zone defense, some new offense

[fatlever]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_n ... -guys.html

Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas plans to install a zone defense next season, in part to allow him to play guards D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker in the same backcourt.

"I'm going to have two little guys out there who I really think can hopefully play together. But it's going to be hard for either of them to guard a 2-guard.

"But they could play in a zone...out-front.''

Silas inherited Brown's offense, and figured it was counter-productive to change much about the plays two months into the season. With the benefit of a training camp, he plans to change some of the offense and rename all the plays. He also wants to remake how the Bobcats run a fast break, in a way that will transition more smoothly into half-court offense.

[captaincrunk]

I definitely like this development. I thought it would be a good way to do that. Both guys are quick which means zone won't be too hard on them. I don't think either could really guard a 2. We don't play enough zone anyway.

EDIT: I could see a lineup like this down the road once Kemba finds his groove. This would mean 13 minutes of them both out there, for example. Hendo would be the first guy off the court and the first guy back on, as he'd be relieved by Kemba and then relieve Augustin.

DJ 35/Kemba 13
Henderson 35/Kemba 13

[MPM]

I definitely like this development. I thought it would be a good way to do that. Both guys are quick which means zone won't be too hard on them. I don't think either could really guard a 2. We don't play enough zone anyway.

EDIT: I could see a lineup like this down the road once Kemba finds his groove. This would mean 13 minutes of them both out there, for example. Hendo would be the first guy off the court and the first guy back on, as he'd be relieved by Kemba and then relieve Augustin.

DJ 35/Kemba 13
Henderson 35/Kemba 13

Agreed. The Mavs were one of the only teams to consistently work the zone this past year and they did it well. It allowed them to play Barea and Jet effectively together.

Of course, Biz being able to contribute somewhat his rookie year on D will help a lot with our zone efforts.

[Jaruff]

Depending on season length, I wouldn't be surprised if DJ is shipped out before the trade deadline. His QO is next year and we risk losing him for nothing like we did Felton.

Unless he blows up, he's probably on his way out in a similar way. Add another decent year of starting and I think a desperate team could give him a Felton type deal (2yr/14m or whatever it was).

[raleigh]

I'm fine with this idea because it won't work and will result in some serious blowouts during "The Ultimate Tank Year."

Long-term, DJ has to be traded.

[MPM]

I'm fine with this idea because it won't work and will result in show serious blowouts during "The Ultimate Tank Year."

Long-term, DJ has to be traded.

Worst thing that could happen this year is the season goes away and we get tossed back in the #9 lotto slot. I agree that this is the year to tank, and agree that going zone isn't going to add a lot of W's to our season total - it will just allow Kemba and DJ to share the court for stretches without us being abused.

On another note - I would be curious to know why so many of you feel that DJ "has to be traded?" If Kemba plays well, he will devalue DJ - meaning that there is a possibility that DJ can be retained very affordably. If so, keep him. DJ would look really good coming in as a 6th man, especially if the price is right.

The only way I trade DJ is if it picks us up another youngster and 2012 first rounder.

[SWedd523]

On another note - I would be curious to know why so many of you feel that DJ "has to be traded?" If Kemba plays well, he will devalue DJ - meaning that there is a possibility that DJ can be retained very affordably. If so, keep him. DJ would look really good coming in as a 6th man, especially if the price is right.

Sure, but who says DJ wants to stay in Charlotte if that means he's relegated to 6th man again? It's not as simple as just retaining him.

[MPM]

On another note - I would be curious to know why so many of you feel that DJ "has to be traded?" If Kemba plays well, he will devalue DJ - meaning that there is a possibility that DJ can be retained very affordably. If so, keep him. DJ would look really good coming in as a 6th man, especially if the price is right.

Sure, but who says DJ wants to stay in Charlotte if that means he's relegated to 6th man again? It's not as simple as just retaining him.

Granted, but who's to say he wouldn't? There are a lot of NBA players who are very happy in the 6th man role and it may take some of the burden off of DJ to lead - we know he isn't a great leader. In any case, I don't want to play a guessing game as to what DJ's motivations are, just curious why others seem to so strongly advocate trading him without seeing Kemba play a single game in the NBA. My guess is that most folks who advocate trading DJ are simply seeing him as a redundancy if Kemba plays well (and can play the point). My point is that DJ is a quality, young player and that there is no real need to trade him if Kemba plays well - we are building a team here and the team includes the bench. I'm not saying I wouldn't trade him for the right offer, just that he and Kemba can co-exist, especially if DJ were willing to accept a 6th man role.

