the anonymous scout was right about felton

Post #1 » by **fatlever** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:16 am

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/0 ... e-bad.html

It's hardly a secret that Raymond Felton's and Boris Diaw's play can be terribly uneven. Felton definitely has improved this year, but it's still well-known he can make bonehead decisions late in games - whether it be driving in too deep or throwing the ball away or not taking a foul when he obviously should.

"My prediction: Those two guys are going to be exposed. You can't get away with (inconsistency) in the playoffs. Guys like that get picked off like school kids by the other team."

"In the playoffs, every single possession counts. It's a war - no layups. If the Bobcats continue their turnover-prone history, the Magic will blow them off the court."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/0 ... z0lmsn0paW

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/0 ... z0lmsQUgxQ

Post #2 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:18 am

Seems like he was right about Diaw too.

Rich4114 · Post #3 » by **Rich4114** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:42 am

I got nervous when I read this because secretly I had a feeling they'd be right. But what do we do? Maybe it's worth it to just not resign him and take a step back so we can try landing a better guy. That's the sacrifice we'll make though. Felton will be able to hold things down and help us win some games, but he may not be able to be a star and lead us to a championship. Do we maintain or unload and build around Wallace again?

Post #4 » by **fatlever** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:59 am

yeah. i cant really defend diaw either after tonights game. i was mainly getting on ray since he is a FA and we have a massive decision to make about him this summer.

Post #5 » by **Paydro70** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:00 am

Honestly, isn't it pretty clear that we don't? Either he comes cheaply, or we let him walk. The only thing he's ever 100% had for us is defense, and this series he's been awful. So why commit?

GQCoolest · Post #6 » by **GQCoolest** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:53 am

Let him walk. Sign a capable veteran point who can start but would still be OK with backing up without destroying chemistry (Steve Blake, Earl Watson, someone like that). DJ is your point guard, and if he can't handle the job, you have someone else to pick up the slack instead of come in and further the panic. Of course, if Felts can pull a complete 180 and take us to a series win, then this is likely moot.

W_HAMILTON · Post #7 » by **W_HAMILTON** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:58 am

He shouldn't be paid a lot regardless of what he does or doesn't do in this series. He should be retained for maybe ~5m/year, ~6m/year tops.

Post #8 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:28 am

Very disappointed in Felton. Jameer is good to very good, Felton is making him look excellent. DJ looked good tonight though. I'll never understand Diaw.

Battery · Post #9 » by **Battery** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:45 am

W_HAMILTON wrote:He shouldn't be paid a lot regardless of what he does or doesn't do in this series. He should be retained for maybe ~5m/year, ~6m/year tops.

Why should he be retained? At 5 or 6 mil, yeah he'd be a nice back up, but at this point that is all he should be if we're bringing him back. Otherwise I want no part of this guy as a starter because we can not win in the playoffs with him and that's what it's all about. So yes, we do judge him on this pathetic playoff performance.

therebirth · Post #10 » by **therebirth** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:50 am

I just know LB will go cry in the media and force the cats to make that commitment.

Battery · Post #11 » by **Battery** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:54 am

therebirth wrote:I just know LB will go cry in the media and force the cats to make that commitment.

LB wants to and will dump Felton the first chance he gets.

zoned_unc · Post #12 » by **zoned_unc** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:04 am

yeah, we should judge him based on 2 road games against the only team in the league to beat every other team. we suck on the road, it aint all on Ray.

Battery · Post #13 » by **Battery** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:22 am

zoned_unc wrote:yeah, we should judge him based on 2 road games against the only team in the league to beat every other team. we suck on the road, it aint all on Ray.

It's not all on Ray, but in order to get better as a team and if we ever want to advance in the playoffs, we need to be tougher on the road. Unless of course you prefer to be a one and done team.

amcoolio · Post #14 » by **amcoolio** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:24 am

What Nelson did in game 1 Felton couldn't do in a million years, yet Felton is stronger, quicker, and has the same amount of talent.

