Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew ditching switches
L.D. probably wouldn't consider this a 'switchable switch.'
(Checking in from a Miami holiday weekend filled with beaches, BBQ and . . . beverages)
We’ve heard about L.D.’s offensive philosophies but what about D? The short answer to what I know is the No. 1 question: Atlanta’s base defense under Drew will not feature switching on all (or most) screens.
But what he hopes to accomplish goes beyond Xs and Os and lineups. L.D. said he wants to develop a true defensive disposition for a team known more for finesse.
“Playing defense, it can be ugly sometimes,” Drew said. “Sometimes guys don’t like to do the ugly stuff, the dirty work stuff. Good defensive teams, their mindset is to go into games and outwork you. They don’t care how they do it. They do whatever it takes to shut you down. They have that aggressive mentality, where each game they go into it thinking ‘I am going lock in on my guy.’ and that works its way to the rest of the guys. You have to have that team concept and that aggressive mentality.”
A fanatical devotion to shutting down opponents is a trait of all true contenders. Atlanta’s lack of that quality has to rank at least alongside strategy and personnel as a major reason the Hawks have been a middling defensive team.
The Hawks ranked 13th in defensive efficiency last season, 11th in 2008-09 and 13th in ‘07-08. They were 24th in defensive rebounding rate in ‘09-10, 24th in ‘08-09 and 26th in ‘07-08. Atlanta’s rank in opponent true shooting percentage was 19th last season, eighth in ‘08-09 and 18th in ‘07-08. You can keep going down the list of ways to measure defensive performance and lately the Hawks rarely ranked in the top 10, never mind the top 5.
Defense is another area where L.D. is going to have to find a way to get more out of the guys he’s got. Changing their mentality is the obvious place to start. Drew has to galvanize a group that wilted so badly against the Magic. He has to help his players reach the “uncomfortable” effort levels that Al said they didn’t reach last spring.
There are familiar questions about Drew’s roster, too. It’s the same group of defenders (with an asterisk next to Jamal’s name) that couldn’t contain the perimeter. It’s still a power rotation that lacks a menacing 7-footer in the middle. It’s the same group that too often looked to Al and Smoove to go to work on the boards.
Does L.D. think he has the horses to play good, tough, straight-up D?
“I think we have the personnel to do it,” he said. “That’s why I use the term ‘accountability.’”
One way to annoy NBA players is to talk to them about defensive “stoppers.” So many times I’ve heard guys, especially guards and wings, scoff at the notion. There is no such thing, they say, because there are too many good offensive players and the hand-check rules make it nearly impossible to stop those kind of guys straight up.
Point taken, and L.D. said it’s one he recognizes. That’s why he said he there will be times when switching and other help-type schemes will be necessary.
“I think you have to make a decision on how you want to guard certain people,” he said. “Certainly game-by-game, adjustments will be made defensively. But you go into the game with the mindset of guarding your own people. I think we are deep enough we can get that kind of defense out of our guys.”
Drew said he doesn’t want that to go so far with tricking up the D that players use it as a crutch. You could see that happen with the Hawks last season. Players became so reliant on the switches that they tended to relax in anticipation of screens. Why fight through picks to stay with your man when he can be always be passed off to a teammate?
“I know exactly what you mean,” L.D. said. “You are not the first person I’ve heard say that. Different coaches have different philosophies on how they do things.”
The switching defense has its advantages. It can be effective against pick-and-rolls. It helped the Hawks cover up some of their limitations (even if it also could create other problems). But I think there is no question that using switches so liberally blunted Atlanta’s defensive aggressiveness.
Getting away from the switches is a matter of strategy for Drew, whose goal is for the Hawks to make only what he calls the “switchable switches” that don’t leave them in clearly bad matchups But ditching switches also is a matter of mindset.
“We need guys locking in and focusing on what the defense calls for,” Drew said. “We have the tools for it. We have some areas where got to get better at, but I think overall we have the tools to be a good defensive team. That is the challenge I am going to put to the guys.”
– Nothing new on the Jamal front. He still wants either a satisfactory contract extension or a trade but the Hawks still haven’t indicated if he will get either.
– French club Le Havre announced on its Web site that it has completed a buyout of Pape Sy’s contract. The Hawks haven’t received the paperwork and so don’t consider the deal to be official but they are optimistic there will be no snags.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
666 comments Add your comment
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
11:42 am
Rod
Absolutely, is why I suggested it could be part of a larger strategy even involving Marvin. If he plays well could be a cheap exit strategy for Marvin.
