Wizards @ Sixers 2/5/08

[dbodner]

tk:

Good observations on Young (and the comparison to Prince)...while I would like to see him get a bit stronger defensively in the post, it is important to note that he is still only 19...and it is not unreasonable to expect him to get stronger in 2-3 years - when he will be the ripe old age of 22.

Young just recently mentioned that one of the things he's noticed in the NBA is how strong people are, and how this summer he wants to gain 10-15 lbs. Thaddeus at 6'8", 235 lbs could be scary. He looks to have the type of body type that could do that, too.

[tk76]

I though we were drafting a natural SF. I like what he has shown in the post, but I do not want him to be a tweener. He's looking like an athletic Gomes- which I gues is not so bad.

[bebopdeluxe]

dabods:

I have no concerns that Young could put on an additional 10-15 pounds of muscle in order to allow him to more effectively battle in the low post...and he certainly seems to have enough going on in terms of low-post offensive skills to put that additional weight/strength to use.

And I did like what I saw last night with all the young bucks out there - extending the defense...playing the passing lanes...easy buckets in transition. My concern is that when the game reducts to a half-court battle of wills, do we have enough offensive firepower with a end-game lineup of, say...

Miller
Iggy
Young
Josh Smith (if he is the target this off season)
Sammy

...to score the ball in the guts of the game. Those situations have frequently been BRUTAL for this team this season.

Now...if it was possible for Thad to truly bang and play effectively at PF, then the line up could be:

Miller
(insert any perimeter scoring machine you can find - preferably with a jumper)
Iggy
Thad
Sammy

Now THAT lineup I feel better about scoring the ball in the guts of the game.

[The Guilty Party]

Wait... drop this Josh Smith nonsense... the target should be Emeka.

Miller/Mayo (9th pick)
Iguodala/Williams/Green
Young/Carney
Okafor/Smith
Dalembert/Hill

[The Guilty Party]

Yes... that is a terrible shooting team (for now) but defensively, that team will be strong and as they mature... it should be even stronger.

[76erinSJ]

Arenas would look good in that lineup as the SG because he would instantly become our closer but I just dont think I would want him on this team. He still is very young, I think he is 26 or 27 and he is about to enter his prime. Artest would also be good in that lineup but I think he is too old.

Sammy
Thad
Artest
Iggy
Miller
Very good Defensive team that can score.

or

Sammy
Thad
Iggy
Arenas
Miller
Very good Offensive team but not so good Defense with Miller and Arenas at the guards.
Would anyone like either of those lineups?

[tk76]

We ultimately try to have two 20+pt and one 16+ pt scorers.

Iguodala could be a 20+ scorer, but I would rather see Thad be a 20+ scorer because he likely will be more effecient, and have Iguodala drop back to 16 ppg, with another scorer steeping up either as a PF or SG.

I guess it is not out of the realm of possibility that the other 20+ guy could be Lou in a couple of years- but we would need a much better defensive team if that is the case.

[dbodner]

I though we were drafting a natural SF. I like what he has shown in the post, but I do not want him to be a tweener. He's looking like an athletic Gomes- which I gues is not so bad

Depends on the tweener.

Being a tweener that has no true position is bad. i.e, being a SG who's too small to play sg is bad. He has no true position, is too small for one position, and lacks the skillset to play the other. He's ineffective at both.

A tweener who has a true position, but can play another, is a great asset. Kevin Garnett is a perfect example, IMO. Kevin Garnett, at this point of his career, is a natural PF. But he can play both SF and C effectively. So he doesn't lose effectiveness at his true position, but also gives you the added bonus of being able to play both. Duncan is the same, IMO (being able to play both PF and C).

I think Young is a true SF. He has the size, the length, the foot speed, and IMO he will have the jumper. But I think he can play some PF also. I don't view this as a bad thing.

[dbodner]

Iguodala could be a 20+ scorer, but I would rather see Thad be a 20+ scorer because he likely will be more effecient

Thad needs to learn how to draw contact and get to the line (not to mention improve his handle) before I want him trying to take on that large of an offensive burden.

[SendEm]

-= original quote snipped =-



I don't believe in "ability", I believe in skills. Stromile never had any of those...People were fooled by his dunking ability and his athletic ability while overlooking his lack of basketball skills...If Andray Blatche could pull off a sports center dunk every other game perhaps the Stromile fans of the world would adore him and his potential. I see the skills that Andray has along with his legit 6'10+ frame. His future development looks automatic. He's good for atleast 15 and 9 right now if he ever became a starter. In games where he's played 28+ minutes he's averaging 18.5 points 9.5 rebounds 3.16 blocks....

But believe me I do understand how certain kinds of people need to hear Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, or Jeff Van Gundy talk about how good a young player is before they really believe it...Some people don't feel comfortable unless they arrive on the "late bus"...

Andray Blatche had yet another 28+ minute game last night which was his 7th of the season. Last night against the Spurs he put up 16 points 15 rebounds and 2 blocks in 33 minutes. Get this guy Stephanski NOW!

[tk76]

Iguodala could be a 20+ scorer, but I would rather see Thad be a 20+ scorer because he likely will be more effecient

Thad needs to learn how to draw contact and get to the line (not to mention improve his handle) before I want him trying to take on that large of an offensive burden.

I agree for now, but in personel decisions this summer we have to try to project what we expect from players on our roster 3 years from now.

Its not hard to project what Sam or Iguodala will offer in 3 years, but is really hard to know what we can reasonable expect form Young and LouWill.

[wow444]

Iguodala could be a 20+ scorer, but I would rather see Thad be a 20+ scorer because he likely will be more effecient

Thad needs to learn how to draw contact and get to the line (not to mention improve his handle) before I want him trying to take on that large of an offensive burden.

I think a shot fake will do wonders for him drawing fouls. Not being a rookie will help also..