I agree with trying to find a different option in the offseason, unless Felton comes back cheap.

Rich4114 · Post #15 » by **Rich4114** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:39 am

amcoolio wrote:What Nelson did in game 1 Felton couldn't do in a million years, yet Felton is stronger, quicker, and has the same amount of talent.

I agree with trying to find a different option in the offseason, unless Felton comes back cheap.

But could Felton do it if all he has to do is get around picks because his center is Dwight Howard? I say yes, absolutely he can. When he goes to the basket though, who the hell is there to finish around the rim that cuts with him? Theo Ratliff? Chandler? There's no center threat. Winning in the NBA has and always will be about the big men. I thought about this some more, and it's easy to rag on Felton for these two games... but at the end of the day you gotta look at what he did all season.

Get me a dominating center and I bet half of our guys look like damn all-stars. It's amazing what a guy like that does for a team.

Post #16 » by **fatlever** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:46 am

its definitely not all feltons fault. a lot of our team flaws are being exposed so far in this series - lack of interior scoring, lack of outside shooters, lack of experience etc...

the reason felton is a hot topic is solely due to his contract status. this was/is the time for felton to show he can be the pg to lead us deep in the playoffs one day. so far he has not shown us the he can do that. why spend 7 mil on a pg who isnt good enough to lead us deep in the playoffs. felton wont be a difference maker in this series or next year or 3 years from now. with all the other glaring weaknesses we have on the roster, why commit major money to felton this summer?

we have to be smart with our money. sign him for the right price, but dont get caught up in chasing him. we can live without felton. he is not so talented that losing him will cost us 10 loses or something. and we may be able to use our money on a better investment.

therebirth · Post #17 » by **therebirth** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:48 am

zoned_unc wrote:yeah, we should judge him based on 2 road games against the only team in the league to beat every other team. we suck on the road, it aint all on Ray.

Who do you think wanted Hughes? LB that's who. Felton is his type of player.

Rich4114 · Post #18 » by **Rich4114** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:56 am

I think the reason we'd lose Felton is more so the possibility another team like the Knicks offers him a decent sized deal like $8m. They are desperate for a PG up there.

If we got him long term for $6m, I think most people would be satisfied with that. When you think about it, his stats this season were pretty solid and his defense was one of the best amongst PG's.

I just get the feeling if DJ couldn't take us anywhere, we would seriously regret losing Felton and end up with journeyman type PG's until we got one in the draft again. I have nightmares of the days the Hornets lost Muggsy to old age and they couldn't find a damn PG until Baron Davis. That was brutal.

thruthefire · Post #19 » by **thruthefire** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 5:51 am

GQCoolest wrote:Let him walk. Sign a capable veteran point who can start but would still be OK with backing up without destroying chemistry (Steve Blake, Earl Watson, someone like that). DJ is your point guard, and if he can't handle the job, you have someone else to pick up the slack instead of come in and further the panic.

I don't like this at all. If Felton's asking price is too high, then sure, let him walk. But we're in win-now mode. LB won't be around much longer and Wallace and Jack are only getting older and have three more years on their contracts. Felton was our third-best player this season, and I think if we can sign him for $6 or $7 million a year, we should, so long as the contract length is reasonable (three years or less).

And it just seems unfair to me to suggest that Felton can't be the head of a team that goes deep in the playoffs because we're down 2-0 to the defending EC champs. No less, with both games coming on the road and this being his first time in the playoffs. I can understand the concern in signing him long-term, but I don't think this should be cited as why.

Fred Williamson · Post #20 » by **Fred Williamson** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:53 am

There is no way he'll resign for 6 or 7 million a year. If I remember correctly, we offered him such a contract in the offseason, and of course, he turned it down.

And I'm with GQCoolest. If we can't resign him for cheap, get a guy like Earl Watson as a backup and let DJ run the show.