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
11:47 am
If he’s a bust, well that’s egg in LD’s face
drmaryb (*_*)
September 9th, 2010
11:57 am
Pawns!
The Truth, I knew you meant pawn and not pond?
roflmao.
Great Comments today fellas! Grand-Daddy and NorthCyde set this thing off
and doc too. Yesterday!
You guys are making barbecue ot of mildew – conversationally speaking.
KevinM
September 9th, 2010
12:03 pm
Heads up, comments coming from Melo now……..from Yahoo Sports!
With so much uncertainty surrounding the Nuggets, Anthony would like to be traded before the season starts. New Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has not had a face-to-face meeting with Anthony since he was hired on Aug. 31.
Rumor is Knicks don’t have enought assets and the Bulls are 2nd on wish list………even a rumor about the Hawks would intrigue me about Sund wanting to improve this team.
Our team…
If anyone truly thinks Marvin will have minutes taken away from him and his contract…..I totally disagree….only Joe will possbily get some SF minutes, but based on who he is defending will determine that. He can probably handle Corey Brewer, but no Paul Pierce.
Marvin is needed for defensive purposes as much as any offense.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
12:04 pm
The Truth,
I hope so. Maybe I would consider getting season tickets again if duck was gone.
Grandad
September 9th, 2010
1:16 pm
D. of U.I.
You’re just lurking in the shadows aren’t you?
Grandad
September 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
Dan’s Dickau
Excerpts from the Psalms:
“stop and listen”.
“Let those with eyes see and with ears hear”
“pause, and think of that”.
“Selah”
ryan
September 9th, 2010
2:08 pm
It appears that Mello may be heading to ChiTown cross another one off for the Hawks ASG are worst owners in NBA history .
northcyde
September 9th, 2010
3:07 pm
????? @ KevinM
I never suggested playing Smoove at the 3. But with Thomas here, we may have an opportunity to give minutes to Al at the 4. Drew has already said that he wants to give Al more minutes at the 4, and that can easily be done.
PF: Smoove ( 35 ) – Horford ( 13 )
C: Horford ( 22 ) – Zaza ( 16 ) – Thomas ( 10 )
If Zaza and Etan can play 1/2 the game at center, there is a good chance of Al getting more minutes at the 4.
With all of the guards we have on the team, Marvin does need to play better though. And Bibby’s time on the court will depend on how far Teague has progressed. I agree that Bibby is the starter until Teague unseats him. But with Jamal being able to also play the 1, it’s not a given that Bibby plays more than 24 minutes a game this year.
Both guys need to play better. If other people show the ability to step up, the rotation of minutes at PG, G, and SF could look something like this:
PG: Bibby ( 20 ) – Teague ( 18 ) – Jamal ( 10 )
G: JJ ( 22 ) – Jamal ( 18 ) – Evans/Jordan ( 8 )
F: Marvin ( 26 ) – JJ ( 14 ) – Evans /Sy ( 8 )
A guy like Mo Evans could get 16 minutes in a scenario like that, or be buried on the bench, if the kids step up and can be effective in spot minutes. And that could also affect Marvin’s minutes, if he’s just going through the motions out on the court.
*******
As for a shooter lineup, don’t forget that our best lineup last year was:
* Bibby – Crawford – JJ – Smoove – Horford
But the key to that group was Bibby making shots. He was the guy getting wide open looks, because so much attention had to be paid toward JJ and Jamal. And because Woody would “hide” Bibby, that group wasn’t bad defensively either. But Bibby had to make shots, to keep the defense honest on the other end.
The major problem with our bench last year, was that on most nights, they couldn’t “hold the fort”. The starters would build a 6 point lead. The bench would come in, and 5 minutes later, we’re down 2, and Woody would have to put back in the starters. That’s why people wanted an upgrade in personnel for that bench.
jase
September 9th, 2010
4:49 pm
Why are we going to let melo go to the buls when we got more to offer the nuggets
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
4:51 pm
jase,
Because management likes our “core”, and no player except maybe Lebron James, per Sund, is good enough for us to break our “core” up.
