Did I just read Josh Smith is a great defender? I'm a big Smith backer, but he's far from being a great defender. Josh Smith is a great weak side shot blocker, his man to man defense is a work in progress though.
^^That is exactly how i feel, being able to block a shot from the weak side doesnt make you a great defender.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">You misread/understood a lot of my points being able to block shots doesnt make you a good defender. Eddie g is great at blocking shots, but sucks at defense. I havent seen enough of josh smith to say he is a good defender yet.</div>My bad on the Josh Smith point. I should have specified as to what he's good at on defense...which I kind of did, but not entirely. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Marvin, i said was better than foye, but i dont think either are gonna be that good this year.</div>You've been praising Foye ever since you guys got him, saying he's the top runner for ROY, now you're saying he might not be that good? Make up your mind. And please, explain why Marvin won't be good. Last season, he averaged 12/7 for April, very solid numbers for a month. He averaged 9/5 for a season. Again, solid for a guy who wasn't getting huge minutes and who was supposedly a project. I think those numbers will go up quite a bit cause he will be getting more minutes with the departure of Harrington, therefore, production should go up. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ricky davis is a 20/5/5 guy, and i was saying that james and davis are better than anyone else besides JJ who KG is much better than.</div>Why are you so high on Mike James? I'm just wondering this? He has a great season, and all of the sudden you're praising him? Just for comparison reasons here, but Speedy's career numbers of 10/5 are very close to those of Mike James 12/4. For that matter, you take away last seasons huge CONTRACT year, Mike James only has career averages of about 9/4. Note that if it weren't for last year, his career averages would be lower than Speedy Claxtons. Speedy also puts up solid numbers without having to rely on the longball, James on the other hand, is in love with it. Just a few fun facts I figure you'd like to take in mind. Also, with JJs talent, the issue there is they're all very young and most haven't been in the league longer than a couple years. I think the talent on that squad could wind up better than the guys around KG. However, they haven't had nearly as long of a tenure in the league to showcase it. For that matter, the lineup I project them having at the start of the year (Clax/JJ/Smith/Marvin/Pachulia) will have 3 second or third year players and a first year starter in Claxton. And if Shelden ends up starting of Pachulia, that's going to end up being a rookie, a second, and third year player in the starting five. That's not a whole lot of time for people to showcase what they can do. That's why I feel you're comparing them is seemingly unfair. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">last we struggled because of chemistry issues, with wally being traded, and new faces in jaric who sucks, and all that jazz. We have never put enough talent around KG imo. In 2003, we were riddled with injuries, and as i have stated elsewhere, last years clippers team had more talent around brand than the 2003 twolves team had around KG, but we still almost made the finals. I garuntee you cant honestly find a twolvs team that anywhere close to as good of a supporting cast around KG, and any championship team. (a little confusing, sorry i just got done with a 4 hour english class, im whiped out right now).</div>What really makes you think chemistry issues won't arise? Mike James is a player and has always been a player who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. And after last season, I think he's going to want it a lot, simply because he got it a lot last year. If he doesn't get those touches, complaining could ensue. And also, what makes you think that the trio of James/Davis/KG will mesh? Just cause KG can mesh with them, doesn't the other two will mesh with eachother. Remember, Ricky Davis, at one point in his career, was a headcase. He created chemistry issues and was very often selfish. It could always begin to happen again, just remember that. And also, why do you continue bringing up Jaric.? We know he isn't all that great, but he wasn't the huge reason why you guys had chemistry issues. You seem to want to pin a lot of blame on him, when it's really not his fault. sure there have been young teams that do well, but all of your examples had tons of vets on the bench and locker room to help these young guys out. Hinrich btw i wouldnt consider a young guy anymore. The Hawks have all the peices to do well, but i just dont think they can put it together. Also...what injury issues are you speaking of? They had a very healthy team up until the conference finals when Cassell started hurting. For that matter, Cassell played in 81 games, Spree played in all 82, KG played in all 82, the only issue was the injury to Wally. Otherwise, the other three guys played all the games but one missed by Cassell. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and the reason why i am overrating this years wolves team, is because as sad as it is, this team has the most talent on it ever around KG, so i have to hope for the best because KG usually brings out the best in players. As for mike james being an issue? i dont thin k he will be at all. He seems to have a very positive attitude witht this team, he seems to really respect KG, and ricky and blount have played enough with KG to really work well together i think.</div>Well, at least you admit you overrate them. Just a quick thought here. Half a season isn't much to develop chemistry. I think Blount and Ricky will still have some chemistry issues at the beginning of the season, in large part due to the new face playing PG in Mike James. So, while you will likely maintain to be optimistic, I just feel that chemistry issues will likely occur, soley because of Mike James. He's going from a top option to probably a 3rd option. He may accept that role initially, but that doesn't mean he'll accept it all season. And again, he's not used to playing with these guys either, which could hurt him and them as well.
