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Unfortunately I was/am not home to watch all the playoff games tonight but looking at the the headlines where it stated that Chris Paul helped secure a win over the Mavs...I couldn't help but think how vital it is that JH find a way to get us the "right" kind of point guard. We have a guy that can score for u at the PG position but we don't have a guy who is a real floor general. Now don't get me wrong, I recognize that a point guard isn't our only need, the defense does have to dramatically improve but without a point guard we will still suck. Hammond has to find someone to run this team..that should be our first priority after securing a good coach.

I agree sis and based on Hammond's comments I think it will be his first priority. If you want to be a great team you need to have strong PG play (or a strong PG-esque player at SG or SF). It's so difficult to win if you don't have a player who can make his teammates better and can control the offense and make sure the ball's going where it needs to go.

The good news here is I think Hammond has a strong understanding of how important it is for the Bucks to get the right type of PG. I think he'll make it his top priority to find that player this summer.

carmelbrownqueen wrote:Now don't get me wrong, I recognize that a point guard isn't our only need, the defense does have to dramatically improve but without a point guard we will still suck.

Disagree. We need a superstar talent. If we could get that, we don't need a stud PG.

Look at the Lakers (Kobe), Cavs (LeBron), Rockets (T-Mac), Blazers (Roy), Magic (Howard), Wizards (Arenas).

These are all teams over .500, and none of them have a true stud PG on their roster, because their superstar talent can offset it.

I think this team needs a superstar talent more than anything. If it is in the form of a PG (Rose), great. If its in any other form, we could easily use Mo Williams as a PG on that team.

Put Mo Williams next to a true superstar wing and you will have a pretty good backcourt tandem.

We have to find a way

...to win the draft lottery.

The Lakers, Cavs and Rockets all have strong PGs. They just happen to play a non-PG position. Roy also has good PG skills though I don't believe they are on par with Kobe, LeBron or McGrady's. At least not yet.

So all of those teams have the type of player CBQ is talking about. The Wizards don't and probably won't get out of the first round. The Magic don't but in my opinion likely won't become a contender until they do.

The great teams all have strong players who can run the offense and make their teammates better. Even if they're not PGs, they have PG skills and quality PG instincts.

Kevin Garnett is a superstar talent and his best season in the NBA came when he had a strong PG in Cassell. And this season he's enjoying a great year in Boston and what's been one of the keys to the Celtics' season - vastly improved play from their PG.

But it doesn't matter what any of us say; Hammond has made it clear he believes getting a strong PG is the No. 1 priority in terms of putting a contending team together. So whether people here believe the position is important or not, it's clear it does to Hammond.

Simplify this: We need a playmaker.

REDDzone wrote:Simplify this: We need a playmaker.

Yup.

REDDzone wrote:Simplify this: We need a playmaker.

Agreed. That player is typically your PG. I think it's easier to find that skill in a PG than in a non-PG. Players like Kobe and LeBron or even McGrady don't come along very often.

::waits for the bat signal to go on over DrugBust's house so he can hype up Mayo::

europa wrote:I agree sis and based on Hammond's comments I think it will be his first priority. If you want to be a great team you need to have strong PG play (or a strong PG-esque player at SG or SF). It's so difficult to win if you don't have a player who can make his teammates better and can control the offense and make sure the ball's going where it needs to go.

The good news here is I think Hammond has a strong understanding of how important it is for the Bucks to get the right type of PG. I think he'll make it his top priority to find that player this summer.

Who can the Bucks get though that some other team doesn't need or doesn't recognize could be that guy in the right system? Without getting a guy like Derrick Rose in the lottery, I'm not sure who we could realistically get that can dramatically improve the PG play for this team?

bango_the_buck wrote:

We have to find a way

...to win the draft lottery.

Yeah.. that's what I want I'm just not sure we are going to be that lucky. If we could get Derrick Rose and develop him under the right kind of coach then I would be immensely happy. But.. I just don't believe the Bucks can get that lucky. I have my fingers crossed though.

carmelbrownqueen wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Who can the Bucks get though that some other team doesn't need or doesn't recognize could be that guy in the right system? Without getting a guy like Derrick Rose in the lottery, I'm not sure who we could realistically get that can dramatically improve the PG play for this team?

