On the other hand if there are not that many good SG's in the league, maybe CJ can start. I mean how many SG's out there are going to abuse him because of his size. Most teams top scorers are not their SG, so let them try to go at CJ, all that does is take the ball out of the hands of their best players. We can live with that. Especially since CJ is not that bad of a defender. I still would not start CJ, but I am guessing he will be finishing games.
I don't believe that. That may be the case TODAY, but that's only because the level of top talent in the league is at an all-time low. When Harden is the league's "top" SG and LMA is the league's "top" PF that means that we're just in a waiting cycle until a new bumper crop of top flight talent enters the league. One dominant SG can change the landscape.
I actually agree. Wait until a team that plays power ball efficiently and it changes the dynamic of the game. This 3 point shot being the most efficient is bullshit.
I think the 3pt shot is efficient, even more so when you consider the 3pt miss that gets and offensive board and put back or the foul giving you the 4 pt play if you make it. It makes rim protectors go out to the shooters then your slashers and dunkers have those open lanes. I don't see this changing anytime soon and I don't see power players dominating the game anytime soon either. Longer you hang in the paint, further you have to move the ball back down the court. Stotts has mentioned this before. Be interesting to see how much more balance it will be with both skills on a roster for a change. I love seeing Meyers nail shots from deep.
eh 3pt shooting is good, but we're long overdue for an athletic slasher who can make things happen. I'm happy to trade some 3 ball for that any day tbh
it may be going more towards lineups with two athletic, 3pt shooting bigs that can gaurd wings effectively on the premier and then destroy those wings on the inside with power ball. Basically Vonleh/Leonard lineups. You can already see the change with new-era bigs like Anthony Davis, Labissiere, Towns, Kaminsky, Myles Turner, Porzingas, Vonleh, Olynyk, Leonard and Ben Simmons (I prefer him at the 4).
I would rather we return to the Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Dale Davis elbow and a loose tooth routine. Every time I see a 6'11 guy take a turn around jumper I groan. This year, Golden State turned the three pointer into a spiritual quest and the league is buying into this crap.
Personally, I like it. Big men that are skilled and powerful. And the turnaround J shouldn't be a go to move but one to keep the D off balance.
I'm not even a big Hendo fan but looking at that list I could see him realistically coming close to matching the production of everyone except Harden, Klay, Butler next season.
CJ, Crabbe, Pat, Harkless, Montero. We have more young SG prospects than any other position. Aminu and Hendo are vets that can play there too, and even Dame played there previously when we paired him with another point. Over half the roster can play SG.
Isn't this a bit like saying "gravity keeping you stuck to the earth is bullshit?" Being able to shoot three pointers well is more efficient than shooting something like mid-range shots and it has the added advantage of stretching an opponent's defense. Its an irrefutable statement of fact. My other question I guess is what do you mean by "Wait until a team [...] plays power ball efficiently?" Are you talking about slashing and post-ups? If so then I sort of agree, but I see those components being complimentary with three point shooting; all of these things work together to create space and break a defense down. You can't really expect to win big things if either component is sub standard or nonexistent.
I didn't explain myself 100% correctly. Yes, taking a 3 instead of a mid range 2 is more effective, but teams have taken this to an entirely new level. They've fell in love with just taking threes instead of posting up, slashing and punishing teams inside. If there ever comes a new team that is efficient with low post, slashing and getting to the line with physical play; they will dominate the 3 point teams easily. I think having 3 point shooters is needed, but I don't want a team with only 3 point shooters.
I'd say look at AAU and the way players are taught to play. In other words it's not impossible a team like the one you describe could come along but I sure as hell wouldn't hold my breath.
All you need is that one dominant big man. I just don't see that being an impossibility. In fact, if Cousins wasn't such a head case, he would be that big.
All this changed when hand checking was eliminated from the game. You can't play defense that way any more period..Sheed, Payton, Malone, Barkley, all those guys have mentioned it. The days of lockdown defense have passed into the history books with the rules of the modern game...fans wanted over 100 pts a game and not 70 pts a game.
Wouldn't that validate my "bruising team" theory? I'm talking about how you score, not defend. If teams can't hand check, like you said, then slashing and post up teams will be at an advantage. Defending 3 point shooters don't require hand checking.
Gary Payton would disagree..how you score is absolutely tied to how you are defended. If you cite Malone, Barkley or guys from that era..you have to take into consideration the rules have changed. Defensive teams did not get the ratings offensive teams get. It's sort of why we don't get excited about soccer goalies and games that end in a 0-0 tie
