Face Off: Hawks need to get the point — and it’s Rafer Alston
Rafer Alston is giving the thumbs down to staying in Orlando.
Read Mark Bradley’s view: Say goodbye to Marvin Williams, hello to Caron Butler
There is a point guard who just started for a team that reached the NBA finals — and he’s available. He also comes with a contract considered Atlanta Spirit budget-friendly. Hello?
The Hawks shouldn’t re-sign Mike Bibby. They should trade for Orlando’s Rafer Alston. He requires less of an investment than Bibby and might get them further in the playoffs. Look what he just did for the Magic?
I know. The Hawks finally got good again. The last thing you want to do is blow things up. But this isn’t a razing as much as it’s a needed remodel. (See ajc.com photo gallery.)
There’s a pretty good chance that we’ve seen as far as this Hawks team can go. They survived a seven-game series with Miami in round one. But they were waxed by Cleveland in the second round, and it turned out the Cavaliers weren’t nearly as dominant as everybody believed. Something needs to change.
Bibby, who is about to become a free agent, will not get a contract close to the $15.2 million he made last season. But he still will require a longer and more expensive commitment than Alston (one year left at $5.25 million), who is likely to be traded. The Magic needs the payroll relief so it can re-sign Hedo Turkoglu. The team acquired Alston in February only because they needed to replace the injured Jameer Nelson.
Even Alston suspects a trade might be coming — and he doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. That’s probably Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy made the questionable decision to give the just-rehabbed and rusty Nelson extensive playing time in the finals. “I always think I’m going to be traded,” Alston said (but then he has changed teams five times). “I don’t know. I think [teams] don’t respect my point guard abilities. That’s every team I’ve been on.”
After being traded by Houston, Alston started the rest of the regular season for Orlando and all 23 games in the playoffs. The Magic took out Philadelphia, then Boston and then the expected unstoppable force, Cleveland, in six games. In the key Game 4 win, when the Magic took a 3-1 series lead, Alston contributed 26 points, four assists and two steals. He also scored 20 points in Orlando’s only finals win over Los Angeles.
The Hawks probably have a core. We’re just not really sure what it is. Al Horford is a definite keeper. Josh Smith should be a definite keeper, drama and trade rumors notwithstanding. Joe Johnson will be going into the final year of his contract. But he had another disappointing post-season and this isn’t the time for long-term commitments.
Alston does not possess Bibby’s scoring ability. But he’s a better defender and can penetrate, which is what the Hawks need. And unlike the scenario of re-signing Bibby to a multi-year contract, acquiring Alston affords management flexibility after next season. A trade wouldn’t be difficult because Alston is 32 and expendable. Even then, they have pieces to move, starting with Marvin Williams. (One suggestion: Keep hope alive with Acie Law for one more season.)
Bottom line: If the Hawks really want to see how much this three-man “core” can accomplish, it makes more sense to do it with Alston than Bibby.
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125 comments Add your comment
Trey J
June 17th, 2009
1:52 pm
I got a deal for you!
Get Mark Jackson or Avery Johnson or Van Gundy to Coach the Hawks!
None of these trades will mean issh if Woody is coaching the team.
Only thing he did different last year was cut his hair.
T-Dogg
June 17th, 2009
1:54 pm
We dont need Rafer.
Daniel
June 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
All I am saying- I love Biedris, but he has a huge contract number that makes trading him so difficult.
Hedo Fan
June 17th, 2009
1:59 pm
Hedo, Hedo, Hedo. This is a no-brainer. Let Bibby go and give his $15M to Hedo, who can shoot, penetrate and even bring the ball up when needed. Hedo was the best player in the Finals not named Kobe Bryant.
Daniel
June 17th, 2009
2:01 pm
Hedo Fan- who is your starting pg then and where does Hedo play? 3/4?
Daniel
June 17th, 2009
2:04 pm
Clevland- Zsa Zsa is already a better player than Gartin. That is a dumb idea. Just like Jeff you are being fooled by mediocre players in the finals.
PerfectSwagger
June 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
I like the Marvin Williams,and Ace Law trade for Butler and Crittenton that would provide is with another playmaker, and a young player ((Crittenton)) that has a little experience and upside to his game. If Josh Smith want’s to leave, I say let him go, because to win in this league you need an inside presence, I think we need to trade him for some notable big men. (( Marc Gasol, Brendon Heywood,)) or to get multiple picks in the draft, to bolster up that depleted bench, free agent Rafer Alston would be on my wish list as well, but if we can get him, i feel like there are Point Guards in the Draft that may be able to start right away that we may be able to get at the pick we are at right now, or via moving up in the draft ((by Trade)) such as: Johnny Flynn, Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Tyric Evens, Ricky Rubio Brandon Jennings)) personnaly I like Lawson in a Hawks Uniform, because it would give Atlanta the Floor General they need to be successful, and to not depend on Joe Johnson to do everything.
