GT: San Antonio vs Nets - Feb 6, 8:00PM (TNT)

[Prokorov]

I think Pierce deserves some credit. We've all been kind of tough on him, justifiably at times, but he's really stepped up and played like the guy we thought we were getting since he's made the move to PF. He's hitting his jumpers now, he's cut down on the careless TOs, he's leading by example, and he's giving a lot more effort defensively now.

Pierce overall (42 games): 13.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 TOpg, 42.0% FG/34.4% 3PT/85.1% FT (56.5% TS)

That's really solid production, and he's still having a down year, when you look at his 3pt shooting. Assuming that will normalize...not a lot of teams are getting that kind of offense out of their PF/backup SF.

Not a lot of teams are also getting just 4.8 rpg from their starting PF. It's just not fair to compare him to other PFs and say he's doing great, simply because quite frankly he's playing out of position there.

But yes, he's playing better than he was early in the season. Long-term though, him at PF is not sustainable, IMO.

Look at my post above. After his fractured shooting hand healed, his shooting percentages skyrocketed in December & January - to closer to his norm.

I do agree that he cannot play PF long term. He is way out of position. This team needs a quality PF so Paul can return to SF. And KG no longer can play PF. New blood is necessary.

Yeah, he has been really good, and played really well since we switched to a small ball lineup. All i really want from pierce is emotion, not tunring it over a ton(which he cut down on) and to hit open 3's while playing average or better defense. he has done that for the most port.

That said, like you and speedy mentioned, we really need a power forward. a guy who can rebound and not be a zero on offense. I Think a Pierce/Evans for Boozer/Hinrich deal makes too much sense for both sides for it not to happen or be considered.

Pierce would fill the deng role for them, gibson could move into the starting lineup, and they get expiring money for boozer moving his contract without using the amnesty.

We get our PF, who happens to be one of the better rebounders in the league, is also a very emotional player so you dont lost that with pierce moving out the door, and offensively he can still do some things. we also get a real backup PG so terry never has to play ever ever ever ever

[Palmeirense]

I wouldn't pull that Pierce for Boozer deal. Pierce is doing well here. I would still try to shop Lopez around with hopes of nabbing a center or a SG.

[Starbury2CptJax]

I was weary about starting Dwill n Sdot together... if you want that lineup during stretches or 4th, sure thing... but I just think Dwill needs to come off the bench.... his basketball play was much quicker or smoother with a less star studded cast outside of AK.

I feel/seen Sdot mesh more so with JJ, PP n KG and their game works better ATM than with Dwill starting...

I think we're better off that way....

been saying this for a month and got bashed for it because "dwill is our best player and needs to start"

but you hit it on the head. Dwill fits much much better with mirza/ak/blatche and that second unit is infinetly more effective with a poing gaurd of his calibur to prevent them from YOLO shot jacking. PLUS it allow you to cover up his horrid defense since he will play more minutes vs. reserves.

It doesnt effect his overall court time, as he will still lead us in mpg next to JJ... but it maxmizes our overall effectiveness over 48 minutes.

What makes it work so much is that Livingston is much more spry and can get that lift when attacking the rim in delayed transition because the starters dont run. Most of them jog up the court or camp on the perimeter and the ball tends to stick way too much Williams to flourish in a copycat flex system.
With the bench unit, Williams has gunners, runners, slashers, dunkers. He can push the ball and he's going have bodies running the lane with him the full break. He can use the penchant to make tough layups to draw defenders out the paint and dish it to Kirilenko or Blatche or kick it to Teletovic for a three without actually having to get himself beat up. Also, unlike Pierce or Johnson who will trot up the court with the ball and then post themselves up, Kirilenko and even Blatche will push it just like a guard until Deron catches up or they can drive the lane and hit Deron on the trail.

The lack of motion in the first unit offense compared to the second unit is, what I believe, is the main reason Deron does not mix with the starting unit. Since Livingston cannot hit threes, he needs to be more methodical with his shot selection but Deron can make sparkly wine out of grapes with guys that can cut and constantly work to keep the proper floor balance.

[Starbury2CptJax]

I wouldn't pull that Pierce for Boozer deal. Pierce is doing well here. I would still try to shop Lopez around with hopes of nabbing a center or a SG.

only if the Nets could get first round picks out of it. They'd be doing the Bulls a HUGE favor, like taking on Gerald Wallace type favor, for swapping an expiring for Boozer. Bulls are trying to avoid Luxury tax to avoid repeater tax in 2015 and 2016 and have went to such extremes as letting Nate and Bellinelli go, trading Deng, and carrying only 12 players on the roster up until the last possible moment before they need 13 bodies. Now they are worried about Gibson possibly reaching bonus money incentives in his contracts. They currently are about 35 K over the lux tax line WITH 12 players.

Despite the massive foot problems, Lopez still has to have high value around the league right?