Ramon
September 9th, 2010
5:11 pm
Jase, if Bulls are offering Noah, its nothing that the Hawks have that is better in a trade. Because it would be foolish of the Hawks to offer Josh or Horford for Melo! And as much as we dog Marvin, how could we expect Denver to take Marvin and Crawford for the 3rd best scorer in the game?
northcyde
September 9th, 2010
5:29 pm
The funny thing will be that if Melo does go to Chicago, a few people on here will still spin that Chicago hasn’t improved, despite the fact that they’ll throw this lineup at us
PG – Rose
G – ???
F – Melo
PF – Boozer
C – Noah
Because I would assume that Chicago would try to find a way to get Melo without giving up Noah, but definitely give up Deng and anybody else, plus draft picks. Even if they did have to give up Noah, I think the Bulls drafted Kevin Seraphin, a young big who they can insert in the middle if necessary.
Regardless, you’d have a formidible “core” in Chicago consisting of Melo, Rose, and Boozer.
Hopefully we won’t have to deal with that scenario.
truthspitter
September 9th, 2010
5:40 pm
The new excuse for Marvin “the Bust” Williams is that he is playing out of position and should be a PF. That’s according to some idiot poster over at Peachtree Hoops. What a bunch of sack riders they are for Marvin. I’m tired of all the excuses for this piece of crap basketball player. Send the clumsy junky away.
Rondo
September 9th, 2010
5:44 pm
Melo = Marvin Williams on steroids
KevinM
September 9th, 2010
5:50 pm
The Chicago core they have right now is very similar to us:
Rose/Joe
Boozer/Smoove
Noah/Al
You add Melo to those 3 and our Marvin, while 3 times cheaper, would not match up well IMO.
I don’t know how as an organization that if there was a crack in the door to be able to acquire a Top 5 scorer, you don’t take that opportunity. The team that gets Melo without impacting their top 3 gets a huge boost in all areas that pertain to their organization.
We all know Joe is a better 2 than 1, so I see an advantage right there. It also improves the division as we compete with Miami and Orlando for top honors. You bring Melo in without impacting our big 3, you have to inquire for the sake of being a serious contender.
I bet Sund is planning his next vacation instead. After all, it is the quiet season.
truthspitter
September 9th, 2010
5:56 pm
How about we try to jump in a 3 way with Denver and Chicago and get Noah since Denver may not want to pay his contract asking price?
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
6:05 pm
truthspitter,
That Marvin should really be playing the 4 argument is absurd. He is physically too weak, and would be destroyed by above average 4’s in this league, and he is a terrible rebounder for his size and length. When we drafted him, I remeber peaople saying that he could end up being a Kevin Garnett type, but again as I continue to say, no one realized that the guy is just naturally goofy. His footwork is terrible, he can’t post smaller guys, so no way he would be able to post the Amare’s and Garnett’s of the world. He is a 3 with no handles, no offensive game, and an ok defender period.
doc
September 9th, 2010
6:23 pm
rod on marvin … He is a 3 with no handles, no offensive game, and an ok defender period.
my, i like the kinder and gentler rod.
marvin has been upgraded ot ok. man rod, how hard wat that to say? heh heh
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
6:29 pm
To make a Denver/Chicago trade work per the trade machine, the Bull would have to give up both Deng and Noah. According to the Hollinger’s analysis, Denver loses 2 games from this trade and takes on a bad Deng contract. I think overall this trade doesn’t benefit either club since Chicago also loses their promising center.
ryan
September 9th, 2010
6:40 pm
Hold on i was just reading on ESPN Chicago that trade is probably not going to happen it looks like Paxton is not going to give up Noah so just ignore my previous post .
Rondo
September 9th, 2010
6:40 pm
Melo = A healthy Tracy McGrady
If you really sit down and think about it Melo really isn’t a leader. When Coach Karl was battling his illness Melo couldn’t rally the troops and make a run in the playoffs. The guy has talent, but he is closer to a T-Mac or Iverson than a Kobe or Wade. He can lead your team in scoring, but he can’t lead your team to the title.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
doc,
Not hard to say that he is an ok defender. Some people want to compare him to guys like Tayshauan Prince, Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith defensively. He is not even in the same class. My parents did not let me bring home C’s. It was B or better. C=ok. He’s very average on the defensive side of the ball. The thing that pisses me off so much about him is that I know he does not have the tools do be dominate offensively, but he probably could become and above average defender, if he really had that killer instinct. He has the height and long arms to be very good, but his heart is still with the Wizard, and he is goofy. I don’t think that he can get over those last two.
doc
September 9th, 2010
7:26 pm
Well rod I was about read to give credit to having a rev on board here. That is as clos to a component u have given the guy in years.
