And that... ladies and gentleman is why we need a trade if we wanna be elite

More than indicating the need for a trade, last night's game proved a couple of things: 1) The Celtics are fucking unbelievably good, and play incredible team and man defense and 2) This team still has a lot of growing up to do, that doesn't mean we can or can't trade to make the team better, but the game certainly didn't mean anyone needs to be shipped off immediately.

Just try to wrap your brain around the notion that this team is not going to be in serious contention until we are getting consistently high production out of our number 1 and 2 overall picks (GO and LMA), they are still very young bigs and haven't yet scratched the surface of their full potential.

 

Damn guys, they lost to the champs on their floor on national TV. Hardly the end of the world.

 

Overreact much?

The second youngest team in the league is 14-7 after injuries to two starters (Oden and Webster) and an absolutely HORRIBLE, road heavy schedule - and people are screaming for a trade.

I'm not opposed to a trade that makes the team better, but I am opposed to a trade that's kneejerk reaction to a tough road loss against the defending champions. Thankfully Kevin Pritchard his more patience, and more brains, than those demanding such a trade.

This is all part of the natural progression for a young team growing into eventual champions. Last season, the team learned how to defend their home court. They were 28 - 13 with wins over several top play-off teams (Lakers x 2, Hornets x 2, Pistons, Jazz x2, Mavericks x 2, etc.). But they struggled on the road and lost several road games to non play-off teams (Bobcats, Sonics x 2, Pacers, Kings x 2, etc.).

This year, in spite of, or perhaps because of, a very tough road schedule they have learned to beat the bottom to mid-level teams on the road, and even have road wins against a couple upper level teams (Piston and Magic). They're only big losses are road games against the two teams that went to the finals last season and have the two best records in the league this year. The next step to greatness is learning how to consistently beat those teams at home and compete with them, and give your chance to win, in their building.

It won't happen overnight, and those who expect to are delusional and completely unrealistic. But it will happen - with, or without a trade. A trade, the right trade, may make it happen sooner, but may cause you to mortgage part of your future. Did finally landing Jason Kidd give Dallas a better chance at winning a title? No, it just made them older and effectively closed their window of championship contention. Did landing Shaq help the Suns do better in the play-offs last season? No, they got bumped in the 1st round and are suddenly a very old, injury prone team. So, even landing a superstar may not put you over the top. KP has a plan and a vision. I'm, content to sit back and enjoy watching it unfold and watching the constant, steady growth of this special young team - even if it means having to endure an occasional double-digit road loss to the defending champs.

BNM

 

There are no point guards that are available that are better than what we have in Blake and Sergio.
The only guy that maybe available, is Jason Terry, but he is a shoot first type that is not the type Nate likes. Sad to say. Conley has potential, but he is at least two years away from being any good.

 

i cant believe you forgot KVH! he was the key to that trade, bringing in so much experience, and is a true locker room leader. plus he shoots diamonds out of his dick.

 

It would be a mistake to make a knee-jerk trade after a bad road loss.

It would also be a mistake to pretend that just a little experience is all this team needs. As good as Roy is, he is still a level below Kobe/Lebron. Penknife is more likely to be the next Mutombo than the next Shaq. You can't surround these guys with 1 dimensional players (Sergio) or streak players (Blake) and expect to win a title.

 

exactly. I expect they'll win well over 50 games this year, but I also expect some bumps in the road. Most of all I expect some here to regularly during the season.

Thankfully it doesn't seem like KP is likeminded. If he makes a move during this year it will probably be a very lopsided one involving Raef's expiring (and insured) huge contract. Around the trade deadline, some team(s) will see the writing on the wall for their season and decide to firesale their assets and retool. Attendance will probably be suffering for these lessor teams (especially in this economy) and Raef's deal would immediately lower operating costs by millions. KP's just waiting for the screws to tighten.

STOMP

 

I'm so sick of every basket on the team coming the hard way (or the long way) for us. We need a real PG on the floor to start, or if we're going to put up with this lack of passing than more scoring with Roy/Rudy. Blake is a joke, and last night shows why. He doesn't hit us where we have favorable matchups, he's afraid to make a skilled pass, and he doesn't penetrate himself. His biggest asset is not taking risks, that's also his biggest weakness though.

