Chris Kaman article on Slam Online...

[illastrate]

Profiles In X-Factordom: Chris Kaman

How will the Clippers’ center fit-in during the Baron Davis era?

by John Krolik

In one of the craziest off-seasons in recent memory, perhaps no team had a face-lift as dramatic as the Clippers. Gone are Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, not only the Clippers’ two best players but also the vanguards of their style of play.

Completing the troika was Chris Kaman, a flash-less double-double guy who was probably the Clippers’ best player last year and still remains on the team. The question facing the Clippers is whether or not Kaman’s extremely solid play and skills package can serve the team in the Baron Davis era.

Baron brings swagger, style, and a hearty dose of amazing. While I can’t remember Elton Brand ever doing something interesting, Baron is a borderline folk hero. When circumstances line themselves up correctly, there aren’t 10 players in the league who can have a bigger impact on the game than Baron Davis.

Where previous Clipper leaders made their living by carving out esoteric and specific niches and repeating soundly, Baron is an explosive polymer who can slash to the basket, drain threes, post guys up, and make stunning passes at the drop of a hat. Even more amazing, he does all of these things at an elevated level with the game on the line, picking the exact right move at the exact right time with stunning spontaneity and regularity-there’s a reason the Warriors were 9-2 in games decided by 3 points or less last season. (Only the Blazers, 10-2, fared better).

Read the rest here...
http://slamonline.com/online/2008/08/profiles-in-x-factordom-chris-kaman/

[GuyverX]

I'm sorry, this guy lost all credibility when he said 48% shooting isn't that good. He also implies that Kaman was a bad pick at #6 because we just lost Andre Miler (Oh no we lost a superstar!!!!!!). Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford (when healthy) are solid but Kaman is one of the top 5 centers in the league. Taking a look at who went 7-20 in the '03 draft, Kaman was a great pick. 1/2 of those guys are scrubs.

He also says $50 million dollars for Kaman was "only a move executed by bad teams." It may have been perceived as such at the time but has turned out to be a good move. Considering what other average centers are going for on the market these days, Kaman's contract is a bargain. Just this summer, Okafor and Bogut both are going for $72 million a piece. Comparing Kaman to Dampier, Kwame, etc. is just laughable because he actually produces and is offensively talented. Ilgauskas a "paint patrolling menace?" I think somebody's a Cavs fan. He's decent on the weak side but he's not making the all-defense team any time soon.

And Kaman not good enough to be the #1 option? Baron Davis took that spot over the minute he signed here so it doesn't matter. Then he goes on to say Kaman should stop being a poor man's Al Jefferson (what the hell?) and start being a poor man's Gasol. I don't think any serious big man wants to be a poor man's Gasoft.

He makes it sound like we either play Golden State style basketball with Baron or play slow down, feed the post offense of the old Bland-era Clippers. Ever heard of mixing it up? Golden State could never compete for a title playing the way they play because the game slows down in the post season. They were man handled by the Jazz who play more of a half court offense after making history against the #1 seeded Mavs. Golden State couldn't get any easy baskets inside when they needed to. Everything had to come from either Baron/Ellis/Jackson creating or from threes. Conversely, you don't want to become too predictable like we have been in the past. It's ideal to be able to mix it up. I think this team can do that.

There are just so many things wrong with this article...

[mkwest]

The article started out ok, but it got murky once he started talking about Kaman (hmmm....). Last year I saw an improved Kaman that focused and was more patient than he was in his prior years. He seemed to finally "get it." How much of that had to do with Neurofeedback Training? I am not sure, but it sure looks like it helped him to be able to concentrate more and eliminate some of the silly mistakes that we had seen out of him in previous seasons. People are too caught up on the stats and his opportunity due to injury, but if they actually watched the games they would see how well he improved. Kaman did not have much to work with last year in terms of supporting talent (10 of his 2007-08 teammates are currently not on an NBA roster this season or are playing overseas), and most of the weaknesses that the team possessed last season have become strengths this season.

As GuyverX said, Kaman will not be relied upon to be the number 1 option, because that will be Baron's role. We have a versatile and dynamic player in Baron that is capable of being a top 5 pg and even higher when he's at his best. We have some pretty good shooters as well this season that are going to spread the floor and allow easier opportunities for Chris to score. He had only a small handful of easy baskets last season, which won't be the story this year.

Right now there are questions as to what style we're going to play with next season, but we definitely have the luxury of actually having choices. There will be some adjustments for everybody, but the team will just have to work together to build their new identity. Chris at $10M per is definitely a bargain when you look at everyone else who is getting paid around the same or more. In a loaded draft, where we weren't able to select one of the marque players, we still came out pretty damn well. It took awhile for Chris to come along, but the important thing is that he did.

[madmaxmedia]

I would like to see Chris Kaman shoot better than 48% from the field (it's not horrible but not great either at a low post position), but the writer over-exaggerates things to push his idea- that the only way to succeed with Baron Davis is to go balls out like GSW did the year before.

I LOVED that team and their first round series against Dallas was some of the best, most entertaining basketball I've ever seen, but the fact of the matter is that GSW was a 8th/9th team in the West 2 years in a row.

He also dismisses Camby, when IMO Camby and Kaman in the paint is going to be a crucial aspect of our team this year. They are going to hold it down on D and on the boards, freeing up BDiddy, Thornton, Gordon, and Ricky Davis to run and gun a bit. I was disappointed originally when the Clips picked Kaman, but he is still improving as a player and has largely justified his contract. And if he can make some further strides next year then he will definitely have justified his contract for sure.

Dunleavy will let BDiddy play his game, because there's no point to sign BDiddy and force him to be a chess piece out there. Dunleavy has a huge chip on his shoulder after Elton bolted, and will likely be more willing to change his style up to make the upcoming season a success. I think Gordon will benefit from not having to be the focus of the offense, and will be able to work within the offense to get good scoring opportunities and slowly get comfortable with the NBA game.