Depressed Hawks Fan
June 17th, 2009
2:20 pm
I think we need a veteran PG that can actually “groom” and play defense. I don’t really know if Rafer Alston is that type of PG. And I agree, Alston wouldn’t fit, because we don’t run any pick n’ rolls. And, what’s up with all the Southeast Division trade idea’s? Bradley had Marvin and Acie going to the Wizards, and Schultz has us trading for Rafer Alston?
Terrell
June 17th, 2009
2:21 pm
For you guts that are getting on Alston. How would you feel if you were playing very well and the coach took you out for the “future” PG that is PRESENTLY struggling in the playoffs? The Magiv lost game 6 because of the suspect defense on Fisher from Nelson. Alston has been playing well and he was upset when the coach took him out when he was doing well, but I guess nobody here is human right? You all would just be happy if you are doing everything you are suppose to do and you get cast aside for someone else who wasn’t playing up to par.
crawdaddy
June 17th, 2009
2:22 pm
Hawks should trade their pick for a center and draft some euro point guard and drop bibby as well.
T-Dogg
June 17th, 2009
2:22 pm
PerfectSwagger it would be great if we could get Ty Lawson in the draft. I still think that Mike is OK until we get more talent on the roster. The Hawks have had problems throughout this decade with having a well-rounded roster. If we really do get rid of Mike, putting Jason Terry back in a Hawks uniform looks beautiful, that dude still can play and lead.
JJ Fan
June 17th, 2009
2:23 pm
Enter your comments here
404atlhoops
June 17th, 2009
2:29 pm
I like Rafer Alston and think he is legitmate starting point guard in the NBA. However, he is not a good fit with the Hawks. Alston goes to the basket but when he does, it is to shoot and not pass. He also lacks a midrange game. Alston only thrives on teams that have a dominant big because it allows him to set up for the three on the weakside when teams double down on the post. If you look at Alston’s career, he played well with Miami when Shaq was still dominant and this season on both Houston and Orlando that have Yao Ming and Dwight Howard respectively. The team Alston struggled playing with was Toronto. He was a bust there because the Raptors lacked (and still do) a true low post threat and defenses were able to play Alston straight up. Personally, I would like the Hawks to draft Eric Maynor at 19.
ben
June 17th, 2009
2:34 pm
Spoken like someone who hasn’t lived in Houston for the past 5 years. Alston will have good games and he will have bad games. They refer to him as “Mr. 4 for 13″ in Houston. We never got out of the first round with him and McGrady, yet were the only team to take the Lakers to 7 games with a youthful Aaron Brooks at the point.
T-Dogg
June 17th, 2009
2:37 pm
This upcoming draft has plenty of talent in the guard department. To be dominant in the NBA you need legitimate BIG men. AL and Josh are nice but their natural positions are PF & SF, respectively. We could get J.J Barea from the Mavs, or a PG out of the free agent pool or draft but we will still need a Big Man. Boston, Orlando, and Cleveland all have Big Men that can play, if we want to make it to the finals then we should make it a priority to get BIG down post.
SN
June 17th, 2009
2:43 pm
Why do folks get on Joe Johnson, he is the main reason they win alot of games. The only reason he doesnt have good playoff numbers is that other team know the easy way to beat the hawks is to double team him and make other people score and since Woodson runs just about the entire offense through Johnson, everyone just stands there and doesnt know what do to when they get the ball.
Get rid of Claxton, 3 yrs and hes probably hasnt played 20 games yet. Marvin Williams is about as good as he is going to get unless he gets a consistent long range jumper. Acie Law will only get better if he gets playing time. Is anyone get rid of Woodosn, and get Avery Johnson or some other coach that knows how to run a young team.
Bumms!!!
June 17th, 2009
2:44 pm
What possibly could the Hawks offer Orlando? The Hawks are a bunch of no talent stiffs!!!!!