Hmmm
September 9th, 2010
7:27 pm
LOL @ Truthspitter! You made my day with ur posts over the last two pages hahaha!
If Melo gets traded, we need to try and get Billups from Denver. Prefrably for only Bibby and Mo.
doc
September 9th, 2010
7:29 pm
Rod my focus for the success of our team is on the 3 m stooges of Marvin, mike and mo this year: if they bounce back we hold our own and Can sneak up on somebody. If we don’t we fall a spot or two.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
8:22 pm
doc,
agreed
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
8:23 pm
Dominant
Big Ray
September 9th, 2010
8:33 pm
Rod ,
If Pape Sy developed into a Pietrus type, I’d be good with that. What more could we expect out of a mid to late second round pick from another country?
Michael (givin free booty) Cunning ham
September 9th, 2010
9:52 pm
Dam. I put up all these pictures of my beloved Al Horford and I try and write an article a week on making excuses for A. Ho,’s lack of defense and all I get for my troubles is 3.5 blog pages in 4 days. F u c kk. All I draw is flies. Isnt anyone interested in my constant A. Ho. Slant? Im tried of looking at the same 6 guys using multiple names filling up my pages.
By the way did I mention that im giving free booty? I call it the con and Ham spread. Come get you some!
Michael (givin free booty) Cunning ham
September 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
Horford for Melo!
finally an idea that makes since!
Michael (givin free booty) Cunning ham
September 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
PF: Smoove ( 38 ) – Horford (10)
C: Horford (15 ) – Zaza (5) – Thomas (10)
Get a real center (30)
Big Ray
September 9th, 2010
11:12 pm
I don’t even want to talk about Marvin. Either he becomes what Trevor Ariza was for the Lakers, or we need to find somebody who will . I’m sick of the physical potential at SF, with the “never gonna get there” factor.
Fundamentals
September 9th, 2010
11:12 pm
Nobody expects Sy or JC2 to be All-Stars, servicable role players would be excellent. Get real people. That’s all we need from them to really help our team.
Grandad
September 9th, 2010
11:31 pm
Rod from College Park
Now Rod don’t get me started.
I’ve said for nearly a year that Marv has been out of pos.
If he’s so horrible @ the [3] offensively, [your words]
then how can he be any worse @ the [4].
Honestly, you are correct when you say he does not have
a traditional skill set for a wing player.
Defensively, you say he’s weak.
However, due to his “big butt”, he has more lower body strength.
Which combined with his outsatanding ‘w-span’ would make him a
much better post defender. [able to hold position]
LD’s offense renders position #’s virtually irrelevant.
I still think Marv would/will flourish @ the high post.
I’m not lookin’ to debate.
You should hope Marv does well so that his trade value will rise.
Grandad
September 9th, 2010
11:52 pm
Big Ray
To whomever compared Paps to Pietrus;
I’m obliged to disagree with that comparison.
Not that comparing him to MP is wrong,
only that I see a different sort of player.
I liken him more to Terrence Williams of NJ.
[w/o the biceps] (last yrs. rookie from L-ville)
Najeh Davenpoop
September 10th, 2010
12:24 am
“If you really sit down and think about it Melo really isn’t a leader. When Coach Karl was battling his illness Melo couldn’t rally the troops and make a run in the playoffs. The guy has talent, but he is closer to a T-Mac or Iverson than a Kobe or Wade. He can lead your team in scoring, but he can’t lead your team to the title.”
This may be true, but in the absence of an actual title contending team. I’d at least like a stacked team that has enough talent to legitimately pretend to contend for a title, like the early 2000s Kings. Maybe Melo wouldn’t carry the Hawks to a title, but you can’t argue that bringing him here wouldn’t improve this team’s chances of going farther in the playoffs.
MsDee
September 10th, 2010
1:03 am
We STILL have until the trade deadline to make changes on our current line-up so I’m just not in THAT much of a rush to breakup what we have now! Regardless of our record in mid-season, Sund/ASG should def make some changes to our roster to advance (not just win a game or two in the 2nd round) but actually make it to the ECF. Because if we have an EXCELLENT record heading into the playoffs, esp with Miami, ChiTown, Bucks, and others improving, we need to truly take full advantage of our leverage and get bondified players to help us get over the hill b/c regular season and the playoffs are 2 different seasons.
