Bensational wrote:rcklsscognition wrote:
As far as Dwight, he is overkill. We don't need him offensively and we could find a cheaper alternative in a defensive center that has a limited post game but preferably a mid-range jumper so he doesn't sit in the paint all game and clog it up. He would also be able to pass. We can all see our offense is running smoothly without him in the game. I'm not really saying our system is wrong, I personally don't enjoy it, but I know a lot of people here don't like the 1 in 4 out, but with Dwight and what skills he has, that's what we're going to run.
At this moment in time, we just happen to be in the unfortunate position of having no defensive center on a team designed to have one. If you replaced Dwight right now with a defensive specialist, would we not be better with that + our current offense?
defensive specialist C's still aren't easy to come by.
i think that despite the team's recent change in gear, people are forgetting that we're still only 3-6 since Dwight went down with back problems - including losses to the Pistons and Wizards. we've scared a couple decent teams, but we're yet to really make a statement that says "this team is capable of winning without Dwight".
against the Pacers, though, i'm quietly hoping that Davis can do enough to hold Hibbert down. Davis was really useful for the Celtics against Howard in recent playoff series, hopefully he can bring that against the Pacers as well.
Not saying they're a dime a dozen, but they're cheaper. We could get someone for 9-14 mil a year instead of 20. Then we have 6-11 mil more to play with.
I never said this team is better without Dwight, I said this team + a defensive center is better. Everyone here is talking about how this team is 3-6 and they don't consider that this team is 3-6 without Dwight playing but with Dwight on our capspace. If Dwight's 20 mil was not on our cap and a 9-14 mil a year defensive center and another MLE type player at 5-7 mil was, we'd be as good or slightly better IMO.
I think we're overpaying for Dwight's abilities that overlap and cancel out some of our talent. I think we're paying 8 mil a year for Dwight's offensive/leadership contributions that we don't need. Yes, we need his defense, which I value at about 12 million a year, but there are players out there that can give us enough defense to succeed and cost 9-13 per. If that $7-11 mil is spent on a good player, who can play D and score, improve our wing defense, we'd not need such a great defender in the paint.
In the end, we have a system and I'm fine with it. But there are alternatives. I know the instant reaction is, see, we're 3-6 without Dwight and giving up 50% from the field, these guys suck! But, you have to keep in perspective that if Dwight really wasn't here, there'd be a replacement for him. We'd have 20 million worth of replacements for him in whatever form works for the team. The fear is Dwight has some special intangible skillset that will put us over the top, some leadership skill that will motivate his teammates, and we're losing that if we don't have him. The cost of having the best center in the game who is not good enough overall on his own to win is that you're still paying him as though he is. Too much superstar overhead on Dwight at this point in time. Granted, he might improved enough to make it worth it, and if he stays here, I hope he does.
I think that might have been my longest post ever, I've got a good gin and tonic buzz going and was feeling this topic there for a while.
