Bird building like team a decade ago???

DWCP2 · Post #1 » by **DWCP2** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:19 am

Comparing roster of 10 years ago to now....

M. Jackson ==> G. Hill
T. Best ==> D. Collison
R. Miller ==> P. George
J. Rose ==> D. Granger
C. Mullin ==> ???
D. McKey ==> Jones/Posey
D. Davis ==> ???
A. Croshere ==> T. Hansbrough
R. Smits ==> R. Hibbert
S. Perkins ==> ???

Z. Tabak ==> ???
A. Harrington ==> ???
J. Foster ==> S. Barac?
J. Bender ==> L. Stephenson

Admittantly not a fair comparison, but it's a blueprint that has been discussed a time or two before and wouldn't take much to complete better.

PF/C
6th man wing
Veteran role players

I'd say we'd be good to go....

kdawg531 · Post #2 » by **kdawg531** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:38 am

lol @ Paul George now being compared to Reggie Miller of that season/era

MAYBE someday...

Post #3 » by **Miller4ever** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:31 am

Iffy comparisons. This is a different team that we hope has a higher ceiling than that one. Fingers crossed and respect where respect is due, obviously.

Post #4 » by **Gremz** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:11 am

We're quite a ways from that team's level right now. Some of those comparisons seem like reaches, but we are a very young yet positive team.

I think the concept of the builds are similar, but personel and style are very much different.

Wizop · Post #5 » by **Wizop** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:15 pm

you really can't find anyone to match Dale or Antonio Davis and that is the problem. only Solo has the size and he just didn't deliver.

Moooose · Post #6 » by **Moooose** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:13 pm

I believe a lot of us thought about this before and thanks for starting the thread.

I too believe we could design this team just like before. We succeeded back then, with a less physical center in Smits, gunners from everywhere in Miller, Rose, and Mullin, and hustle guys like the Croshere, Foster, and the Davises. If one is to take a good look on our team, it seems like we're in the same mold.

R. Smits = R. Hibbert
D. Davis =
J. Rose = D. Granger / L. Stephenson
R. Miller =
M. Jackson = D. Collison

J. Foster = J. Foster
S. Perkins =
A. Davis = T. Hansbrough
J. Bender = J. McRoberts
D. McKey = D. Jones
A. Croshere = M. Dunleavy
A. Harrington = P. George
C. Mullin = B. Rush
T. Best = G. Hill
A. Johnson = AJ Price

There could be some exaggerations but i think it's pretty much in the same mold nonetheless.
At least it could serve as a guide to what's been missing and/or what we need.

Smits was never a physical center and Hibbert is exactly the same, he's like an Ilgauskas with more inside scoring. Foster is still his usual self, only older. We might still need some younger bodies up front even if old Jeff comes back for another season.
Smits benefited from having a Dale and Antonio Davis on his side to go for loose balls. They can afford to take jump shots because they have the Davises looking for offensive board, since Hansbrough can't hit threes, i think he's the closest to being an Antonio Davis - an off-the-bench instant game changer.
Granger isn't a Reggie Miller type who can hit shots if he has to. So he maybe the Jalen Rose, he's not much of a shooter, but he's bigger and more physical. Lance Stephenson, talent-wise, is a good asset to have. He could eventually turn into another offensive option since he's a pretty good slasher.
Collison is quicker and more athletic, but Mark Jackson will always be smarter and much more of a leader. But nonetheless, they both know how to share the ball.
Josh McRoberts somehow portrays what could've been done by Bender - an ultra-athletic big man with a decent jumper.
I will never forget the time when Al Harrington was developing, you can already see the player he's about to be. I had the same feeling with Paul George, but i am optimistic he could be better.

Post #7 » by **PR07** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 8:15 pm

The only two guys that I think even play remotely close to each other are Hibbert and Smits. I don't really see any of the other comparisons.

TSC25 · Post #8 » by **TSC25** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:03 am

^ I agree,except for Hibbert and Smits I dont see it,maybe Collison and Best.

Moooose · Post #9 » by **Moooose** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:11 am

^^ Exactly.
I don't think they're even close, it's more on who's role from the past they're playing now.
I think the main purpose of comparing the roster 10 years ago with what we have now is the question of how we survived before with a "soft" center in Smits and tons of gunners from downtown.
We have the same kind of team right now and i think maybe we can use that old roster as a template.
There are some clear points of what we're lacking now - a rebounding PF (Dale Davis) and a primary scoring option (Reggie Miller) - coincidence? Isn't that what Larry's been looking for?

Post #10 » by **mizzoupacers** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:13 pm

I don't think there are many close comparisons, if you are comparing who played a particular position now vs. in the late '90s.

What is comparable, though, is the way the present team is being put together: mostly through the draft (Miller, Smits, D. Davis, A. Davis, Best, Croshere then vs. Granger, Hibbert, Hansbrough, George now), with some key trades mixed in (Jackson, Rose, McKey then vs. Collison, Hill now).

The present team has not had the advantage of a high lottery pick (Smits was the #2 overall pick when he was drafted), but the '90s team did not have the advantage of a bunch of unused cap space.

The present team is not as far along as the late '90s team. It's probably more comparable to the Pacers teams of the early '90s. But the potential for a significant free agent signing might make for a faster track to being a true contender.