the injuries i was talking about was in the playoffs where KG had to play pg A front runner for ROY doesnt mean he is gonna be better than a guy llike marvin who i slikely gonna break out, but still may not because of Josh Smith. I am so high on Mike James because he fits KG perfectly. KG is the least selfish superstar likely ever. He loves to get his teammates involved, and Mike James love to shoot it. Where is the problem there? Ricky Davis as you said, USED to be a headcase, then he accepted a role off the bench and won 6th man of the year award. He seemed very unselfish last year, but we had no one who wanted to step up and shoot it, so ricky did. Mike James will likely still be a first option because KG doesnt demand the ball. He can score every time he touches it. He doesnt need a lot of touches to get 20 points. Ricky will likely get the same amount of touches as KG, which i think will be very good for us. I think you were the one who kept bringing up Jaric, but either way, i think he is a big reason for our problems last year, because he couldnt play! He was aweful one game, ok the next, never even good every once in a while. T hud was injured, so we had to play the guy, but he sucked. As a reserve i think he will pretty solid though. Hassell btw is a great shooter, you mentioned somewhere that he wont be scoring, but he was leading the league in shooting percentage off of almost only 15 footers. If you leave him open, he will kill you. i know mike james only produced in a contract year, but he has sounded very optimistic about this season, KG loves him, and KG will let him shoot away as long as we are winning, and if he bitches, we put him on the bench and play t hud or foye.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">I am so high on Mike James because he fits KG perfectly. KG is the least selfish superstar likely ever. He loves to get his teammates involved, and Mike James love to shoot it. Where is the problem there? </div> This doesn't make sense. KG isn't supposed to be the team's starting point guard: that's Mike James' job. Garnett may be an exceptional passer for a big man, but it doesn't mean that he can be ignored. The fact is that he's still this team's best option. If James plays like he did last year (and all quotes/interviews indicate that he is definitely going to), it won't lead to success. Minnesota will win more when Garnett is getting the majority of the touches, not Mike James. The same was true of Toronto and Chris Bosh, but it didn't matter to James. Unless James suddenly embraces the role of distributor, I don't see how the Timberwolves will be able to win the division without one true point guard (or center for that matter).
Firstly...Ricky Davis never won 6th Man. The year he came close, Ben Gordon won it. While there may be no problem between KG and James, what about Davis and James? They both love to score and both need to have the ball to be effective. I can see issues arising there, and you don't want two of your best players to be feuding and having oncourt issues, cause then it eventually effects the entire team. Again, with Jaric, just cause he's awful doesn't mean others are. And if he was so awful, why didn't your coaching staff just throw him to the bench and give McCants some more more burn. You can't blame losses on him, especially considering of how small his role was. Also, I never said Hassell wasn't a good shooter, I said he's not an offensive threat. He's not going to score much this year, therefore, why should teams worry about him. Plus, I'd rather have him shooting the ball than KG, Ricky, or James. And finally, anyone can sound optimisitic. Just cause he's optimistic now, doesn't mean he will be later. What happens when losing begins? What happens when they hit the wall and can't buy a victory? That's when I'd be worried about him.
Davis embraced his role as a bench player, why would he act up now? he didnt act up last year. Casey wanted to bring in mccants slow, thats why we didnt just throw him in. He was a rookie coach, and he made mistakes. my bad about the 6th man thing, ricky should have won it, but second is good enough for me. I am not a fair weather fan either, dont try to impy im gonna start hating on james "when" we struggle, since we are going to. Chutney, as for touches, i phrased it wrong. KG is gonna get the same amount of touches, but Mike James will get all the shots he wants imo. If he complains, KG will set him straight. Who hasnt he set straight? We dont have cancers in the locker room or court because KG deals with them.