[fatlever]

i have a gut feeling that dj won't resign in charlotte. dude has been on the trading block for his entire career. we have tried to trade for guys to replace him countless times and now we drafted kemba. and i dont think dj was in love with coming here in the first place. i think as soon as his is an unrestricted free agent he is gone (assuming he is still here when that happens).

[MPM]

i have a gut feeling that dj won't resign in charlotte. dude has been on the trading block for his entire career. we have tried to trade for guys to replace him countless times and now we drafted kemba. and i dont think dj was in love with coming here in the first place. i think as soon as his is an unrestricted free agent he is gone (assuming he is still here when that happens).

Believe me, I wouldn't mind seeing him shipped for the right offer - I like DJ, but fully realize his limitations. Another 2012 1st would be nice. I just don't think he has to be traded - meaning the FO should have leverage when it comes to deciding his future - we don't have to fire sale him - if the fallback position is him remaining a solid rotation piece for years to come, we're in good shape.

Maybe I'm just gun shy about all of our past boneheaded FO moves - forget that we've now been Cho'ed.

[SWedd523]

Granted, but who's to say he wouldn't? There are a lot of NBA players who are very happy in the 6th man role and it may take some of the burden off of DJ to lead - we know he isn't a great leader. In any case, I don't want to play a guessing game as to what DJ's motivations are, just curious why others seem to so strongly advocate trading him without seeing Kemba play a single game in the NBA. My guess is that most folks who advocate trading DJ are simply seeing him as a redundancy if Kemba plays well (and can play the point). My point is that DJ is a quality, young player and that there is no real need to trade him if Kemba plays well - we are building a team here and the team includes the bench. I'm not saying I wouldn't trade him for the right offer, just that he and Kemba can co-exist, especially if DJ were willing to accept a 6th man role.

fats pretty much hit the nail on the head. After everything that DJ's been through (just on the basketball side of things) from the LB mind games to competing with first Ray and now Kemba for the starting gig is enough to make more than a few guys want a change of scenery. Then you consider that he doesn't really have any ties to the Charlotte community and it doesn't make it that hard to understand him possibly wanting to leave. I just don't see any incentive to DJ staying other than liking his teammates and/or wanting to play for the organization.

If Kemba proves he can be a great player then keeping DJ makes sense in my eyes because he'd be a fantastic 6th man. But if the difference between the two is minimal in either direction, then DJ has to be on his way out due to Kemba still being on a rookie deal, and we need to target another PG later on.

[captaincrunk]

I'd rather have Kemba as the sixth man because it's harder to get scoring on the bench, and he is a tiny bit bigger and could play the 2 a tiny bit better.

[SWedd523]

Either way wouldn't matter to me. If DJ becomes an impact player then put Kemba on the bench as the 6th. I just don't want to re-up DJ if neither one establishes himself as a cornerstone.

[MPM]

If Kemba proves he can be a great player then keeping DJ makes sense in my eyes because he'd be a fantastic 6th man. But if the difference between the two is minimal in either direction, then DJ has to be on his way out due to Kemba still being on a rookie deal, and we need to target another PG later on.

Good point. If Kemba becomes the steal of the draft, then DJ would be ideal off the bench. If neither one distinguishes themselves, I think you probably do have to go back to the well (the 2012 draft) while DJ has some semblance of value.

Sorry - sort of took this discussion OT.

[raleigh]

I hope I'm proven wrong, but neither Kemba nor DJ are big enough to be 6th men. Unless one of them can guard 2's for 15 minutes/game, one will have to be traded or become a permanent backup.

[BigSlam]

So apart from MPM, is it fair to say that most people here would trade DJ before they traded Kemba?

[SWedd523]

I would, if for no other reason than Kemba is just starting his rookie deal and DJ is nearing the end of his. But, that's only assuming they're about the same in terms of impact.

[BigSlam]

I would, if for no other reason than Kemba is just starting his rookie deal and DJ is nearing the end of his. But, that's only assuming they're about the same in terms of impact.

Ok, but say the lockout is lifted tomorrow and a GM comes to us with a good, post offensive big and in return he wants either DJ or Kemba - who so you trade?

[SWedd523]

DJ, mostly due to Kemba being on that rookie deal. You would also hope that with all the hype he's getting, he's going to be better than DJ so it's all a moot point. Besides, even if he's not and he's only in that average to above average range DJ is in, we're still going to need to pick up another PG later on down the line that can hopefully be an impact player.

[BigSlam]

Your answer unwittingly played wonderfully into this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1124795