How many teams have won a title with a PF as their focal piece... Especially a mid range shooting PF. Dallas with Dirk and then.....
I don't follow NCAA, so I don't know anything about these prospects. But with regards to "struggling" with his shot and crunch time, I would say that those concerns are alleviated by having Lillard. If Wiggins was going to be the guy we build a new team around, those could be real concerns. But by bringing him onto a team that already has players like Lillard, Wes, and Nic I think most of those concerns are diminished. Additionally, people keep saying that even if his offense is questionable his defense is great. If that's true, then he'll always have a spot on any NBA team. If he has the potential to be a great wing I say go for it. Wings are generally what win championships, there aren't many great wings in the league today, and PFs are the most easily replaceable player.
Yeah you make some good points. Some of which I have said in the past, so I can't really argue with it. Great wings are more important. But we still need a post up player. Guards/Wings win it, but Bigs keep you in it..............Oh well it makes no difference, Cleveland will not risk LMA not resigning with them.
If Olshey thinks Wiggins has LeBron James kind of talent, there is zero question on what he should do: Start taking anti-psychotics and going to therapy.
Mavs won with Dirk and some might say Detroit with Sheed or Celtics with Garnett. Jazz got close twice with Malone. Power forwards have carried a lot of teams deep in the playoffs.
Last two years with Bosh? Year before with Dirk? Lakers twice before that with Gasol? Garnett the year before that? So basically all the teams.
Doesn't really matter those jump shooting PF were all critical parts of the title winning offense just as LMA would be for us. Lillard might get the credit just as Kobe did. Kobe doesn't win shit without Pau those three years.
Nobody said championship teams didn't have a power forward. The question was, on how many championship teams was the power forward the team's 'focal point' or No. 1 player, and in the context of whether in today's NBA, is a power forward more important to a championship than guards and wings?
Since Lebron is listed as both a SF and PF at 250 lbs, I guess technically the answer is .....yes the position is still important. Of course he is a rare player since he built like a PF but moves like a wing. But LMA is a rare player too since he shoots like a wing but can post up as well. And please no one quote me his stats, I don't give a fuck what they are. I can see with my own eyes that the dude can shoot. We need him, we need Lillard, and we need one more wing scorer that can attack the basket. That will give us a good balance.
I think when it comes to winning a championship it's a lil less about how it's done on the offensive end and more what's done on the defensive end. Portland may not win a championship with LA as it's focal point but it won't have anything to do with him being a PF. It will be more due to he himself and what he is. He was great for two games in the playoffs and then he fell off and I believe it was due to the pressure that was put on him. People were blowing him up in the media and around town and I just don't think he could live up to the pressure or handle it. That's him. He's not built that way but he has showed signs of that through out his career. That's ok because I think Damian who is made up that way is enough to pick him and the rest of the team up and put them over the top.
I btw don't think they will mess with the core. If that was the idea, I think they would have done that last year. The core is in place and set. Anything I think they do will be to make the specific core even better and to add to it. LIke it or not, I think LA is here for the long term and prob at a rate most of you won't like. I have been hesitant to answer your question. I think it's going to take an LA and McCollum to get that pick away from them. When you are trying to evaluate the value the of the pick. For the number one pick, If I felt that a LeBron James caliber was there. That's not too much to ask. I would try to work in another piece, perhaps a piece they are trying to wash themselves from like maybe a Waiters to replace McCollum.
How many championship teams in recent years was the PG the 'focal point' or No. 1 player? I suppose the Spurs in 2007 with Parker, but during the season Duncan was the focal point. Other than that, I can't think of an NBA champion since Magic Johnson where the PG was the 'focal player' for the team, and Magic never won a title w/out Kareem, anyhow. EDIT - looking back on that series, how did LeBron James lead this team to 60 wins and an NBA Finals appearance?? PG: Boobie Gibson SG: Sasha Pavlocic/Larry Hughes SF: LeBron James PF: Drew Gooden C: Ilgauskas Bench: Pavlocic/Hughes Varajeo Damon Jones Donyell Marshall Eric Snow Scot Pollard