JJ Fan
June 17th, 2009
2:46 pm
Bradley, why do you continue to dump on Joe Johnson, this guy is the ONLY reason your beloved Hawks made it to the playoffs. You seem to think that Josh Smith could have led them to this point and if you truly believe that your CLUELESS about this sport. Joe Johnson is a 2 time All Star and was voted in by the Coaches not the fans so, you see the respect that he gets from the coaches and can’t get any love from a sports reporter,WOW. It seems to me that you are a fan not a student of the game, Joe Johnson is your franchise the guy plays hard doesn’t whine or complain he just works. So, since you have this love affair with Josh Smith tell him to get in the gym and work on his mid range game, his handles and could he learn how to play pick and roll and then maybe we have a chance. And yes let’s work on that behavior as well. Joe Johnson is your best player and shouldn’t be dissed by you, a Fan. FYI, if Josh Smith was the best player on the Hawks team why didn’t he see one double team in either series. I would think the best player would demand the double team, I’m sorry I forgot he did, JOE JOHNSON
fanATicaL
June 17th, 2009
2:48 pm
This comes down to the Spirit group and thier decision making.Woody or Alston ? I mean Woody’s coaching style as to guard play. Is open and free playing.No set plays,which is why our half court offense sucks.Espscially,when JJ is tired or shot is off.Under this offense Acie is terrible.He has always run plays not create plays.Alston on the other hand ,always created plays from his And1 days.Keep Bibby and trade for Alston.This will give us 10 more wins,atleast.
As to our center problem.Spend the money and bring David Andersen from the European league. This gives us Dirk N. like play and allows JSmooth and Horford.To continue to learn to play together and defined the offensive goal.
Hedo Fan
June 17th, 2009
2:57 pm
Daniel: If we let Bibby go and sign Hedo, the starting lineup is Acie at point (with a re-signed Flip getting significant mins at PG), Joe at shooting guard, Josh and Hedo at the forward positions and Al playing center. With Hedo shooting and penetrating, Joe will have more room to operate. Having Hedo out on the perimeter shooting threes will also force Josh to play down low where he belongs.
Eagle83
June 17th, 2009
2:58 pm
I could not be less confident in an owner as I am with Spirit Group. They don’t have the money necessary to compete for players in the NBA. We need a Blank, Cuban, Turner type. Let’s hope Belkin wins out in the end.
Gemini
June 17th, 2009
3:03 pm
Rafer Alston can’t shoot! Avg 12 pts in playoffs. Why would you relace Mike Bibby, averaging 13 pts and more experience with Rafer. Van Gun (Jeff) is a loser. Has never won beyond playofs, why do they continue to recycle losers. I agree with get rid of Claxton although they won’t get much but at least they’ll have the money.
Big Ray
June 17th, 2009
3:03 pm
Pretty empty blog.
Who are we trading for Alston? Did you suggest 1 player? Alston is a basketcase who, when things don’t go right for 2 seconds, will complain and antagonize the coach.
Also, he cannot shoot a basketball consistently, or at all, except for that one fluke Cleveland game
Bumms!!!
June 17th, 2009
3:03 pm
hedo is going to Atlanta!!!!!
Homer
June 17th, 2009
3:07 pm
FIRE SCHULTZ!!!
O'brien
June 17th, 2009
3:32 pm
Jeff,
I agree not to resign Bibby. But the problem with signing Alston is that next year, we will be looking for a PG again. Why not just sign a young up and coming PG?
Rafer costs $5.25 mil. You can sign (restricted FA) Jarrett Jack or Ramon Sessions for roughly the same price. (Jack made $2.2 mil last year, Sessions made $800k). Alston is more experienced, but you would only have him for 1 year.
I would prefer to sign Jack or Sessions for 4 years. They’re younger, and they will stick around for a while (not just 1 year).
Reggie Reg
June 17th, 2009
3:34 pm
Can we get a real baller like Aaron Brooks? He is fearless, runs like a rabbit and he has some serious handles. He would be a good fit..let Acie Law and Marvin go. At some point they wil have to address the center issue so Big Al can play his true position. He is simply not an NBA center…
404atlhoops
June 17th, 2009
3:35 pm
Ben,
I think the Rockets not getting out of the first round all of these years is a by product of an ineffective McGrady more so than the production of Alston. After all, he is the superstar. Aaron Brooks played well and Houston went toe-to-toe with a lackadaisical Lakers team. I just think Rafer Alston is a serviceble starting point guard and can help a team win given he is in the right situation that’s all.
ATL_LOVE
June 17th, 2009
3:41 pm
Playing starters extended minutes (hurtful to Bibby, Rafer, and anybody else over 30).