STEVE NASH.

I'd give up Bayless/Blake/Outlaw for him, and the suns aren't faring so well right now. And by the trade deadline Phoenix may too. I know we give up more potential and good players for a guy decining, BUT THE BENEFIT IS THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS OUR GUYS FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

 

repped

 

sorry but as long as phx is still firmly in the playoff chase they will not trade away nash. and what about nash's game makes you think he'd work well with nate/roy? the biggest problem is the lack of ball movement and that includes roy's game. i love brandon and can't wait to see where his ceiling is but damn, move the ball a little more, especially when the d is collapsing as he drives the lane.

 

Phoenix isn't real happy right now, and I'd be willing to bet Kerr trades pieces he didn't bring in that are unhappy much faster than pieces he did bring in. New GM's always do that. Personally I think they need a half-court slasher/scorer to compliment Shaq and the best fit is VC. Net fans are high on him right now and he's playing great, but he still has a big contract and the nets still aren't selling tickets. I'd love a three way trade personally where we get Nash (who makes no sense going to Jersey) and they get Carter. The trick is what to send to NJ other than cap relief (Raef) and Outlaw (who probably wouldn't fit in Phoenix. Perhaps Bell and the suns pick or something? They don't like to draft out there anyways.


We shouldn't cater to Brandon's weaknesses. You do that when your star is 30, not 25. Brandon can learn to move without the ball and compliment his teammates a little better (he's done it before at UW). He'd still be the guy we go to with the game on the line and he'd still be driving a lot, though now he wouldn't be starting from scratch as much, he'd catch it with some room. Brandon will need to improve his catch and shoot game a little already if he wants to succeed more with our bigs. I don't want Brandon to stop driving and scoring with the game on the line, but if he learns to move w/o the ball we will be much better for it long term. I don't think he'll ever learn that w/o being forced to play with a true PG for a while.

The other thing is that Nash is the league's 4 best three point shooter in history, when Brandon is driving not only will the lanes be open more (with Nash on one side and Rudy or Martell on the other, Lamarcus strong side mid range and Oden ready for a lob underneath), but if they're not he has a ton of options to pass to.

 

Fuck Nash. He's not a Champion and not a good leader. He's a selfish, all flash player unwilling to play a team game.

 

So much bullshit in that statement. He would be a champion if not for ridiculous suspensions, his teams succeeded in the playoffs quite well until they ran into the spurs who were always playing incredible. Nash did this despite not having good defenders or post threats on his team whatsoever. He was the heart and soul of those teams playing hard every night. He played a season incredibly well with a starting front-court of Diaw and Marion for crying out loud.

He's been well-liked by teammates on every team he's been on and had to deal with some real drama queens. He's personable and very skilled.

And he's 100X the playmaker Blake is!

 

Absolutely.

 

So you're one of those fans that thinks the rules don't apply to star players? The players broke the rules and should have been suspended according to the rules. If the NBA didn't suspend them it would mean that the NBA was fixed, that it treats rule breakers differently based on their talent and game situation.

Nash "would be" a Champion? WTF is that? Nash still had to beat two teams in 7 game series and he couldn't even beat one.

You need to get more knowledge. You're very green when it comes to the NBA.

 

Wow. Somebody REALLY likes Nash, huh? I think your point has gotten across and has been taken.

Wasn't there a guy at the BBF forum that every post made trades for like Andre Miller and Iggy?

 

100% UNARGUABLE FACT: You can't win a Championship in the NBA unless you play some of the top defense in the league. Look up the stats. 100%. EVERY SINGLE TIME, NOW AND FOREVER.

 

Yeah whatever happened to that guy? Iggy is tearing it up this year too.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2386

 

I see Bayless having just as much potential as both of those guys. Felton has done nothing to elevate Charlotte, and Sessions is an OK backup PG.
Again.... we can all say we have to trade, trade, trade for an elite PG, and a good SF. But what team doesn't need one of those guys, and how many of them are available out there?

 

Put the game in perspective. We lost to the champs at home. The Lakers lost by 39 the last time they played there. We're fine. Don't need any big trades. We just had a bad game. Wait and see how we play the Celtics in Portland. We're undefeated at home and 7-7 on the road. That's fantastic. No trades please.