Petrie to hold press conference tomorrow
- Thread starter VF21
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Bibby hasn't been selected as an All-Star, but most sports writers agree that he deserved to this past season. It's a popularity contest firstly, with the fan vote. And then you've got very few spots at each position. Just because he hasn't officially played in an All Star game doesn't mean he isn't an All Star caliber player.
Peja was a consensus All Star last year, so I guess you mean one season then right?
You explained that one already yourself.
Two former sixth men of the year, a 7-2 shot blocker (who had a horrible season for him this year, he can't help but be better next year - especially if he's already hitting the weights), Mo Evans, Eddie House, Brian Skinner, Darius Songaila. They're not all going to be back next year, but that's a very solid bench. Depth and experience at every position. Guys that can score and guys that can defend.
I do agree with your use of the term 'Dog Hockey' however. Bravo there.
None of those guys are a Tim Duncan/Shaq type guy that is going to control a game, but that is definately three All-Star players and at least an above average bench squad. I don't think a new coach will turn them into contenders, but I do think we're one or two good players away from a contending team. We absolutely will not succeed in this league if we don't have an interior defender of some stature in our starting lineup. That's the one key piece we need. They don't need to be a monster scorer, they just need to stand in the land and knock down those wimpy PGs trying to throw up layups and swat some shots. Knock some people down.
Peja was a consensus All Star last year, so I guess you mean one season then right?
You explained that one already yourself.
Two former sixth men of the year, a 7-2 shot blocker (who had a horrible season for him this year, he can't help but be better next year - especially if he's already hitting the weights), Mo Evans, Eddie House, Brian Skinner, Darius Songaila. They're not all going to be back next year, but that's a very solid bench. Depth and experience at every position. Guys that can score and guys that can defend.
I do agree with your use of the term 'Dog Hockey' however. Bravo there.
None of those guys are a Tim Duncan/Shaq type guy that is going to control a game, but that is definately three All-Star players and at least an above average bench squad. I don't think a new coach will turn them into contenders, but I do think we're one or two good players away from a contending team. We absolutely will not succeed in this league if we don't have an interior defender of some stature in our starting lineup. That's the one key piece we need. They don't need to be a monster scorer, they just need to stand in the land and knock down those wimpy PGs trying to throw up layups and swat some shots. Knock some people down.
To the best of my knowledge, here are the starting small forwards for all 30 teams, arranged by division:
Paul Pierce
Richard Jefferson
Tim Thomas
Kyle Korver
Jalen Rose
Luol Deng
LeBron James
Tayshaun Prince
Ron Artest
Desmond Mason
Josh Smith
Gerald Wallace
Eddie Jones
Grant Hill
Jared Jeffries
Carmelo Anthony
Sprewell (Szczerbiak?)
Darius Miles
Rashard Lewis
Andrei Kirilenko
Josh Howard
Tracy McGrady
Shane Battier
Bostjan Nochbar
Bruce Bowen
Mike Dunleavy
Bobby Simmons
Caron Butler
Quentin Richardson
Peja Stojakovic
By my reasoning, here are the small forwards that are clearly better than Peja right now: Paul Pierce, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady.
Arguments could be made for Prince (a great role player but I'd take Peja), Ron Artest, Carmelo Anthony (overrated IMO), Kirilenko and Rashard Lewis.
As best I can figure, Peja is at best the 4th best small forward in the league and at worst 9th.
Personally I have him fifth, behind the three mentioned and a healthy AK-47, but that's just me.
Paul Pierce
Richard Jefferson
Tim Thomas
Kyle Korver
Jalen Rose
Luol Deng
LeBron James
Tayshaun Prince
Ron Artest
Desmond Mason
Josh Smith
Gerald Wallace
Eddie Jones
Grant Hill
Jared Jeffries
Carmelo Anthony
Sprewell (Szczerbiak?)
Darius Miles
Rashard Lewis
Andrei Kirilenko
Josh Howard
Tracy McGrady
Shane Battier
Bostjan Nochbar
Bruce Bowen
Mike Dunleavy
Bobby Simmons
Caron Butler
Quentin Richardson
Peja Stojakovic
By my reasoning, here are the small forwards that are clearly better than Peja right now: Paul Pierce, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady.
Arguments could be made for Prince (a great role player but I'd take Peja), Ron Artest, Carmelo Anthony (overrated IMO), Kirilenko and Rashard Lewis.
As best I can figure, Peja is at best the 4th best small forward in the league and at worst 9th.
Personally I have him fifth, behind the three mentioned and a healthy AK-47, but that's just me.
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There are currently 30 teams in the NBA. I know you were just responding to the comment that he's the best small forward in the league, but still -- you have to admit that fifth out of thirty is pretty darn good. And Paul Pierce and Tracy McGrady are really SGs anyway. Maybe even Lebron, that's harder to say though because he's only played 2 years. He was a guard last year and a forward this year.
I wasn't trying to bad mouth Peja, and I wasn't necessarily trying to prop him up either. I just saw Patrick's comment about Peja being possibly being the best SF in the league and it got me to thinking.
For better or worse, that was my rational analysis.
As for who plays where, that's part of the difficulty in this type of debate. Is Pierce a SG and Ricky Davis the SF in Boston? He seems to have moved permanently to the 4, but for a while the debate for a time was whether KG was a small or power forward.
It's all inexact, but I'm happy with my analysis. And no, having three players who are arguably top 5 at their position is not bad at all. It would be nice if one of them was a dominant player or didn't each have obvious weaknesses in their game, but que cera cera. That's what the Kings have.
As for the press conference - no news is good news. I predict typical Petrie double talk and mumbling with no real insight being provided when they replay it later on Grant's show. I can handle that.