Not developing guards (have to hope we sign someone compatible instead of using the strengths of what we do have).
Total disdain and lack of desire for a big man when it’s apparent that you canNOT get by without one.
How long are we gonna put up with this?
todd
June 17th, 2009
4:14 pm
heres what the Hawks are working on right now:
(nothing)
Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2009
4:15 pm
A1ANDONLY: Ellington’s obviously great athlete and fun player to watch. Still not sure what kind of NBA player he’ll be, or how he would fit with the Hawks, if that’s what you’re asking. They need PG and C. He’s neither.
HATERTOTS: (love the name) “Jannero Pargo Syndrome.” Sounds series. I better go lay down.
JPMONEY: The idea is to get better every year. If you think you can do that with last year’s team, then you don’t make changes. But that will require at least a 3-year deal for Bibby. Are you willing to do that?
TDOGG: “Get a dominant center.” Love that. You make it sound so easy. Anybody in mind. “Dominant centers” aren’t exactly falling out of the sky. And trade for Dwight Howard? Sure. Kobe can pick him up at the airport. Geez. Get real, dude.
DANIEL: Ah, man. Beat me to the punch, didn’t you?
REGGIEATL: Question of the day. Was Acie Law a bad first-round pick, or is Mike Woodson under utilizing him? Answer: Don’t know. Only time will tell.
NCBravesFan
June 17th, 2009
4:17 pm
Jeff – do you think the Magic would deal him to us, since we’re in the same division/conference?
Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2009
4:21 pm
ALL I’M SAYING: Agree on the center need. They’re just hard to get. This one’s easier.
TREYJ: There will be no coaching change this summer. You might as well focus on other areas.
PERFECT SWAGGER: I have not heard anywhere that Josh Smith “wants” to leave, head-banging with Woodson notwithstanding.
DEPRESSED HAWKS FAN: Speaking of the Southeast Division, I like the Capitals again. How ‘bout that Ovechkin, huh?
Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2009
4:28 pm
JJ FAN: Bradley’s the other guy.
BIG RAY: Available: Marvin Williams. Acie Law. Speedy Claxton (salary spot). Draft pick. There’s no shortage of possibilities. Satisfying Orlando won’t be the issue.
HOMER: Thanks for the love.
NCBRAVESFANS: That’s a valid point. But if there’s no equal option to trade him to the West, they’ll take the best offer. It’s not like they’re trading a player who will haunt them for 10 years.
Say goodbye to Marvin Williams, hello to Caron Butler | Mark Bradley
June 17th, 2009
5:26 pm
[...] Read Jeff Schultz’s view: Hawks need to get the point — and it’s Rafer Alston [...]
Elijah
June 17th, 2009
5:45 pm
Rafer will make this team worse.
If you say 1 thing he doesn’t like, he’ll whine whine whine whine. Come on Jeff. Did you do any research? Rafer can’t shoot a 3 and his ego stinks. You already know how the other New Yorker PG on this team turned out (Speedy)
Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2009
5:46 pm
BARKING BULLDAWG: If you want to re-post without the profanity — and, no, abbreviations are not OK — your comments will stand.
jdewayneatl
June 17th, 2009
6:25 pm
Ok so I have it. It’s all becoming clearer. From the Bradley vs Schultz trade blogs, it is clear how the Hawks will be a better team this year.
1. Trade Marvin and Acie to Washington for Caron Butler and whoever else if that matters.
2. Trade Speedy’s INSURANCE PAID contract and this year’s 2009 2nd round pick to Orlando for Rafer Alston.
1 + 2 in this Scenerio = a better Hawk’s team.
Atlanta Hawks starting lineup for the 2009-10 season looks like this:
PG – Rafer Alston
SG – Joe Johnson
SF – Caron Butler
PF – Josh Smith
C – Al Horford
GO HAWKS!!!
Stoned Mountain
June 17th, 2009
6:37 pm
Rafer Alston is a temperamental pain in the ass. Woodson already has Josh; why would another whiner???
This is the Rafer Alston who announced to the press his “friends” wanted to see Van Gundy dead for not keeping him (Alston) in the game.
There is a reason why this guy plays for a different team every year.
