JR Smith

[jmon]

With regards to JR Smith,

Carney may grow to fill a similar role to JR. If the Sixers got Brand, I would JR since he could flat out spread the floor with his quick release and good elevation on his deadly 3.

He really just looks like a teenager out there, which he essentially still is mentally. Over time, he may become more mature and I think he eventually will.

Someone pointed out that he would be closer to home which would probably be a bad thing. It probably wouldn't help much. Being around good character guys here would be better than being around bad character guys in Denver. I think Philly overall would be a better place. Younger players that seem to have their heads on straight like Carney, Lou, Thad, Iggy would all be a good group to surround him.

Ultimately, he isn't going to poison the team like a Zach Randolph move would, so I don't hate the move. I wouldn't get him though until the PF situation is figured out.

I think some people put too much emphasis on all players "giving effort" on defense. I would take JR Smith over Korver any day because JR has the ability to one day become an average to above average defender. Korver will never be better than terrible, even though he gives a ton of effort. You have to have average athleticism to get by in the NBA on the defensive side unless you are surrounded by terrific defenders.

So essentially, I wouldn't waste out future cap space on him. If the cap space is gone, I would use the MLE on him. Guys like him are available every year. Most of the time they are better defenders though and older.

[is1531]

Nobody had 5 defensive players on a team on the court at the same time.

2004 Detroit Pistons.

Rip Hamilton isn't a defensive player. He is an offensive specialist. I'm not sure where people ever get the idea that Rip can defend. Before he got to Detroit, he couldn't defend. He still can't.

In 2004 they had 4 all world defenders and one below average one that was covered up by the others. Rip is a terrific player though in my opinion and a great fit, but he isn't a "defensive player" by any stretch.

I deliberately did not answer him because I just prefer not to bother with him period. Some poeple up in NY have to make you think they are always right about everthing.

Around 15 or more years ago, Magic said, " A great offense will always beat a great defensive team". Magic won 5 titles. He should know.

Boston won around 9 or 10 tiltes with defense, but they some key players that were weak defenders. Ideally , you prefer balance, but since only 2 teams get to play for the tiltle, that will eliminate a lot of teams.

The Pistons teams I saw in the 80's won 2 titles, but they were good enough to win 5. Their was too many good teams back then. The Pistons had great defenders with Rodman, Salley, Dumars and Lambeer, but they had some great scorers that also made a huge difference, like Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Lambeer, Vinnie Johson and Mark Aguirre after they traded Dantley.

Hamilton is an offensive player. He scares nobody with his defense.

[SendEm]

This is directed towards all of the people reading this THAT REALLY KNOW BASKETBALL. People online will attempt to completely rewrite a players history based upon their OWN perspective JUST to "win" a point against some internet poster who they don't know. We Sixer fans who don't suffer from short term memory loss can vividly remember how Richard Hamilton put the clamps down on our Allen Iverson in a way that we had never seen before. But somehow in this thread on the internet Richard Hamilton becomes a player that doesn't play defense? We know better right?
K

[ChuckS]

I stayed out of this thread because it was so well argued on both sides that I knew the only thing I could add was irrelevant and relatively inconsequential to the "meat" of the discussion.

But John Havlicek is one of my favorite all time players. Every time they showed him last night I felt guiltier and guiltier about my silence. So I hope the following is not seen as "smart-alecy" or nit picky.


[quote] "John Havilicek, who was proably one of the best 6th men in history.

****Defensively, he was nothing,****

but he was a big part of the Celltics championship years in the 60's."


While I certainly agree with the gist of the above, I wish that one part had been left out. Hondo was on the NBA All Defensive team for eight straight years (five straight on the first team).

[jmon]

This is directed towards all of the people reading this THAT REALLY KNOW BASKETBALL. People online will attempt to completely rewrite a players history based upon their OWN perspective JUST to "win" a point against some internet poster who they don't know. We Sixer fans who don't suffer from short term memory loss can vividly remember how Richard Hamilton put the clamps down on our Allen Iverson in a way that we had never seen before. But somehow in this thread on the internet Richard Hamilton becomes a player that doesn't play defense? We know better right?
K

Your response says nothing except that Rip Hamilton apparently put the clamps down on Iverson once. Cool dude.

I assume you are referring to 04-05 when the Pistons won 4-1. Well I checked the numbers and that series just so happened to be one of Allen Iverson's best ever offensively. Iverson went off for 32 and 10 while shooting a terrific % for him at 47%. Rip put the "clamps down on Iverson" for sure man.

The numbers completely disprove your point.

Beyond the numbers, the Pistons mostly play team defense where they help each other and noone is left on an island of any kind against good players or even bad players most of the time.

You really make bad points. But my opinion over the internet is apparently nothing compared to yours since you KNOW BASKETBALL and I don't.

btw, Rip being a below average defender is essentially common knowledge. Sorry, but you are wrong and your example was terrible.

[SendEm]

I assume

O'rly? Well you know what they say about that.

Point still stands.

[Ca]

SendEm you're the worst. Admit you're wrong once plz?

[jmon]

I assume

O'rly? Well you know what they say about that.

Point still stands.

What's your point? In the other series against the Pistons Iverson shot his usual 39% from the floor. His playoff average is 40%. In the other series, he probably had his best ever. It washes out to Iverson having more success against the Pistons on the offensive side of the ball than against just about any other team. Your point that he was put in shackles is just wrong. Accept it.

Rip isn't a defensive player. You are wrong. 'rly

[SendEm]

5 for 25 shooting amongst other games...

Also, kept his opponent to a 15.4 PER this season. Iggy is considered a "great" defender around these parts but with a 17.0 defensive PER...Come on the homerison and the Sendem PLEASE BE WRONG THIS TIME sentiment is clouding judgement. Rip Hamilton is as good of a perimeter defender as you could ever realistically hope to get on a team.

Again, point still stands and I will now gracefully bow out.

[jmon]

5 for 25 shooting amongst other games...

Also, kept his opponent to a 15.4 PER this season. Iggy is considered a "great" defender around these parts but with a 17.0 defensive PER...Come on the homerison and the Sendem PLEASE BE WRONG THIS TIME sentiment is clouding judgement. Rip Hamilton is as good of a perimeter defender as you could ever realistically hope to get on a team.

Again, point still stands and I will now gracefully bow out.

So you quote PER... useless since the statistical measure is, overall, useless.

Then you misdirect twice because you have no real argument. (Where did Iggy come from?, who are you? I don't know you. I am, after all, new to these boards)

Then you repeat your opinion.

Then, like the champ you are, you bow out and decide to not adequately defend an assertion you made.