For better or worse, that was my rational analysis.
As for who plays where, that's part of the difficulty in this type of debate. Is Pierce a SG and Ricky Davis the SF in Boston? He seems to have moved permanently to the 4, but for a while the debate for a time was whether KG was a small or power forward.
It's all inexact, but I'm happy with my analysis. And no, having three players who are arguably top 5 at their position is not bad at all. It would be nice if one of them was a dominant player or didn't each have obvious weaknesses in their game, but que cera cera. That's what the Kings have.
As for the press conference - no news is good news. I predict typical Petrie double talk and mumbling with no real insight being provided when they replay it later on Grant's show. I can handle that.
Again, this is what complicates the debate. Latrell Sprewell is CLEARLY best suited to play SG but the Knicks started him at SF and so did the Wolves last year.
Sura and Wesley started at guard for Houston. McInnnis and Newble started at guard for Cleveland. Regardless of where they best fit, small forward is where they played.
For T-Mac it is more arguable where he best fits, but at 6'8" and 240 lbs, I think James IS a small forward.
Anyway, back to the news conference, I guess I am most interested to hear if Petries touches on the possibilities of bringing back Darius or Mo. Or if he touches on Kevin Martin at all.
Sura and Wesley started at guard for Houston. McInnnis and Newble started at guard for Cleveland. Regardless of where they best fit, small forward is where they played.
For T-Mac it is more arguable where he best fits, but at 6'8" and 240 lbs, I think James IS a small forward.
Anyway, back to the news conference, I guess I am most interested to hear if Petries touches on the possibilities of bringing back Darius or Mo. Or if he touches on Kevin Martin at all.
The key components we need are a 2 guard who can pass and defend and a post defender who can rebound and block shots. The 2 guard slot, is pretty hard to fill, albeit easier to fill then a post defender. The only post defenders I can think of are the following players:
TD
KG
Brand
Chandler
Dalembert
Ratliff (Injury prone)
PJ Brown (old)
Shaq (Injury prone, old)
Haslem (Good because of Shaq?)
Foyle (Overpaid)
Dampier (EH?)
Jermaine (like KG and TD, I wish we could get him)
Camby
K-Mart
Ben Wallace
Okafor
Pryzbilla
Deke (super old)
Yao
Now there are a lot, but there are also a lot of players we can't possibly get.
In the 2 position, the following players would fit the role:
Kobe
Lebron (I wish)
Hughes
Pierce
Ron Artest
Shane Battier (can't pass though, plays good D)
Josh Howard (passing is an issue, otherwise a good player, but can be a DICK)
Eddie Jones (old and overpaid)
Joe Johnson (D isn't that great)
TD
KG
Brand
Chandler
Dalembert
Ratliff (Injury prone)
PJ Brown (old)
Shaq (Injury prone, old)
Haslem (Good because of Shaq?)
Foyle (Overpaid)
Dampier (EH?)
Jermaine (like KG and TD, I wish we could get him)
Camby
K-Mart
Ben Wallace
Okafor
Pryzbilla
Deke (super old)
Yao
Now there are a lot, but there are also a lot of players we can't possibly get.
In the 2 position, the following players would fit the role:
Kobe
Lebron (I wish)
Hughes
Pierce
Ron Artest
Shane Battier (can't pass though, plays good D)
Josh Howard (passing is an issue, otherwise a good player, but can be a DICK)
Eddie Jones (old and overpaid)
Joe Johnson (D isn't that great)
Didn't catch it. But I was looking on the Kings roster and I didn't see Kevin Martin.
http://www.nba.com/kings/roster/index.html
http://www.nba.com/kings/roster/index.html
Pierce??
Huh?
I think the Kings can get by (and even thrive) with a role player at the 2, especially if he can defend and/or rebound and hit the occasional open shot. It's why I think bringing back Mo isn't a bad idea. But they DO need some talent up front. Shotblocking would be big, but at least as important is someone who can effectively score in the blocks.
I'd LOVE a Mobley (S&T) + a future 1st for Nene trade. Unfortunately, with durability concerns for both Camby and KMart, I don't see it.
Huh?
I think the Kings can get by (and even thrive) with a role player at the 2, especially if he can defend and/or rebound and hit the occasional open shot. It's why I think bringing back Mo isn't a bad idea. But they DO need some talent up front. Shotblocking would be big, but at least as important is someone who can effectively score in the blocks.
I'd LOVE a Mobley (S&T) + a future 1st for Nene trade. Unfortunately, with durability concerns for both Camby and KMart, I don't see it.
I rushed home from work, running over little old ladies, well not really to find out what happened and nothing???? What was said, it's 1.25 PT and that's an hour and half after it was supposed to be. Where are all the radio listeners? They should know people are going nuts all over waiting to see what he said.
Manu Ginobilii is of course a player I forgot, Iggy on Philly also fits the characteristics.
While not the best defender in the league. PP averages 1.62 Steals Per game and averages 6.6 RPG. He's definitely an upgrade over Mobley, defensive, no offence. I'd rather have Hughes, but I honestly think after Hughes's year, I think PP is more viable to being traded than Hughes.
While not the best defender in the league. PP averages 1.62 Steals Per game and averages 6.6 RPG. He's definitely an upgrade over Mobley, defensive, no offence. I'd rather have Hughes, but I honestly think after Hughes's year, I think PP is more viable to being traded than Hughes.
Well, in the appropriate tone for this thread, obivously either a) Geoff was too choked up over having to deliver the bad news and had to postpone the conference; or b) the Maloofs fired him just before he went on air and pulled him back off the podium until hey can contact Wilfred the Three Flippered Manatee's agent to offer him/it the GM post.
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