Reggie
June 17th, 2009
6:46 pm
Jeff: I wouldn’t say JJ had a bad postseason against Boston last year. If we can get a PG who can take some loads off of him he might be better next year for the postseason. He has to guard the opposing PG every game and try to fight off triple teams. Get a true PG he will tear it up next year. No Joe= No playoffs. He took this team from last to where it is now.
jdewayneatl
June 17th, 2009
7:07 pm
Oh Yeah: Who the heck really think that Gortat is the Center the Hawks need. ZAZA is pretty much the same player but better. Gortat is a better defender but has no offensive game except for catching passes and dunking because he was hella open after the opposing team left him. Gortat? Really?
That leads me to my next point. Horford is not the traditional sized Center but he could play the position. Al Horford can play the Center position for this team. He has held his own and played like a man in his brief career. He is 6′10” and 245 lbs. If Nene (6′11” and 250), Amare Staudamire (6′10” and 249), Emeka Okafor (6′10” and 255), Kendrick Perkins (6′10” and 280), Sam Dalembert (6′10” and 250), Troy Murphy (6′ll” and 245), Andris Biedrins (6′ll and 240) can all play the center position, well then Al Horford can play Center for the Hawks. Even Ben Wallace (6′9” and 240) has played much of his career at the 5 spot including 2004 when he won a Championship with Detroit. He probably wont grow an inch but I’m sure he’ll come into next season with atleast an extra 5-10 lbs.
There’s only a hand full of Centers in the league that may give Horford problems but at the same time those hand full of Centers gives headaches match-up problems throughout the league. That hand full of centers would include Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Pau Gasol and Shaq.
So before suggesting to trade one of the core players for a Center, his name better be Howard, Ming, or Gasol. And we know that that’s not gonna happen. Hawks fans stop WHINNING!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!
Big Ray
June 17th, 2009
7:52 pm
Jeff,
Sorry, but that wasn’t the real Big Ray posting at 3:03 p.m. It’s somebody who enjoys posting as me. You know what they say about imitation and flattery…
Here’s my take on bringing Alston here. On paper, it looks good, though people will argue (and to an extent, rightfully so) that a one year rental on a 32 yr old pg is no better than a year-and-a-half rental on a 30/31 year old pg. Well, yes and no. For one thing, Alston never will cost what Bibby has.
I think that if you want to either drive Woody insane, find a reason to fire him, or force him to coach better than he has…you get Alston. Why? Alston is a journeyman. There is a reason for this. There always is. I think he will clash with Woody, and part of it will be because he’s not the kind of point guard Woody really wants. Alston will pass the ball, and he will lead on the court. He’ll be a floor general, and distribute the ball.
Is JJ truly prepared to play with a pg like that? I don’t think he is. I think he wants what Woody wants: for the ball to be in his hands. I think the pressure they want to take off of Joe is in the form of a pg who shoots more than he passes. Again, Joe wants the ball to be in his hands, and Woody wants that, too. Alston changes that, and he’s also not the “lights out when he’s hot” shooter that Bibby is.
On the flip side, Alston will play better defense and get our multi-talented frontcourt involved in the game. Again, this is something Woody does not coach, as HIS offense revolves around the guards (and clearly is should NOT revolve around them to the extent that it does).
I like Alston, but I don’t know if I like him in a Hawks uniform, especially for one season. Journeyman Anthony Johnson didn’t get along with Woody so well. Alston won’t either, and that would hurt the team.
But, I’m also not hooked on doing everything the way JJ wants to do it. JJ is a hell of a player, and he’s got very nice court vision. But he can’t see EVERYTHING. This is where guys like Coach and GM come in. If we’re going to deviate from our current Modus Operandi, then I think we’re better served going with a Ramon Sessions or Jarrett Jack.
But that’s just me. Alston is a cheaper option than Bibby, for sure. But is he a better fit? I think not.
O'brien
June 17th, 2009
8:34 pm
Ray,
Agreed. Say no to Alston, because next year we will be tryind to find another PG again. Based on the kind of PG Woody wants, (shooter, doesnt need the ball in his hands much), besides Bibby, is there any other PG out there who fits Woody’s description?
Kraig
June 17th, 2009
9:02 pm
We should trade Acie and Speedy, 2010 1st round pick for Rafer Alston. Then we would be free to re-sign Flip and Zaza, along with others. Flip and Zaza really helped us off the bench last season. Joe would need to be re-signed after this season. We should shop Josh, but we dont need to trade him. He provided a spark often late in games with dunks. If he and Woody can stop feuding, and Josh can become consistant, the Hawks could rise to the next level. As far as the pick at #19, I’d suggest BJ Mullens, a 7′ center out of Ohio State. He’d give us great depth off the bench (assuming we re-sign Zaza).