The one guy who comes to mind is Conley if the Grizzlies draft Rose. But that's dependent on the lottery. It wouldn't surprise me if Hammond decides to go the stopgap route for a year and focusing more on removing Mo if he doesn't believe Mo is the right PG for this team going forward. That's the first step - removing the players who don't fit. Then you try to find the ones who do.

[quote="DH34Phan"][/quote]

Every team that you mentioned has been on the hunt for a PG that works in their system and can help them get over the hump and win a Championship. Remember LeBron was extremely disappointed that the Cavs didn't try harder to get Jason Kidd. Kobe was also disappointed because he thought they needed Jason Kidd. The Magic have alternated between believing they needed another big man and a point guard.. again to get them over the hump. Even the Rockets have talked extensively about their need for an upgrade at the PG position. Super star or star talent isn't always enough. Also keep in mind none of the teams you are referring too have won a Championship in recent years because they are missing a piece or two or three.. the Superstar/star talent hasn't won them the big prize.

carmelbrownqueen wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Every team that you mentioned has been on the hunt for a PG that works in their system and can help them get over the hump and win a Championship. Remember LeBron was extremely disappointed that the Cavs didn't try harder to get Jason Kidd. Kobe was also disappointed because he thought they needed Jason Kidd. The Magic have alternated between believing they needed another big man and a point guard.. again to get them over the hump. Even the Rockets have talked extensively about their need for an upgrade at the PG position. Super star or star talent isn't always enough. Also keep in mind none of the teams you are referring too have won a Championship in recent years because they are missing a piece or two or three.. the Superstar/star talent hasn't won them the big prize.

Who was the last championship team with a pass-first, non-scoring, elite playmaker, "true", blah blah, whatever PG to win a championship?

Tony Parker is essentially Mo Williams if Mo Williams played with Tim Duncan. I can't even remember the Heat's PG. J-Will? Payton? Scorers. Chauncey Billups? More of a scorer than a playmaker. Derek Fisher? All the guy did offensively was shoot corner threes. John Paxon? BJ Armstrong? Ron Harper? Etc... We need to go back to Magic/Isiah days.

Whatever. I don't see having a "true" PG (whatever that means) as a way to get to the top. Stockton, Kidd, Nash have never won championships. The common denominator of all the teams listed above (outside of one) is that they had atleast one superstar talent on their team.

You want to win a championship? Get a top-5 player in the league.

I'd gladly take Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, or Brook Lopez this offseason.

I'll add to the long list of people who say we need a playmaker. We have two on the roster. The problem is, one is our starting center, and therefore he's generally not going to touch the ball until under 20 seconds in the shot clock. And the other one is our backup point. We need one of our three perimeter starters to be both a good ball handler and a good playmaker. To me, in this draft that means Rose, Mayo... or Gallinari. Potentially, you could add Westbrook, Bayless and Batum to that list. The rub is that none of them are ready to step into that role next year.

Sessions can be the point guard we need, look what he's done with very little experience.

europa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



The one guy who comes to mind is Conley if the Grizzlies draft Rose. But that's dependent on the lottery. It wouldn't surprise me if Hammond decides to go the stopgap route for a year and focusing more on removing Mo if he doesn't believe Mo is the right PG for this team going forward. That's the first step - removing the players who don't fit. Then you try to find the ones who do.

Exactly. If Memphis lands Rose, Conley or Lowry are available, even if I'm still not sold on Conley. We'll see.

midranger wrote: Tony Parker is essentially Mo Williams if Mo Williams played with Tim Duncan.

That's a very interesting statement; I agree with you; that's why I believe that we should get a PF with blocking skills (Okafor, for example) to have a Bogut-Okafor or Bogut-another similar PF behind Mike and Mo. Then we should get an athletic SF and a backup SG who can play D.

Neapolitan Buck wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Exactly. If Memphis lands Rose, Conley or Lowry are available, even if I'm still not sold on Conley. We'll see.

then maybe we can get Conley for cheap...since his value won't be that high if they draft rose.

Rose would be fantastic but a huge long shot unfortunately.

Let's face it, we have a lot of needs on this team and Hammond won't be able to fix everything this summer. We could be stuck with Mo for another year. Hopefully not.