Dat2U wrote:Optms wrote:
No. They aren't going to win the championship with this line up as is. But first round exit? you must be delusional. I think you're underestimating this teams capability with the moves they've made. If healthy, and depending how much of the old Arenas you'll see next season, with these new coaches; this team is extremely dangerous. It isn't crazy to think that this team can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
It's a stretch IMO. Mainly b/c of defense. Not only did the Wizards fail to address defense they ignored it all together. In fact they made it worse by adding two guys who don't defend. We also lose our 2nd best defender in McGuire by basically turning him into a 3rd string player who will be glued to the bench.
The Orlando comparisons just don't cut the mustard. They were #1 of all the NBA in defensive efficiency. We were 29th last year. Even with a healthy Haywood we were typically in the high 20s in the past.
Jamison, Butler, Miller... those are three guys that aren't only not interested in playing D, but don't have the physical charateristics to matchup on D.
Miller, okay. But Foye plays D. In fact, Grunfeld singled out his D in praise of him.
Are you relying on what a couple disgruntled T-wolves fans are saying? Don't.
All fans on this forum do is carp about the inability of guys to play hectoring lockdown defense, which, it needs to be emphasized, is harder than it used to be to play with all the rules changes.
Bear in mind: Foye was not only not Brandon Roy in Minny; he was also not a dominating wing player. Hence, the frustration. Here, he's freed from having to be the first or second or even third option. Freed from expectations.
Lots of guys are just not suited -- either in talent or temperament -- to be the No. 1 or No. 2. Lamar Odom isn't and wasn't; he's lucky to be able to be the No. 3, and that's the main reason the Lakers won. Not because Kobe was dominant -- he's always been dominant. But because Gasol -- who is also not suited to be the No. 1 -- could slide into the No. 2 role and release Odom from that burden and allow him to be the No. 3.
Look, I'm not saying this is a miraculous trade. But I think, on balance, it's a good one.
The fact that there were a couple skimpy reports about Stoudemire's availability does not mean that we had a realistic possibility of acquiring him. Yet, many on here seem to believe that we had a chance, and a kind of mob mentality took hold early in the week, enabling us to believe, not the reality, but our own frenzied chatter and the idea that something was therefore cooking. It was sketchy evidence, at best, and yet somehow we proceeded as if we were sleuths closing in on a case.
And so now, many of us are skewering Grunfeld for lacking vision -- for not having the guts to do the grand, risk-taking thing.
And just what would that be? You can't dance without a partner. The Suns aren't about to trade Stoudemire right now. Nor is Toronto just now willing to deal Bosh. Philly's not getting rid of Brand. Shaq? Is that your lineup shakeup? Who?
And it seems ridiculous to me to bash Grunfeld for showing follow-through on his previous commitment to keep intact the group of Butler, Arenas, Haywood and Jamison. It was okay, if wildly premature, to bash him last summer for making that commitment in the first place. But not now.
Foye and Miller represent follow-through. This is his last attempt, as I see it, to give this group a chance to do something significant. If they fail, I feel reasonably certain that he will shake things up and move in a slightly different direction.
And of course, this deal yesterday gives him the ability to do that.
A lot of you, I trust, haven't seen enough of Foye to know. He's shown improvement over the course of his three years in the league. The same cannot be said of Young and Blatche. He's not an average NBA player. He's a guy on the rise. Is that to say he'll be a superstar? No, but I think this is a classic case of getting a player who is just beginning to emerge.
25? That's young; he hasn't even hit his physical prime. That's your lottery pick, folks. Only he's got three years of seasoning on him.
Is it possible that Curry will be better one day? Sure, it's possible. But I somehow doubt it.
Tyreke Evans might be wonderful. But he's not going to be needed with a Gilbert Arenas.
Harden could be good. Or ordinary. Yet Harden or Hill, plus Hughes -- the Knicks' proposal -- is what some people are saying was a more attractive offer.
Sorry; that's just laughable.
And Miller. Miller, who so many on here have been banging the drum for for years. Miller, who would spread the floor for us. Miller, who with his passing and shooting and size would be a good complement to Butler and Arenas and Jamison. Well, now we have him. And he's not banged up, contrary to what some say. He's 29. He can ball.
He's never been on a team this deep or this skilled offensively. He's going to command a lot of attention without even taking shots. And that's going to give Arenas, et al. loads of room to operate.
Late in games, we can put four shooters on the floor. Four. Two all-world shooters in Miller and Arenas. And two very good shooters in Jamison and Butler. That's two more than we had last year, and replicates the approach Orlando was able to take in the regular season and playoffs -- spread the floor and bomb away.
Only difference is, we have more guys who can slash and take their man off the dribble.
Defense, sure -- I'm in agreement with the sentiment that we didn't address our most glaring team need.
But I believe a lot can be done with scheme, and I think that Saunders's matchup zones are going to help us enormously.
Miller is a good team defender, and Foye has lateral quickness and size and is, yes, a pretty good defender.
I think Saunders will find ways to maximize guys' potential.
Haywood is our anchor, and I see Arenas giving better effort out front, and I think with those two pieces in place again -- a lane-clogger and a lead guard showing fire and commitment -- and with a new scheme and a new focus (quick close-outs, no easy layups), we won't be the same softie we were.
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