Big Ray
September 10th, 2010
1:27 am
Grandad ,
Doesn’t much matter to me if he is like Pietrus, or like Terrence Williams. Both guys can play, both have a role. That’s all I want. I think the Pietrus reference may have been more along the line of where both guys came from. Otherwise, I have no idea. Sy being a serviceable player and solid part of the rotation is enough for me. Again, he’s a late second round pick, and after thought in the NBA draft. For him to develop into that would give me more confidence in our scouting department (or at least in Larry Drew, who endorsed him big time). Something tells me if the kid hadn’t paid his own way, then impressed Drew…our scouts still wouldn’t know who he was…
truthspitter
September 10th, 2010
2:30 am
Marvin is not some type of Messiah in which you should be waiting on forever. He is a piece of crap bust of a basketball player. You are pure stupid to be still mentioning Marvin and potential this late in his career. I don’t care who you are. Your stupid and I have no respect for your posts from now on
Big Ray
September 10th, 2010
2:48 am
truthspitter ,
Who you spittin’ at?
Rod from College Park
September 10th, 2010
6:16 am
Grandad,
All that lower body strength stuff, is all offset by the fact that he is clumsy. He plays like he is on skates.
I did not compare Sy to Pietrus, I said that Pietrus would be his ceiling. Pietrus is and was a much better offensive player that Sy. We can only hope that Sy becomes the kind of defender that Pietrus is.
O'Brien
September 10th, 2010
7:24 am
If Sy develops into a career backup who can provide a spark for 12-18 mpg, I would be thrilled with that. If he turns out to be a bust, I dont think it will be egg on LD’s face.
The guy was a late second round pick, that they took a chance on. If it doesnt work out, so be it. I’m just glad they actually brought him over.
O'Brien
September 10th, 2010
7:25 am
JJ is also a guy who can lead the team in scoring (and assists), but I dont think he has what it takes to lead a team to a title.
One reason I dont think Sund makes a play for Melo is because he would be trading a lot for what could be one year of Melo. And Sund is not the type to take those chances.
He is a play it safe kind of guy…
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2010
8:13 am
NORTHCYDE-I have no doubt your comment about someone still saying the Bulls wouldn’t be improved with the acquisition of CAnthony was directed at me. First, stop twisting the facts to try and make your point. I’ve never said the Bulls won’t be improved with their new acquisitions. I said they won’t be improved enough to overcome our improvement, and the 12gms they finished behind the Hawks last yr and overtake us.
Part of your Bulls Nuggets trade scenario is based on WISHFUL THINKING, and part is based on ONE DIMENSIONAL THINKING.
WISHFUL THINKING:
1-If the Nuggets do trade CAnthony, it will mean they intend to rebuild, and LDeng is a complimentary player, certainly not one a team would want to build around.
2-There’s no way Denver would trade their leading scorer, 3rd leading rebounder, the NBA’s 3rd leading scorer and perennial All Star, for LDeng and filler.
3-With a new collective bargaining agreement surely on the horizon, which will likely favor ownership, no one wants to take on LDeng’s contract at this point.
4-So to think the Nuggets would trade CAnthony without C Noah being involved is pure wishful thinking. In fact, all of the reports are saying Noah is the key to the trade, and the Bulls are seriously considering it.
ONE DIMENSIONAL THINKING:
1-Adding CBoozer, KKorver and CAnthony to their starting lineup would certainly improve their team, but only OFFENSIVELY.
2-Defensively, not one of these 3 players is considered even average, although DRose has room to improve.
3-Who would be the starting center, and shot blocking presence in the middle, KThomas? Both their perimeter and interior DEF would be a joke.
4-The Bulls have only 2 players anyone would want to build a team around, and they are C YNoah and PG DRose. Since Denver already has an All Star PG in CBillups, that leaves Noah.
So, the idea of a team improving can be a relative issue. The Hawks certainly improved in wins each of the last 6 yrs, but it didn’t mean they were able to become a better playoff team, or better compete against Cleveland or Orlando, especially during the last 2 playoffs.
If you take a ONE DIMENSIONAL approach, it’s understandable how you can mistakenly feel the Bulls will be much improved. But if you take an overall approach, and factor in what they’re losing defensively, you have to ask yourself, HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAY ANY TEAM HAS ACTUALLY IMPROVED IF IT ADDS CONSIDERABLY MORE OFF, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IT BECOMES MUCH WEAKER IN VIRTUALLY EVERY DEFENSIVE CATEGORY?