[Prokorov]

I wouldn't pull that Pierce for Boozer deal. Pierce is doing well here. I would still try to shop Lopez around with hopes of nabbing a center or a SG.

only if the Nets could get first round picks out of it. They'd be doing the Bulls a HUGE favor, like taking on Gerald Wallace type favor, for swapping an expiring for Boozer. Bulls are trying to avoid Luxury tax to avoid repeater tax in 2015 and 2016 and have went to such extremes as letting Nate and Bellinelli go, trading Deng, and carrying only 12 players on the roster up until the last possible moment before they need 13 bodies. Now they are worried about Gibson possibly reaching bonus money incentives in his contracts. They currently are about 35 K over the lux tax line WITH 12 players.

Boozer expires the year after Pierce. His contract isnt poisonous as it once was. No way they give up more then a future 2nd in addition boozer. certainly not a first rounder. it isnt the same as taking on gerald wallace. his deal was longer.

Despite the massive foot problems, Lopez still has to have high value around the league right?

i dont think he has much value. for one, offense from the center positions isnt at a premium as most teams dont run their offense that way in todays game. Teams are more looking for a D anchor at center. that certainly is not lopez. then throw in the foot injuries and the bloated contract.

if we can get expirings + a future heavily protexted first, thats about as good as we can ask. if he come sback and shows he can play 30+ mpg, that would be huge for his value

[NyCeEvO]

I think Pierce deserves some credit. We've all been kind of tough on him, justifiably at times, but he's really stepped up and played like the guy we thought we were getting since he's made the move to PF. [

Correction: Most of us have been kind of tough on him....

Exculpatory and I told ya'll to wade the storm and that he and KG would get better as the season goes on.

Although, the lack of a system in the beginning of the season didn't help them whatsoever.

[CalamityX12]

I was weary about starting Dwill n Sdot together... if you want that lineup during stretches or 4th, sure thing... but I just think Dwill needs to come off the bench.... his basketball play was much quicker or smoother with a less star studded cast outside of AK.

I feel/seen Sdot mesh more so with JJ, PP n KG and their game works better ATM than with Dwill starting...

I think we're better off that way....

been saying this for a month and got bashed for it because "dwill is our best player and needs to start"

but you hit it on the head. Dwill fits much much better with mirza/ak/blatche and that second unit is infinetly more effective with a poing gaurd of his calibur to prevent them from YOLO shot jacking. PLUS it allow you to cover up his horrid defense since he will play more minutes vs. reserves.

It doesnt effect his overall court time, as he will still lead us in mpg next to JJ... but it maxmizes our overall effectiveness over 48 minutes.

Don't forget it also allows Dwill to be a scorer or aggressive to the paint without hurting JJ or PP opportunities.

[MGrand15]

Hypothetically, if what you're saying is true, D-Will meshes better with the bench - it doesn't really matter in the long run. For us to be true contenders (or even have a shot of battling Indy/MIA) - Deron needs to work the kinks out with the starting lineup. He needs to play effectively with JJ/PP/KG/Livingston. They need to figure out the balance of playing on/off the ball. That's just how it has to be. If Deron can't play with the starters effectively, it lowers our ceiling tremendously.

Still, I disagree with your overall point. The bench plays well with Deron because ANY unit will play better with Deron. He's our best player and our best playmaker. Bringing Deron off the bench simply gives him more minutes with the guys he won't really be playing with in the playoffs. It makes no sense.

Either way, you know in the playoffs, as soon as we lose, you'd throw DWill in the starting lineup in a heartbeat. So I don't really understand the logic...

[CalamityX12]

Hypothetically, if what you're saying is true, D-Will meshes better with the bench - it doesn't really matter in the long run. For us to be true contenders (or even have a shot of battling Indy/MIA) - Deron needs to work the kinks out with the starting lineup. He needs to play effectively with JJ/PP/KG/Livingston. They need to figure out the balance of playing on/off the ball. That's just how it has to be. If Deron can't play with the starters effectively, it lowers our ceiling tremendously.

Still, I disagree with your overall point. The bench plays well with Deron because ANY unit will play better with Deron. He's our best player and our best playmaker. Bringing Deron off the bench simply gives him more minutes with the guys he won't really be playing with in the playoffs. It makes no sense.

Either way, you know in the playoffs, as soon as we lose, you'd throw DWill in the starting lineup in a heartbeat. So I don't really understand the logic...

That's actually not true. The whole point or basis of moving Dwill to the 2nd unit is bcuz that Dwill, JJ n PP(KG is 50/50 imo) have not played well together this season. After 46? gms they havent played consistent nor effective compared to Sdot play point for Jj n PP.

This is about starting games, there can be stretches or 4th closers that you put your best 5 and thats fine, but starting the game with Dwill n Sdot IMO isn't the best. Sdot is out there cuz Dwill can't PG with the others, he's the SG role. our ceiling is already lowered, this isn't shocking really.