this move will help the team find pieces to the puzzle easier, and as long as Lebron stays a Cav I believe it will really open the door for future moves as well.

Seems easier to me to find those shooters at the 3 spot instead of the 4 and with Lebron at the 4 that opens up the 3 spot. I believe we can find more complete players at that spot as well, Guys that can run, pass and shot....etc

Nice Move IMO.

Moving him to power forward would make it easier to defend him opposed to him having the ball in his hand, his team mates attempting to get open, and him drawing doubles and triples and making easy shots for everyone around him. So I think him being moved to power forward wouldn't it really make a big difference, would it? I mean he does play every position.

And regardless what the position he plays, I doubt any team would be stupid enough to put a power forward on him. Like we did with JMax a few years ago in the playoffs, it didn't work obviously...

yippeekiCAVSmf · Post #18 » by **yippeekiCAVSmf** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 9:37 am

LeBron wouldn't have to guard KG, he just plays PF when the opposition calls for it. Nobody said LeBron will be a fulltime PF. He is just exercising the versatility he possesses. It would be a waste for LeBron to play the same position every game. The thing I'd like to see is LeBron spend more time in the post, because when you get older and lose the explosiveness you either become a downtown chucker ala Kobe or you become a regular post-up option like Jordan. I'd like LeBron to take the Jordan option. So playing more PF will hopefully see him further develop the postup game.

old skool · Post #19 » by **old skool** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 3:19 pm

Putting Lebron at PF takes the ball out of his hands and gives it to...... Mo Williams? That makes Lebron much easier to defend, because Williams will have trouble getting Lebron the ball. (Mo will dribble the shot clock down and be forced to pull up for a jumper.)

I was thinking that possibly Lebron could conserve energy on defense at PF, instead of having him chase people around on the perimeter.

I agree that PF is a tough position to fill and Lebron can play that or any other spot. But who rebounds the ball when Lebron is hoisting shots from the arc?

I also think that a team can have too many schemes - none of which are fully ingrained come playoff time. It is great to confuse the opposition with a variety of looks, but you don't want to confuse yourself at the same time.

I wonder who came up with the idea of #23 at PF. It sounds like something that a fan or player would dream up - not an NBA coach.

Is this being talked about in Cleveland?

oLd sKool