I want to hear the case for Dante Cunningham getting more burn then Howard. From what I've seen DC is much better then Howard at this stage in their respective careers. I'm tired of watching less talented veterans get burn over athletic youngsters...especially when we are getting burned by the other teams athletic youngsters. If there are any Howard defenders I'd love to hear why you think he is a better option at backup PF.
Howard can't even hold on to the ball. He's pretty worthless out there IMO. Maybe he's good at coaching but yay, he's tall...whoopee.....Free Dante!
Would love to see Dante get a shot. He's shown some potential. Excellent strength/athleticism, seems like he's confident and plays within himself. On the other hand . . . Developing young talent? Won't happen on the sarge's watch. . .
I don't think Dante will prove to be a power forward, so I'd rather go with Howard. Of course, I'd rather get another player to replace Howard, or build a time machine and get a competent backup power forward this past summer. Howard, for his part, runs the floor better than I'd anticipated and he is a pretty good post-to-post passer. Ed O.
Yes. There is time for him. You might as well let him in so the blazers and he can start the developmental process.
There's something to be said for having experience on the floor. If he's not much of an offensive threat, then don;t give him the ball to score much. He can do other things.
I agree with this. If Cunningham lookd like our anything of the future, then maybe I would be arguing for him to see those spot minutes. He's a bench player. And likely always will be for us. I'm not concerned 15 games into his career about the development of a future bench player in the least. I wish him the best, and hope somehow he develops into our starting SF, and an all star, and future HOFer. But as good as our team is or has the potential to be, I'd rather not mess up trips down the floor from someone not knowing where to be at all times, etc.
At this point, give the kid some burn. There is always the chance he turns out to be a pleasant surprise. Meanwhile, Joe Smith is having a very productive year in Atlanta, playing for the vets minimum.
what do you think dante will prove to be? he spent his college career playing on the inside. i find it much more likely that he'd have success at power forward than be forced out to the perimeter at the small forward position.
I think that he will end up as a SF. He actually played a lot of the post in a three guard offense in college, and I believe that his skill set is evolving to more of a perimeter game. If he's quick enough to guard small forwards, then he will have a decent career there. If he cannot, he will be out of the league quickly. Ed O.
Boston Celtics: Glen Davis (6'8"), Sheldon Williams (6'9"), Brian Scalabrine (6'9") New York Knicks: Al Harrington (6'9"), Wilson Chandler (6'8") Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand (6'8"), Thaddeus Young (6'8") Toronto Raptors: Reggie Evans (6'8"), Amir Johnson (6'9"), Pops Mensah-Bonsu (6'9") Chicago Bulls: Taj Gibson (6'9"), Tyrus Thomas (6'9"), Luol Deng (6'9") Cleveland Cavaliers: JJ Hickson (6'9"), Leon Powe (6'8") Detroit Pistons: Jason Maxiell (6'7"), Ben Wallace (6'9") Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough (6'9"), Solomon Jones (6'9") Milwaukee Bucks: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (6'8"), Hakim Warrick (6'9"), Kurt Thomas (6'9") Atlanta Hawks: Joe Smith (6'9"), Josh Smith (6'9), Othello Hunter (6'8") Charlotte Bobcats: Derrick Brown (6'8"), Boris Diaw (6'8"), Gerald Wallace (6'7") Miami Heat: Udonis Haslem (6'8"), Joel Anthony (6'9") Orlando Magic: Brandon Bass (6'8"), Matt Barnes (6'7") Washington Wizards: Dominic McGuire (6'8"), Antawn Jamison (6'9") Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion (6'7"), Kris Humphries (6'9"), James Singleton (6'8") Houston Rockets: Carl Landry (6'8"), Luis Scola (6'9"), Chuck Hayes (6'6") Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Randolph (6'9"), Darrell Arthur (6'9"), Demarre Carroll (6'8") New Orleans Hornets: Ike Diogu (6'8"), David West (6'8") Darius Songaila (6'9"), San Antonio Spurs: Dejuan Blair (6'7"), , Antonio McDyess (6'9") Golden State Warriors: Corey Maggette (6'6") Los Angeles Clippers: Brian Skinner (6'8"), Craig Smith (6'7"), Al Thornton (6'8") Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Powell (6'8") Phoenix Suns: Louis Amundson (6'9"), Jared Dudley (6'7") Sacramento Kings: Jon Brockmon (6'7"), Sean May (6'9"), Andres Nocioni (6'7"), Kenny Thomas (6'7") Denver Nuggets: Renaldo Balkman (6'8"), Kenyon Martin (6'9") Minnesota Timberwolves: Ryan Gomes (6'7") Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeff Green (6'9"), DJ White (6'9") Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer (6'9"), Paul Millsap (6'8") And that's not including any player 6'10" or above, some of whom wouldn't be that hard for the 6'8" Cunningham to guard. Examples: Blake Griffin (6'10") Branden Wright (6'10") Anthony Randolph (6'10") Matt Bonner (6'10") Tim Thomas (6'10") Ryan Anderson (6'10") Rashard Lewis (6'10") Michael Beasley (6'10") Dante Cunningham can easily be a power forward in this league. There are 37 players in this list 6'8" or under that are at least part time power forwards, and I'm sure I missed some. Dante is stronger than most of these guys and just as athletic as the best of them.
Strong and athletic, sure. But I think he will hit that tweener label unless he develops a good post game to go along with his strength and athleticism.
I look at that list and it's even more clear to me that he's not big enough to effectively play the power forward spot based on his size. His size, though, is less relevant to me than his skill set. I think he will be a more effective small forward. Ed O.
Might as well see what you've got in Dante now that they've got the opportunity to play him some minutes. Give him some burn in the second quarter and see how he does. They keep talking about how he's good in practice. And if he sucks, you know what you sort of have from Juwan.
If you get that time machine running you might want to stop in 1984 first...and then maybe a trip to Lithuania to prevent a certain fall at a soccer match .
With the way Howard has played lately, I'd rather see an injured Patty Mills out there playing the power forward position. I'll gladly take Cunningham at this stage... and judging from tonight's performance against the Bulls, I say leave him in there.
It said a lot when Nate had him playing big minutes in the fourth quarter with the game still within reach for Chicago. Dante did well for his first meaningful action.
