RealGM

... from Marc Stein's Weekend Dime

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... -080405-06

a quote:
The same scout we spoke to sees Brand and Kaman, when healthy, as "the best power forward/center combo in the NBA."

Brand, meanwhile, still sounds like the quirky center's biggest fan, even though you'll surely recall that Kaman was his opponent in the doomed one-on-one game that inflicted his injury.

Throwing out one more reason to come back now -- albeit before the big man got hurt Monday against Dallas -- Brand said: "I haven't played with the new and improved Chris Kaman yet."
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.... and how true, that a healthy Brand/Kaman/Thornton are going to be a powerful triangular base for the team.

the Marc Stein is out of his freaking mind

It's definitely arguable. The Suns and Lakers both closed the gap of any significant advantage we would have had but 2 years ago Brand & Kaman helped anchor a defense that allowed one of the top 5 lowest opponent field goal percentage and also led the league in blocks. Kaman has improved since then and they are both more than capable of contributing on both sides of the ball. I'm not going to go as far and say they are the best PF/C combo but definitely one of the tops and that's all that really matters. There are some teams that will be able to match or come close, but there will also be plenty where the Clips have the clear-cut advantage.

Are they really better than a healthy Gasol and Bynum?

Fist of all we haven't seen how well Gasol and Bynum would play together. My thought is that it would be pretty close, I don't know if either team's front line would really have an advantage.

I'm just glad we're on other teams scouts radar. Los Angeles is going to have the league's two best frontcourts in it's city. Bynum and Gasol are more finesse. I'm looking forward to Elton muscling them down low and Kaman reaping the benefits with some much needed easy looks.

Only problem being we don't have Kobe...that being said think there is a lot of potential for us to get to that level.

Lakers/Clippers
C: Bynum = Kaman (for now)
PF: Gasol < Brand
SF: Odom = Maggz
SG: Kobe >>> Thornton
PG: Farmar>> Knight (lol)

Scrub SF: Radman < Thomas
6th man: Fisher = Mobley
Mihm < Fazekas
Turiaf = Powell
And the list goes on.

I think the Clippers resurgence rests solely on their ability to retain their front court depth (re-sign Fazekas and Powell and maybe Davis or Sofo), get a decent SG either in the draft or through a trade and get a good PG (Sign and trade Maggz and pick for Baron Davis).

I think a pretty feasible lineup would be:
C: Kaman/ Fazekas/ Davis
PF: Brand/ Powell/ 2nd round pick or something
SF: Livingston/ Thomas/ Williams
SG: Thornton/ Mobley
PG: Davis/ Knight

It does not have to be Gasol and Bynum.

I will take Odom and Bynum over Kaman and Brand

To be honest Odom isn't better than Brand, and Odom is sometimes better than Kaman. Bynum isn't better than Brand, and Bynum will be better than Kaman, but at this point it's arguable to who's better between Bynum and Kaman.

Gasol and Bynum is a much better agrument against Brand and Kaman, than replacing Gasol with Odom.

Tommy Trojan wrote:It does not have to be Gasol and Bynum.

I will take Odom and Bynum over Kaman and Brand

You do that. I would gladly take Brand and Kaman over Odom and Bynum.

Tommy Trojan wrote:It does not have to be Gasol and Bynum.

I will take Odom and Bynum over Kaman and Brand

Brand will ABUSE Odom, just abuse him and if Bynum comes to double, guess what, Kaman has an easy lay-up. You guys won't be able to double and shadow Kaman like you have done this season, and like you will do to Elton this Thursday, I believe it is.

But to the thread itself, yes, we have one of the 5 best front courts in the entire L in my opinion. Thornton-Brand-Kaman is just...SICK. All we need is a PG who can knock down jumpers which leads me to believe Smush will be back next season

Bynum has no jump shot and is a terrible FT shooter. Kaman can do all that plus rebound and block shots. (adv: Kaveman)

Gasol has a nice jumpshot from within 10-15 ft but then again so does EB. Gasol can score in bunches(just like EB) but his defense leaves alot to be desired. Brand(career 20/10 guy) is a way better defender/rebounder PERIOD! (adv: THE HORSE)

EB/Kaman>Pau/Bynum

Thornton RIGHT NOW!>LO's entire career put together(i.e. Clipper/Heat/Faker)

*edit*

EB/AL/KAMAN>pau/lo/bynum