NekiEcko
June 17th, 2009
9:27 pm
I think Alston isnt a good idea at all, besides if we want a PG will would go after Sessions or Jack for a cheaper price and use the draft to go after another PG or Combo Guard like Jeff Teague or Patrick Mills.
I think that Bibby wont be resigned, Marvin will be signed or traded to someone else for better pieces and J-Smoove isnt going anywhere.
truth-serum
June 17th, 2009
9:34 pm
Homer
June 17th, 2009
3:07 pm
FIRE SCHULTZ!!!
AMEN!!
Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2009
10:03 pm
I love how so many of you are making Rafer Alston to be this major head case. Folks, he just started all 23 games for a team that upset Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals and made it to the NBA finals. If he was that big of a loser and a distraction, do you that: 1) The Magic would have traded for him in the first place and; 2) They would gotten as far as they did?
truth-serum
June 17th, 2009
10:11 pm
jdewayneatl
June 17th, 2009
6:25 pm
THAT TEAM MAY MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS BUT WOULD LOSE TO THE CURRENT HAWKS AND SURELY WOULD NOT GO FAR BECAUSE YOU DID NOT ADDRESS YOUR CENTER ISSUE WHICH IS THE MAIN ISSUE CONCERNING THE BIRDS. THE IDEA IS TO UP GRADE THE TEAM NOT TO STAY THE SAME. THERES NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU OFFER AND WHAT ALREADY HERE.
TRY THIS
STRARTING
1 FILP (lets promote the man he can play the one or two and is a vet!)
2 JJ With a center on the team lanes open and defender have to “stay home”rather than roll out and triple down on JJ who would be free to create or penetrate.
3 J.SMITH ( IF HE DEVELOPS A MID RANGE OR PERIMETER SHOT IT SUPERSTARDOM.
4 AL ( BACK TO HIS NATURAL, AND DRAFTED POSITION. HE BE STRONGER AND MORE OF A FORCES HE BETTER FACING THE BASKET THAN WITH HIS BACK TO IT)
5 ANDREW BYNUM (A VERY YOUNG CENTER WHO HAS BEEN TAUGHT BY JABBAR AND IS BECOMING A FORCE AND IS A NATURAL CENTER! YOU WONT BE FLYING IN ON HIM AND HE WONT GET WEAK AS THE SEASON GETS LONG, LIKE HORFORD.)
bench
1 bibby (# 3 three point shooter in the NBA)
2 Marv (one of the youngest hawks that shoots and draws fouls better than jj)
3 Marv again is super talented and would be a sixth man @ 2 or 3
4 Al and josh could spell each other because
5 Brook lopez from new jersey could hold down the post and he showed us his talents.
Role player ZaZa (keeps Shultz happy to have a white person on the team. Its not about talent and he can foul with the best of them….)
Down side (too many blacks for schultz taste this would be a tough sell)
IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE TRADED TO MAKE THE BYNUM AND LOPEZ DEALS A REALITY, THEN JJ IS THE BAIT BECAUSE MARV WILL BE BETTER THAN HIM IN 2 YEARS AND HE CAN HANDLE THE SCORING LOAD WITH FLIP, BIBBY AND MARV. BYNUM AND LOPEZ WONT ALLOW OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION LIKE WHAT 5′ 10″ TONY PARKER DID TO ZAZA AND HORFORD. They would also allow us to pick and roll block out and screen for our 1,2 and 3s to cut to the rack. You have to keep a man home on either guy. Not the case with ZaZa top this turnover Paschulia.
A TEAM LIKE THIS COULD GO BIG OR SMALL. PLAY HALF COURT OR RUN AND GUN AND MATCH UP WITH ANY BODY. YES. IT COULD MAKE IT TO THE BIG SHOW!
truth-serum
June 17th, 2009
10:21 pm
jdewayneatl
June 17th, 2009
7:07 pm
I agree ZaZa ” the road to the basket is now open, please showcase your dunks while I watch with my 2 inch vertical leap” Pachulia and Gortat are about the same and ZaZa is slightly better. Marvin Williams a 2 and 3 had a higher rebound average than ZaZa so what does that tell us about how weak we are at the post. Horford gets an “A” for the ol college try but by the years end his small frame was weak and drained. He almost broke his leg trying to play center with the big boys in the playoffs. Bless his heart. He aint no center.
truth-serum
June 17th, 2009
10:25 pm
T-Dogg
June 17th, 2009
2:37 pm
Good post and right on Point!!