Mike James won't be getting all the touches he wants, cause that's the attitude that creates chemistry problems. If he's shooting whenever he wants, you're going to hear complaining from pretty much everyone. Ricky won't be happy, Blount might not be too happy, KG might not get too happy, etc. James can't have all the shots he wants, that's not possible. He has to work within the system, and I'm sure that system, as always, will focus on KG. If it doesn't, fire Casey, cause apparently he forgot that KG is one of the best players in the league, and in order for them to win, he needs to be getting touches. Also, if James is getting a ton of shots, you can count on a lottery season. This team, if they're going to win, needs to keep balanced. They have three good scorers, and they need to utilize all of them. If they do that, they're going to keep teams defense off balance, cause they won't know which one to guard and who to leave open. They need to utilize all their options, and most importantly, keep the offense running through KG, cause if that happens, everyone should stay happy, and most of all, you're making sure he gets his touches, cause he is the still the best player on the team and still needs to get the most touches if this team wants to win. Also, I wan't implying you'd become less of a fan, as I was never doubting your love of the TWolves. I was saying that, when losses start piling up, don't be surprised to see players attitudes change for the worse, which will, in the end, lead to more losses.
I jsut have a feeling that mike james is gonna realize that KG truly is great, and i think he will play with him. As for ricky d, i have no worries about him, i think he is gonna do just fine, and KG will be KG. I agree, that casey should be fired if he cant get our guys to buy into his system, which took him an entire year to figure out himself (another reasson for our chemistry/losing troubles). Casey didnt play people consistently enough last year, but with a year under his belt, and another scorer on this team, maybe even two if foye catches on quickly, we will be very succesful.
I'm very skeptical of James. All his talk leading up to this new contract seemed to suggest that, not only was he comfortable with his ballhogging, but that he may intend to increase it. The worst part is that the T-Wolves have paid James starter money and given him a starter role. If he shows that he's unwilling to play second fiddle to KG (which is not unforeseeable), the season goes down the drain. If you bench him for bitching (like you suggested), the same thing happens. You lack a distributor at the point guard spot. Hell, in your starting lineup, KG may be the most unselfish player. And that's a shame, because he's clearly the foundation of this team, and the other players should be complementing him.
Orlando and Utah. Utah will need to stay healthy, and they will need players like Boozer and Williams to bring their A game, but I think that they can come together and make a push at the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">I jsut have a feeling that mike james is gonna realize that KG truly is great, and i think he will play with him. As for ricky d, i have no worries about him, i think he is gonna do just fine, and KG will be KG. I agree, that casey should be fired if he cant get our guys to buy into his system, which took him an entire year to figure out himself (another reasson for our chemistry/losing troubles). Casey didnt play people consistently enough last year, but with a year under his belt, and another scorer on this team, maybe even two if foye catches on quickly, we will be very succesful.</div>For some odd reason, I can't help but be pessimistic in this situation. Mike James is going to be Mike James, and I think that's all there is to it. He's going to want to have the ball in his hands a lot, and that's not going to work. He's not the distributor this team needs, and I really, really hope they don't think he's going to buy into being one this year, cause it's not going to happen. And like Chut said, benching him will only cause issues. If complaining gets him to the bench, more complaining will ensue because of a limited role. If he complains as a starter becaues of not getting touches, that's gonna help either. Essentially, I really see Mike James being an issue, cause if complaints arise, you guys are at a no-win situation with him. Benching him will cause more issues, and that's not what you'll want to see. So, really, just prey and hope that he accepts his role, cause if not, the issues will come.
i dont know, but right now, I ahve to be optimistic about our situation. Mike James seems very excited to be here, so that is why i dont think he will be a problem. I am obviously not gonna say that no doubt in my mind he will be perfect for us, but i really hope he is.
I'll say a team that I never see mentioned in these threads The Milwaukee Bucks PG - Mo Williams SG - Redd SF - Patterson / Simmons PF - Charlie V C - Bogut That team has a lot of potential and an extreme load of talent
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">i dont know, but right now, I ahve to be optimistic about our situation. Mike James seems very excited to be here, so that is why i dont think he will be a problem. I am obviously not gonna say that no doubt in my mind he will be perfect for us, but i really hope he is.</div> Mike James maybe a good addition for the T-Wolves. Towards the end of the season on the Raps he became a ball hog, but it was understandable since no one else on the team was stepping up. CB4 and KG are similar players and Mike James was never able to win many games w/ Bosh. He may put up Mike Bibby like numbers, but only time will tell if he ang KG are able to win together.
If Bosh and KG are the same type of player. And Bosh and Mike James didn't work well, then how will KG and Mike James work well?
KG is much better than bosh, and not all that similar. Their offensive style is similar, and thats it. Kg does so much more, all of which better than him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Umair15:</div><div class="quote_post">If Bosh and KG are the same type of player. And Bosh and Mike James didn't work well, then how will KG and Mike James work well?</div> They are the same type, that doesnt mean they will play the same exact way. Garnett is a better passer than Bosh, and Garnett can straighten out any attitude problems James has.