THE HAWKS WOULD STILL BE A BETTER TEAM THAN THE BULLS, EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONS OF ALL OFF NO DEF CANTHONY, CBOOZER AND KKORVER TO THEIR STARTING LINEUP.
JeJe
September 10th, 2010
8:36 am
“How about we try to jump in a 3 way with Denver and Chicago and get Noah since Denver may not want to pay his contract asking price?”
LOL then who does Denver get? Taj Gibson?
NES
September 10th, 2010
9:18 am
All us bloggers might as well get used to the cheap route by ASG, we have 5-6 years of Iso Joe making big $$$ and no room to do nothing with current roster except sign minimum salary players to fill in the holes of Hawks roster(Etan Thomas) who isn’t nothing more than a SF and not the big Center we needed. Why do you think no other team even tendered an offer for Iso Joe? All the other teams know he quits in some of the games and when the fans voiced their displeasure in the playoffs, he rubs fans’ faces in it and then gets re-signed to the astronomical salary by ASG, what a sad JOKE! Sorry Larry Drew, you can’t and won’t succeed any better than Woody except the players will like your better personality, that won’t win games. Heck LD, you couldn’t even go and hire your own coaching staff because the ASG wouldn’t payoff the current coaches salary so you could hire and get your own staff. Best of luck LD–as i predict one and done, and the merry-go-round continues until ASG sells the team which the sooner the better.
KevinM
September 10th, 2010
9:57 am
Northcyde, LD said himself Smoove is going to see time at the 3, sliding Al to the 4. That in itself might improve our size in the post because we all know Marvin doesn’t like to play in the paint.
If you give Smoove and Al all the minutes at the 4, why did we bring in Powell, practice?
What I could see being useful for the Hawks is to have their 4 in place, whether it be Al OR Smoove, and let Powell back that guy up. That gives us a 4 we can try and deal and improve our roster.
And not to beat this to death, I take Carmelo over Marvin any day, defense or offense. We lose absolutely ZERO with this acquisition. I don’t see how this can be a negative. As soon as you think Carmelo isn’t better than Marvin, than you absolutely lose your credibility.
For those who say Carmelo hasn’t taken his team anywhere….you have no clue. Carmelo has to go through the Lakers every year. He has performed in more conference finals games than all the Hawks combined, with the exception of Powell. Carmelo is an all-star, has already won battles with LeBron that we have no clue what that’s like, and he gets accolades from everyone in the league, except, yes, you guessed it, the optimistic Hawks bloggers here who still see the potential in Marvin. Moving any of those 3 fits Carmelo under the cap long term even if Al is resigned. Its the bench that doesnt get better unless JR Smith comes in with the move. Yes, yes, I know, Sund isn’t bringing in enigmatic players. So sign Melo now before the season starts and lock him in.
Proposal:
- Give them Smoove (that frees up $$ for Al) or Al(because perhaps he doesn’t improve at the 4)
- JC1 (expiring contract and that gives them someone to replace enigma JR Smith) or JC2, who has no minutes here, with Joe and JC1 keeping him glued to the bench.
- Marvin (slot him in immediately to give them some return at the 3)
We then have a big 3 of Big bucks Joe
Big bucks Carmelo
Just under Big Bucks Al/Smoove
to go with a bench of JC1 or 2/Teague/Powell/Mo/Thomas/Sy on our top 11.
That is a more balanced lineup a la Miami and depend on our 5s that we were so drooling over to bring in here and can use all their fouls (hah!)…guess what, we still have to improve the 5….as we have been saying for 10 years.
To me, no more offensive worries, and still needed improvement on the defensive end. But our 1/2 court offense improves dramatically and looks more like a playoff competing team.
Please, no one overvalue what we currently have in rebuttal, because you have to give up something to get something. I dont’ see as much value in our current roster as some here.
Sund, at least we on this blog are attempting to become a better playoff team. I think Denver would at least listen to a proposal of that magnitude and Billups would not have to go through a rebuilding transition.
KevinM
September 10th, 2010
10:01 am
NES, you have a lot of common sense in your comments. Odds of what you said with LD and this team happening? 70-30 and you have aces in your hand.
truthspitter
September 10th, 2010
10:06 am
truthspitter ,
Who you spittin’ at?
@ BigRay: I’m spittin at anyone who is still on that give Marvin another chance train. Anyone and everyone who is so foolish to still be there I have no respect for there posts.