I think at 6'5" and 205 he is too small to play the position consistantly and would hate to see him there for longer stretches of the game.
The problems are, in decreasing importance, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmello Anthony and Kevin Durant (eventually). To win a championship you pretty much have to get through several, if not all, of those guys. To beat any of those guys, you have to have a decent-sized wingman who can spend the night focusing on containing them with determined, hard nosed defense. Roy runs up fantastic PER's at SF against most of the league. No doubt about it. But I suspect it ain't nearly so easy if he's expected to guard against those guys for 35 mpg. So yeah, over the course of a season he'll do great at SF. We can definitely win 55-63 games with Roy at SF. But then the playoffs come around and you've got to beat some of those elite guys in a seven game series, we're almost certainly going to have to ditch Roy at SF. He'll be trying to guard LeBron on one end, and have to go up against a string of defensive role players on the other. It's just too much to ask. I'd rather us just build our lineup around the idea that Roy is a shooting guard. I don't want to have to tinker with which position my superstar plays in the middle of (hopefully) a championship run.
Regarding Rudy, it's the type of problem that will work itself out organically. Either he will develop into the kind of player who's forcing the team to play him starter minutes (30-35) in order to have a better chance to win games or he won't. If he does, then he's got the minutes and role he wants, even if he's not starting. If he doesn't, how valuable is a player who hasn't clearly distinguished himself as a guy who the team needs to play big minutes after four seasons? It won't be agonizing to lose him if he's merely a good role-player. Good role-players matter, but they are transitory parts of the team...you rarely have a role-player with a ten year career for a single team. It's hard to contrive a situation where the team really needs to play him big minutes to have a better chance to win, but doesn't. Therefore, it's hard to contrive a situation where he's both the essential to the team and unwilling to stay.
Roy likes to play lighter. He dropped weight this year and now weighs about 210ish. Some players are what they are. Roy, Kobe, Redd....they can all play the 3, but they are 2's. Even players like Lebron, who is big enough to be a 4, is a 3. Clyde Drexler was 6'7" and weighed around 225, yet he was a 2. Magic 6'9", but was a 1
Rudy's gotta show me he can do more than just cut off of screens and shoot three pointers before I'd get too worried about him accepting a "4th fiddle" role on this team. He's not a great defender (so far) his handles are pretty weak (and I watched enough of his ACB games and his run through the Olympics to help validate that opinion) and he's not strong enough to consistently drive inside without eventually getting hurt (Trevor Ariza clobbering him springs to mind). Let's let Rudy demonstrate he's a little more well rounded or like most other people around here I have zero problem trading him packaged up with a couple of other young guys to get a position of need filled -- like point guard in a couple of years when Miller is out of the picture.
Yes, this. Cowherd is not the sharpest tool in the shed. I mean, he used the example of a player who is 90% a SG, as an example of a player who is supposed to be a little of this and a little of that to contrast to his politics supposedly being a little of this and a little of that, when in reality it isn't his politics that are "versatile" it is the failing of the over-simplistic definitions. People aren't "Left" or "Right".
Fair enough. And for the most part I do agree. But, and this is a big Butt, like the Clump's butts, many around the NBA think he can and will do extremely well in this league. And sometimes, waiting until the last minute makes the cost go way way up.
Oh believe me, I'm not basing my opinion on what Cowherd said. It just reminds me of what I've been thinking about for quite some time. I just wanted to tell the story on why the light bulb flashed in my head to post this.
No. No it doesn't. Nate likes to play small ball when the matchups warrant. Read that again. Note the key word. Hint: Matchups. Brandon Roy is NOT a full-time NBA Small Forward against most other team's starting small forwards. Brandon himself seems to agree since he shed weight for this season - the exact opposite of what he would do if he were inclined to spend more and more time as a forward. Please. Let's stop this discussion.
I thought he was 6'6"? I know it's an inch, but honestly, I think even being 6'8" doesn't really matter. a couple of inches aren't that important for a SF IMO.
Yep. Right now I see (as most of the world does) as the team "core" being Roy, Aldridge and Oden. Right behind them are Rudy and Batum. Miller is 33, and so relatively short term. Blake and Joel are great role players. But limited enough in game and upside that you can't consider them core. Webster and Travis I don't see as core. Bayless and the rest haven't proven to be valuable yet. So, if Batum continues to develop and improve - especially if he is an excellent defender, he slides in perfectly as a fringe core player in the starting lineup. If Rudy continues to develop and improve - then we may have an issue. Either Rudy is satisfied with a 6th man role; in which case the replacement for Miller is not critical - just get the best MLE free agent you can. Or he develops into a "lead" guard that could start, or Roy develops into a "lead" guard that could start; in which case Miller is replaced with a backup caliber PG. Roy or Rudy as full-time PG does not seem likely to me, so Rudy is happy as 6th man, or we trade him for a true PG. I hope Rudy does turn out to be Reggie Miller lite, and I hope he likes his 6th man role, as lots of really good teams have had a great player coming off the bench. It is a fantastic luxury to have.
He's probably strong enough to handle bigger, stronger threes and maybe even for longer periods of time. I think after a while it take a toll on his body. And you're right. Roy is 6'6". According to his bio on blazers.com
Josh Howard came into the league as an older 4 years of college rookie just like Brandon. Comparing their respective predrafts, Josh measured the same height (6'5.25 barefoot), 5 pounds less (202 lbs), but with a bigger wingspan (8'9.5 to 8'5 standing reach). Somehow he has been a starting 3 in the league for the last 6 seasons even making an All Star team in 2006. I don't see how size keeps Brandon from being effective at SF for long stretches especially considering he's already proven he can be. Even by NBA standards, he is an outstanding run jump athlete. I don't see how size keeps him from being an effective PG either... hell, I've previously posted my hopes of seeing Brandon Rudy and Batum teamed for stretches at the 1, 2 & 3 spots this season. That looks like a vicious combination of skills and size to me. If the real question is whether those three can coexist and thrive together in their careers, my opinion is a definite yes. STOMP
How much defense has he and the mavs played though? I'm thinking more of the defense aspect of it. I think it could take a toll on his body after a while. And then maybe not.
Here we come, 19 win season Honestly, I think that if Rudy proves he can not be left on the bench - you play Roy at SF - until this happens, Roy should spend most of his time at the 2.
I take it you haven't watched him much... JH has been their defensive wing stopper matched up on the opponents toughest 2 or 3 for years now. I would guess that most observers would say he is a strong defender. STOMP
Ok. No, I had no idea he was their defensive stopper. I just think in this system or in any system that pushes defense, he will have his wear and tear. Mentally and physically. In particular long on going playoffs etc. Guarding bigger, stronger guys will have it's toll.
