First rebuild impressions - split from game 2 thread

[Kingster]

There's no hindsight about it -- I was a Randolph guy on draft night. Just a fact. That was the guy I thought we should go for, for the reasons I stated. I was ok with the Thompson pick because I was not that sold on Randolph, and Thompson seemed to have some of the markers you look for in a PF. However a year later, and you may just not have been paying attention here, but Randolph is beginning to splash up some big impressive numbers. He got stronger every month of last season, was up to 15.1pts 10.6rebs in April of last year, dominated summer league, and has averaged 14 and 10 with 1.6 blks through the preseason in 28min per. The promise that I suspected was there last year is now really evident to everyone. If Don Nelson doesn't mess with his head, this could be a major and unique star like a bigger Shawn Marion maybe. And as always in the draft star, at whatever position > solid position player.

That last BTW is the same reaosn that I was ok with Tyreke on draft night. I had tagged Griffith, and then three players: Thabeet, Jennings, and Rubio as guys with a special talent at something. And Thabeet's happened to be a special talent in an area we desperately need. But a star > role player too in the draft, if you can find one. Until Tyreke's emergence, it did not appear there was necessarily going to be one available at our spot, Rubio had all the questions hanging over him, and I was developing a sincere dislike of Jennings' maturity. Under such circumstances the roleplayer with the special skill > a middling starter or guy with issues. But have a guy wiht star potential emerge, and of course that trumps.

So when exactly did you get on the Tyreke bandwagon? It seemed to me that you wanted Thabeet until the dye was cast. I can just envison your posts about our team with Randolph, Martin, and Hawes leading the way to not just the weakest team in the league, but the weakest of ALL TIME!

Regarding Randolph and Thompson, I think the decision was made by Petrie with the same calculus that you employ above - the difference in talent between the two players was negligible; therefore, go for the power player because that's the need. If Randolph becomes an All-Star and Thompson doesn't, that estimation was wrong. We'll see. I think Thompson can be very good defensively, while I don't think Randolph ever will. I guess we'll see in a couple of years...

 

[Bricklayer]

So when exactly did you get on the Tyreke bandwagon? It seemed to me that you wanted Thabeet until the dye was cast. I can just envison your posts about our team with Randolph, Martin, and Hawes leading the way to not just the weakest team in the league, but the weakest of ALL TIME!

Regarding Randolph and Thompson, I think the decision was made by Petrie with the same calculus that you employ above - the difference in talent between the two players was negligible; therefore, go for the power player because that's the need. If Randolph becomes an All-Star and Thompson doesn't, that estimation was wrong. We'll see. I think Thompson can be very good defensively, while I don't think Randolph ever will. I guess we'll see in a couple of years...

The difference in talent is CONSIDERABLE. And Randolph is already a better defensive player (not saying much, but he at least disrupts with his length). Its Jason who needs to prove he's not a walking foulprone doormat out there.

And you will be hardpressed, hardpressed to go back and find a post of mine after the Tyreke pick criticizing it. Go ahead and search if you want. Reke had started tearing up individual and group workouts for a number of teams, and it was apparent that was the way we were leaning for several days before the draft. While its no sure thing, it was an acceptable risk given our read on him and made for acceptable reasons -- the front office may have been wrong, but they thought they had sniffed out a star and drafted him. That's not something I am generally going to critique unless there is a guy who's a surefire star in the wings. People who believed that Rubio was that surefire star were upset -- and that is not truly unreasonable either, other than their focus solely on what Rubio might be as opposed to what Reke might be. I on the other hand thought Rubio had a special talent, but was not sure if it would overcome his shortcominigs, so was cautious as always, but willing to consider the possiblity Reke might be the better player.

 

[hammystyle]

So the question is, you take the current starters at center and power forward off the current Memphis team, you put Gasol and Bynum at those positions, how many wins do you think they get?

45-50...depending on health...If you added a better coach they could be mid 50's win team in a year or two.